The Poconos are two hours from New York and Philadelphia, and they have been the Northeast’s easy mountain escape for a century: honeymoon resorts with heart-shaped tubs, lake cabins, small ski hills, river towns and state parks where the fall color rivals New England’s. The best things to do in the Poconos depend on the season and on which corner of the four counties you pick, because Jim Thorpe, the Delaware Water Gap and Lake Wallenpaupack are an hour apart. This guide sorts it out, with drive times, 2026 closures and where to stay for what.
Quick answer: For a first trip, base yourself near Stroudsburg or Jim Thorpe. Spend a day on the Delaware River and at Raymondskill Falls in the Delaware Water Gap, a day in Jim Thorpe with the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway and the Asa Packer Mansion, and a morning at Bushkill Falls or Hickory Run’s Boulder Field. Families add an indoor water park; couples add a spa resort or one of the famous couples resorts. Come in October for color, summer for the lakes and river, and winter for skiing.
Last updated September 28, 2026. Hours, fees, closures and event dates were checked on September 24, 2026 against the National Park Service, Pennsylvania DCNR and each attraction’s website.
- Closed in 2026: Dingmans Falls (NPS construction), Glen Onoko Falls (trail rebuild, no reopening date) and Camelback’s outdoor Camelbeach water park. Pocono Palace, one of the couples resorts, has closed.
- This fall: the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway’s Autumn Leaf trains run daily from September 26 to November 15, and Jim Thorpe’s Fall Foliage Festival fills October 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18.
- Fees: the Delaware Water Gap has no entrance fee, but some beaches and sites charge amenity fees in season. Pennsylvania state parks are free.
- Racing: Pocono Raceway now hosts one NASCAR Cup race a year, in June.
On this page: Towns and drive times | Outdoors | Towns and history | Families | Adults and couples | By season | Where to stay | Where to eat | Day trips | Rainy days | A weekend plan | Hiking | Getting there | Worth it? | What’s changed | FAQ
Things to Do in the Poconos: Towns and Drive Times
The Pocono Mountains cover four counties in northeastern Pennsylvania: Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. It’s a plateau more than a range, with lakes, rivers and forests rather than big peaks, and each corner has its own character. Drive times below are free-flow estimates; add time on Friday evenings, when traffic out of New York and New Jersey backs up on I-80.
| Base | County | Known for | From New York City | From Philadelphia | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroudsburg and Delaware Water Gap | Monroe | Main Street, the river, the national recreation area | 1 hour 20 minutes | 1 hour 45 minutes | First-timers, outdoors |
| Mount Pocono and Tannersville | Monroe | Camelback, water-park resorts, the casino, outlets | 1 hour 45 minutes | 2 hours | Families, skiers |
| Jim Thorpe | Carbon | Victorian town, Lehigh Gorge, rafting, the scenic railway | 2 hours | 1.5 hours | Couples, history, fall color |
| Lake Harmony | Carbon | Jack Frost and Big Boulder, lake cabins | 2 hours | 1 hour 45 minutes | Skiers, groups |
| Milford | Pike | Grey Towers, Raymondskill Falls, the upper river | 1.5 hours | 2.5 hours | Couples, history |
| Hawley and Lake Wallenpaupack | Wayne and Pike | The big lake, resorts, small-town dining | 2 hours | 2 hours 45 minutes | Families, boaters |
A few Pocono favorites have their own statewide guides: the waterfalls sit among the best waterfalls in Pennsylvania, the ski areas among the ski resorts in Pennsylvania, the indoor water parks among the amusement parks in Pennsylvania, and the grand old lodges among the best resorts in Pennsylvania. They all get short entries below, so you can plan the whole region from one page.
Outdoors: Rivers, Waterfalls and State Parks (1-10)
The Poconos’ best days are outside, and most of the parks here are free. Start with the Delaware River and the waterfalls, then add the state parks on your side of the region.
1. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Free entry, some amenity fees; spring to fall; Monroe and Pike counties. The Delaware River cuts a deep notch through Kittatinny Ridge here, and the national recreation area follows the river for miles on both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides. Paddle or tube the river on a summer day, hike Mount Minsi on the Pennsylvania side for the view into the Gap, and drive US 209 north past old farmsteads and trailheads. Across the river in New Jersey, Millbrook Village recreates a 19th-century farm hamlet, and the Pocono Environmental Education Center runs nature programs on the Pennsylvania side. There’s no entrance fee, but the park charges amenity fees at some beaches and sites in season, which pay for lifeguards and upkeep.
