French Creek State Park Campground is located 23 miles northwest of Felton, Pennsylvania, at an elevation of 600 feet in the Hopewell Big Woods. The 7,526-acre park sits within the largest contiguous forest between Washington D.C. and New York City. Winter camping is available year-round, with temperatures typically dropping below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Trail riding on horseback: At Artillery Ridge Campground, visitors can enjoy guided horseback tours of the Gettysburg battlefields with direct trail access. "The location provides ideal access to trails that traverse the surrounding Civil War battlefields... the property connects directly to the Gettysburg National Military Park," making it perfect for equestrians interested in historical riding experiences. One camper noted, "Amazing location surrounded by the national park. The grounds are nice and shaded, and you don't feel crowded."
Fishing opportunities: French Creek State Park Campground offers fishing at two lakes. "There are two lakes, Scotts Run Lake and Hopewell Lake that you can fish at, kayak, canoe or just relax by. There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish." Ice fishing is permitted when conditions allow. "Ice fishing is also allowed at both lakes and the ice thickness is monitored."
Historical exploration: Horse campgrounds near Felton make excellent bases for exploring Civil War history. Many equestrian campers visit Gettysburg Campground for its historical significance. One visitor mentioned, "If you're looking for a campground that is very close to an historical National Park not to mention shopping and restaurants, this is for you." Another noted it's "close to battlefield. Nice creek with ducks."
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Campers appreciate the spacious, secluded sites at Starlite Camping Resort. "Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy. Except for the Plateau sites, which have the amazing view, the rest of the campground had a great tree cover! Too often private campgrounds attempt to squeeze as many sites as possible and end up with campers on top of their neighbors, but at Starlight, the sites felt very secluded."
Clean facilities: Lums Pond State Park Campground receives consistently high marks for cleanliness. "Great bath houses, always super clean," commented one visitor. Another noted, "The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms." A third camper praised the "beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved."
Equestrian amenities: Specialized horse camping near Felton attracts riders from across Pennsylvania. According to campers, Artillery Ridge Campground accommodates both horses and humans well. The campground features "a great horse rescue on the campground. You can take guided tours of the battlefield on horseback." Another camper highlighted that "this is the place for you" if you're "into horses."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: At Hibernia County Park, campers should know about specific reservation procedures. "This campground is only open on the weekends, in season. Sites can be reserved on line, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration." The park hosts an annual event requiring advance planning: "Hibernia annually hosts the (super fun!) 'Old Fiddlers Picnic' the second weekend in August. This is the only weekend that you are REQUIRED to call in to reserve."
Seasonal variations: Weather affects camping conditions significantly near Felton. A Lums Pond camper noted, "In February, about 1/4 of the sites were occupied. It was very quiet." Meanwhile, French Creek State Park remains open year-round, with one camper sharing: "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great!"
Alcohol policies: Rules vary between parks. Michaux State Forest allows alcohol with limitations: "Alcohol is permitted, except in picnic areas." However, French Creek State Park and Hibernia County Park prohibit alcohol entirely: "This is a State Park there is no alcohol allowed. The Park Rangers drive by regularly."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Gettysburg Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "Very fun family friendly getaway for the weekend. Close to Gettysburg Battleground," noted one camper. Another mentioned the "playground and mini golf available" that keeps children entertained between historical excursions.
Water recreation options: French Creek State Park features multiple water activities for families. "There is a huge lake where you can rent canoes and kayaks. A huge pool that has a beautiful view overlooking the lake," wrote one camper. Another mentioned, "We did take our inflatable kayak out on the water, and it was lovely!"
Kid-friendly fishing: Some parks maintain dedicated fishing areas for children. At Hibernia County Park, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," making it ideal for young anglers. Another visitor confirmed, "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: When seeking horse-friendly campgrounds with RV accommodations near Felton, Pennsylvania, site selection matters. At Hibernia County Park, "As I said in the first paragraph, we mostly camp in a 28ft 5th wheel and though at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper. They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Hookup considerations: Artillery Ridge Campground offers various hookup options, including some with full connections. "We had a site right next to the trail going to Stangler Farm. AT&T cell reception at our site was hit or miss, but good in the rest of the campground." Another camper advised checking the campground's recent renovations: "No pool, no mini golf, and a lot of sites are closed. The good news is they expect all work done by the summer."
Traffic noise awareness: Some RV sites experience road noise. At Gettysburg Campground, "The two drawbacks are that the sites are quite packed together and the noise of traffic– at least in the frontmost sites– can get rather loud at night." For quieter spots, request sites away from main roads or entrance areas.
