What do scenic hiking trails, thrilling waterparks, and premier casinos have in common? You can find them all in the Pocono Mountains! If you're traveling to northeast Pennsylvania and want to know what to do in the Pocono Mountains, check out our picks for the 15 best activities, attractions, and sights to explore.
1. Bushkill Falls
Bushkill Falls is one of the top things to do in the Pocono Mountains. You can explore a series of eight waterfalls deep in the woods of Pike County. Hiking along the trails while taking in the picturesque views along the way offers a perfect balance of adventure and tranquility.
You can access the trails at various points on Bushkill Falls Road. Park hours change according to the season with the park actually closed in winter, so you'll want to check the Bushkill Falls schedule before your trip. The trail conditions and weather may affect your ability to explore the park.
Before you leave the area, stop in the Bushkill Falls Gift Shop to pick up some memorabilia of your grand outdoor adventure or check out the Bushkill Falls Maze with your family. There are also plenty of places to grab burgers, pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, and pizza in the nearby town. You've got to refuel after your hike, after all!
2. The Asa Packer and Harry Packer Mansions
Another awesome place to explore in the Pocono Mountains is the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, located on Packer Hill Avenue in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The mansion was home to Asa Packer, a visionary, self-made railroad tycoon, philanthropist, and founder of Lehigh University.
History buffs and architecture enthusiasts alike will love exploring the Victorian-style home and National Historic Landmark that features three stories and 18 stunning rooms, with little changed in the years since 1912 when Asa's daughter Mary bequeathed the home and all its furnishings to the Borough of Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe's prior name) as a memorial to her father and his accomplishments.
The mansion is located in the Old Mauch Chunk Historic District near the Lehigh River with guided tours offered on select days between April and December. Tickets are sold at the mansion on a first-come, first-serve basis on days when the mansion is open. Please note: there are no online ticketing options or advance ticket sales and groups must call the mansion ahead of time to make a reservation to tour the mansion.
Just a short walk north on Packer Hill lies The Harry Packer Mansion Inn, which Asa Packer had built as a wedding gift for his son Harry in 1874. The mansion is now a luxurious, adults-only bed and breakfast offering a lovely escape from your ordinary routine. This magnificent home features a mix of Gothic features and elegant design, including marble fireplaces and gilded mirrors. And here's some trivia for your next dinner party: the mansion's outstanding architectural design actually inspired Disney's Haunted Mansion!
While you can't tour the Harry Packer Mansion, keep an eye out for their murder mystery weekends when guests of the B&B are transported back in time to investigate the mysterious deaths of various members of the Packer family. If you'd like to join in the murder mystery fun but are staying elsewhere, check their Facebook page to see if there are any slots available. You can also enjoy their Libations Lounge on Friday and Saturday evenings whenever there's no murder mystery to be solved.
3. Camelback Resort
A fun destination to explore in the Pocono Mountains all year round is Camelback Resort in Tannersville. In summer, Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark is the perfect family summer vacation destination where you can stay cool and make lifelong memories at Pennsylvania's largest outdoor waterpark. Enjoy 37 rides and thrilling slides including the adventure river, wave and kiddie pools, splash zones, Olympic pool, and the eight-track water slide, Rival Racer, or learn to surf at one of their Flowrider sessions.
Camelback's indoor waterpark, Aquatopia, offers the perfect fun-filled water adventure in colder months or when the weather doesn't cooperate. The park is open year-round and features 13 slides, a wave pool, an adventure river that runs underground, multilevel play and spray structures, a toddler area, a simulated surfing experience, and even a swim-up bar!
In winter, Camelback is your prime destination for snowy fun with 39 trails, 166 skiable acres, and 42 snowtubing lanes. Capturing USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice top spot for snow tubing in 2023, their massive snow tubing park is simply Galactic with its epic night tubing experience. In addition, their adaptive skiing and snowboarding program ensures nobody has to miss out on all the snowy fun.
