Sometimes God leads us to places we never expected to be.
Our recent stay at Lackawanna State Park came about because of difficult circumstances.
Our grandson was involved in an ATV accident and spent 12 days in the hospital in Scranton. Wanting to stay close by, both our son and daughter-in-law, as well as Shawn and I, brought our campers to the area.
Lackawanna State Park is only about 20 to 25 minutes from the hospital, making it the perfect place for our family during this difficult season.
While we would never have chosen the circumstances, we are incredibly thankful that God led us to this beautiful place.
First Impressions
The first thing we noticed was how peaceful and quiet the campground is. Even with plenty of campers around, it never felt crowded or noisy. After emotionally exhausting days, returning to such a peaceful setting was a blessing.
The campground itself is beautiful, with spacious sites and lovely views throughout the park. We were also pleasantly surprised to find full hookup sites for less than $50 a night, which is an incredible value these days.
The Campground
The newer campground loop is nicely laid out with paved roads and roomy sites. While there are some open areas, the surrounding woods still provide a beautiful natural setting.
One thing we especially appreciated was simply how quiet everything was. We felt like we needed to whisper while walking around.
The Beautiful Lake
Lackawanna Lake quickly became one of our favorite parts of the park.
The lake is absolutely gorgeous and offers wonderful opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and boating. Since only electric motors are permitted, it helps maintain the peaceful atmosphere.
Shawn was successful in catching some fish during our stay, which always makes for a happy camper!
We loved spending time by the lake with Cooper and Penny, simply enjoying the scenery and soaking in the beauty around us.
Looking across the water, we couldn’t help but imagine how breathtaking it must be in the fall when the colorful leaves are reflected on the lake.
In fact, we loved it so much that we have already booked another stay in October.
Walking Trails
One of our favorite discoveries was the Trolley Trail.
Because much of the park is quite hilly, we often drove to the trailhead so we could enjoy a flatter walk with the dogs. The trail is peaceful, scenic, and perfect for leisurely walks.
If you enjoy getting outside but prefer gentler terrain, the Trolley Trail is definitely worth checking out.
Other Amenities
Lackawanna State Park has so much to offer visitors:
- Full hookup RV sites
- Modern bathhouses with hot showers
- A nice swimming pool and splash area
- Boat rentals
- Fishing opportunities
- Picnic areas and pavilions
- Playgrounds
- Hiking and biking trails
- Disc golf
- Environmental education programs
- Pet-friendly camping
The swimming pool looked especially nice and would be a wonderful place for families to cool off during the summer.
A Few Things to Consider
Our biggest downside was simply the hills. The park is definitely hilly in many areas, so those with mobility concerns may prefer driving to some of the flatter sections of the park.
During part of our stay, we also experienced smoky conditions due to the Canadian wildfires. Of course, that had nothing to do with the park itself, but it did make for some hazy days and limited some of the beautiful long-distance views. You might notice that some of our pictures look a little smoky.
Final Thoughts
This was not a trip we would have chosen.
But it became one we will never forget.
Lackawanna State Park provided our family with a place of rest during a very difficult season. It gave us beauty in the middle of heartache and reminded us that God often provides unexpected blessings along the way.
Sometimes His blessings come in places we never expected.
For us, one of those blessings was discovering this peaceful and beautiful park.
Would we return?
Absolutely.
In fact, we already have our October reservation booked.
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pros
- Peaceful and quiet atmosphere
- Beautiful lake views
- Great fishing and kayaking opportunities
- Spacious campsites
- Full hookups at an amazing price
- Nice swimming pool
- Great walking trails
- Dog friendly
- Convenient location near Scranton
Cons
- The park is quite hilly in places.
I would also add one final line at the end:
Sometimes God places unexpected blessings along difficult roads, and for our family, Lackawanna State Park became one of those blessings.