Plan it: The borough of Delaware Water Gap, off I-80 at the Pennsylvania end of the bridge, is the natural starting point; about 1 hour 20 minutes from New York City and 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Canoe and tube outfitters operate along the river in summer. Check the NPS conditions page for closures. Allow a full day. Best for: outdoors, families.
2. Raymondskill Falls
Free; spring to fall; south of Milford. A three-tiered waterfall that the Park Service calls the tallest in Pennsylvania, reached by a short, steep trail with stairs. With Dingmans Falls closed for construction, this is the waterfall to see in the national recreation area. Until September 30 each year the creek below the lower falls, including the pool, is closed, but the Raymondskill Falls Trail itself stays open.
Plan it: The trailhead is off US 209 south of Milford, about 2.5 hours from Philadelphia and 1.5 hours from New York. Wear shoes with grip. Allow an hour. Best for: outdoors, photographers.
3. Bushkill Falls
Paid; spring to late fall; Pike County. A private park that bills itself as “the Niagara of Pennsylvania,” with eight waterfalls strung along boardwalks and stairs through a hemlock gorge. The name oversells it, but the main falls are genuinely tall and the trails, from a short loop to a longer circuit past all eight, are well built.
Plan it: Off US 209 near Bushkill, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia. Expect lots of stairs. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Best for: families, first-timers.
4. Hickory Run State Park and the Boulder Field
Free; spring to fall; Carbon County. A flat, treeless field of boulders left by the last ice age, big enough to look unreal from the edge, and a National Natural Landmark. Kids treat it like a giant jungle gym; adults should watch their ankles. The rest of the park has trails, a lake beach and campgrounds.
Plan it: Just off I-80 near White Haven, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Free, like every Pennsylvania state park. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Best for: families, outdoors.
5. Lehigh Gorge State Park and its rail trail
Free; spring to fall; Carbon and Luzerne counties. The Lehigh River runs through a deep, wooded gorge between White Haven and Jim Thorpe, and an old railroad grade along the river makes one of the best easy bike rides in the state. Outfitters in Jim Thorpe rent bikes and run shuttles, so you can ride one way, mostly downhill, back to town.
Plan it: Start from Jim Thorpe or White Haven. Allow half a day. Best for: outdoors, families.
6. Whitewater rafting on the Lehigh
Paid; late spring to summer, some fall trips; Jim Thorpe. On scheduled release weekends, the Francis E. Walter Dam upstream raises the Lehigh to Class II and III whitewater, and outfitters run 12-mile trips through the gorge. Jim Thorpe River Adventures listed 2026 release weekends from May 9 to August 30; ask outfitters about fall trips and gentler float days outside the release schedule.
Plan it: Book with an outfitter in Jim Thorpe; trips take 4 to 5 hours. Best for: adventurous groups, older kids.
7. Big Pocono State Park
Free; spring to fall; above Tannersville. A summit road loops the top of Camelback Mountain with views into three states and picnic tables for sunset. It’s the fastest big view in the Poconos, and it takes no hike at all.
Plan it: Off Camelback Road above Tannersville, about 2 hours from Philadelphia. Allow an hour. Best for: couples, photographers.
8. Promised Land State Park
Free; year-round; Pike County. Two lakes, miles of trails and a historic district of rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, deep in the Delaware State Forest. It’s the quiet, old-fashioned Poconos: swimming in summer, paddling and color in October, snowshoeing in winter.
Plan it: North of Canadensis on PA 390, about 2.5 hours from Philadelphia and 2 hours from New York. Cabins and campsites are booked through DCNR. Allow a day. Best for: families, outdoors.
9. Lake Wallenpaupack
Free to see, rentals paid; summer; Wayne and Pike counties. The Poconos’ biggest lake, a hydroelectric reservoir from the 1920s, is ringed by marinas, beaches and summer houses. Rent a pontoon, swim, eat ice cream in Hawley and repeat. On summer weekends, expect boat traffic and full lots.
Plan it: Base in Hawley, at the north end, about 2 hours from New York. Allow a day. Best for: families, boaters.
