Eastern Pennsylvania features wooded rolling hills with elevations ranging from 200-500 feet around Blue Bell. The area's temperate climate brings warm summers with occasional thunderstorms and mild winters, creating an extended cabin camping season from April through October. Many cabins near Blue Bell, Pennsylvania offer year-round availability while others close during winter months.
What to do
Disc golf course: Boulder Woods Campground has an extensive disc golf course that draws enthusiasts from surrounding areas. "They also have a disc golf course and they rent and sell discs. That's where we fell in love with disc golf," notes one visitor to Boulder Woods Campground.
Water activities: Multiple lakes at French Creek State Park provide fishing and boating opportunities. "There are two lakes in French Creek, Hopewell and Scott's Run and each contain many species of fish. We spent Saturday afternoon fishing but not catching anything at Scott's Run. It's a beautiful location and it was still a fun way to spend the day with the kids away from the site," shares a camper at French Creek State Park Campground.
Creek exploration: Enjoy wading and exploring shallow waterways at local parks. "Great place to creek hike, nice for horses, we did get a lot of ticks, but not deer ticks, thankfully," mentions a visitor to Evansburg State Park.
Urban glamping: For a unique experience near Philadelphia, consider boat-based accommodation. One visitor noted about Philly Love Boats: "I am definitely going to give this a shot this looks very peaceful."
What campers like
Private tent sites: Several campgrounds offer secluded spots away from RVs. "I liked this tent specifically for the design which is reminiscent of the tent my parents used when I was a child... The airflow is great, with the small vent in the rear, two side windows and the full screen door," writes a camper at French Creek State Park Campground.
River views: Premium sites along waterways provide scenic camping experiences. "The sites, particularly those on the Brandywine River, have amazing views. They are close enough for you to camp with a group, but most also have a small fence between each site to clearly delineate between the sites," notes a visitor to Philadelphia-West Chester KOA.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers matter to campers. "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. There are two large showers as well with very warm water," explains a French Creek visitor.
Peaceful atmosphere: Less crowded cabins near Blue Bell provide quiet getaways. "Since it was late in the season, I called ahead to make sure this campground (22 individual sites plus two group sites and four cabins– two rustic and two modern) was still open... We arrived around 6 pm to a completely empty campground... we didn't hear any noise or see another soul during our overnight stay," shares a camper at Tohickon Valley County Park.
What you should know
Site selection matters: The primitive sites at some campgrounds offer more privacy. "The Tent sites are The Best Thing about this Place, They are a lot more Private and spacious," notes a visitor to Little Red Barn Campground.
Off-season benefits: Camping during shoulder seasons provides quieter experiences. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great! If you're traveling through, there are many places to eat nearby. I'm a women in my thirties traveling alone and I felt very safe here," shares a French Creek camper.
Price considerations: Premium sites can cost significantly more than standard accommodations. "Well kept camp but far more expensive than it should be. Not worth the money but, the 4 premium sites are nice. $91 bucks a night is salty though," notes a Philadelphia-West Chester KOA visitor.
Alcohol policies: Rules vary between state and private parks. "This is no alcohol permitted in the park due to it being a state park, however that all depends on how open you are about it and the Park rangers," writes a camper at Tohickon Valley County Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature multiple play areas for different age groups. "The camp playground was brand new when we arrived and they had just broken ground (September 2020). There are two different playground in the same area to accommodate kids of all ages. They also have pickleball, mini golf and a lovely pool," shares a Philadelphia-West Chester KOA visitor.
Nature exploration opportunities: Local parks offer kid-friendly hiking and wildlife viewing. "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 a visitor to Evansburg State Park Campground.
Swimming options: Many rental cabins near Blue Bell provide pool access during summer months. "The pool is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. There is also a separate kiddie pool," notes a Little Red Barn Campground visitor.
Family activities: Scheduled events keep children entertained. "They offer so many activities during the day and text you so you don't forget. The place is so clean including the bathrooms. Everyone we came in contact with staff wise was so friendly," shares a camper at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA.
Tips from RVers
Site access challenges: Some campgrounds have tight turns for larger rigs. "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. So difficult, that I cracked the bottom of my front cap catching the grass and gravel beside the grave road," cautions a Philadelphia-West Chester KOA visitor.
Staff assistance: Many campgrounds offer parking help for challenging sites. "The spots are tight to get into but the staff will offer to park your camper using your vehicle. I let them park mine and I'm really glad I did. It was super tight," shares a Boulder Woods Campground visitor.
Seasonal restrictions: Age limitations apply at some campgrounds. "Three years ago, we fell in love with this campground. We knew we had to find an rv and become seasonals. Fast forward, we bought one, went to talk to them... They only allow seasonal campers to be 10 years old or newer. Ours is 13," notes a Boulder Woods camper.
Utility access: Not all sites provide full hookups. "Not all sites have sewer hookups, oops. Easy to back in," comments a Little Red Barn Campground visitor.