My friends and l are interested in going camping this fall here in the NY/NJ/PA area. However, I've never been camping and they're from the South where the falls are ideal. Are the conditions here in the NE good enough for outdoor tent camping in the fall? A lot of the local campgrounds are still open until the end of October. l called some places and they claim the weather is usually good until the end of the season. My biggest concern is the overnight temperatures we could face inside the tent. Any advice, tips? Please help.

Camping is awesome..do it! Dress really warm. build a fire...PARTY!!!!!!!!!

Ali correct. You get drunk enough u not know if it cold. LOL!
We love camping in the fall & winter. No bugs or mosquitoes. Get a good fire going so it easy to re-start the next morning. There r ways for some heat too, if u need. But, use good judgment in a tent, we do need to breath air. l have this propane heater & can get it going. Leave the windows & door open for air (Screens closed so no raccoon come in looking for Cheetos). We usually leave a bag of open Cheetos on the picnic table to appease/feed the gods. LOL!

Here is the scoop: l live in Northeastern PA & I've camped throughout the state as well as most of Eastern New York.

Weather, except in the Adirondacks of Northern New York & a few places in Central PA will generally be fairly mild. Expect the daytime temps in October to stay in the 60s & get down to the 40s at night. The 'Dacks & Central PA can get colder. Weather this year has been unseasonably warm & will continue to be so for another couple of weeks.

If u have a sleeping bag rated to 20F or lower u will be fine. Put on clean, dry clothes before u go to bed & wear a sock hat. l have several mummy bags, ( l do not use them at the same time) all of which l almost always never have pulled over my head as l sleep with my arms outside the bag. So l wear a clean fleece jacket & a tobbogan hat to bed & l throw another fleece blanket in the tent to pull over my head when l get chilly, but l am never cold. Do not waste ur $$$ on a tent heater. A few xtra blankets r really all u need. Chances of it getting below freezing r rare unless u r planning to camp in November. l tent camp all through winter.but l am a bit nuts.

FYI: Alcohol is prohibited at PA State Park Campgrounds as well as Campgrounds in the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area (PA/NJ). Most private campgrounds allow alcohol. Having said that, as long as u do not make it overtly known to the rangers u r drinking u should not get busted, l never have.but use caution. l actually do not know the NY State law on booze in state campgrounds, but I've never gotten busted there either.

Always layer your clothing and use a rated sleeping bag for what temperature you have been forcasted.

Get a tent heater,before l ran into my dream with the DE state lottery my friend and l was homeless,and get a skully (winter hat) a heater long johns some light gloves and water proof your boots,we live in a tent for a yr and it was cold,now l camp in my R/V sometimes it is still fun to rough it though,check this out
http://cabellas.com oh and bring a gun even if it is a 22 caliber cause you never know with the Racoons and posibbly a homeless bum looking to jack you'll.

If u prepare for the expected weather, something that is pretty easy in these days of internet weather reports, u should not have a problem. We camp with young children into early November. Last year we had a heavy mid-October snowfall followed by a couple weeks of comparitively balmy weather. These r the exceptions. Expect daytime temps in the mid 60s to low 70s, & nights around 40--getting marginally colder the further north u go & the later in October it gets.

Fall foliage is at peak here in PA in mid-October, so that is the best time to go. It is may favorite time of the year here--we will be camping at least two weekends in October.

Good sleeping bags & tents r a must, & layered clothing. l use a synthetic fleece jacket with a separate, Gore-Tex parka shell & take along a turtleneck & a sweater. It is not uncommon to be in a t-shirt during a daytime hike, but have all the layers on by bedtime. One thing a lot of folks do not seem to think of is a hat & gloves--light wool or poly gloves & a simple toque (tuke) hat can make a 40 degree night feel completely comfortable. A substantial amount of body heat is lost from our heads--a $9 hat does wonders. When l winter camp l wear one to bed!

Good rain gear is probably the most essential thing. You can pile on layers of cheap sweatshirts & old flannels if it gets cold, but if the rain is getting through to ur skin, forget it. Trip is over. Indeed, if someone asked me where to cut corners in outdoor gear l would say anywhere but boots & rainwear.

l hope that helps!

Fall/Winter is the best time to go. No bugs and you can build a big fire.

Just make sure that ur gear matches the worst case scenario. A leaky tent or a bag that is too light can make for a miserable time, but with a good rainproof tent, a sturdy tarp, & a warm sleeping bag can make camping enjoyable at anytime of year. Do not forget the rain gear.

You have to be prepared for it to be nasty outside & be mentally able to go with the flow & enjoy it anyway. Bring stuff to do inside of the tent if it is icky - book, cards, games, knitting, whatever u like to do. Bring a lantern or light that can go in the tent as well. If it rains, u do not want to sit in the dark in ur tent until it is time to sleep.

You could bring some disposable hand & feet warmers if you're worried that u will need a little extra heat at night.

l am in the NW. We have rainy falls, but usually the occaional downpour in Sept. is not enough to ruin a trip. October starts to get particularly foul.

Get a warm sleeping bag. At least a 20 degree if not a zero degree for that time of year. Also, if u r sleeping on the ground of the tent & not on a cot or something raised, u will also need a pad. Since u do not have to worry about carrying stuff, it would not hurt to have a cheap pad that u put right on the ground & a more comfortable one (such as a thermarest) on top of that one to insulate yourself from the cold ground. Also use common sense & do not be afraid to sleep in ur sweat pants & sweatshirt or have them next to u in the tent so u can throw them on if necessary.
l live in PA & the temp is usually nice during the day in the late fall, but can drop at night down to as low as freezing sometimes. However if u r going to the Delaware Water Gap National Rec Area, make sure u check out the waterfalls on the PA side. (Dingmans & Raymondskill, off of 209) ..very nice.