2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Elkton, Maryland provides the closest equestrian camping opportunities to Yorklyn, Delaware. The management area features drinking water access, electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and sanitary dump stations for camping with horses. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping near equestrian trails. Portable toilets throughout the grounds are well-maintained and clean according to visitors. The recreation area maintains two primitive youth group camping areas with specific guidelines outlined on their website. The campground operates year-round with a 4.5-star average rating from visitors who appreciate the clean, family-friendly environment and abundant outdoor activities.
The trail system at Fair Hill connects riders to multiple bridle paths throughout the 5,600-acre natural resource area. Equestrians access several miles of designated horse trails from the camping areas with routes ranging from beginner-friendly loops to more challenging terrain. Horse owners must bring their own portable corrals or high-line equipment as permanent horse stalls are not available at the campground. Manure disposal areas are provided, and campers should follow posted guidelines for horse waste management. The park does not permit pets in certain areas, which reduces potential conflicts with horses on trails. While Fair Hill represents the primary horse-friendly camping option near Yorklyn, equestrians also occasionally use Lums Pond State Park Campground or Hibernia County Park for day riding, though these facilities have more limited equestrian accommodations.
"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."
"Great place to stay and check out “Lower, slower Delaware.”"
Available this weekend
from $27 - $45 / night
"We were looking for someplace close to the city but away from the hustle and bustle of our city life, this was the perfect little steal-away; relatively close by, great car camping spots, nice easy hikes"
"Activities See the photo that shows 35 miles of hiking trails. It's an excellent brochure! "
Available this weekend
from $20 - $75 / night
"This campground has 2 small loops, the Lake Loop and the Fiddler's Loop. Lake loop is the bigger of the two, however the “sites” are smaller and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters."
"Large campsites at the Lake Loop. Map is a little deceiving- the sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites."
from $15 - $50 / night
"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."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
from $25 / night
"The campground is in a great location with easy access to Lancaster, Hershey and many other places to explore."
"There is also a great view of the surrounding countryside because it’s up on a big hill. If you’re hauling a big camper you’ll need power for the hills."
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.
LegendWe spent a weekend at French Creek State Park as our home base for the Chester County Balloon Festival. We stayed for 2 nights at a full-hookup paved site, which ran us $55.25 per night.
WHAT I LIKED:
Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
The"Leveling" Challenge: We were at site#C-241, which had a pretty significant slope. It took a few boards under the rear wheels and fully extended jacks just to get us anywhere near level.
Tight Fit for Big Rigs: Even though there was plenty of open space behind our site, the actual driveway pad was too short to comfortably fit our motorhome and Jeep together. Compared to other state parks we’ve visited, the interior roads and layouts felt a bit on the tight side.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
LegendOverall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
ScoutBathrooms are clean and staff is nice
TravelerThe camp site was amazing. Everything is neat and clean and really beautiful place so quiet.
GuideThis campground has everything. Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle. Plenty of site hookups, areas for tents. There is a camp store, several washer and dryers. The best private, individual shower booths and even a pond to go fishing in.
ScoutThis is our 3rd time at this park, it is one of our favorites. Well maintained, very quiet. We stay in Loop A (full hookup) pet friendly. Sites are spacious, generally large but they are all back-in sites.
TravelerThis is the most quietest campground. Perfect when you need to go somewhere to think. The people here are very nice. The wildlife is amazing
TravelerHarder to do with a large group due to the early quiet hours, but park is very nice and well kept
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Elkton, Maryland sits on 5,600 acres of rolling countryside with elevation changes throughout the property. The area serves as the primary equestrian camping destination near Yorklyn, Delaware, located just 12 miles east across the state line. Winter camping is available with portable toilets maintained year-round, though water access may be restricted during freezing temperatures.
Trail riding opportunities: At Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, riders access designated equestrian trails directly from the campground area. "The trail system at Fair Hill connects riders to multiple bridle paths throughout the 5,600-acre natural resource area," with terrain suitable for all experience levels.
Water recreation: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers boating and fishing on the largest freshwater pond in Delaware. "There are plenty of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking," notes Ellen B. The park has boat rentals available seasonally from April through October.
Hiking networks: Explore extensive trail systems connecting multiple parks. At Hibernia County Park, "Walking/hiking trails and the lake were super peaceful," according to Chelsea. The park features trails ranging from 0.5 to 2 miles with moderate terrain.
Spacious sites: French Creek State Park Campground receives praise for its well-designed camping areas. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," writes Jen R. The campground maintains 200 individual sites across four loops with varying levels of privacy.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities at horse campgrounds near Yorklyn, Delaware. At Starlite Camping Resort, "The facilities are spotless and the campground is maintained to the highest standards I have seen," reports Elizabeth L. The resort features private shower stalls and regular bathroom cleaning.
Privacy between sites: Natural buffers between camping spots create separation at many area campgrounds. At Blackbird State Forest Campground, "The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy," notes one reviewer. Each site includes "a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents."
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian camping options near Yorklyn require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. At Lums Pond State Park, "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B. Weekends from May through September often fill 2-3 months in advance.
Limited hookups: Many campgrounds offer only basic amenities for equestrians. As one camper at Hibernia County Park notes, "Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups." Primitive camping is common at equestrian sites.
Terrain considerations: The topography around Yorklyn presents challenges for large rigs and horse trailers. At Starlite Camping Resort, "If you're hauling a big camper you'll need power for the hills," advises Chris G. Narrow access roads may restrict larger equestrian rigs at some locations.
Playground access: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities beyond equestrian facilities. "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)," shares Mark. The campground maintains multiple play areas for different age groups.
Youth programs: Several parks offer structured activities for children. At French Creek, "There is a huge pool that has a beautiful view overlooking the lake," and organized recreation programs run throughout summer months, particularly on weekends.
Fishing opportunities: Hibernia County Park provides dedicated fishing areas for younger visitors. "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too," notes John Z., making it ideal for families combining equestrian activities with other outdoor pursuits.
Site leveling: RVers camping with horses should note varying site conditions. At French Creek, "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," reports Ellen B., though equestrian-specific sites may offer fewer amenities.
Water access planning: Limited hookups at equestrian sites require preparation. Craig F. notes at Starlite Camping Resort, "Water pressure and electric were both great throughout the stay," but warns about site positioning: "Too often private campgrounds attempt to squeeze as many sites as possible and end up with campers on top of their neighbors."
Bathroom access: Consider proximity to facilities when selecting sites with horses. At Lums Pond, one camper notes, "Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most." Equestrian sites typically position rigs farther from central facilities to accommodate horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Yorklyn, DE?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Yorklyn, DE is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 53 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Yorklyn, DE?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Yorklyn, DE, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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