10. Skiing and snow tubing
Paid; December to March; across the region. The Poconos have the closest cluster of ski areas to New York and Philadelphia. Camelback and Blue Mountain are on the Ikon Pass, Jack Frost and Big Boulder are Vail resorts on the Epic Pass, and Shawnee Mountain sits right by the Delaware Water Gap. The hills are modest, but snowmaking is serious, and night skiing is a local habit.
Plan it: Weekdays are far less crowded than holiday weekends. Best for: families, skiers.
Towns and History (11-18)
The Poconos’ towns grew up on coal, railroads, lumber and, later, tourism. These are the ones worth a day.
11. Jim Thorpe
Free to wander; year-round, peak in October; Carbon County. A Victorian coal-and-railroad town wedged into the Lehigh Gorge, once called Mauch Chunk and renamed in 1954 for the Olympic champion Jim Thorpe, who is buried here. Its brick streets, mansions and shops make it the prettiest town in the Poconos, and its 2026 Fall Foliage Festival fills October 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18. Walkers can follow the Switchback Trail along the bed of the old Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway, a gravity coal railroad often called America’s first roller coaster.
Plan it: About 1.5 hours from Philadelphia and 2 hours from New York. On October weekends, arrive early or use the extra lots and shuttles the town adds. Allow a full day. Best for: couples, history.
12. Asa Packer Mansion
Paid; spring to fall; Jim Thorpe. The 1861 Italianate home of Asa Packer, the railroad magnate who founded Lehigh University, is shown on guided tours of about an hour, with much of its original furniture in place. On Fall Foliage Festival weekends, tours are shortened to 30 minutes to handle the crowds.
Plan it: On the hill above the town center; tours have run from 11am, with the last one at 3:30pm. Check current days before you go. Allow an hour. Best for: history.
13. The Old Jail Museum
Paid; spring to fall; Jim Thorpe. The old county jail tells the story of the Molly Maguires, Irish coal miners hanged here in the 1870s, and shows the handprint that one condemned man is said to have left on his cell wall. It’s small, spooky and very Jim Thorpe.
Plan it: A short walk from the town center. Check hours before you go. Allow 45 minutes. Best for: history, the curious.
14. Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Paid; best in fall; Jim Thorpe station. Vintage coaches roll up the gorge from the town’s old station. The Autumn Leaf season runs daily from September 26 to November 15, 2026, with 45-minute round trips; standard coach costs $25 for adults and $9 for kids 3 to 12, and the open-air car $28 and $10, as of September 2026.
Plan it: Presales cover departures until 3pm; later trains are sold the same day at the station window. Allow 1.5 hours with boarding. Best for: families, couples.
15. Stroudsburg’s Main Street
Free; year-round; Monroe County. Stroudsburg, the Monroe County seat, has a walkable Main Street of cafes, restaurants, bars and independent shops, and it’s the most practical base for the Delaware Water Gap side of the Poconos. It’s a real town rather than a resort, which is its charm and its limit.
Plan it: About 1 hour 20 minutes from New York and 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Allow an evening. Best for: first-timers, food lovers.
16. Delaware Water Gap borough and the Appalachian Trail
Free; year-round; at the Gap. The small borough at the Pennsylvania end of the I-80 bridge is where the Appalachian Trail comes down off the ridge and crosses the river into New Jersey, and hikers stock up here. Walk the trail up toward Mount Minsi for a short taste of it, then grab a meal in town.
Plan it: Park in the borough or at the Mount Minsi trailhead. Allow 1 to 3 hours. Best for: hikers, outdoors.
17. Milford and Grey Towers
Grounds free, tours seasonal; Pike County. Milford is a handsome small town on the upper Delaware, and just outside it stands Grey Towers, the stone château of Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service and a two-term Pennsylvania governor. It’s now a national historic site run by the Forest Service, with gardens open to stroll and house tours in the warmer months.
Plan it: About 1.5 hours from New York and 2.5 hours from Philadelphia. Check tour dates before you go. Allow half a day with lunch in town. Best for: history, couples.
18. Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct
Free; year-round; Lackawaxen. Built in 1848 by John A. Roebling, who went on to design the Brooklyn Bridge, this former canal aqueduct across the Delaware is the oldest existing wire suspension bridge in the country, and it still carries a one-lane road. It’s a quick, satisfying stop on the drive up the river.
