Tompkins Campground, Lawrenceville, PA

Introduction / Overview

For residents of Pennsylvania seeking an authentic, relaxing, and waterfront camping experience, Tompkins Campground, nestled on the scenic shores of Cowanesque Lake in Lawrenceville, PA, presents an outstanding choice. Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this destination is revered by local campers for its pristine location, spacious sites, and the sheer beauty of its surrounding Tioga County wilderness. The campground is situated on the north shore of the expansive Cowanesque Lake, offering many sites with truly breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the water. It’s an ideal setting for Pennsylvanians looking to escape the rush of urban life and immerse themselves in nature, with all the necessary comforts of a well-maintained facility.

Tompkins Campground caters to a variety of outdoor enthusiasts, from those with large recreational vehicles (RVs) and trailers up to 58 feet long, to families preferring traditional tent camping and even adventurous groups utilizing the primitive hike-in sites. The overall atmosphere is quiet and peaceful, making it a highly recommended spot for a tranquil retreat. While embracing the spirit of the outdoors—with ample opportunities for building campfires and enjoying the surrounding forest—the campground also incorporates key features like clean restrooms and planned family activities, ensuring a balanced experience for all ages. Customer feedback consistently highlights the cleanliness, the spaciousness of the sites, and the unparalleled lake views, often citing the shoreline sites, particularly in the popular Bench Loop area, as truly amazing.

Location and Accessibility

Tompkins Campground is conveniently located at 66 N Shore Ln, Lawrenceville, PA 16929, USA, placing it in Northern Pennsylvania’s scenic Tioga County. This location is easily accessible for residents across the state, particularly those traveling from Central or Western Pennsylvania, via major routes like U.S. Highway 15 (which connects North to New York State and South into the heart of PA).

The campground's direct proximity to the 1,085-acre Cowanesque Lake is its defining feature. As a federally owned lake within a 2,734-acre park, Cowanesque Lake offers open access for boating with no horsepower restrictions, making it a haven for water sports enthusiasts. While the setting is remote enough to provide a true wilderness feel—and is noted for having limited or spotty cell service and Wi-Fi access, encouraging a digital detox—it is not isolated. Campers are only about 15 minutes away from nearby towns for essential shopping and dining needs, including the town of Lawrenceville. Furthermore, the campground serves as a great launch point for visiting iconic Pennsylvania attractions, such as the breathtaking vistas of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Pine Creek Gorge) at Leonard Harrison State Park, less than an hour's drive away.

Services Offered

Tompkins Campground offers a wide array of services and hookup options to accommodate diverse camping needs, all managed with the high standards of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Hookup Variety: Provides a total of 86 family campsites with a mix of utility options. This includes 52 sites offering full hook-ups (Electric, Water, and Sewer), and 31 sites with Electric and Water only, accommodating both tent campers and large RVs.
Primitive and Hike-In Sites: Features a selection of 24 primitive sites and 16 designated primitive hike-in sites for those seeking a more traditional, secluded tent camping experience.
Dump Station: A convenient dump station is provided for the disposal of black/gray water for RVs and trailers without sewer hook-ups.
Clean Comfort Facilities: Includes modern comfort stations with flush toilets and hot showers, which are frequently praised by visitors for their cleanliness.
Water Access: Potable water stations are available throughout the park, ensuring campers have easy access to drinking water.
Lakeside Amenities: The campground provides its own boat launch and mooring facilities exclusively for registered campers, a significant advantage for boat owners.
On-Site Concessions: A snack shack is available, offering amenities like ice cream, a variety of food options, and other camping necessities.

Features / Highlights

The features of Tompkins Campground emphasize recreation, relaxation, and a strong sense of community, making it a favorite for Pennsylvania families.

Stunning Waterfront Sites: The "Bench Loop" and other shoreline sites (like the highly-rated P16) offer spectacular, up-close views of Cowanesque Lake, often with the lake right outside the site.
Spacious and Clean Campsites: Sites are consistently noted for being very spacious, clean, and often paved with grassy areas, providing ample room for rigs, tents, and relaxing outdoors.
Direct Lake Access: A major highlight is the easy, private access to Cowanesque Lake for boating, water skiing, kayaking, and fishing, which is excellent for trophy-sized species like tiger muskellunge and large bass.
Swimming Beach: Features a designated beach area at the Tompkins Recreation Area, perfect for families to swim and cool off safely in the lake during the summer.
Family Entertainment: Offers planned family activities, including movie nights in the RV camp area and games for children, fostering a friendly community spirit.
Hiking Opportunities: Located near the Moccasin Trail, which follows the north shore of Cowanesque Lake, providing an easy, scenic hike directly accessible from the campground.

Contact Information

Pennsylvania locals interested in securing a spot for a quiet, lakeside getaway at Tompkins Campground should use the following information for reservations and inquiries. Note that reservations are primarily handled through the National Recreation Reservation Service.

Address: 66 N Shore Ln, Lawrenceville, PA 16929, USA

Phone: (570) 835-5281 (Project Office for Information)

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

Tompkins Campground is exceptionally well-suited for Pennsylvania residents because it delivers a premium, yet accessible, outdoor experience managed by a reliable federal agency (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). It perfectly encapsulates the desirable balance of Northern Pennsylvania’s appeal: deep natural beauty and quiet relaxation coupled with abundant recreational opportunities. The campground’s biggest selling point is the direct, uninhibited access to the massive Cowanesque Lake, offering premier boating and fishing without horsepower restrictions—a truly valued feature for local boaters.

For families, the blend of spacious, safe sites, clean amenities, and organized activities (like the snack shack and movie nights) makes planning a trip effortless and fun. For those seeking peace, the quiet hours and remote setting provide the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life, encouraging a true digital break (due to limited cell service). Tompkins Campground offers Pennsylvania locals a high-quality, memorable, and relaxing destination right in their backyard.