Frequently Asked Questions

Pocono Reserve is an independent travel guide to the Pocono Mountains. We publish destination guides, hidden-gem write-ups and sample itineraries covering the region's lakes, trails, towns, restaurants and seasonal events.

We don't take bookings or reservations for lodging, dining or activities; book those directly with each venue. For private chefs, we can recommend one from our partner chefs: tell us about your dinner on our private chefs page and we'll pass your request to a chef who fits, free of charge.

No place pays to appear in our guides. We write about places because they fit a trip, and we say plainly when something is seasonal, crowded or not worth the drive. The one exception is separate from the guides: if you ask us to recommend a private chef or caterer, we may receive a referral fee from the partner we put you in touch with. That never affects what the guides say, and it doesn't change what you pay.

Use the contact page to send us a note. Hours, prices and seasonal closures change, and corrections from readers are welcome.

Hidden gems are the quieter trails, small-town stops, overlooks and local spots that rarely make the standard top-ten lists. Each one is written up with enough detail, such as distance, season and what to expect, to decide if it suits your trip.

Itineraries are sample multi-day plans that string guide entries into a realistic route. Use them as written or as a starting point to adapt to your own dates, group and pace.

Journal articles show when they were published or updated. Hours, admission, trail conditions and seasonal closures change often, so confirm with the venue or the managing agency before you go.

The trip planner asks a few questions about your group, season and interests, then assembles a suggested plan from the places covered in our guides. Treat it as a draft itinerary and confirm details with each venue.

Most of the Poconos are roughly two hours by car from both cities, depending on traffic and which part of the region you are heading to. The contact page lists typical drive times from several Northeast cities.

It depends on what you want to do: waterfalls and wildflowers in spring, lakes in summer, foliage in October and skiing in winter. Our best-time-to-visit guide in the Journal breaks the year down season by season.