Thanksgiving in the Pocono Mountains is that rare kind of weekend where the leaves have mostly fallen, the first snow is teasing the ridgelines, and every lodge, waterfall, and Main Street feels like it was designed for a family reunion. From Tannersville to Hawley, the region trades summer crowds for wood-smoke, buffet trays, and quiet trails that beg to be walked between second helpings of pie.
This guide is written for the people who want a real plan, not a list. We break the weekend into four moods: the Thanksgiving Day feast, the Black Friday and Saturday outdoor reset, the small-town holiday kickoffs that quietly turn the Poconos into a Hallmark set, and the early-season winter fun that keeps kids and teens moving. Every place below has been vetted, sourced with real guest ratings, and paired with the kind of insider notes we share with our own Endless Stays guests.
If you are still choosing where to base yourself, remember that the Poconos are big. Camelback, Skytop, and Shawnee sit along the eastern and central corridor, while Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley, and Honesdale anchor the north. A vacation rental with a hot tub, a pool table, and enough beds for the whole crew is often the difference between a good weekend and one guests talk about for years, which is exactly what we build for at Endless Stays.
Thanksgiving Day Feasts Worth the Reservation
Thanksgiving Day itself is best planned around one big meal, ideally somewhere with a fireplace, a killer view, and someone else doing the dishes. These are the seven Poconos resorts and inns that consistently do Thanksgiving right, ranked here by the vibe of the meal rather than a strict order.
Camelback Resort (Tannersville)
Camelback runs a full Thanksgiving service at Hemispheres, its resort restaurant, with a holiday menu built for families that also want an indoor waterpark, a mountain coaster, and a snow tubing park within walking distance. It is the closest thing in the Poconos to a one-stop Thanksgiving base for kids and teens, and that shows up in the 4.3 rating from nearly 12,000 guest reviews.
- Rating: 4.3 stars, 11,929 reviews
- Address: 193 Resort Dr, Tannersville, PA 18372
- Phone: +1 855-515-1283
- Website: camelbackresort.com
- What to order: Traditional Thanksgiving plate at Hemispheres, followed by Aquatopia hot cocoa
- View on Google Maps
Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center (Pocono Manor)
For multi-generational groups, Kalahari’s Thanksgiving Celebration Buffet in the Kilimanjaro Ballroom is the easy button. Expect roasted turkey, prime rib, bone-in ham, seasonal seafood stations, and a dessert spread that reads like a Thanksgiving Pinterest board. With 22,000+ reviews and a 4.4 average, it is the busiest big-group play in the region, so book weeks ahead.
- Rating: 4.4 stars, 22,652 reviews
- Address: 250 Kalahari Blvd, Pocono Manor, PA 18349
- Phone: (877) 525-2427
- Website: kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania
- What to order: Buffet plate one of turkey and stuffing, plate two entirely from the carving station
- View on Google Maps
Skytop Lodge (Skytop)
Skytop is the old-school Poconos lodge with the Windsor Dining Room buffet running roughly noon to 4 p.m. and the Lakeview Restaurant handling à la carte dinner from about 6 to 9 p.m. Recent pricing landed near $72 per adult and $32.50 per child at the buffet, plus tax and gratuity, which puts it in the upscale-but-worth-it category. The 4.6 rating across 2,200+ reviews is one of the highest of any full-service Poconos resort.
- Rating: 4.6 stars, 2,248 reviews
- Address: 1 Skytop Dr, Skytop, PA 18357
- Phone: +1 570-257-2114
- Website: skytop.com
- What to order: Windsor midday buffet for the family, Lakeview at night for a quieter à la carte plate
- View on Google Maps
The Settlers Inn (Hawley)
Settlers Inn is our pick for the couple or small group that wants the meal to feel handmade. The chef-driven kitchen serves a sit-down Thanksgiving with roast turkey, holiday ham, stuffing, and seasonal desserts, and every year they release a take-home menu with crispy turkey roulade, sage stuffing, corn pudding, and cranberry bread. Take-home orders typically close around November 20, so this is the one to lock in first.
- Rating: 4.5 stars, 1,046 reviews
- Address: 4 Main Ave, Hawley, PA 18428
- Phone: +1 570-226-2993
- Website: thesettlersinn.com
- What to order: In-house roast turkey with the pastry chef’s dessert flight, or a take-home dinner to serve at your rental
- View on Google Maps
Silver Birches Resort (Lake Wallenpaupack)
Silver Birches turns Thanksgiving into a lakeside event. The waterfront buffet in Hawley features carved turkey, glazed ham, baked salmon, traditional stuffing, and a full dessert station, all with sunset views over Lake Wallenpaupack. It is the meal to book when you want your Thanksgiving photos to look like a magazine spread.
