Poconos Golf Trip Planning Guide
The Poconos deliver affordable mountain golf, multiple casinos, and endless group activities within 2 hours of NYC and Philly. Play resort courses through forested mountain terrain, hit Mount Airy Casino at night, and fill rest days with go-karts, paintball, and whitewater rafting. Maximum bang for the buck.
4 courses · 5 restaurants · 4 bars · 6 activities
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
AVP (45 min drive)
$39–$129
$400/night
2 of 4
~$348/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Poconos. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Great Bear Golf Club — mountain, $75–$125 · 4.5★
Jack Nicklaus signature course at Shawnee Mountain — dramatic elevation changes and forest corridors
Saen Thai Cuisine — casual, $$ · 4.5★
Surprising gem — some of the best Thai food in rural PA, with group-friendly space
Mount Airy Casino Bars — casino bar · Open late
Multiple bars and lounges inside the casino — play blackjack with a cocktail in hand
Day 2
Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort — resort, $69–$119 · 4.4★
A.W. Tillinghast design on the Delaware River — 27 holes of classic resort golf with mountain views
Mount Airy Casino — 2-3 hours, $0–$200/pp
Full casino floor with table games, slots, poker room, and sportsbook
The Gem & Keystone Brewpub — brewpub, $$ · 4.3★
Pocono brewpub with house beers, pub food, and live music weekends
Barley Creek Brewing Company — brewpub
Tannersville craft brewery with 12+ house taps, pub food, and a solid patio
Day 3
Mount Airy Casino Resort Golf Course — mountain, $79–$129 · 4.3★
Hal Purdy design carved through Pocono Mountain forests — casino resort amenities included
Pocono Whitewater Rafting — half day, $55–$95/pp
Class II-III rapids on the Lehigh River — guides handle everything, just show up
Desaki Restaurant — sushi, $$$ · 4.4★
Hibachi and sushi in a lodge-like setting — fun group dinner with tableside cooking
Pocono Brewing Company — brewpub
Swiftwater nano-brewery with creative small-batch beers and a casual taproom
Course-by-Course Guide
Poconos has 4 courses worth playing. 2 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Mount Airy Casino Resort Golf Course
PremiumHal Purdy design carved through Pocono Mountain forests — casino resort amenities included
Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort
PremiumA.W. Tillinghast design on the Delaware River — 27 holes of classic resort golf with mountain views
Great Bear Golf Club
PremiumJack Nicklaus signature course at Shawnee Mountain — dramatic elevation changes and forest corridors
Buck Hill Golf Club
SolidHistoric 27-hole facility with Donald Ross roots and solid mountain views at a budget price
Where to Stay
Poconos has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $400/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$400–$1500/night
Sleeps 10–20 · Mount Pocono / Tobyhanna area
$500–$1200/night
Sleeps 12–16 · Shawnee on Delaware / Marshalls Creek
Group Dining Guide
5 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Saen Thai Cuisine
$$Surprising gem — some of the best Thai food in rural PA, with group-friendly space
The Gem & Keystone Brewpub
$$Pocono brewpub with house beers, pub food, and live music weekends
Desaki Restaurant
$$$Hibachi and sushi in a lodge-like setting — fun group dinner with tableside cooking
Guy Fieri's Mt. Pocono Kitchen
$$Celebrity chef spot at Mount Airy Casino — over-the-top burgers, wings, and trash can nachos
The Frogtown Chophouse
$$$$Casual fine-dining chophouse in Swiftwater by a veteran chef-restaurateur team serving premium steaks
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
Mount Airy Casino Bars
Late NightMultiple bars and lounges inside the casino — play blackjack with a cocktail in hand
Barley Creek Brewing Company
Tannersville craft brewery with 12+ house taps, pub food, and a solid patio
Pocono Brewing Company
Swiftwater nano-brewery with creative small-batch beers and a casual taproom
Sarah Street Grill
Late NightStroudsburg sports bar with craft beers, big screens, and a late-night crowd
Activities Beyond Golf
6 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Mount Airy Casino
Full casino floor with table games, slots, poker room, and sportsbook
Pocono Whitewater Rafting
Class II-III rapids on the Lehigh River — guides handle everything, just show up
Skirmish Paintball
50+ playing fields making it one of the largest paintball facilities in the world
Camelback Mountain Adventures
Zip lines, mountain coaster, and treetop obstacle course — summer adventure park
Pocono Go-Karts & Play Park
Go-karts, bumper boats, mini golf — cheesy but fun after a few beers
Bushkill Falls Hike
The Niagara of Pennsylvania — 8 waterfalls along well-maintained trails
Getting There
Fly into Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) — it's a 45-minute drive to Poconos. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Pocono Limo and Lehigh Valley Limo). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.