Best Tent Camping near Claymont, DE
State parks and forests within driving distance of Claymont, Delaware offer a variety of tent camping options, from walk-in sites to primitive backcountry areas. Blackbird State Forest, located about 30 miles south in Smyrna, provides tent-only camping with spacious sites that include fire pits, grills, and picnic tables. Wharton State Forest in neighboring New Jersey features several tent campgrounds including Goshen Pond and Batona, both offering walk-in tent sites with varying levels of privacy. Hibernia County Park in Coatesville, Pennsylvania provides wooded tent campsites with basic amenities in two distinct camping loops.
Most tent campsites in the region feature dirt or grass surfaces with minimal grading. Blackbird State Forest sites include woodchip-covered ground that campers report is comfortable for tent sleeping. Water access varies significantly between locations, with many campgrounds offering only basic pump water sources. Hibernia County Park provides porta potties and limited running water, while Wharton State Forest's Batona Campground has pit toilets and a water pump that isn't available during winter months. Fire rings are standard at most sites, though Green Lane Park's elevated fire grates reportedly consume firewood quickly. Reservations are required at most locations, with Hibernia County Park operating primarily on weekends.
In early spring and late fall, tent campers often find greater solitude at these campgrounds. One visitor to Blackbird State Forest noted, "The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy," though they mentioned occasionally seeing hikers passing by on nearby trails. At Goshen Pond in Wharton State Forest, a camper appreciated that "you park off and walk in to your site," resulting in less vehicle noise. Privacy levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with multiple reviewers describing Green Lane Park's tent sites as "lined up against one another" with "absolutely no privacy" between spots. Tent campers seeking seclusion should consider Wharton State Forest's backcountry tent camping options, which require hiking in but reward with greater isolation.
