2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland offers horse-friendly trails and camping approximately 20 miles from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. The 5,600-acre park maintains dedicated equestrian camping facilities with access to over 80 miles of marked trails through rolling hills and wooded terrain. Campsites accommodate both horses and riders with space for trailers, though campers must bring their own portable corrals or highlines as permanent stalls are not available. The park provides water access for horses and central manure disposal areas. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Drinking water, electric hookups, and sanitary dump stations are available for campers, though showers are not provided. Trail riders will find the paths well-maintained with clearly marked intersections suitable for varying skill levels.
French Creek State Park, located within an hour's drive of Glen Mills, connects to bridle trails that wind through Pennsylvania's largest contiguous forest between Washington D.C. and New York City. The trails offer diverse terrain with well-established water crossings and rest areas suitable for day rides from the campground. Horse owners must provide their own containment systems as permanent corrals are not available. The campground features sites that can accommodate horse trailers with varying hookup options including electric, water, and sewer in certain loops. Sites have level parking pads which makes setup easier for those with larger rigs and trailers. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months and fall foliage season when the trails attract riders from throughout the region. The surrounding network of trails connects to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, providing additional riding opportunities.
"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 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
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
from $25 / night
"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."
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.
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?
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
TravelerThe camp site was amazing. Everything is neat and clean and really beautiful place so quiet.
GuideThis campground has everything. Conveniently located, short drive to Dover, Wilmington, Annapolis and Baltimore. The sites were very large and spacious. Sites can accommodate any type of trailer or vehicle. Plenty of site hookups, areas for tents. There is a camp store, several washer and dryers. The best private, individual shower booths and even a pond to go fishing in.
ScoutThis is our 3rd time at this park, it is one of our favorites. Well maintained, very quiet. We stay in Loop A (full hookup) pet friendly. Sites are spacious, generally large but they are all back-in sites.
TravelerThis is the most quietest campground. Perfect when you need to go somewhere to think. The people here are very nice. The wildlife is amazing
TravelerHarder to do with a large group due to the early quiet hours, but park is very nice and well kept
French Creek State Park offers quality equestrian camping near Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, with terrain ranging from 470 to 835 feet in elevation. The forest landscape includes both hardwood and conifer sections, with a mixed oak forest predominating throughout the region. Trail riders can typically expect mild spring and fall conditions, though summer humidity can make midday rides uncomfortable during July and August.
Trail riding at Fair Hill NRMA: The 5,600-acre natural resource management area maintains over 80 miles of trails through varied terrain. The trails connect with neighboring parkland for longer excursions. "Stayed here 2 nights without a reservation. We were in the D loop which is rustic with no hookups. Quiet, very few people mid-week," notes Cheryl K. about nearby French Creek State Park.
Fishing opportunities: Several parks in the region offer fishing access within short drives. "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," writes Jen R. at French Creek State Park.
Frisbee golf course: Some parks offer additional recreational options beyond riding. "There is also a frisbee golf course in the woods to make it even more interesting and competitive. The trees definitely make it harder!" mentions another visitor at French Creek State Park.
Private campsites: Many campers appreciate the separation between sites at Hibernia County Park. "The sites are larger and it's more open. It is popular with group tenters," notes Jennifer S. about one of the camping loops. The park's small size creates a quieter atmosphere compared to larger facilities.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high on visitor priorities. "Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," shares Jen R. about her experience camping near Glen Mills.
Spacious sites: The campgrounds offering horse camping typically provide more room than standard 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!" writes Craig F.
Seasonal availability: Many equestrian campgrounds operate on limited schedules. "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," explains Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Limited hookups: Some equestrian camping areas offer minimal amenities. "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank," warns Jennifer S. about one campground loop.
Terrain considerations: The region features rolling hills that can affect campsite selection. At Lums Pond State Park, "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus," reports Mark about his camping experience.
Playground access: When horse camping with children, having recreation options helps. "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," shares Jen R.
Swimming options: Several parks offer swimming facilities for after-ride relaxation. "There is a pool and another playground near the park office. Not to mention the many trails for walking, hiking or biking as well!" adds another camper about their experience at Blackbird State Forest.
Educational opportunities: The historical sites near equestrian camping facilities provide learning experiences. "The surrounding network of trails connects to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, providing additional riding opportunities," notes one experienced rider about the region.
Site selection for trailers: When bringing horses, choosing the right site matters. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," reports Jen R. about her experience at French Creek State Park, which makes parking horse trailers easier.
Water access planning: Horse owners should research water availability beforehand. "There is one spigot at the 'bathroom'," notes Jennifer S. about one campground, highlighting the need to arrive with filled tanks when camping with horses.
Electric considerations: For those requiring electric for horse-related equipment, selecting the appropriate campground matters. At Star Lite Camping Resort, "We had two sites this trip with water and electric, but they do have quite a few full hook-up sites," explains Craig F., making it suitable for some equestrian campers needing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Glen Mills, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Glen Mills, 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 Glen Mills, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Glen Mills, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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