2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Limited equestrian camping options exist near Havertown, Pennsylvania, with most campgrounds lacking dedicated horse corrals or specialized equine facilities. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Elkton, Maryland is one viable option at approximately 40 miles from Havertown. The park features established camping with toilets, water, and electric hookups, though reviews mention restrictions on pets. The campsites provide suitable terrain for horse trailers with level areas for parking, though proper containment systems for horses should be brought by campers as permanent corrals are not available.
Trails at Fair Hill connect to a broader regional network accessible to horseback riders, providing varied terrain through wooded areas and open fields. French Creek State Park, located closer to Havertown, offers established camping with numerous amenities including shower facilities and electric hookups, but does not feature dedicated horse facilities. When planning equestrian camping trips in this region, reservations are recommended as sites fill quickly, particularly during summer months and weekends. Horse owners should contact campgrounds directly regarding specific equine policies, as facilities and rules vary significantly across parks in the Havertown vicinity.
"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
"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!"
from $3 - $60 / night
"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!"
"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
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.
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.
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.
Equestrian camping options near Havertown, Pennsylvania include several state parks and forests within a 40-60 mile radius. The region features varied terrain with rolling hills, densely forested areas, and elevations ranging from 200 to 800 feet above sea level. Weather conditions typically allow for camping from April through October, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during daytime hours.
Trail riding opportunities: Brendan Byrne State Forest in Woodland, New Jersey offers extensive trail networks through pine forests about 55 miles from Havertown. The trails connect through the Pine Barrens ecosystem. "There are probably hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore. Can't tell you how much I love it. Could spend a whole vacation just with these trails and never leave this state park," notes Benjamin K.
Fishing excursions: At French Creek State Park, campers can access two lakes for fishing. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish," explains Jen R. The park is approximately 30 miles northwest of Havertown.
Historical exploration: Hibernia County Park features historical attractions alongside camping. "There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends," reports Jim N. The park provides primitive camping with access to nearby historical sites, including the mansion tour which typically runs Saturday and Sunday from 1-4pm during summer months.
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the layout at Hibernia County Park, located about 25 miles west of Havertown. "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. Fiddler's loop is where we always camp... We LOVE this campground. It's tiny (19 sites in Fiddlers loop), it's quiet, it's heavily wooded," shares Jennifer S.
Clean facilities: Lums Pond State Park in Bear, Delaware receives high marks for maintenance. "Great bath houses, always super clean," reports al K. Another camper notes, "The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms."
Wildlife encounters: Mountain View Campground offers quiet surroundings with abundant wildlife. "I've never heard so much wildlife there as I did here. Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise," describes Christina H.
Reservation requirements: State parks fill quickly, especially in summer. At Lums Pond State Park, one camper advises, "I understand why it is so difficult to get a reservation at Lums Pond." Another notes, "Book early because it fills up fast!"
Limited horse facilities: Most campgrounds require bringing your own containment systems. At French Creek State Park, horse riders need to bring portable corrals or high-line setups as permanent facilities aren't available. Brendan Byrne State Forest allows horses on trails but has similar limitations regarding overnight accommodations.
Site limitations: Pay attention to site descriptions. "Even though the towel is a nice size it could still be a little bigger. My husband is 6'3" and he felt like he was using a dishcloth to dry himself off," shares one camper about amenities at French Creek State Park. Research campsite dimensions beforehand, especially for larger rigs or groups with multiple tents.
Kid-friendly activities: Blackbird State Forest offers spacious sites for families. "Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents," notes a camper. The camping area includes easy hiking trails accessible for children with proper supervision.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," reports Jen R. about French Creek State Park. The playground is situated between camping loops, providing convenient access for families.
Water recreation: Lakes at multiple parks offer family water activities. "We also used them to eat our chili. It was funny as my husband was using the spoon side and me the fork side. What do you eat your chili with? Let the great debate begin!" shares a camper about mealtime after spending the day at the lake at French Creek State Park.
Site selection: Mountainview Campground accommodates various RV sizes. "We just bought a small tear drop trailer and have begun taking it on weekend excursions. We took it to Mountain View this weekend, with a little trepidation on how we were going to get the trailer backed into the space. Not to worry, they gave us a nice drive through space," shares Robert J.
Levelness considerations: Pay attention to site grade at horse campgrounds near Havertown. "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus," notes one camper about Lums Pond State Park. French Creek State Park sites have "a paved level area which made set up a breeze."
Hookup locations: Check utility placement before selecting sites. "The site offered electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both," reports Amanda H. about facility layouts that can affect RV positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Havertown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Havertown, 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 Havertown, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Havertown, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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