129 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Chester, Pennsylvania range from full-hookup RV parks to primitive waterfront campsites, with several properties offering cabin accommodations. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA, located across the Delaware River in New Jersey, provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals approximately 20 minutes from Chester. Tinicum Island offers primitive boat-in camping for those seeking a more secluded experience. The region includes both private campgrounds like the Philadelphia-West Chester KOA in Coatesville and state park facilities such as Ridley Creek State Park and Lums Pond State Park, which lies just across the state line in Delaware.
Many campgrounds in the Chester area remain open year-round, though amenities and access vary seasonally. Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA maintains full operation throughout the winter, while others like Philadelphia-West Chester KOA operate from April through November. As one camper noted, "Staff were very friendly. Large campground but doesn't feel like it. Easy access to main roads, downtown Philly and Jersey Shore." Road access to most established campgrounds is straightforward, with paved routes suitable for both passenger vehicles and larger RVs. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, though some waterfront areas may have limited coverage.
Developed campgrounds near Chester typically provide full hookups for RVs, including electric, water, and sewer connections. Several facilities feature recreational amenities like swimming pools, playgrounds, and fishing ponds. A visitor to Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA shared, "The bathrooms were the cleanest I've ever seen on any campgrounds ever. Sparkling." Proximity to Philadelphia represents a significant advantage for campers, with multiple reviewers noting the convenience of using these campgrounds as a base for exploring the city. Noise levels vary by location, with campgrounds closer to I-95 experiencing more traffic sound, while state park campgrounds generally offer a quieter setting. For those seeking water activities, Lums Pond State Park Campground provides boat-in access and waterfront camping with accommodations for tents, RVs, and yurts.
"They also have a catch and release pond and we found a pickleball court at a nearby city park."
"In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods"
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
"We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"Near an Ape Adventure park, hike around lake, and any shopping or restaurants you might want are close by. It rained heavy so we didn’t get out much but walk around camp loop is nice and flat."
"The camp loop is a nice walk but there are also trails. They were pretty muddy when we were there. Site 35 was quite spacious as were many of them."
from $27 - $45 / night
Check Availability"West Chester KOA This is a really nice KOA not too far from downtown Philly."
"Stayed here for a weekend checking out west Chester. Nice playground and jump pad for kids. Nice camp store. Only downside was walnuts loudly hitting our roof at night!"
from $59 - $86 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"This row of sites lacked the trees for shade and privacy found at most other sites around the campground. The pool was nice and clean."
"Not close off the highway, but wooden sites. Seems as though people spend their summers there. Pool was beautiful and looked new. Mini golf was decrepit and looked abandoned. Store was nice."
from $31 - $50 / night
Check Availability"They have many amenities form a lake to swim or fish, to playgrounds,theres a convenient store and even an arcade, and the best part is all the farms around."
from $50 - $150 / night
Check Availability"They are new-ish Shasta campers, queen bed, 1 slide, rear bunks, 2 entrances. Very clean. Water area is great, splash pad is very fun so is the large blow up slide and pool area."
"I think the lale could use a little cleanup with the amount of bobbers, string and mess left behind by people. There have ao many cabins its crazy and alot of seasonal rentals."
from $120 - $145 / night
Check Availability
GuideThis campground is part of the Wharton State Forest and has several campgrounds in the area. Great wooded sites right on a lake. Pretty good separation between sites with good tree separation between sites. Some road noise not overly affecting site.
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.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
RangerWe stayed just a couple nights here on our way north. The camp host was helpful before our stay and during check-in. Our site was pretty isolated from the others, so it was very quiet (no complaints here). There is a decent mix of sunny sites by the river and shady sites under the trees. The weather was perfect mid September. There wasn't anything spectacular for me, but it was a good experience and it was a nice taste of fall PA scenery. Beware that the roads are tight for a big rig. Side note, it did seem like most campers lived there.
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
ScoutMy check in was for 8-6-2026, and bc I’m a new driver and wanted to beat traffic I got there early (7am) so I sit there waiting till check in time. When suddenly the park police show up. He’s accusing me of camping over night there. I told him simply I wasn’t and where I was night prior (would never sleep somewhere without permission). So we go to the store to kill time before we check in. Come back for Check in and the whole staff in just the office alone were so arrogant and cold to my mom and I, leaving rude comments to us and not only where they like that but the staff outside the office was acting like that alongside the rangers and park police. They would watch us the whole visit in the distance parking there cars a little ways watching everything we did,even driving by slowly a bunch of times in just an hour alone. My mom and I couldn’t do anything with out them showing up 2 mins later. Example we were walking our dog enjoying our time(trying to) and all of a sudden one of the office ladies pulls up right in front of us speeding, parks their car, gets out and walks a distance from us standing there and taking pictures of us…. For walking our dog who’s on a leash and didn’t even do anything. The whole trip we felt uncomfortable and unwanted and to find out they police when we were going on walks where coming up to campers near us bribing them with free firewood to get any information on use (told to us by other camper). I paid a lot of money to be harassed and followed the whole time. We never did anything we abide by every rule and keep to ourselves everywhere we go. They even made my mother cry…
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.