- Rating: 4.4 stars, 1,045 reviews
- Address: 205 PA-507, Hawley, PA 18428
- Phone: +1 570-226-4388
- Website: silverbirchesresortpa.com
- What to order: Carved turkey plate first, then a walk on the dock before the dessert round
- View on Google Maps
Black Friday and Saturday Outdoor Adventures
Once the pie is gone, the Poconos does its best work outside. Late November air sits in the 30s and 40s, the crowds have thinned, and the trails feel like they were reserved just for you. Pack waterproof boots, an insulated layer, and grippy footwear for damp leaves and morning ice, and pick one of these four for a half-day reset.
Bushkill Falls
Known as the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill Falls is a privately operated park with eight waterfalls linked by wooden walkways, bridges, and stair sections. Trail loops range from a quick 15-minute overlook to a two-hour circuit that hits every fall, and late November is the sweet spot: no bugs, no tour buses, just water, moss, and rhododendron. Admission runs around $22 per adult.
- Rating: 4.5 stars, 1,469 reviews
- Address: Lehman Township, PA 18324
- Category: Waterfall park with 8 falls and a rated trail system
- View on Google Maps
Big Pocono State Park
Roughly 1,300 acres of Camelback Mountain ridgeline, open sunrise to sunset, free to enter, with panoramic views over the Poconos and the Delaware Valley. Big Pocono is the easy answer for the morning after Thanksgiving: park at the summit, take the North Trail loop for the biggest overlooks, and be back at your rental in three hours.
- Rating: 4.7 stars, 2,389 reviews
- Address: 980 Camelback Rd, Tannersville, PA 18372
- Phone: +1 570-894-8336
- Website: dcnr.pa.gov Big Pocono State Park
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset
- View on Google Maps
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Seventy thousand acres of protected land along the Delaware River, and one of the highest-rated outdoor destinations in the northeast at 4.7 stars from nearly 7,000 reviews. Thanksgiving weekend visitors should check hours before driving; some seasonal facilities close after Columbus Day, but the main scenic overlooks along River Road stay open all winter. It is the best drive of the weekend if you want to string together a hike, a waterfall stop, and lunch in Stroudsburg.
- Rating: 4.7 stars, 6,826 reviews
- Address: 1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324
- Phone: (570) 426-2452
- Website: nps.gov/dewa
- View on Google Maps
Hickory Run State Park
Fifteen thousand acres in White Haven, best known for the surreal Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark that looks like a football field made of stone. In late November the field is quiet and photogenic, and the Fireline Trail Scenic Overlook is an easy family walk with a giant Lehigh River view at the end. Bring waterproof boots and check the road closures before driving in.
- Rating: 4.7 stars, 4,790 reviews
- Address: 3 Family Camp Rd, White Haven, PA 18661
- Phone: +1 272-808-6192
- Website: pa.gov Hickory Run State Park
- View on Google Maps
Small-Town Holiday Kickoffs and Cozy Detours
The other Pocono secret is what happens off the resort maps. Small towns like Jim Thorpe, Stroudsburg, Hawley, and Milford quietly flip the holiday switch over Thanksgiving weekend, with tree lightings, choir performances, craft bazaars, and Small Business Saturday shopping on brick Main Streets. These three anchors are the ones we would build a Saturday around.
Jim Thorpe Historic District
Jim Thorpe is the “Switzerland of America,” a mountain town built into a gorge with Victorian storefronts, independent bookstores, and one of the prettiest walking downtowns in Pennsylvania. Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the town’s Olde Time Christmas season, and the Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall is a great orientation stop before wandering Broadway for boutiques, galleries, and coffee. Park once and walk the whole afternoon.
- Anchor spot: Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall (4.4 stars, 203 reviews)
- Address: 101 E 10th St, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
- Phone: (570) 325-4546
- What to do: Walk Broadway, tour the Asa Packer Mansion, grab a coffee at a Main Street cafe, then ride the Lehigh Gorge train
- View on Google Maps
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Board a vintage passenger car at the historic Jim Thorpe station and roll into the Lehigh River gorge for a narrated one-hour scenic ride. Late November is peak season for the railway’s holiday-themed trips, with Santa visits, hot cocoa, and open-air cars that turn the ride into a family memory. It is the single most photogenic 60 minutes you can spend in the Poconos on Thanksgiving weekend.
- Rating: 4.5 stars, 7,851 reviews
- Address: 1 Susquehanna St, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
- Phone: +1 570-325-8485
- Website: lgsry.com
- Trip length: About 1 hour narrated round trip
- View on Google Maps
The Sherman Theater (Stroudsburg)
Downtown Stroudsburg’s Main Street lights up over Thanksgiving weekend, and the Sherman Theater is the anchor for a Small Business Saturday evening. This historic Main Street venue books touring acts, tribute bands, comedy, and family shows throughout the holiday season, so it is worth checking the calendar the week before your trip to snag last-minute seats. Pair with dinner and a stroll down Main.
- Rating: 4.6 stars, 1,658 reviews
- Address: 524 Main St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
- Phone: +1 570-420-2808
- Website: shermantheater.com
- What to do: Dinner on Main Street, then a show; check the site for Thanksgiving weekend events
- View on Google Maps
A Sample Thanksgiving Weekend Itinerary in the Poconos
If you want a plan you can copy-paste and adjust, this is the four-day flow we walk our own Endless Stays guests through.
