Published Updated 5 min readMountains/Ski
Things to Do Near Poconos Vacation Rentals
Pocono rentals are mostly family trips, and the region is built for them: indoor water parks, mountain resorts and small historic towns. Mid-October is the end of foliage season, before the snow tubing lanes open. This guide lists 5 activities that fit that kind of trip, with what we could confirm about each one from mid-October into winter. Every detail comes from the operator’s or managing agency’s own website, checked on October 14, 2026. Seasons and hours change, so confirm before you go. Still choosing where to stay? Start with the Poconos neighborhood guide. For meals, see where to eat near Poconos rentals.
Quick answer
Camelback and Kalahari both have indoor water parks. Steamtown National Historic Site is open daily through November 15, then Wednesday–Sunday. Blue Mountain Resort runs weekend fall activities, and Jim Thorpe’s 2026 Fall Foliage Festival ended with the October 17–18 weekend; the town is open to visit year-round. BnB Search is a rental directory, so the list is not ranked and shows no prices or ratings.
Open in late fall
Camelback Resort, Kalahari Resorts Poconos, Steamtown National Historic Site, Blue Mountain Resort and Jim Thorpe list fall or year-round operation on their official sites. See each card for the dates we found.
Winter fun
Camelback Resort advertise winter activities. Check their sites for dates.
With kids
Camelback Resort, Kalahari Resorts Poconos, Steamtown National Historic Site and Blue Mountain Resort describe family or kids’ activities on their sites. Height or age rules apply at some, as noted on the cards.
Outdoors and scenery
Blue Mountain Resort and Jim Thorpe are outdoor options. Conditions change fast in this season, so check alerts on the day.
Bad-weather backups
Camelback Resort, Kalahari Resorts Poconos and Steamtown National Historic Site are mostly indoors.
Activity details and sources
Each card shows what the official site says about the season from mid-October onward, checked October 14, 2026.
Camelback Resort
- Where: Poconos
- What it is: A resort with the Aquatopia indoor water park (kept at 84 degrees), a mountain coaster, ziplines and a treetops course. In winter it has skiing and more than 40 snow tubing lanes.
- Mid-October onward: This fall it is running The Curse of Camelback, a spooky experience. Check the site for winter tubing and ski dates.
- Who it suits: Families with kids of any age, in any weather.
- Website: www.camelbackresort.com · Source: www.camelbackresort.com
Kalahari Resorts Poconos
- Where: Poconos
- What it is: A resort with indoor and outdoor water parks covering more than 250,000 square feet, plus dining and an arcade. Day passes are sold for the water park.
- Mid-October onward: Its site sells water park day passes. The outdoor water park is seasonal, so check what is open on your date.
- Who it suits: Families with kids on a cold or rainy day.
- Website: www.kalahariresorts.com · Source: www.kalahariresorts.com
Steamtown National Historic Site
- Where: 150 South Washington Avenue, Scranton
- What it is: A National Park Service site about steam railroading, with seasonal train rides.
- Mid-October onward: Open daily 9:30 AM–5 PM through Sunday, November 15, 2026. From November 16 to April 30, 2027 it is open Wednesday–Sunday, 9:30 AM–4 PM. The information kiosk closes an hour before the park.
- Who it suits: Families with train-loving kids.
- Website: www.nps.gov · Source: www.nps.gov
Blue Mountain Resort
- Where: Poconos
- What it is: A ski area that runs a bike park, the Summit Adventure Park and scenic lift rides in the warmer months.
- Mid-October onward: Fall hours: the bike park is open Friday noon–5 PM and Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–5 PM. The Summit Adventure Park is open Saturday–Sunday from 10 AM, with the last ticket sold at 3 PM. Scenic lift rides end half an hour before the bike park closes.
- Who it suits: Families with older kids who want a foliage lift ride or a ropes course.
- Website: www.skibluemt.com · Source: www.skibluemt.com
Jim Thorpe
- Where: Carbon County (Lehigh Gorge)
- What it is: A historic town, founded in 1818 as Mauch Chunk, with Victorian mansions that now house shops, museums, galleries and bed and breakfasts. Its site offers a walking-tour map of downtown.
- Mid-October onward: The 2026 Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival ran on the weekends of October 3–4, 10–11 and 17–18. Check the town’s site for next year’s festival dates; shops and museums downtown are the year-round draw.
- Who it suits: Families and couples who want a walkable historic town day.
- Website: www.jimthorpe.org · Source: jimthorpe.org (Fall Foliage Festival) · www.poconomountains.com
What this guide does not cover
We have not covered Bushkill Falls, because its site was down when we checked. We also left out Delaware Water Gap trails and waterfalls, ski schools and smaller ski areas, and holiday light shows. Kalahari’s outdoor water park is seasonal.
Tips
- Late fall is a shoulder season: some places run reduced days, and winter openings depend on snow and weather.
- Check the operator’s site or call the week of your trip, especially before a long drive.
- Use the Poconos hub map to see which rentals are near the places you plan to visit.
FAQ
What is open near Poconos rentals from mid-October?
Camelback Resort, Kalahari Resorts Poconos, Steamtown National Historic Site, Blue Mountain Resort and Jim Thorpe list fall or year-round operation on their sites. Dates were checked on October 14, 2026 and can change.
When do winter activities start near Poconos?
Camelback lists more than 40 snow tubing lanes for winter, alongside its indoor water park. It did not list a 2026 opening date on the pages we checked.
Does BnB Search rank these activities?
No. BnB Search is a vacation rental directory. This is an unranked list of activities whose details we confirmed on official or operator websites, and it shows no ratings or prices.
Hotels, resorts and lodges in our Poconos directory
Each of these listings has a BnB Search page that links to the property’s own website or its managing company’s site. The list is alphabetical, not ranked, and shows no ratings.