You can ditch the skiing and swimming goggles for some indoor fun all year round with their laser tag, rock climbing, indoor ropes course, and bumper car adventures. They even have an escape room, a two-level arcade with plenty of games, rides, and lots of prizes, and a virtual reality experience, or grab some outdoor fun in all but winter with their mountain coaster ride, ziplines, off-road UTV trek, and “sunbowl tubing.” It's easy to see why Camelback Resort is a go-to destination in spring, summer, winter, and fall!
4. Pocono Raceway
Known as The Tricky Triangle among NASCAR drivers and car racing enthusiasts, the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway is among the coolest attractions in the Pocono Mountains region. Here's your chance to see for yourself amazing professional NASCAR races in person, especially if you've never been to one. Between the speed, the smell of burnt rubber, the roar of the engines, and the thrill of competition, visiting Pocono Raceway is essential for adrenaline junkies and those simply looking for some unique experiences.
Pocono Raceway hosts several major racing events throughout the year, including:
- NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Xfinity Series
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
- ARCA Menards Series
Want to make the most of race weekend? You can pitch a tent or park your RV at the raceway's GEICO Grandstand Campground. As an added bonus on NASCAR weekends, kids age 12 or under get in free to both the campground and the 100 and 200 levels of the Grandstand with lots of fun kid-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained. Along with their top-rated and inclusive playground, there's Tricky's Kit Camp interactive soft-play area for little ones and “recess” with a NASCAR driver.
There's plenty to do on non-race days, including a free, 45-minute tour of The Tricky Triangle held Wednesdays-Saturdays throughout the summer. For the ultimate raceway experience, book one of their Driving School experiences and ride shotgun as an experienced driver takes you around the racetrack at super-fast speeds. You can even drive a NASCAR-style car around the track on your own! Ever wonder how your car would perform on the track? You can test that out too!
This superspeedway is located at 1234 Long Pond Road in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, just south of the Maple Tract Preserve. You can get tickets for Pocono Raceway events online or visit the ticket office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Be sure to stop by the Pocono Raceway Fan Store, which is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Quick tip: This might seem obvious, but NASCAR races are extremely loud, so high-quality ear protection is highly recommended, especially for little ones.
5. Lehigh Gorge State Park
Nature enthusiasts will find there are lots of outdoor adventures and things to do in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. Prepare to fall in love with Lehigh Gorge State Park. This beautiful, 6,107-acre park along the gorgeous Lehigh River stretches from the Francis E. Walter Dam to the town of Jim Thorpe, spanning both Luzerne and Carbon counties.
In warmer months, enjoy hiking, biking, and nature watching along the 20-mile Lehigh Gorge Trail, part of the much longer D&L Trail. The river provides plenty of opportunities for fishing and adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting adventures as you navigate the class II to III rapids and soar through the deep, steep-walled gorge with its thick vegetation, rock outcroppings, and waterfalls.
When the snow falls, you can cross-country ski along the Lehigh Gorge Trail or snowmobile on a 15-mile section of the trail from White Haven to Penn Haven Junction. The park is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, with all day-use areas closing at dusk. Lehigh Gorge State Park is conveniently located just two hours away from both Philadelphia and New York City, and the perfect way to spend a day in Pennsylvania's great outdoors.
6. Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz
If you're looking for a unique and quirky way to explore greater Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, we have the tour for you! Get ready to strap on a helmet and don goggles for a trip of a lifetime with Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz.
You'll choose your route from a variety of tour packages, including a wine tasting option complete with breathtaking views. Their guided tours last anywhere from 90 minutes to a few hours. You'll board a vintage sidecar for your cruising adventure. Along the way, your super friendly and knowledgeable driver/guide will keep you entertained with stories about the town and area you may not hear anywhere else.
Each of their comfy and cozy sidecars can accommodate two passengers so can surprise your best buddy or “nearest and dearest” with a fun ride with plenty of stops for those all-important photo ops! Advance reservations are required, then sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!