- Wednesday evening: Arrive at your rental, groceries and firewood on the way in. Pizza night. Board games. Early bed.
- Thanksgiving Thursday: Slow morning at the house. Big midday meal at your reserved resort or inn. Optional Turkey Trot walk before dinner. Fire pit and dessert at your rental in the evening.
- Black Friday: Sleep in. Mid-morning hike at Bushkill Falls or Big Pocono State Park. Late lunch at a Main Street cafe in Stroudsburg or Jim Thorpe. Small Business Saturday shopping preview. Home for hot chocolate and leftovers.
- Saturday: Half-day at Blue Mountain Resort for opening runs or the tubing hill, or the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway if you want a slower pace. Group dinner at the rental.
- Sunday: One last short hike at Hickory Run State Park, brunch in town, and an early departure to beat the afternoon traffic on I-80.
This structure gives you one big meal, one big hike, one town day, and one active winter day, without stacking three drives into a single afternoon.
Practical Tips for Thanksgiving Weekend Travel
The Poconos in late November is beautiful but real winter is close. A few notes from years of hosting guests:
- Weather: Expect daytime highs in the upper 30s to mid-40s and overnight lows in the upper 20s to low 30s. About 5 days of the month see snow, with roughly 4 inches of monthly accumulation. Pack an insulated jacket, hat, gloves, and waterproof boots.
- Drive times: New York City to the eastern Poconos is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via I-80 in normal traffic, and 3+ hours on Wednesday evening or Sunday afternoon. Philadelphia is a similar 2 to 2.5 hours via I-476 north. Leave early or shift to Thursday morning or Monday to skip the worst of it.
- Reservations: Book Thanksgiving Day dinners 3 to 4 weeks ahead. Take-home menus at inns like Settlers close their order window around November 20.
- Groceries and gas: Do your big shop the day before Thanksgiving. Rural roads have limited late-night gas stations, so fill up in Stroudsburg or Mount Pocono before heading to a cabin.
- Traction and safety: Shaded curves and bridges can black-ice in the morning and after sunset. Give yourself extra time and pack a small emergency kit.
- Hunting season: Pennsylvania’s rifle deer season opens the Monday after Thanksgiving, but scouting starts earlier. Wear bright colors on any off-resort trail.
Ready to Plan Your Endless Poconos Thanksgiving?
The Poconos over Thanksgiving weekend is the kind of trip that turns into a tradition. Book the big meal early, plan one hike and one town day, keep an easy indoor option on the bench, and pick a home that is worth staying at even when the weather keeps you inside. Start with our full Poconos inventory on the Endless Stays search page, or contact our concierge team and we will hand-pick a property for your group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in the Poconos on Thanksgiving weekend?
The strongest Poconos Thanksgiving weekend plan pairs one big holiday meal, at a resort like Camelback, Kalahari, Skytop, Silver Birches, The Settlers Inn, Shawnee, or Mount Airy, with one outdoor day at Bushkill Falls, Big Pocono State Park, Delaware Water Gap, or Hickory Run, plus a small-town afternoon in Jim Thorpe or Stroudsburg. Add opening-weekend skiing or snow tubing at Blue Mountain Resort if the weather cooperates.
What is the weather like in the Poconos over Thanksgiving?
Daytime highs are usually in the upper 30s to mid-40s Fahrenheit, with overnight lows in the upper 20s to low 30s. Late November averages about 4 inches of monthly snowfall spread over 5 days. Trails are often cold and damp, with icy patches at dawn and dusk. Pack winter layers, waterproof footwear, and gloves.
How far is the Poconos from New York City and Philadelphia?
The eastern Poconos are roughly 90 to 110 miles from both New York City and Philadelphia. Under normal conditions, both drives take about 2 to 2.5 hours. Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon can push that to 3 hours or more, so shift to Thursday morning or Monday if you have flexibility.
Are ski resorts open in the Poconos on Thanksgiving weekend?
Sometimes. Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton has repeatedly targeted the day after Thanksgiving as opening day, weather permitting, and Camelback Resort in Tannersville is a major snow tubing and ski destination that ramps up in late November. Check each resort’s conditions page in the days before your trip, and keep an indoor waterpark or holiday train ride as a weather backup.
When should I book Thanksgiving dinner at a Poconos resort?
At least 3 to 4 weeks ahead for popular buffets at Skytop Lodge, Kalahari, Camelback, and Silver Birches. Take-home Thanksgiving dinners at The Settlers Inn typically stop taking orders around November 20. Adults-only options like Mount Airy Casino Resort also fill fast because they cap capacity.
Is Thanksgiving weekend a good time to visit the Poconos with kids?
Yes. Indoor waterparks at Camelback and Kalahari, easy walking trails at Big Pocono State Park and Bushkill Falls, and the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway with its holiday-themed rides all work for families with kids. Choose a rental with a hot tub or an indoor game room so the group has a fallback if the weather turns.