I apologize if this is the wrong place to ask this question. I'm just wondering where the good places to go camping within driving distance from Center City are? I have been to Ricketts Glen and loved it. I would like to go somewhere closer, and it doesn't have to be PA (could be South Jersey, etc.) Thanks!!

Rittenhouse Square seems to be popular.

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Lancaster has some nice campsites, we used to go to Quarreyville, PA area not too far from Oxford - lovely drive, alot to see and do locally if you want to tour. When you don't mind a 3 hour drive, head South to Assateague - you can camp at a campground or on the beach there. The ponies are amazing just try to go before the penning week in July, when they will sell off a good bit for population control.

One of the closest state parks with camping is French Creek, out near Reading and about an hour's drive from here. I think you'll have been spoiled by Rickett's, since they have heavily enforced quiet hours, but it can be OK if it's the right time of year. Last time I was there, there were two dudes blasting Bon Jovi out of the back of their conversion van while smoking many doobies, just to give you a bit of the flavor that can be found there. There's a nice lake for canoing and kayaking there, though.

Other sites that are worth the haul are Locust Lake, World's End State Park, and Worthington State Park over in New Jersey. Hickory Run, which isn't far, either, is great too, but it can get crowded and it does have a very active bear population.

We've camped at Hickory Run, French Creek, World's End, and Locust Lake. I agree that Hickory Run can get crowded and we actually had bear cubs visit our campsite when we were there. French Creek was pretty crowded too. The hiking trails were okay, the best thing about it was the pool--our kids loved it. World's End is beautiful with great hiking trails, but it's a bit of a haul. Locust Lake is fairly close and very quiet. It has some nice trails and you can canoe on the lake.

I've always had a good time camping in Jim Thorpe, PA. I think there are two camping places there. The state park at Mauch Chunk Lake and a private campground. I've only been to the private campground. There are tons of biking and hiking trails and the town of Jim Thorpe is a nice place to visit.

Using Rickett's Glen as a yard stick, there are many good places to go camping within driving distance. I don't really have much love for campgrounds in NJ or Delaware, but would second the recommendation for Assateague state or national park in Maryland. Here is a link to a map of PA state campgrounds: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/statepar.../camplist.aspx

And here's a link that sorts sites by possible interests:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/statepar...ing.aspx#cam12

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Wharton State Forest

http://www.batstovillage.org/camping-hiking.htm

Great place about an hour from Philly.

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Can you give me sanctuary
I must find a place to hide
A place for me to hide

Can you find me soft asylum
I can't make it anymore
The Man is at the door

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