Plan it: In Lackawaxen, near the New York line, north of Milford. Allow 30 minutes. Best for: history, road-trippers.
Family Fun (19-22)
Families have made the Poconos their summer and winter-break habit for generations. These are the big draws beyond the parks and falls above.
19. Indoor water parks: Kalahari, Great Wolf and Aquatopia
Paid; year-round; the Mount Pocono area. The Poconos have a cluster of big indoor water parks at resorts: Kalahari in Pocono Manor, Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun and Aquatopia at Camelback Lodge. They keep the slides running in January, which makes them the region’s winter-break favorites. Families comparing them with the rest of the amusement parks in Pennsylvania should check day-pass availability with the resort, since most visitors book a room.
Plan it: About 2 hours from Philadelphia and 1 hour 45 minutes from New York. Midweek stays cost less. Allow a full day. Best for: families.
20. Camelback in the warm months
Paid; summer; Tannersville. Camelback’s indoor Aquatopia runs year-round, but its outdoor Camelbeach water park was closed for the 2026 season; Camelback is already selling 2027 Camelbeach season passes; check the resort’s summer activities for the opening date before planning a warm-weather trip around it.
Plan it: Camelback sits beside Big Pocono State Park, so pair it with the summit drive. Best for: families.
21. Pocono Raceway
Paid; race weekends; Long Pond. The “Tricky Triangle,” with three very different corners, now hosts one NASCAR Cup race a year, in June; in 2026 it ran on June 14 as part of a three-race weekend. Outside race weekends, the track hosts other events and driving experiences.
Plan it: About 1 hour 45 minutes from both New York and Philadelphia. Race-weekend traffic is heavy, so arrive early. Best for: racing fans.
22. A Crayola Experience day trip
Paid; year-round; Easton, about 35 minutes south of Stroudsburg. If rain washes out an outdoor day, the Crayola Experience in Easton, just south of the Poconos in the Lehigh Valley, is the best indoor plan for kids under 10: they wrap their own crayon, melt wax and draw on nearly everything.
Plan it: Drive south on PA 33. Allow 3 to 4 hours. Best for: families with young kids.
Adults and Couples (23-27)
The Poconos built their name on honeymoon resorts, and romance is still a big part of the business, alongside spa resorts, golf and a casino.
23. A couples resort with a heart-shaped tub
Paid; year-round; Lake Wallenpaupack or Mount Pocono. The heart-shaped tub was born in the Poconos in the 1960s, and the couples-only resorts that made it famous still run: Cove Haven on Lake Wallenpaupack and Paradise Stream in Mount Pocono, under Cove Pocono Resorts. Their sister resort Pocono Palace has closed. It’s kitsch you’re in on, and that’s the fun.
Plan it: Rates swing widely by suite and season, so compare packages. Adults only. Allow two nights. Best for: couples.
24. A classic Pocono resort or spa
Paid; year-round; across the region. The region’s grand old resorts still set the standard: Skytop Lodge, a 1928 stone lodge on its own lake; The Lodge at Woodloch, an adults-only destination spa near Hawley; and the Shawnee Inn on the Delaware, with its early-1900s golf course. Each is a destination in itself rather than just a place to sleep.
Plan it: Book spa treatments and golf times when you book the room. Allow two or three nights. Best for: couples, golfers.
25. Mount Airy Casino Resort
Free to enter; year-round; Mount Pocono. The region’s casino has tables, slots, restaurants and a golf course, and it doubles as an adults-only hotel. Visitors must be 21 or older to gamble.
Plan it: Off PA 611 in Mount Pocono. Allow an evening. Best for: adults.
26. Outlet shopping in Tannersville
Free to browse; year-round; off I-80. The outlet mall at Tannersville is the Poconos’ main shopping stop and an easy rainy-day errand, especially since Pennsylvania doesn’t charge sales tax on most clothing.
Plan it: Off I-80 at Tannersville. Allow 2 hours. Best for: shoppers.
27. A fall foliage drive
Free; late September to late October; region-wide. Color usually arrives first on the northern plateau around Promised Land and Hawley and last along the Lehigh and the Delaware. A loop from Jim Thorpe up through Lehigh Gorge State Park, or from Milford down US 209 through the Water Gap, is as good as any leaf-peeping road in the Northeast.
