Camping Confidential: Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort

Growing up in the mid-Atlantic on the East Coast, we have been spoiled with the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons throughout the year. And we would wager to say that there is arguably no better time to spend outdoors, especially camping, than during the fall season. Between the temperatures cooling and the leaves starting to change colors, it’s one of the most pleasant and beautiful times to hike, bike, fish and explore the outdoors — not to mention the abundance of farmers markets and fall festivals overflowing with crisp apples, homemade doughnuts, cider slushies and pumpkins galore!

Keeping this in mind, we strategically planned to visit a few campgrounds nestled in the heart of the Pennsylvania mountains. When you think of mountainous states, your first thoughts might be Utah, Colorado and other Western states. But you might be surprised by the vast number of mountains throughout the northern East Coast region.

Our first stop was Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort located within the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The sprawling 90-acre lake is privately owned by the campground, which has been welcoming guests for over 65 years.

During the in-season, the lake provides guests with an abundance of outdoor fun in and on the water. There is a roped-off area for swimming, watercraft rentals, fishing, picnicking spots, a pet beach and boating opportunities. Along the lakefront you’ll also find the main office, gift shop, playground, basketball court, seasonal pool, snack bar and watercraft rental shed. The boat shed offers a variety of rentals, including rowboats, kayaks, paddle boards and aqua cycles. In addition to the rentals, you will also find tackle and bait for a fun day of fishing for bass, perch, bluegill and more.

If you prefer to be a bit more social while camping at Keen Lake, the resort offers plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with other campers. It has a beautiful Amish-built pavilion with a large propane firepit and Adirondack chairs perfect for morning conversations or evening meetups, which is especially nice during the fall season, all snuggled up by the fire. There is also a communal fire ring near the lake, which provides a serene ambience in the evenings while roasting marshmallows and sharing camp stories. And if that wasn’t enough, Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort creates a robust event schedule, starting in the spring and concluding after the annual Halloween festivities. 

The lakeside of the campground is one of the most popular areas to play, relax, have fun and socialize. The other main area is a short walk to the other end of the resort, where you’ll find the group cooking pavilion that doubles as an event area throughout the year.

The fall season is especially fun, with themed weekend activities geared toward family fun, including bag-toss tournaments, dance parties, DJs, cook-offs, crafts, parades and more. And, of course, the spooktacular Halloween celebrations are known for being some of the best in the area!

Of course, there is plenty of space to stretch your legs, be it on a walk, run or ride throughout the campground. You’ll find a few different playgrounds, activity areas and even a children’s garden where kids can learn and help plant within the garden. We happened to stay across from the garden area, which was also adjacent to the activity field offering bocce ball, volleyball, shuffleboard, a playground and evening entertainment in the group cooking pavilion. That particular campsite worked out really well for us as we could see the playground from it and watch our son play while we worked or hung out at the RV.

Our campsite had full hookups, as most of the campsites do, but additionally you will find the resort offers a dump station, several bathhouses, dumpsters and on-site laundry facilities, should you need them during your stay.

If all of this is sounding amazing but you don’t typically camp, that’s not a problem. Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort has numerous rentals for your enjoyment. It has on-site RV rentals, cabins, houses and even glamping tents specifically designed for couples or families. There really is something for everyone at Keen Lake!

It’s certainly easy to stay at the campground for your entire visit, and no one could blame you with all there is to do! But, if you are like us, you’ll want to get out a bit and explore, too. Just down the road is the Happy Trails Stables. Luckily for us, we had the pleasure of booking a last-minute trail ride — one our son still talks about today. 

About 20 minutes away is the town of Honesdale, known as the birthplace of the American railroad. There you will find historic trains, local shops and eateries. We popped into a pizza shop for dinner one night and our waitress told us we should go to Irving Cliff, which provides breathtaking views of the city. Naturally, we took her suggestion after dinner and were treated to a spectacular sunset view 300 feet above town. If you are in the area, we definitely recommend taking a peek, and it would be a great picnic spot for lunch or dinner, too.

If you are up for a bit farther of a drive, you can also find numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, museums and historical sites full of educational and fun experiences. We loved exploring this area and think you will, too! 

As we mentioned, fall is a beautiful time of year to visit, but you truly can’t go wrong any time of the year. Keen Lake will spoil you with its beautiful views, serene sunsets and endless activities.