3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Artillery Ridge Campground features multiple horse pens and a fenced riding arena with direct access to Gettysburg National Historical Site's equestrian trails. The campground provides ample RV sites and cabins near the horse stalls with a dedicated hose wash rack for horses. Horse owners staying at the campground can take guided tours of the battlefield on rescue horses from the National Riding Stables located on the grounds. The sites around the equestrian area offer full hookups with water, electric, and sewer connections. Sites are gravel and level, accommodating both tents and RVs. Artillery Ridge maintains the equestrian facilities year-round with multiple stalls available for overnight boarding.
The riding experience at Gettysburg connects campers directly to the historic battlefield where cavalry played a crucial role during the Civil War. Riders can explore the same terrain traveled by mounted soldiers during the battle. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in nearby Maryland offers additional equestrian trail access with dedicated riding paths. Horse camping at these locations requires reservations, particularly during peak season from spring through fall. Horseback riders access trails directly from the camping areas without having to trailer to trailheads. Artillery Ridge Campground is particularly valuable for history enthusiasts who can experience the battlefield from horseback. The stalls are clean and well-maintained with proper manure disposal areas. Most equestrian sites include standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings and access to shower facilities.
"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"
"Campground Review: French Creek State Park Campground is located in Elverson, Pennsylvania and sits adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $90 / night
"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
"This park is a perfect location if you want to explore Gettysburg National Historical Site as you can literally walk across the street and be in the park or venture½ mile up the road and you come to the"
"Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded."
"Starlight is a nice campground to relax or explore central Pennsylvania."
"The campground is in a great location with easy access to Lancaster, Hershey and many other places to explore."
"I always appreciate the near solitude experience of this campground as 90% of the sites are RV sites, that are kept away from the tenting area."
"If you’re looking for a backwoods, off-the-beaten-path type of campground, this isn’t it."
"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
from $22 - $100 / night
from $10 / night
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
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.
ScoutStaff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
LegendWe spent 4 nights at Gettysburg Campground to attend the AIM Club Rally(Lincoln’s Legacy- Gettysburg 250), and it served as base camp for the event.
WHAT I LIKED:
Location, Location, Location: This park is an absolute winner for convenience—just 5 minutes from the Gettysburg battlefields, museums, and the heart of town.
The Atmosphere: The staff gave us a warm reception at check-in, and the site itself was clean, well-maintained, and spacious enough to back up to a running creek. Lots of mature trees offer lots of shade and character.
Big-Rig Friendly: Navigating a 45-foot motorhome with a toad can sometimes be stressful, but this park was easy to maneuver.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
Late-Night Power Struggles: On our final night, the campground experienced grid strain. Our Hughes Watchdog Power Center saved the day—but it had to shut off our power 7 different times due to low voltage. Aside from losing a few hours of sleep to the chorus of appliances cycling off and on, no harm was done. I recommend using a surge protector/voltage regulator if you stay here.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
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?
ScoutFlat grounds, level campsites, nice pool, kids have tons of fun!
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
Horse camping in Pennsylvania's southeastern region combines historical experiences with diverse equestrian terrain. Located within driving distance of Gettysburg National Military Park, horse campgrounds near Brogue, Pennsylvania offer direct access to miles of bridle paths through rolling countryside. Weather conditions range from warm summer days with temperatures in the 80s to cooler spring and fall periods ideal for trail riding.
Trail riding at Gettysburg: The historic battlefield provides riders with multiple trail options across open fields and wooded areas. Riders at Artillery Ridge Campground appreciate the convenient access. "This campground is minutes from town and is practically on the battlefield," notes Ray L. "There were a few families that brought their horses and they were right across from our site. Kids loved being able to see them and get close and even pet them!"
Fishing between rides: Most equestrian campgrounds offer fishing opportunities for when you're not on horseback. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish," reports Jen R. about French Creek State Park Campground. Many horse campers bring fishing gear to relax after morning rides.
Explore natural resources areas: Maryland's Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area provides extensive equestrian trails through preserved natural landscape. The area offers "two primitive youth group camping areas" according to Gen F., making it suitable for equestrian clubs and organizations looking to camp together.
Private horse sites: Spacious camping areas specifically designed for equestrian needs stand out in reviews. "Sites were not on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes," reports Jen R. about camping at French Creek State Park, which connects to horse trails.
Historical immersion: Many equestrians appreciate camping in areas with historical significance. "Spent a weekend at Gettysburg. We camped at Artillery Ridge Campground, which served as an artillery storage/staging area for the Union during the battle," shares MJ B. "Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded."
Winter availability: Some horse facilities remain open year-round. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great!" reports Galit P. about French Creek State Park. "The honor system of payment at the office makes it really easy to come in late and leave early."
Reservation requirements: Peak season demands early planning for equestrian sites. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park Campground, which offers equestrian access. Many campgrounds open reservations 6-12 months ahead.
Terrain considerations: Be prepared for varied terrain when camping with horses. "Starlite offers a wide variety of amenities such as a community pool, general store, snack bar, playground area, toilets, indoor shower stalls, daily activities, pets permitted, water/electric utilities and laundry units," reports Brie A. about Starlite Camping Resort, noting the facilities that support multi-day equestrian stays.
Seasonal limitations: Some equestrian facilities have restricted seasons. "This state park is close to Philly but has some wonderful tent sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Brogue, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Brogue, PA is French Creek State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 84 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Brogue, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Brogue, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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