Plan it: Go midweek to avoid Jim Thorpe’s festival crowds. Allow a day. Best for: couples, photographers.
The Poconos by Season
Spring (April to May): waterfalls run high with snowmelt, trails are muddy and quiet, and resorts discount. The Lehigh’s dam-release rafting season starts in May.
Summer (June to August): lakes, river tubing, rafting and hiking, with the indoor water parks as the rainy-day backup. Pocono Raceway’s NASCAR weekend comes in June. Book lake cabins early.
Fall (September to November): the Poconos’ best season. Color peaks from early to late October depending on elevation, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs its Autumn Leaf trains through November 15, 2026, and Jim Thorpe’s festival takes over three October weekends.
Winter (December to March): skiing and snow tubing at the ski areas, snowshoeing in the state parks, and water parks and fireplaces for everyone else. Roads on the plateau get icy, so drive carefully and check conditions.
| When | What’s on | Where |
|---|---|---|
| April 15 onward | Amenity fees start at some Delaware Water Gap beaches and sites (2026 date) | Delaware Water Gap NRA |
| May to August | Lehigh River dam-release rafting weekends (May 9 to August 30 in 2026) | Jim Thorpe |
| June | Pocono Raceway’s NASCAR Cup weekend | Long Pond |
| Summer | River tubing, lake season, state park beaches | Region-wide |
| Through September 30 | Seasonal closure of the pool below Raymondskill Falls (the trail stays open) | South of Milford |
| September 26 to November 15, 2026 | Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Autumn Leaf trains, daily | Jim Thorpe |
| October 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18, 2026 | Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival | Jim Thorpe |
| December to March | Ski and snow-tubing season, weather permitting | Camelback, Blue Mountain, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Shawnee |
Where to Stay in the Poconos
Where you stay matters more in the Poconos than in most regions, because the four counties are big and the drive between corners takes an hour. Match the base to the trip.
| Trip | Stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit, outdoors | Stroudsburg or Delaware Water Gap | Closest to the river, the national recreation area and Bushkill Falls. |
| Couples, fall color | Jim Thorpe inns or a Milford B&B | Walkable historic towns with restaurants. |
| Families, water parks | A water-park resort near Mount Pocono | Everything on site; best in winter and on rainy weeks. |
| Ski trips | Lake Harmony or Tannersville | Next to Jack Frost, Big Boulder or Camelback. |
| Lake summer | A cabin or rental on Lake Wallenpaupack | Boating, swimming and a slower pace. |
| Romance | A couples resort or a spa lodge | Built for exactly this. |
| Budget | State park cabins or campgrounds | Promised Land and other parks rent rustic cabins through DCNR. |
Cabin rentals are the Poconos’ specialty, especially around Lake Harmony, Lake Naomi, Arrowhead Lake and Lake Wallenpaupack, and many come with hot tubs and fireplaces. Prices climb on summer weekends, October weekends and ski-season holidays. Book those dates months ahead.
For the cheapest roof over your head, Pennsylvania’s state parks rent rustic cabins and campsites at Promised Land, Hickory Run and other Pocono parks. DCNR takes reservations up to 11 months ahead, with a $6.50 booking fee as of September 2026, and summer and October weekends fill first. Day use of every state park, including parking, is free.
Where to Eat in the Poconos
The Poconos’ food scene is spread thin across small towns, so plan meals around your base. Jim Thorpe has the densest cluster of restaurants, cafes and bars along Broadway and Race Street, and they fill completely on October weekends, so book dinner or eat early. Stroudsburg’s Main Street has the widest range, from breweries to casual ethnic spots. Milford and Hawley have a few serious dinner restaurants that suit couples, and the lake areas lean toward casual pubs, pizza and ice cream. The big resorts have their own dining rooms, which are often the best option on a snowy night.
Two habits help. Many small restaurants cut their hours midweek in the off-season, so check before you drive out on a Tuesday in March. And on summer and fall weekends, anything with a lake view or a fireplace books up first, so reserve when you book your room.
A Day Trip to the Poconos
You can do the Poconos in a day from New York or Philadelphia if you stay focused. From New York, the best day is the Delaware Water Gap side: Bushkill Falls or Raymondskill Falls in the morning, lunch in Milford or Delaware Water Gap, and a river float in summer, all about 1.5 hours from the city. From Philadelphia, go to Jim Thorpe, about 1.5 hours away: ride the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, tour the Asa Packer Mansion, and stop at Hickory Run’s Boulder Field on the way home. Leave early, since both routes crowd up by mid-morning on fall weekends.
