M
Michael M.
Scout
ScoutTurkey Swamp Park
Water/power at the campsite, and and centrally located dump station. Lots of trees and nice separation of sites
Equestrian Camping near Cheltenham, PA
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Brendan Byrne State Forest accommodates equestrians throughout its 37,000-acre pine barrens landscape with extensive trail networks suitable for horseback riding. The forest maintains well-marked sand trails that connect directly to wilderness areas, though no dedicated horse corrals are available at individual campsites. Campers with horses must bring portable containment systems or use highlines between trees. The campground offers spacious sites that can accommodate horse trailers with ample parking areas separate from the tent and RV camping zones. Bathroom facilities remain clean and accessible, with running water available at spigots throughout the camping areas. Sites in the smaller camping loop (sites 1-13) provide more privacy for those camping with horses.
Located approximately 75 miles southeast of Cheltenham, the forest connects riders to miles of sand trails through distinctive pine barrens terrain. Horse owners should be prepared for sandy soil conditions that can be challenging after rain. Trail riding options range from short loops around Pakim Pond to longer wilderness routes suitable for day-long excursions. The campground enforces standard quiet hours from 10pm to 6am, with designated fire hours from 6pm to 7am only. Ticks can be overwhelming during warmer months, so appropriate precautions for both horses and humans are essential. Water access points are available but scattered throughout the campground, requiring campers to fill portable water containers for their horses. The nearby joint military base occasionally creates noise from low-flying aircraft that may startle some horses unaccustomed to such sounds.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Cheltenham (8)
1. French Creek State Park Campground
"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."
5 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $90 / night
2. Brendan Byrne State Forest
"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!"
Check Availabilityfrom $3 - $60 / night
3. Lums Pond State Park Campground
"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."
1 Site AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $27 - $45 / night
4. Turkey Swamp Park
"Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose."
"Heavily wooded and supremely quiet, it’s located not far from anywhere you’d want to be. 30 minutes to the shore. Every site is a pull-through, large and spacious with great woodland views. 30amp and"
Check Availabilityfrom $42 - $79 / night
5. Mountainview Campground
"We were kindly escorted to our site (a nice refreshing change from having to wander around to find the sites ourselves), which was the one farthest away from the entrance."
"Close by to a couple of nice state parks. Cute sheep and goats that wander about during the day! Sweet little spot, we'll definitely be back!"
6. Spruce Run Recreation Area
"Park employees and park police drive around through the day. Some big groups of campers got a little rowdy at night. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting."
"The actual site was nice and was close to the bathrooms. There was plenty of shade as the sun moved throughout the day."
7. Hibernia County Park
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $50 / night
8. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Drive Time
- 14 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 31 min from Trenton, NJ
- 59 min from Vineland, NJ
- 1 hr 1 min from Allentown, PA
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Cheltenham, PA
1 Photos of 8 Cheltenham Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Cheltenham, PA
230 Reviews of 8 Cheltenham Campgrounds
- DDiane M.Scout
Brendan Byrne State Forest
Just ok
Restrooms 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.
Adeline M.
GuideBrendan Byrne State Forest
Beautiful campground, loud campers
Beautiful 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.
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First 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.
- CCarlos E.Scout
Turkey Swamp Park
Really nice campground
Stayed three nights in a tent and enjoyed it very much. Sites have electrical hookups, shared water connections, large picnic table, and fire ring with adjustable grate. Electrical and water are at the outer edge of each site so you might want an extension cord and/or hose. Bathrooms are clean; showers have separate stalls but they’re clustered together (not the most private). There are hiking and biking trails, a lake, and archery park. Staff are friendly. Office is open through 9pm, and firewood, ice, and bait for fishing are available. Site C3 is in an okay spot; it’s close to the bathroom and laundry room, but also right next to the playground. We were able to visit the beach; easy 25 minute drive to Asbury Park.
- AAimee K.
TravelerTurkey Swamp Park
Great Park
Beautiful park and very peaceful. Rangers are super friendly. This is exactly what camping should be.
Matt S.
LegendFrench Creek State Park Campground
Quiet Park with a Tight Fit
We 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:
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Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
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Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
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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.
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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?
- Probably. While the site geometry required a little extra setup muscle, it’s hard to beat the location if you're visiting the area or catching the balloon festival.
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Nancy W.LegendLums Pond State Park Campground
Clean, big-rig friendly, large sites.
Overall, 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.
