16 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campsites near Bear, Delaware are primarily found in surrounding state forests and county parks within a 30-mile radius. Blackbird State Forest offers primitive tent camping with approximately eight designated sites, while Hibernia County Park provides two small camping loops—Lake Loop and Fiddler's Loop—that accommodate tent campers in a wooded setting. Most tent-focused options require short hikes from parking areas to reach the actual campsites.
Tent sites in the region typically feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Most locations provide fire rings, picnic tables, and designated tent pads, but running water is limited or non-existent at many sites. Blackbird State Forest campsites include picnic tables, fire pits, and one bundle of firewood, with only port-a-potties and a single water pump available. At Hibernia County Park, the tent camping areas offer no hookups, with pit toilets in Fiddler's Loop and flush toilets within walking distance that operate from dawn to dusk. A camper noted that "each site has a large picnic table and a fire ring with a built-in grill. Plenty of firewood to be found."
The tent camping experience in the Bear area offers varying levels of privacy and natural settings. Sites at Blackbird State Forest are well-spaced, providing good separation between campers in a forested environment. According to one visitor, the sites are "very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room." In contrast, Green Lane Park's Deep Creek Campground, though farther away in Pennsylvania, offers tent sites with minimal privacy where "spaces are right on top of each other with no tree cover between spots." Most tent campgrounds in the region feature wooded settings with access to hiking trails, though some trails pass directly through camping areas. Seasonal considerations include limited availability, with some campgrounds like Hibernia only open on weekends during peak season, and reservations required for special events.
"This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting."
"Spent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Terrific space for exploring"
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
from $57 / night
Check Availability"Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
"We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."
"This is Organized Group Tenting Only."
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"Lots of tree cover running along a small running creek"
"You need a license to fish, and if you plan on catching Trout you need the Trout endorsement on the fishing licence, currently$9.90.The restroom facilities we're clean."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"I’m following up on my review from over a year ago with new photos, updated weathered campers’ tales and a quick snapshot of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Rustic group camping nestled in nearly"
"The give you firewood—-if you bring your own, leave with any left over."
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"Clean restrooms, lots of open space!"
"Large sites, clean bathrooms, lots of hiking trails"
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
ScoutFirst time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
TravelerThe owner is kind and knowledgeable a lot of live in / snowbirds . Some are very kind but some of the live in’s are crude .
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
Tent campsites near Bear, Delaware are positioned within the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain with elevations ranging from 30 to 80 feet above sea level. Most camping options sit along the Piedmont region's eastern edge, characterized by gentle slopes and mixed hardwood forests dominated by oak, maple, and hickory trees. Winter camping is limited with most facilities closing between November and April due to seasonal freezing temperatures.
Fishing opportunities: At Blackbird State Forest Campground, visitors can explore nearby fishing spots. "The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy...Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents," notes one camper, highlighting the comfortable base for fishing excursions.
Bird watching: The region offers strong opportunities for birdwatching with several rare species. "Great place to creek hike, nice for horses, we did get a lot of ticks, but not deer ticks, thankfully," shares a visitor to Evansburg State Park Campground, where water birds are common along creek areas.
Disc golf courses: Several parks with tent camping feature disc golf layouts. "Phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing," reports a camper at Deep Creek Campground at Green Lane Park, where the course is accessible directly from the camping area.
Wooded isolation: Unlike the open sites mentioned in the existing description, some campers enjoy more secluded areas. "The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you'd occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn't still feel secluded. Nice hikes in the area," reports a visitor at Blackbird State Forest.
Overnight access to historical areas: The region offers camping near Revolutionary War sites. "Fort Washington is comprised of 492 acres of unbridled, very well-manicured landscapes that offer up great spots for birding, hiking and exploring. This very place lies in significance from the Revolutionary War when it housed troops led by then General George Washington," explains a camper at Fort Washington State Park Campground.
Waterfront camping options: While many sites are wooded, others offer water access. "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft," notes a review for Tinicum Island, which provides unique boat-in camping opportunities not mentioned in existing descriptions.
Site spacing varies significantly: Tent campers report widely different experiences with site proximity. "The spaces are right on top of each other with no tree cover between spots," warns a camper at Green Lane Park, contrasting sharply with more private options elsewhere in the region.
Bathroom facilities range from basic to modern: "Campground is as basic as they get. Sites are close to each other with absolutely no privacy. Bathrooms however are nice and clean with plenty of them around the park," explains a camper about Deep Creek Campground, highlighting the contrast between site layout and facilities.
Weekend-only operations: Many campgrounds operate limited schedules beyond what's mentioned in existing descriptions. "Easy commute," notes a visitor to Hibernia County Park, who appreciated the park's accessibility despite limited operating days.
Children's fishing areas: Some parks offer designated youth fishing zones. "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground," notes a Hibernia County Park visitor, highlighting family-friendly water features.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play equipment not mentioned in existing descriptions. "We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12...The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions to walk to the playground and indoor restrooms," shares a family camper.
Trail difficulty considerations: Parents should research trail ratings before hiking with children. "This is a good place for a day hike with the family. It's look out over the Susquehanna River is fantastic and puts you up with the birds," recommends a visitor at Susquehannock State Park, suggesting suitable terrain for families.
Limited RV accommodations: While tent camping is widely available, RV options are restricted. "This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites...RV camping is not encouraged. Horseriding is encouraged," explains a camper at Blackbird State Forest.
Leveling challenges: RV campers should bring leveling equipment. "As I said in the first paragraph, we mostly camp in a 28ft 5th wheel and though at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18...They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," shares an experienced RVer.
Water access limitations: RVers must plan for water needs. "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank. There is one spigot at the bathroom," advises a camper describing regional tent campsites near Bear, Delaware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bear, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bear, DE is Blackbird State Forest Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Bear, DE?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Bear, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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