Camping within 30 miles of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania offers options in three states—Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Located in the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley where elevations range from 200 to 500 feet, campers find diverse landscapes for year-round recreation. Most campgrounds in this tri-state region experience a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, creating opportunities for both summer kayaking and winter camping around the valley's historic waterways.
What to do
Fishing from your site: At Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina, waterfront campsites provide direct access to fishing. "Beautiful water front sites and good location right off 95. Cute little dock, fishing from your campsite if waterfront and an area to put in small boats or kayaks," reports one visitor. The park offers both fishing piers and crabbing opportunities.
Kayaking on local waterways: Several parks feature water access for paddling adventures. Thousand Trails Circle M sits along a river with excellent kayaking potential. "The campground sits in the center of a horseshoe curve of the river, bring tubes and kayaks! We didn't know but went and bought a tube and spent the day on the river!" writes one camper who discovered this activity during their stay.
Miniature golf: Lake-In-Wood Campground offers an on-site miniature golf course among its recreational amenities. A visitor notes, "Huge pond for fishing, miniature gold, nice indoor and outdoor pool and a kiddie pool. Goats to pet and watch." Several campgrounds in the region maintain mini-golf courses, though some require maintenance during shoulder seasons.
Hiking trails: Parks near Chadds Ford feature various trail systems for nature exploration. "Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking," mentions a visitor to Lums Pond State Park Campground, which offers a seven-mile hiking trail and an eight-mile multi-purpose trail through the Delaware countryside.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness varies significantly across the region, with some parks receiving exceptional ratings. At Sun Valley Campground, one visitor highlighted, "Weekend stay here and instead of leaving on Sunday, we booked another day. Great swimming pool, immaculately clean bathrooms and showers. Well wooded campground with friendly staff and guests."
Spacious sites: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers larger-than-average sites compared to private campgrounds in the region. "From the moment I pulled in and observed how large the sites were, I was hooked. Bike trails, Going Ape, kayaking and peaceful," reports one satisfied camper. The concrete pads at this state park are relatively level, reducing setup time.
Heated pools: Many campgrounds maintain swimming pools, though availability varies seasonally. At Spring Gulch Resort Campground, "Staff was nice but not enough staffing to keep amenities like pool open after 5 during the week. Upper showers were much better, no bugs and water was hotter. Heated spa/pool in upper area are a bonus," notes one visitor, highlighting the extended swimming season with heated facilities.
Entertainment options: Weekend activities enhance the camping experience at many parks. "They had a live band one evening. Activities though the day were fun. Clean bath houses and staff was friendly," reports a camper at Spring Gulch Resort Campground, while another visitor to Circle M RV & Camping Resort notes, "We enjoyed everything and the people were friendly. Worth the trip!"
What you should know
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds experience seasonal water challenges. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Elmer, one camper reported, "The water stank and was straight brown." Meanwhile, Sun Valley Campground advises disconnecting water hookups during freezing weather: "Weekend was cold but the park was pretty full. This is close to us so it was an easy trip. Full hookup but we're told to turn off and unhook water the night it dropped below freezing."
Limited propane services: Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina is one of the few facilities in the region that offers propane fill services, a valuable amenity during cooler months. "They do fill up propane but there's a Tractor Supply about 20min away that will also fill them," notes one RVer, providing alternatives for campers needing propane.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring additional setup efforts. At Lake-In-Wood Campground, a camper observed, "The roads were very tight and you really had to watch how you drove through because of the trees. Our site was a drive-through but slanted. There wasn't much room on our site to do anything else."
Noise factors: Quiet hours are strictly enforced at some campgrounds but noise sources vary. "Very large park. Showed up on Wednesday, and was assigned a spot in loop 700 up on a hill in the center of a ring of trailers, past a lot of full-timers," reported a visitor to Sun Valley Campground, noting the mix of overnight and seasonal campers creates different noise patterns.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Elmer provides extensive water features for children. "Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area. Has a full grill inside with a large 'convenience store' with everything you could need," according to one family. Height restrictions apply for some water features, as one parent notes, "The pool and splash park were great but you needed to be at least 42 inches to go on the slide or bounce house."
Scheduled activities: Family-oriented campgrounds offer organized programs throughout the season. At Circle M RV & Camping Resort, "We happened to be there on the weekend a magician came, my kids loved it. They have an indoor and outdoor pool. Nice playground. We were down by the river and had a lot of room on our site," shares a family camper.
Playgrounds and amenities: Several parks provide dedicated children's areas. At Spring Gulch Resort Campground, "Lots of sports gear available for free to use within park, has to be returned by 5 when main office closes. Mini golf was fun but need to be regreened," reports one visitor, noting both the benefits and limitations of the amenities.
Seasonal decorations: Holiday weekends feature special themes at many campgrounds. "We went for Halloween, they had plenty for kids to do and was a pretty nice park. Sites were nice size and orderly," shares a visitor to Spring Gulch Resort Campground, highlighting the seasonal programming that enhances family camping experiences.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: RV campers recommend requesting specific areas based on your needs. At Thousand Trails Circle M, "While the top part of the campground seemed more communal, we chose the lower, Riverside sites and we're glad we did! The campground sits in the center of a horseshoe curve of the river, bring tubes and kayaks!"
Site leveling preparations: Bring adequate leveling equipment for the region's campgrounds. "Sites are pretty much level," notes a camper at Lums Pond State Park Campground, contrasting with other parks where leveling presents challenges. The site was fairly level side-to-side, so one camper reported, "I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus."
Utility placement considerations: Hookup locations vary significantly between campgrounds. "We got pretty lucky and were assigned one of the concrete pads that was pretty level. It is absolutely beautiful out. The grounds are well-kept," reports a visitor to Circle M RV & Camping Resort. Good cell service enhances the experience for those working remotely.
Advance reservations required: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises a frequent visitor to Lums Pond State Park Campground, where full hookup sites with 50-amp service on concrete pads remain in high demand throughout the camping season.
