2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lums Pond State Park Campground features equestrian-friendly sites with direct access to riding trails around the 200-acre pond. The campground accommodates horses at designated sites with ample trailer parking and space for portable corrals. Rangers patrol the area regularly, ensuring a well-maintained environment for both horses and riders. Full hookup sites with concrete pads provide level ground for setting up horse containment systems. The park's equestrian center connects directly to the campground, allowing campers to access additional horse facilities during their stay.
Bridle trails circle the entire pond with multiple access points from the campground, creating convenient riding opportunities without trailering. The trails remain open year-round with good footing even after moderate rainfall. French Creek State Park, located within driving distance, offers additional horse camping options with 35 miles of mixed-use trails where equestrians share paths with hikers. Horse owners note the rocky terrain in some camping areas requires appropriate hoof protection. Water access points for horses appear regularly along the trail system, though campers should bring their own water buckets and feed storage containers as these are not provided at either location.
"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 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
"Campsite decent size, but some don't have clear boundaries to neighbors, and sometimes not optimally configured (e.g., the site next door's fire pit was placed on the edge of its site/right next to my"
"First off, I will start by saying you have to drive a good amount of distance to get into the campground and that is something I really enjoyed!"
from $3 - $60 / 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
ScoutRestrooms are filthy with mold and mildew.
Water puddled on the restroom floor.really gross.
Cabin was mostly clean. The windows were full of dirt and bugs on the tracks.mattresses were terrible.The fireplace was nice. Kitchen was clean.
Can t wait to move on to a cleaner park.
GuideBeautiful campground but made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend, the campgrounds next to us were screaming and blasting music all day and throughout the night so we ended up leaving early. A beautiful campground when there aren’t noisy capers ruining it.
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.
Equestrian camping near Woodbury, New Jersey offers access to miles of bridle paths through eastern deciduous forest and Pine Barrens ecosystems. The region maintains average summer temperatures around 80°F, making May through October the most comfortable camping seasons. Sandy soil conditions throughout the area create good drainage after rainfall, allowing for year-round trail use with proper footwear.
Trail riding at Brendan Byrne State Forest: Riders can access extensive Pine Barrens trails with distinctive sandy terrain and pine-oak forest. "Spent every summer here... The walking trails! There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Can't tell you how much I love it. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails and never leave this state park," notes Benjamin K. from Brendan Byrne State Forest.
Fishing at multiple stocked lakes: Several campgrounds maintain fishing ponds suitable for family outings, with designated areas for younger anglers. "There's a children's pond a short ways away for well stocked fishing," reports Anna about Hibernia County Park, which offers both children's fishing and larger lake options within walking distance.
Kayaking on no-wake ponds: Electric-only boating restrictions create peaceful paddling experiences. "There are two lakes, Scotts Run Lake and Hopewell Lake that you can fish, kayak, canoe or just relax by. There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish," according to Jen R.'s experience at French Creek State Park.
Spacious, level campsites: Many equestrian-friendly campgrounds feature larger sites to accommodate trailers. "The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun. The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms. Great for outdoor activities," notes Adam and Suzanne B. about Lums Pond State Park Campground.
Privacy between sites: Wooded buffers create separation at several campgrounds. Sarah M. appreciates Blackbird State Forest: "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return! No running water- only port a potties but they were clean."
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," shares Mark from Lums Pond State Park, highlighting the high maintenance standards.
Reservation requirements vary: Some campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations... Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B., highlighting the importance of advance planning for Blackbird State Forest Campground.
Primitive facilities at some locations: Several horse-friendly sites offer minimal amenities. "This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites... Each campsite features a picnic table or two, and a fire pit, plus one bundle of firewood... There are a couple portapotties in the camping area, which are a few feet from one campsite, or a few blocks from another. There is one water pump," explains D.R. regarding Blackbird State Forest.
Site suitability for horse trailers: Not all campgrounds can accommodate large rigs. "As I said in the first paragraph, we mostly camp in a 28ft 5th wheel and 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. They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," shares Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Look for campgrounds with playgrounds: Several locations have dedicated play areas. "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards). The only complaint I have is that the kiddie swings seem to be modeled after the seasickness machine," writes Mark about his family's experience at French Creek State Park Campground.
Choose sites near bathrooms: Family-friendly campgrounds offer strategic site selection. "Great bath houses, always super clean. Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most. Tent campers….keep your shoes handy, its a hike," advises al K. at Lums Pond.
Consider seasonal programs: Many parks offer ranger-led activities during summer months. "The park offers a Sunday morning 'Church at the Park,' which we were planning to go to, but then it rained, and we didn't know there was a rain location (the park office), so we ended up missing that," mentions Katie M. about the community programs at French Creek.
Plan for water access: Not all horse-friendly sites have full hookups. "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. There is one spigot at the 'bathroom'," cautions Jennifer S. about Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.
Dump station availability: Check for on-site waste disposal before arrival. "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home," Jennifer S. adds about Hibernia County Park's limitations.
Site leveling requirements: Many natural surface sites require adjustment. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," notes Jen R. about French Creek State Park, highlighting the advantage of properly designed campsites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Woodbury, NJ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Woodbury, NJ 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 Woodbury, NJ?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Woodbury, NJ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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