Campgrounds near Winterthur, Delaware range from basic tent sites to luxury glamping accommodations across southern Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 200-500 feet, creating mild temperature conditions even during summer months. The region's fertile soil and moderate rainfall support dense woodland camping areas with typical summer highs reaching 85°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: 7-mile trail access at French Creek State Park provides routes to prime fishing spots. The campground maintains multiple lakes stocked with "northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish" according to one camper at French Creek State Park Campground. Another visitor notes, "We spent Saturday afternoon fishing but not catching anything at Scott's Run. It's a beautiful location and it was still a fun way to spend the day with the kids away from the site."
Go Ape zipline course: Full day adventure with multiple difficulty levels and heights. Available April through October, tickets run $49-69 depending on package. A visitor at Lums Pond mentions, "From the moment I pulled in and observed how large the sites were, I was hooked. Bike trails, Going Ape, kayaking and peaceful. Planing my next trip."
Family-style restaurants: Local Amish cuisine within 15-minute drives of most campgrounds. A camper at Lake-In-Wood Campground recommends, "You must try the family style restaurants in the area, delicious and close by as well. Overall a great experience and I would go again for sure."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Level concrete pads at many locations provide stable setups for tents and RVs. A visitor to Lums Pond State Park Campground shared, "We paid $46 per night plus fees for a FHU 50 Amp Back-in site(#56). This place is a gem, even among nice state parks." Another camper noted, "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer."
Clean bathhouse facilities: Individual shower rooms at several locations. At French Creek, a camper mentioned, "The bath/shower house in this loop was adequate and includes two dish washing stations outside. The showers had good pressure and hot water." Another review noted, "The bathroom at the campground is very nice and new however it is a little on the dirty side."
Amish country views: Rolling farmland vistas visible from many campgrounds. One guest at Lancaster-New Holland KOA wrote, "Best kept secret in the area. Peaceful, beautiful valley views of Amish country." Another mentioned, "Great no frills place to relax. No activities and not much open for touristy stuff due to Covid 19. But the daily views of fields, farmers plowing with horses or the buggys going by was great."
What you should know
Reservation challenges: Book early especially for weekend stays during peak months. A Lums Pond camper shared, "Book early because it fills up fast!" Another visitor acknowledged, "I understand why it is so difficult to get a reservation at Lums Pond."
Site elevation variations: Bring leveling blocks as many natural sites have slight to moderate slopes. A visitor at Hibernia County Park noted, "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix." Another camper mentioned, "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back."
Water hookup configurations: Pack extra hoses at some campgrounds with shared water connections. One visitor at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA mentioned, "The water hookups are shared every other site. I was lucky my 75' hose barely reached the distance needed. Be sure to bring extra hoses."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Central locations at several campgrounds within short walks of most sites. A visitor at Lancaster-New Holland KOA shared, "Not too close to each other. Has a great view of the valley and Amish farms. Everyone has been very friendly. No pool but the kids seem to enjoy the playground."
Children's fishing ponds: Separate stocked areas for young anglers at select locations. A Hibernia County Park camper noted, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing. 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."
Off-season visits: Fewer crowds from September through May with many facilities still operational. A French Creek visitor shared, "Generally, we camp in the off season, and usually have the whole place to ourselves, so I had some concern prior to arrival that every site in every loop was booked for the whole weekend and expected it to be noisy, however, I was pleasantly surprised."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full service sites limited at some parks, particularly state facilities. One RVer at Philadelphia West/Chester KOA noted, "Get cozy, the sites are quite small and tightly packed together." A Lums Pond visitor advised, "There are some equestrian and tent sites as well. Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking."
Site access challenges: Practice tight turns as some roads narrow with trees close to edges. A Lake-In-Wood camper shared, "The roads were very tight and you really had to watch how you drove through because of the trees. Our site was a drive-through but slanted."
Cell service reliability: Variable coverage across the region with stronger signals at private campgrounds. A French Creek visitor noted, "Stopped over for a night on a drive, good cell service and lots of foliage between sites keeps them pretty private. Plenty of space, picnic table, fire ring, basic bathroom facilities."