Things to Do in the Poconos When It Rains
- An indoor water park: Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge or Camelback’s Aquatopia, if you’re staying there or can get a day pass.
- Jim Thorpe’s museums: the Asa Packer Mansion tour and the Old Jail Museum are both indoors.
- The Crayola Experience: about 35 minutes south in Easton.
- The outlets in Tannersville: covered walkways and plenty of places to eat.
- A waterfall in the rain: Bushkill Falls and Raymondskill Falls are at their fullest after heavy rain, if you have a raincoat and good shoes.
- The casino or a spa: for adults, Mount Airy or a spa day at one of the resorts.
A Weekend in the Poconos
Saturday, the Water Gap side: start early at Bushkill Falls before the crowds, drive up US 209 to Raymondskill Falls and on to Milford for lunch and Grey Towers. In summer, swap the afternoon for a tubing trip on the Delaware. Have dinner in Stroudsburg.
Sunday, Jim Thorpe: drive about an hour west, ride the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, tour the Asa Packer Mansion and the Old Jail Museum, and walk the brick streets. On the way home, stop at Hickory Run’s Boulder Field, just off I-80.
With kids in winter, trade both days for a water-park resort and an afternoon of snow tubing. With a third day, add a morning on Lake Wallenpaupack or a summit sunset at Big Pocono State Park.
Hiking in the Poconos
The Poconos are gentler than the Adirondacks or the Catskills, which makes them good for families and first-time hikers. The classic hard climb is Mount Minsi on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap, where the Appalachian Trail rises steeply from the borough to views over the Gap. Easier choices include the loop trails at Promised Land, the flat rail trail through Lehigh Gorge State Park, the short trail to Raymondskill Falls and the walk out onto Hickory Run’s Boulder Field. After rain, rock is slick everywhere, so wear shoes with real grip and carry water; cell coverage fades in the deeper valleys.
Getting to the Poconos
Most visitors drive. From New York and northern New Jersey, I-80 runs straight across the Delaware at the Water Gap into Stroudsburg; from Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension (I-476) runs north past Jim Thorpe and Lake Harmony; and from Harrisburg, I-81 and I-80 bring you in from the west. The Turnpike is cashless, so use E-ZPass or expect a Toll By Plate bill, which costs more.
| From | To Stroudsburg | To Jim Thorpe | To Lake Wallenpaupack (Hawley) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 1 hour 20 minutes | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Philadelphia | 1 hour 45 minutes | 1.5 hours | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Harrisburg | 2 hours | 1 hour 45 minutes | 2 hours 45 minutes |
These are free-flow estimates. Friday evenings westbound on I-80 and Sunday afternoons eastbound regularly add an hour or more, so leave early, come back late, or make it a three-day weekend. Once you’re here, you need a car: the region’s towns and parks are spread out, and there’s no practical public transit between them.
Are the Poconos Worth It? An Honest Take
For most visitors from New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, yes, as long as you plan around the region’s weak spots. The case for going is strong: real waterfalls and river days within two hours of two huge cities, one of the prettiest small towns in the East in Jim Thorpe, free state parks, and resorts for every kind of trip, from honeymoons to water-park vacations.
The case against is worth knowing, too. The region is spread out, and a lot of time goes into driving between corners. Traffic on I-80 and around Jim Thorpe on October weekends can be miserable. Some resorts and attractions feel dated, many outdoor attractions are seasonal, and several popular waterfalls, including Dingmans and Glen Onoko, are closed in 2026. The fix is simple: pick one base, visit midweek if you can, and treat the Poconos as a place to slow down rather than a checklist.
What’s Changed, and What to Skip
- Dingmans Falls: the access road, visitor center and trail are closed for bridge replacement and trail work, according to the NPS conditions page checked September 24, 2026. See Raymondskill Falls instead.
- Glen Onoko Falls: the trail near Jim Thorpe stays closed while DCNR rebuilds it, with no reopening date. Don’t hike it, whatever older blog posts say.
- Camelbeach: Camelback’s outdoor water park did not open in 2026; the indoor Aquatopia is open.