- SShannon D.Scout
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond
Bathrooms are clean and staff is nice
Guide to Cheltenham
Brendan Byrne State Forest provides extensive horseback riding opportunities within the New Jersey Pine Barrens, about 75 miles southeast of Cheltenham. The forest's terrain consists primarily of sandy soil which creates unique riding conditions throughout the 37,000-acre landscape. Weather fluctuations between spring and fall drastically change trail conditions, with summer temperatures often reaching into the 90s while spring and fall temperatures remain more moderate in the 60-70°F range.
What to do
Trail riding in diverse ecosystems: Explore multiple trail systems at French Creek State Park Campground where riders can access various terrain types within the 7,500-acre property. "There are many trails for hiking, biking or horseback riding as well as fields for frisbee golf or just sitting by the lake to relax," notes one visitor who frequently returns to the park.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can cast lines at multiple lakes throughout the region's parks. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish." The pond allows only electric motors, creating a quieter environment for fishing.
Archery practice: Turkey Swamp Park offers dedicated archery facilities for practice before hunting season. "Bring your bow and shoot at the hay barrels. Ice skate on the lake in the winter or just enjoy a gorgeous walk in the woods," shares a regular camper who visits annually.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Many equestrian campers appreciate the separation between campsites in the region. At Spruce Run Recreation Area, "Campsites are large, many have nice mix of sun and shade. You can launch your kayak easily from the shore." This combination makes it convenient for horse owners who bring watercraft along with their equestrian gear.
Clean facilities: Despite the rustic nature of many horse campgrounds near Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, facility maintenance receives positive mentions. "The bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," notes a camper at French Creek State Park, which provides amenities within walking distance of horse-friendly camping areas.
Year-round availability: Several parks in the region maintain camping access through multiple seasons. "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," mentions a winter visitor to French Creek, highlighting the extended season that allows for cold-weather riding.
What you should know
Fire restrictions: Most equestrian campgrounds in the region maintain specific rules about campfires. At Brendan Byrne State Forest, "Only weird rule I saw was that fires can only go from 6pm till 7am which was odd but wasn't a deal breaker. Seasonal rangers drove by a handful of times." These fire hours are enforced consistently throughout the year.
Tick prevention essential: Sandy soil in pine forest areas creates ideal tick habitat. "Ticks were very active on this visit be sure to remember your bug spray and tuck your pants in your socks!" warns a visitor to Brendan Byrne State Forest, where both horses and humans need protection during warmer months.
Water access varies: Access to water for horses differs significantly between campgrounds. Some riders report, "The closest water spigot wasn't working. Not a big problem as there are plenty of others," but it's advisable to arrive with water tanks partially filled in case of spigot issues.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds available: Multiple parks provide dedicated play areas for children near horse camping areas. At Turkey Swamp Park, "There is a very nice playground situated conveniently between the loops of the campground. It had some slides, a bridge, lots of monkey bars, ladders to climb on and the best feature was the zip line."
Educational opportunities: Combine horse camping with historical learning at sites like Hibernia County Park where "There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends." This provides rainy-day alternatives when trail riding isn't possible.
Child-friendly fishing: Several parks maintain dedicated fishing areas for younger anglers. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," notes a visitor to Hibernia County Park, where designated youth fishing areas allow for age-appropriate activities when taking breaks from horse-related adventures.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for trailers: Horse owners with larger rigs should research specific sites that accommodate both living quarters and horse trailers. At Mountainview Campground, "We actually only stayed here overnight to just get out and see the autumn colors before winter hit, so I wasn't really expecting much, but man was I impressed. The drive up to this place was so breathtaking the entire way." The campground accommodates various trailer sizes on specific sites.
Hookup availability: Many equestrian camping areas offer limited hookups, requiring strategic planning. "We luckily have some solar so we can go for awhile without running the generator. We fill our fresh water tank and bring drinking water," suggests an RVer at Spruce Run Recreation Area, highlighting the need for self-sufficiency at many horse-friendly campgrounds.
Leveling challenges: Horse owners should prepare for uneven terrain at many sites. "The sites aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," advises a camper with a 28-foot fifth wheel who regularly visits Hibernia County Park, demonstrating that larger rigs can access many of the region's equestrian camping areas with proper preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Cheltenham, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Cheltenham, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cheltenham, 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
Cheltenham, PA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Cheltenham, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Cheltenham, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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