2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area provides horse-friendly camping options near Elk Mills, Maryland. This campground offers tent and RV accommodations accessible to equestrians. The campground features drinking water, electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets. Waste disposal facilities include a sanitary dump and trash collection. Sites are open year-round and maintain a 4.5/5 rating from visitors. There are two primitive youth group camping areas with specific guidelines that must be followed. The natural setting accommodates various outdoor activities beyond horseback riding, including hiking and wildlife viewing.
Located in Elkton, MD, Fair Hill is positioned for convenient access to equestrian trails. The 5,600-acre property includes extensive trails ideal for horseback riding through varied terrain. Trail riders can enjoy wooded paths and open meadows throughout the natural resources area. Facilities are basic but functional, with water hookups available for both campers and animals. The campground rules require advance reservations for groups planning equestrian activities. Clean family-friendly environment offers additional recreational options when not riding. Visitors should note that while the campground welcomes horses, it does not provide dedicated horse corrals, so equestrians need to bring appropriate containment systems. Nearby Lums Pond State Park offers additional camping options but without specific equestrian facilities, though it does provide extensive hiking trails and water recreation opportunities.
"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."
"I 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."
Available next weekend
from $22 - $37 / 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 next weekend
from $24 - $122 / 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
"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
"Those can be found at the campground entrance. Each loop has a wood shed and clean, well-appointed bathhouse. There are water pumps along the road for refills."
"We were looking to explore Maryland's Eastern Shore and picked Tuckaho because they had electric sites available. We were so pleased with our stay."
from $21 - $70 / 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 offers specialized equestrian camping opportunities 8 miles north of Elk Mills. The 5,600-acre property features dirt trails through forested terrain at elevations ranging from 350-500 feet. Equestrian camping areas remain open throughout the year, with peak season running from April through October when rainfall averages 3.5 inches monthly.
Hiking trails: The trail system at Tuckahoe State Park Campground offers 20 miles of paths open for multiple activities. "There's lots of trails to hike. Beautiful, peaceful," notes camper Shawn. For families, the park includes "two playgrounds that are both open and trails to hike," according to Kasey M.
Fishing opportunities: Lums Pond State Park Campground provides fishing access on its 200-acre pond with various warm water species. Mark mentions, "I 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 park permits electric motors only, creating a quieter environment.
Disc golf course: French Creek State Park Campground features a wooded disc golf course for additional recreation. "There is also a frisbee golf course in the woods to make it even more interesting and competitive. The trees definitely make it harder!" says Jen R. The course has established tee boxes and targets throughout the forested setting.
Private campsites: Blackbird State Forest Campground receives high marks for site spacing. Sarah M. shares, "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" Another camper notes, "The camp sites are spaced out a good amount so each site has good privacy."
Clean facilities: Many equestrian campers appreciate the maintained bathrooms at Tuckahoe State Park. Jessica K. reports, "The bathhouse is very clean," while another camper mentions, "I LOVE the commercial-sized washing sink for your dishes, since you don't have full hookups its a BIG deal."
Large, level sites: At Lums Pond State Park, the concrete pads make setup straightforward. Matt S. comments on the "beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved." Another camper mentions sites were "redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer."
Reservation challenges: Popular equestrian campgrounds fill quickly. At Lums Pond, Mark notes, "I understand why it is so difficult to get a reservation at Lums Pond," while Ellen B. advises, "Book early because it fills up fast!"
Primitive facilities: Hibernia County Park offers basic camping with limited amenities. Jennifer S. explains, "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." The park provides "only pit toilets in Fiddler's loop."
Seasonal considerations: Fair Hill trails can become muddy after rain. Some equestrian areas close during hunting seasons, particularly in November and December. Check with park rangers for current trail conditions before arrival.
Kid-friendly fishing: Hibernia County Park offers designated children's fishing areas. Anna reports, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," while John Z. notes it's "inexpensive $15 a night" with a "great children's pond for 12 and under."
Playground access: Starlite Camping Resort provides family amenities beyond horse camping. Brie A. mentions it "offers a wide variety of amenities such as a community pool, general store, snack bar, playground area, toilets, indoor shower stalls, daily activities." These facilities enhance family camping experiences near equestrian trails.
Nature programs: French Creek State Park runs seasonal educational activities. Katie M. shares, "We loved our stay at this park, and plan to return. We tented in loop D...there is lots of hiking, the lake is beautiful, at least two playgrounds (perfect for our kids)."
Hookup availability: Lums Pond State Park provides the most complete RV facilities near Elk Mills. Adam and Suzanne B. report, "The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun. The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern." The park offers full hookups with 50-amp service.
Water access: When staying at horse campgrounds without full hookups, plan accordingly. At French Creek State Park, Jen R. notes, "There is water available and some sites have electric. For an electric site it was the standard State Park fee of 33.50 per night."
Site selection: Choose carefully when booking RV sites at equestrian campgrounds. Buck P. warns about Tuckahoe State Park: "We booked site 21, blind. The web site does not say site 21 is extremely small. We have a 25' camper, and it barely fit, length and width were an issue. The firepit was about 3-4 feet from our door."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Elk Mills, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Elk Mills, MD 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 Elk Mills, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Elk Mills, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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