2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent campsites within driving distance of New Castle, Delaware range from state park grounds to more primitive forest settings. Blackbird State Forest offers secluded tent camping with basic amenities, while Hibernia County Park provides affordable primitive tent sites approximately 25 miles northwest in Pennsylvania. Wharton State Forest in New Jersey, about 45 miles east, features walk-in tent sites at Goshen Pond Campground where vehicles remain in designated parking areas rather than at individual sites.
Most tent campgrounds in the region provide fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Blackbird State Forest campsites include picnic tables, fire pits, and access to portable toilets, with one water pump available in the camping area. At Hibernia County Park, tent sites are $15 per night with only basic amenities—picnic tables and fire rings without hookups. The park features pit toilets in some areas and flush toilets within walking distance of camping loops. Many primitive tent sites throughout the region require campers to pack in their own water or filter from nearby streams and rivers.
Tent campers seeking privacy will find varying experiences across the region's campgrounds. Sites at Blackbird State Forest are well-spaced with good separation between campers, offering a more secluded experience. Green Lane Park's Deep Creek Campground provides larger sites but with minimal privacy between neighboring tents. Goshen Pond in Wharton State Forest offers walk-in tent sites that provide a more immersive forest experience away from vehicle noise. A visitor to Blackbird State Forest noted, "The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy," while another camper at Goshen Pond appreciated that "you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time" due to the walk-in nature of the campground.
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $57 / night
"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
"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
"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."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $43 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
"I like campgrounds which have you park off and walk in to your site. There is more foot traffic, but you don't hear as many cars coming and going and driving past your site all the time."
"The boyfriend and I stayed for a weekend at one of the primitive tent sites. Our site was private and secluded. We had a great time."
"Clean restrooms, lots of open space!"
"Large sites, clean bathrooms, lots of hiking trails"
from $20 - $30 / night
"year ago with some refreshed insight, additional photos and, well, because once wasn’t enough, here’s a quick reel of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Hidden slice of suburban woodland tucked"
from $1 - $100 / night
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.
GuideThis campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
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 .
GuideI personally did not like this campsite. First of all, our site tag was leftover from SEPTEMBER. Did no one look at any of these sites and leave someone else’s registration posted there for almost a year? Wild. Our campsite had trash leftover from previous campers. The whole campground was loud - from other campers to just the sounds from the nearby road. If you are looking for peace it is NOT here. If you’re looking to have loud music time all night with no repercussions as your kids ride around yelling and carrying on past midnight then you’ll have a blast. The pros of this campsite was supposed to be the access to Lake Atsion but we were turned away at the gate at 12:30 as they stated they were at capacity. Checking into our campsite they specifically asked if we would be utilizing the recreation area so we would have a pass for entry, but that’s seemingly not in their logistical headcount. I would not visit here again.
Tent camping sites near New Castle, Delaware range from county parks to state forests within 45 miles. The Pine Barrens ecosystem dominates eastern camping areas in New Jersey, while Pennsylvania sites offer varied terrain including creek-side locations and woodland settings. Winter camping options remain limited, with most facilities closing between November and April when temperatures typically drop to the mid-30s.
Fishing opportunities: Green Lane Park features multiple fishing spots around its reservoir. "Phenomenal disc golf course, hiking, and fishing" notes Benjamin C. about the recreational options available at the park.
Trail exploration: Fort Washington State Park offers 3.5 miles of trails with varied difficulty levels. "Come for Militia Hill, hawk watching, cross country ski, or disc golf, and the trails along the Wissahickon Creek," suggests Sue C.
Water activities: At Goshen Pond Campground in Wharton State Forest, kayaking access is convenient from many sites. "We were able to put our kayaks in right next to the site which was very convenient. It's also a 5 minute drive from Atsion lake, a great place for kayaking and swimming," notes Anna D.
Secluded camping: Blackbird State Forest offers well-spaced sites away from crowds. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" reports Sarah M.
Wildlife viewing: Fort Washington State Park provides excellent opportunities for birding. "Should you call yourself a bird watcher, you'll be particularly interested as from this very spot you can view the beautiful raptors that migrate here on a seasonal basis in both the Spring and Autumn," writes Stuart K.
Waterfront access: At Tinicum Island, accessible only by watercraft, the camping experience is uniquely isolated. "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft," states Bobby S., highlighting the island's boat-in only access.
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds near New Castle. At Hibernia County Park, "The park ranger this weekend was the nicest and very helpful with directions to walk to the playground and indoor restrooms," notes Anna, adding that "porta potties are very clean and don't smell and are lit with a street lamp."
Site privacy: Green Lane Park offers minimal privacy between campsites. "The sites are large but there is NO privacy. The sites are lined up next to each other along the campground driveway and there are absolutely no trees or shrubs between them," explains Jen.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season from May through September. At Evansburg State Park, camping is limited to organized groups. "Since camping is only open to organized camping I've never camped at Evansburg," shares Andrew C.
Kid-friendly fishing: Hibernia County Park offers designated fishing areas for children. "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground," recommends John Z.
Easy hiking trails: Evansburg State Park features beginner-friendly trails suitable for young explorers. "Since he was 2 years old I've taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails to wandering in the woods looking for 'adventures'," writes Andrew C.
Budget-friendly option: Tent camping at Hibernia County Park costs $15 per night, making it affordable for family outings. "Super great price at $15/night as well. The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," shares Anna.
Access limitations: Ridley Creek State Park has minimal RV facilities. "I go camping here almost every year and they a nice open field with two sites and two fire pits. They also have a tone of trails to hike on," notes David K., though the park primarily accommodates tent campers.
Site positioning: At Hibernia County Park, RV sites require creative parking. "I wouldn't attempt to park an RV up there," warns Jennifer S. about the Lake Loop, adding that for Fiddler's Loop, "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 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper."
Water access: RV campers should arrive with full water tanks at most sites. "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," cautions Jennifer S. about camping at Hibernia County Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near New Castle, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near New Castle, DE is Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near New Castle, DE?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near New Castle, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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