ScoutAs far as experience it was good. The main issue was the campsite where we were was uneven and caused many of the sleeping arrangements that we had to be not level. This seems to be a specific issue to the group campsite number two as when we went inwards it seemed like everything else was much better.
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.
The Delaware River Valley area surrounding Chester provides diverse camping options within a 30-mile radius. Most campgrounds near Chester sit at elevations below 400 feet, with the terrain gradually rising toward western sites like French Creek State Park, which reaches elevations near 800 feet. The region typically experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures averaging 85-90°F from June through August, while spring and fall offer more moderate temperatures in the 60-70°F range.
Water activities on Lums Pond: 100-acre freshwater pond with electric-only motors. Visitors to Lums Pond State Park Campground can enjoy kayaking, fishing, and paddling. "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," noted one visitor to nearby French Creek State Park.
Horseback riding: BYO horse only. French Creek State Park offers designated equestrian trails. A visitor commented: "The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike."
Off-leash dog parks: Lums Pond offers dedicated pet areas. "There's an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!" advised one camper. The park's pet-friendly areas provide space for dogs to run while maintaining dedicated zones for other activities.
Spacious sites at state parks: Premium sites feature concrete pads. At French Creek State Park Campground, "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean." State park campgrounds generally offer more space between sites than private campgrounds.
Clean facilities: Bath houses regularly maintained. Campers frequently mention the clean facilities at Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA: "The bathrooms were immaculate compared to most campgrounds." Facility cleanliness varies by campground, with state parks sometimes receiving mixed reviews on bathroom maintenance.
Proximity to Philadelphia attractions: Multiple options for city exploration. When staying at Ridley Creek State Park, visitors appreciate the easy access to urban attractions. The park's group camping area is especially popular for organized outings: "This place is great for first time campers. I go camping here almost every year and they a nice open field with two sites and two fire pits."
Limited cell service in some areas: Coverage gaps at certain campgrounds. While most established campgrounds maintain reliable service, some waterfront areas experience limited connectivity. For reliable service, Philadelphia-West Chester KOA offers "fairly fast but was prone to disconnects" wifi according to visitors.
Reservation requirements: Book well in advance for popular times. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns one camper about Lums Pond. Most campgrounds within 30 miles of Chester require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays.
Seasonal availability: Limited winter options near Chester. While Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA remains open year-round, other campgrounds like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park operate only from April through October. One winter camper at French Creek noted: "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."
Playgrounds and kid-friendly amenities: Multiple options for children. Old Cedar Campground offers various activities: "Friendly campground with plenty of things to do for the kids. Beautiful pool, very nice playground and arcade. The fishing was good everytime we've went." Many campgrounds in the Chester area feature playgrounds, pools, and organized activities.
Safety considerations: Choose campgrounds with controlled access. Old Cedar Campground employs strict rules that enhance safety. "The website, posted signs, confirmation email, and check-in instructions all included a list of strict rules regarding conduct while on property and everyone seemed to abide by them during our stay."
Educational opportunities: History and nature programs. Families can combine camping with educational experiences at parks near historical sites. At French Creek State Park, visitors can access nearby Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, which offers living history programs on weekends during summer months.
Full hookup availability: Premium sites with comprehensive amenities. Tinicum Island offers a unique contrast to the RV-friendly options nearby, as it's only accessible by boat. For RVers, Lums Pond State Park Campground provides excellent full hookup sites: "Beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved."
Big rig accessibility: Site selection crucial for larger vehicles. When visiting with larger motorhomes, careful site selection is essential. One RVer warned: "Heads up, big rig owners! Tight squeeze into Site 25. Get cozy, the sites are quite small and tightly packed together." Always check length restrictions before booking.
Seasonal considerations: Limited winter operations. Most RV parks near Chester close seasonally. For winter camping options, one camper noted at French Creek State Park: "The honor system of payment at the office makes it really easy to come in late and leave early, make sure you have cash on you as it was unclear if checks were accepted."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Chester, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Chester, PA offers a wide range of camping options, with 129 campgrounds and RV parks near Chester, PA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Chester, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chester, PA is Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chester, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Chester, PA.
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