2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Lums Pond State Park Campground and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Quarryville offer distinctive glamping accommodations within easy reach of Newark, Maryland. Lums Pond features yurts with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control systems that provide a luxurious alternative to traditional camping. Jellystone Park houses safari-style glamping tents and yurts equipped with private decks, kitchenettes, and modern amenities. One guest shared, "The glamping tents were more glamorous than we had tried before, but definitely had a good combination of woodsy and comfort." Both locations maintain proximity to water features, with Lums Pond situated directly on its namesake pond and Jellystone offering easy access to recreational water activities. These accommodations blend natural settings with upscale comforts, including linens, furniture, and dedicated outdoor living spaces.
French Creek State Park Campground and Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA provide unique glamping experiences with distinctive amenities. French Creek's yurts include electricity, comfortable furnishings, and climate control systems while maintaining a rustic woodland setting. The KOA features safari tents with proper beds, electricity, and private outdoor spaces. According to a camper, "We stayed for a week in one of the glamping tents. The staff was very friendly and the tents were more glamorous than we had tried before." Both locations offer extensive recreational opportunities, including hiking trails, fishing, and seasonal swimming. French Creek provides access to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, combining historical exploration with luxury outdoor stays. The Philadelphia South KOA remains open year-round, making it accessible for winter glamping experiences, while most other locations operate seasonally from spring through fall. Advance reservations are recommended for all glamping accommodations, particularly during peak summer months.
"The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area. Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side."
"The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade."
Available next weekend
from $22 - $37 / night
"There is a nice, short nature trail which was nice to walk our dog and she enjoyed getting wet in the river. The campground is hilly which means that a fair number of sites are not level."
"I did have major trouble backing in because the road is too narrow for a 45’ motorhome to back in on a nearly 90-degree angle."
from $59 - $86 / night
"A beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people."
"I was a walk-up with no reservation and since it was a weekday the ranger gave me a great rundown of the best spots in the camp and let me drive through to check them out before going back with my decision"
from $21 - $50 / night
"We stayed here in November with beautiful weather which meant the large farm behind the campground was spraying manure over their fields. We could smell it."
"Staff is always friendly and the store well stocked. Kids enjoy the water park and nigh time laser tag parties and hay rides. "
"It’s a clean, well kept space, completely surrounded by state forest, very close to shore access along the rivers/bay, hiking/biking trails right out of the campground."
"No pets though. B and C loop felt like the spaces were very close to each other. A loop was closed at this point."
"Got there at 11pm and the D loop says no pets allowed."
Available next weekend
from $24 - $122 / night
"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."
"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
"This is a nice KOA with full hook ups, tent sites,cabins, and even glamping cabins. There is a pool that is open Memorial Day- Labor Day."
"I arrived on a Tuesday a few days after they closed the pool, and by Wednesday I had the whole row of tent sites to myself."
"We stayed at one of the primitive tent sites with no hookups adjacent to the farm field. Watching a horse drawn equipment cutting grass while we cooked dinner was a joy."
"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."
"The store was stocked well with essentials, and the women running the store was very helpful and friendly. The campground is very well lit and can be navigated easily at night."
"The road for this row is narrow and there is a fence that makes backing in more difficult, especially for a 30+ ft travel trailer."
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yurt camping near Newark, Maryland offers diverse experiences with seasonal climate variations. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures averaging 85-90°F and mild winters with occasional snow. Located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, many campgrounds feature water access for fishing or paddling, creating additional recreational options for campers beyond traditional hiking and sightseeing.
Hiking trails with history: French Creek State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks suitable for all skill levels. "We took her older cousins to the fishing pier, and we didn't even get a nibble, but I think it was too cold for panfish that close to shore. The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike," notes Mark.
Water activities on multiple lakes: At Lums Pond State Park Campground, campers enjoy varied water recreation. "There is a large pond that you can rent paddle boats and small v-bottom boats! We did enjoy the paddle boats and saw a few cranes! They offer fishing at the pond which was also enjoyable," explains Amanda H. The park limits boats to electric motors only.
Explore Amish country: Country Acres Campground provides a central location for experiencing Amish culture. "Ask about the special and free Amish tour linked to the campground," recommends Amy V. The campground offers complimentary tickets for the Amish Farmland Bus Tour, providing cultural context while camping.
Well-maintained yurt accommodations: For those seeking yurt camping near Newark, Maryland, Susquehanna State Park Campground offers clean facilities. "Bath house was immaculate; by far the cleanest I have ever seen in a campground. Must have been recently renovated," shares Jen V. The park's yurts provide a comfortable middle ground between tent camping and cabins.
Spacious, private campsites: Philadelphia-West Chester KOA features sites with natural separation. "The river sites are great but can get muddy and there is a big hill to get up and out. The pool is nice, they have a store and a playground," explains Jim N. Site selection impacts privacy levels significantly at this location.
Excellent camp hosts: Campers consistently praise the staff at Country Acres Campground. "Great place to stay very close to all Amish flea market. The people that run the camp ground are great. We have stayed many times," notes Elaine R. Camp hosts often provide local knowledge and assistance with setup.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, "We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations. Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B.
Bathhouse conditions vary: Facilities range from recently renovated to basic. At French Creek, one camper observed, "The bathroom at the campground is very nice and new however it is a little on the dirty side. I don't know if they have anyone who goes around to clean the bath houses but it certainly was in need of cleaning."
Seasonal differences: Weather impacts camping experiences significantly. Susquehanna State Park Campground operates from March 31 to October 29, while some campgrounds like Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA remain open year-round. "In February, about 1/4 of the sites were occupied. It was very quiet. The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun," reports Adam and Suzanne B. about winter camping at Lums Pond.
Playground proximity matters: At French Creek State Park Campground, campsite selection affects kid-friendly convenience. "For kids, the playground was fantastic, though, it was not shaded. It is also in the middle of the Acorn and Beechnut loop. This is great if you want to be away from the playground, as you can book one of the sites further off and not have kids running about," advises Jennifer S.
Kid-friendly fishing spots: Hibernia County Park offers dedicated fishing areas for children. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," explains Anna. These specialized fishing areas typically have lower catch limits and sometimes feature easier access for younger anglers.
Swimming options: Pools provide relief during hot summer months. At Country Acres Campground, "The pool is new and has a sloped entrance so my two year old could play by himself and loved it. The new bathhouse has better restrooms than my own home! Everything is clean and well managed," shares Megan T.
Site levelness considerations: Many campgrounds feature variable terrain. At Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, one camper noted, "I stayed here as a first trip for my new Class C RV, as a shakedown trip for the rig. The campground is quiet, well-kept, and relatively clean... The hookups were fine, cable was good, wifi was fairly fast but was prone to disconnects."
Backing difficulty varies: Site layout impacts RV accessibility. When considering Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, "We stayed in C1 during the hottest week in the summer (so far). The site was covered and it was cool around 4:30pm when the sun went behind the trees. It didn't look like all sites had that much cover so be careful," recommends Aaron E.
Water and hookup access: At Lancaster-New Holland KOA, hookup quality matters. "First time here and sites are nice and level. Not too close to each other. Has a great view of the valley and Amish farms," reports Michele K. Most reviewers recommend full hookup sites during summer months due to high humidity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Newark, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Newark, MD is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 53 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 30 glamping camping locations near Newark, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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