Long Pond is best for Pocono Raceway, UTV rides, waterfalls, lake hikes, and easy day trips to Camelback.
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With Pocono Raceway, off-road trails, state parks, and waterparks close together, the list of things to do in Long Pond, PA works best as a Pocono base plan rather than a single downtown stroll. The strongest trip mixes one high-energy activity with one lake, waterfall, or mountain stop each day.
Long Pond sits in Monroe County in the Pocono Mountains, so distances matter. A car helps, especially if you want to combine the raceway area with Tobyhanna State Park, Big Pocono State Park, Camelback Resort, or Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area in the same weekend.
Long Pond Activities: Races, Water, Trails, And Resorts
Long Pond activities are strongest when you build the trip around one anchor: racing, off-road riding, a waterpark, or a state-park day. Families usually do best with Kalahari or Camelback, while couples and friend groups get more variety from Pocono Raceway, UTV rides, waterfalls, and lake time.
Pocono Raceway is the town’s headline attraction. Race weekends bring the biggest crowds, but the raceway area also supports guided UTV rides and driving experiences, so Long Pond is not only a summer race stop.
For guided outdoor activities near the raceway and the wider Pocono area, compare the options after choosing your travel dates:
Pocono Raceway And UTV Riding
Pocono Raceway is the best first stop if your Long Pond trip is built around speed, motorsports, or an event weekend. The track’s 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle” is the landmark that makes Long Pond nationally known.
Race days need more planning than a normal Pocono weekend. Lodging fills early, local roads slow down, and restaurants near Route 940 and Route 115 get busy after events. If you are not attending a race, visit the raceway area on a non-event day and pair it with a guided UTV ride nearby.
- Best for: NASCAR fans, car lovers, friend groups, and event trips.
- Time needed: A full day for a race; about half a day for a driving or UTV-focused outing.
- Planning tip: Check the raceway calendar before locking in hotel dates, because event weekends change prices across the area.
Tobyhanna State Park And Lake Time
Tobyhanna State Park is the best nature day near Long Pond if you want water, woods, and an easy pace. The park has a 170-acre lake inside a 5,440-acre state park, according to Pennsylvania’s official Tobyhanna State Park page.
Summer visitors come for boating, fishing, swimming areas, and picnic space. Fall visitors get quieter trails and better color around the lake, while winter can bring cross-country skiing or snow-covered walking routes when conditions cooperate.
| Experience | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pocono Raceway | Paid event or driving experience | Race fans and groups planning around a calendar date |
| Pocono Outdoor Adventure Tours | Paid guided UTV tour | Travelers who want forest trails without bringing their own vehicle |
| Alvin’s Offroad Playground | Paid off-road riding area | ATV, dirt bike, and side-by-side riders |
| Tobyhanna State Park | Mostly free outdoor day | Lake walks, paddling, fishing, picnics, and low-cost family time |
| Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area | Free hiking and waterfall stop | A short trail day with Tobyhanna Creek scenery |
| Kalahari Resorts Poconos | Paid indoor waterpark | Families who need a weatherproof day |
| Big Pocono State Park | Free scenic drive and hiking | Mountain views, fall color, and a Camelback-area add-on |
Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area For Waterfalls
Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area is the best short hike near Long Pond when you want moving water without a hard mountain climb. The preserve sits near Blakeslee and has creekside trails, picnic areas, and Tobyhanna Falls.
The trails are short enough for a relaxed half-day, but roots and wet spots can make the footing uneven after rain. Wear real walking shoes, bring bug spray in warm months, and use the stop as a quiet counterweight to Kalahari, Camelback, or raceway noise.
Kalahari And Camelback For Family Days
Kalahari Resorts Poconos and Camelback Resort are the easiest family add-ons from Long Pond because both turn bad weather into a usable trip day. Kalahari is the indoor-waterpark pick, while Camelback adds skiing, snow tubing, mountain rides, outdoor waterpark time, and Big Pocono State Park access nearby.
Kalahari works well when kids need one contained day with slides, pools, dining, and resort activities under one roof. Camelback works better when your group wants a bigger mountain-resort day, especially in winter or summer when the outdoor attractions are running.
Good pairing: Use Kalahari for a rainy day, then save Big Pocono State Park or Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area for the clearest weather.
How Many Days Do You Need In Long Pond?
Two days is enough for the main Long Pond highlights if you choose one paid activity and one outdoor stop each day. Three days is better if your trip includes a Pocono Raceway event, since race weekends can eat a whole day.
A one-day visit should stay tight: pick Pocono Raceway or Kalahari as the anchor, then add a short hike or dinner nearby. A weekend lets you balance paid attractions with free outdoor time, which is the easiest way to keep the trip from feeling like a chain of ticketed stops.
| Time Available | Best Plan | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| One day | Pocono Raceway area plus Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area | High-energy morning, short waterfall walk later |
| Two days | UTV ride, Tobyhanna State Park, Kalahari, casual dinner | Good mix of paid fun and low-cost outdoor time |
| Three days | Raceway event, lake day, Camelback or Big Pocono State Park | Enough room for event traffic and weather changes |
| Winter weekend | Camelback skiing or tubing, Kalahari, quiet park walk | Cold-weather activities stay close together |
Getting Around Long Pond
Long Pond is easiest with a car because the best stops spread across rural Pocono roads rather than a walkable town center. Rideshares can be limited outside resort areas, especially late at night or after major events.
Drivers should expect two-lane roads, deer at dusk, and heavier traffic near Pocono Raceway on event days. In winter, check conditions before driving to higher elevations around Camelback or Big Pocono State Park.
If you are flying into the region or planning several park and resort stops, compare rental options before arrival:
Where To Stay For Easy Access
The best place to stay depends on your anchor activity: stay near Long Pond for Pocono Raceway, near Mount Pocono for Kalahari, or near Tannersville for Camelback and Big Pocono State Park. Lake Naomi and Pocono Pines also work well for cabin-style stays close to Long Pond.
Race weekends are the one time location matters more than amenities. Being closer to the track can save a long post-event drive, while families visiting waterparks may prefer a resort stay with on-site dining.
Compare lodging around Long Pond, Pocono Raceway, Mount Pocono, and Tannersville on a map before choosing a base:
Best Long Pond Plan By Traveler Type
Long Pond works best when you match the day to your group instead of trying to do every nearby Pocono attraction. Race fans, families, hikers, and off-road riders all have different best versions of the same town.
- For race fans: Build the trip around Pocono Raceway, stay close to Long Pond, and leave the evening loose for traffic.
- For families: Use Kalahari or Camelback as the anchor, then add Tobyhanna State Park for cheaper outdoor time.
- For couples: Pair Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area with dinner near Mount Pocono or Tannersville.
- For outdoor travelers: Split time between Tobyhanna State Park, Big Pocono State Park, and a creekside trail.
- For friend groups: Pick a UTV ride or raceway experience first, then choose lodging near the activity rather than chasing the lowest nightly rate far away.
The safest all-around weekend is one paid anchor, one lake or waterfall stop, one good meal, and lodging close enough that mountain roads do not become the hardest part of the trip.
References & Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.“Tobyhanna State Park.”Supports the park size, lake size, and official state-park details used in the article.