- Pocono Palace: closed. Cove Haven and Paradise Stream still operate.
- NASCAR: Pocono Raceway has one Cup race a year, in June, not two.
Skip October Saturdays in Jim Thorpe unless you arrive early or use the shuttles; a weekday visit is a different, better town. Skip Friday-evening drives from New York on I-80 if you can leave earlier or later. And skip trying to see all four counties in a weekend; pick one side of the region and enjoy it properly.
Things to Do in the Poconos: FAQ
What is there to do in the Poconos?
The Poconos offer river tubing and rafting, waterfalls such as Bushkill and Raymondskill, state parks like Hickory Run and Promised Land, the Victorian town of Jim Thorpe and its scenic railway, indoor water-park resorts, couples resorts, skiing in winter, Pocono Raceway and a casino. Fall color in October is the biggest draw of all.
What are the best things to do in the Poconos for adults?
Book a couples resort or a spa lodge, walk Jim Thorpe’s streets and tour the Asa Packer Mansion, raft the Lehigh on a release weekend, play golf at a historic resort, and visit Mount Airy Casino Resort. In October, a foliage drive up US 209 through the Delaware Water Gap is hard to beat.
What can you do in the Poconos with kids?
Indoor water parks at Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge and Camelback’s Aquatopia top most family lists, followed by Bushkill Falls, Hickory Run’s Boulder Field, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, lake days on Wallenpaupack and snow tubing in winter. On rainy days, the Crayola Experience in Easton is about 35 minutes south.
How far are the Poconos from New York City?
Stroudsburg and the Delaware Water Gap are about 1 hour 20 minutes from New York City without traffic, and Jim Thorpe and Lake Harmony about 2 hours. Friday-evening traffic on I-80 can add an hour or more, so leave early or travel on Saturday morning.
When is the best time to visit the Poconos?
October is the best month for color, cool weather and fall events, though weekends are busy. Summer is best for lakes, rafting and river tubing, and December through March for skiing and water parks. Spring is the quietest and cheapest time, with high waterfalls and muddy trails.
Are the Pocono waterfalls open?
Most are. Bushkill Falls was open for the season in late September 2026, and Raymondskill Falls’ trail is open. Dingmans Falls is closed for National Park Service construction, and Glen Onoko Falls remains closed while DCNR rebuilds its trail, with no reopening date.
What is there to do in the Poconos when it rains?
Head for an indoor water park, the Asa Packer Mansion and Old Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe, the outlets in Tannersville, a spa or the casino at Mount Airy. The Crayola Experience in Easton is about 35 minutes south, and the waterfalls are at their most dramatic after heavy rain.
Where should you stay in the Poconos?
For a first visit, stay near Stroudsburg or the Delaware Water Gap for the river and waterfalls, or in Jim Thorpe for a walkable historic town. Families should consider a water-park resort near Mount Pocono, skiers Lake Harmony or Tannersville, and couples a spa lodge or a couples resort.
Sources and How We Checked
We checked the hours, fees, closures and dates on this page on September 24, 2026 against the official sources below and compiled the guide from them rather than from first-hand visits. Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap data using the Valhalla routing engine, rounded to the nearest 15 minutes, so add time for weekend traffic.
- National Park Service: Delaware Water Gap fees
- National Park Service: Delaware Water Gap conditions
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: Autumn Leaf 2026
- Bushkill Falls
- Pennsylvania DCNR: state parks
We also used the official sites of Camelback Resort, Cove Pocono Resorts, Pocono Raceway, the Asa Packer Mansion and the Epic and Ikon passes, plus Jim Thorpe River Adventures’ dam-release schedule.
Pennsylvania Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the National Park Service, Pennsylvania DCNR, any resort, ski area, railroad or attraction named here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Promised Land Lake in October: photo by Nicholas, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- The Delaware Water Gap: photo by RollerFanatic000, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Raymondskill Falls: photo by G. Edward Johnson, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- Hickory Run Boulder Field: photo by Adamiglehart, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe: photo by https://www.poconomountainrentals.com/, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe: photo by David Wilson, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Grey Towers, Milford: photo by Jason Quinn, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
- Pocono Raceway: photo by Adam Moss from East Amherst, New York, United States, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Whittaker Lodge, Promised Land State Park: photo by Apc106, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)