The Pocono Mountains region covers 2,400 square miles of wooded peaks, valleys, lakes, rivers and waterfalls and is located in the northeastern Pennsylvania, encompassing Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties.
The county seats are Jim Thorpe, Stroudsburg, Milford and Honesdale, each offering a quaint, historic atmosphere, unique shopping and dining experiences, authentic historic/cultural sites, art galleries and much more.
Pocono is a Native American word meaning, “stream between two mountains.” The Delaware Water Gap is the true namesake, for the Delaware River cut a gap between two mountains and formed what is now known as the “Gateway to the Pocono Mountains.”
The Pocono Mountains region offers a multitude of activities for year-round travel. In the spring and summer months (late March – August), whitewater outfitters along the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers offer canoeing, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, float trips and much more. Golfers enjoy the region’s scenic courses, embedded with history – over 35 courses in total. Thousands of NASCAR racing fans come to the Pocono Raceway in June and July for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series – Pocono 500 and Pennsylvania 500. Other popular attractions are museums, cultural/heritage sites and over 19 waterfalls. Fairs and festivals throughout the summer and autumn months celebrate culture, heritage, music and food.
In the autumn months (September – November), the Pocono Mountains region transforms into a myriad of color. With more than 100 varieties of trees, the region offers spectacular fall foliage. Popular ways to enjoy the foliage during your vacation in the Poconos are: horseback riding, scenic drives, mountain biking, chair lift rides, hiking, and rail excursions.
It’s a winter wonderland in the Pocono Mountains during the colder months (December – early March). Eight major ski areas offer skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. Other winter recreation includes ice skating, cross-country skiing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
Six international airports service the Pocono Mountains region: Lehigh Valley International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia International Airport, New York, Newark International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.