Region

Pocono Mountains

Base in Stroudsburg or Tannersville for 2 nights; drive everywhere — there is almost no public transport.

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Key facts · United States

Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

The Poconos are 2,400 square miles of wooded hills in northeastern Pennsylvania, 1.5–2 hours by car from New York City and Philadelphia. There is no passenger rail and almost no useful bus network, so a car decides what you can do. Sleep in one place — Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg for the Delaware Water Gap and Bushkill Falls, Tannersville for outlet shopping and Camelback, Hawley for Lake Wallenpaupack — and day-trip the rest. Two nights covers one hiking day and one lake or ski day; three nights if you add a race weekend or a waterpark.

Where to sleep

6 places in this region

Sleep base

StroudsburgCity guide
Main street food and rooms; gateway to the Delaware Water Gap.
Best May–Oct
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East StroudsburgCity guide
Closest base for Bushkill Falls and the national recreation area.
Best May–Oct
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Open East Stroudsburg →
TannersvilleCity guide
Outlet shopping, Camelback and Big Pocono State Park.
Best Jun–Aug, Dec–Mar
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Open Tannersville →
HawleyCity guide
Lake Wallenpaupack; quieter, better for boating and fall colour.
Best May–Oct
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Open Hawley →

Day trip

Shawnee on DelawareCity guide
Resort village on the river; rafting and golf.
Best May–Oct, Jan–Mar
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Open Shawnee on Delaware →
Sterling, Wayne CountyCity guide
Lake country in the northeast corner; more lakes than any other county in the state.
Best May–Oct
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Open Sterling, Wayne County →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: Stroudsburg or East Stroudsburg 2 — one hiking day, one lake or outlet day
3 nights: Stroudsburg 2 + Hawley 1 for Lake Wallenpaupack
4 nights: Tannersville 2 + Hawley 2, with a race weekend or waterpark day

Deer and other wildlife cross the roads, especially at dusk — drive slower than the limit on PA 940 and PA 611.
Ski conditions in the Poconos are often icy; helmets are recommended.
Store food properly when camping — black bears are present across the region.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Bushkill Falls	East Stroudsburg	30 min	unknown	Paid attraction with boardwalk trails; check current hours and admission before driving out.
Hickory Run State Park (Boulder Field)	Tannersville	45 min	unknown	44 miles of trails; the Boulder Field is the draw. Free entry.
Lake Wallenpaupack	Hawley	10 min	unknown	One of Pennsylvania's largest lakes; boat launches and marinas around the shore.
Jim Thorpe and Lehigh Gorge	Tannersville	50 min	unknown	Glen Onoko access for gorge trails; the town is a separate half-day.

Bags between cities

No rail link, so luggage goes in the car. If you arrive by bus, pick a base within walking distance of the stop.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Stroudsburg	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	×
East Stroudsburg	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
Tannersville	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	go	×	×	ok	go
Hawley	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	×	×
Shawnee on Delaware	go	go	go	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	×	ok
Sterling, Wayne County	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
United States (country-wide)	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Pocono plateauWhole region, 300–600 m elevation	cold	cold	cool	ok	best	best	hot	hot	best	best	cool	cold

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windows

Pocono plateau: Summer days reach the low 30s °C with high humidity; winter brings several large snowstorms, most likely late December to mid-March. Fall colour runs in three zones across the plateau, usually late September to late October.

Best months are May–June and September–October. Ski season depends on snowmaking; the region is one of the southernmost major ski areas in the United States.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP)	Stroudsburg / Mount Pocono	Rental car	~1 h to Stroudsburg	Closest airport; American, Delta and United with direct service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Lehigh Valley International (ABE)	Tannersville / Stroudsburg	Rental car	~1 h	Larger than AVP with a wider destination list; south of the region.
New York City	Stroudsburg	I-80 west, or Martz Trailways bus	~2 h by car	Bus stops include Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg and Mount Pocono; check the current timetable.
Philadelphia	Stroudsburg	I-476 north then I-80 east	~2 h	The other main drive-in market; Route 33 is the southern approach.

Regional passes

Verdict first

State park entry

buy

Most Pennsylvania state parks in the region, including Hickory Run, Promised Land, Tobyhanna and Big Pocono, charge no entry fee.

Ski lift tickets

check

Buy online ahead for weekend dates; walk-up window prices are higher. Resorts include Camelback, Blue Mountain, Shawnee, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Elk Mountain and Snö Mountain.

Outlet shopping

check

The Crossings Premium Outlets in Tannersville is the main stop; join the centre's club for extra coupons.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Breakfast diners	Lake Harmony and the Route 940 corridor	Breakfast is the reliable meal; kitchens in smaller towns close early on weeknights.
Pizza and Italian-American	Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg	Main street has the densest cluster of restaurants; book on race and ski weekends.
Winery and brewery tasting	Saylorsburg, Kunkletown and Stroudsburg	The Pocono Wine Trail covers Monroe and Northampton county wineries; check opening days, many are weekend-only.

Go next

Northeastern Pennsylvania

planned

I-80 or I-81

The parent region: Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley.

Coal Region

planned

I-81 south then PA 61, ~1 h 30

Industrial heritage towns and anthracite history.

Endless Mountains

planned

US 6 west, ~1 h 30

Quieter ridges and river valleys northwest of the Poconos.

New York

I-80 east, ~2 h

The usual next stop if you flew into the region by car.

Mid-Atlantic

I-476 south to Philadelphia, ~2 h

Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington by train from there.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 4 bases
Day trips: 4, 10 min to 50 min
Nights suggested: 2–4 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

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Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

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