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 Jenkintown, PA
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers equestrian camping opportunities near Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. While none of the campgrounds in the area feature dedicated horse corrals in their amenity lists, Fair Hill provides camping with access to extensive trail systems for horseback riding. The campground is suitable for tent and RV camping, with electric hookups, water access, and sanitary dump facilities. Sites are known for being well-maintained and spaced to accommodate horse trailers. Restrooms with flush toilets are available, though the campground does not offer shower facilities. The campground remains open year-round, earning a 4.5/5 rating from visitors who appreciate the natural setting and horse-friendly environment.
Brendan Byrne State Forest provides another option for horse enthusiasts seeking camping with trail access. Located approximately 1.5 hours from Jenkintown, this forested area features numerous sand trails suitable for horseback riding throughout the pine barrens. The campground accommodates tents, RVs, and even offers cabin options for those seeking more comfortable accommodations. Drinking water, firewood, picnic tables, and restroom facilities are available on-site. Campsites are relatively private, though boundaries between sites can sometimes be unclear. The flat, sandy terrain creates ideal conditions for riding, though visitors should be aware of potential ticks during certain times of the year. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season when the campground frequently reaches capacity.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Jenkintown (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."
3 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $24 - $122 / night
2. 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 $22 - $37 / night
3. 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
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
- 21 min from Philadelphia, PA
- 30 min from Trenton, NJ
- 58 min from Allentown, PA
- 1 hr 4 min from Vineland, NJ
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Jenkintown, PA
1 Photos of 8 Jenkintown Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Jenkintown, PA
230 Reviews of 8 Jenkintown 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:
-
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?
- 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.
-
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 Jenkintown
Equestrian camping near Jenkintown, Pennsylvania offers access to several state forests and natural areas within a 90-minute drive radius. The region sits at elevations between 200-500 feet above sea level and receives approximately 47 inches of rainfall annually, creating a lush landscape for trail riding. Most horse-friendly campgrounds in the area operate from April through November, with fall offering the driest conditions for riding the region's sandy or wooded trails.
What to do
Trail riding through pine barrens: At Brendan Byrne State Forest, located about 75 minutes from Jenkintown, riders can explore extensive sandy trails. "Great place for a weekend getaway. Very well maintained campsites and facilities," notes Marcus N. The forest has numerous riding paths through the pine barrens with relatively flat terrain.
Fishing opportunities: Many parks near Jenkintown offer fishing alongside equestrian activities. Spruce Run Recreation Area features a large reservoir where "You can launch your kayak easily from the shore" according to Ruette W. The reservoir contains "northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish."
Hiking combined with horseback riding: French Creek State Park provides multiple recreation options with "7,526 acres" and "many wonderful activities" as Jen R. describes. The park features "several trails for walking, hiking or biking as well" that complement the horseback riding trails, creating diverse outdoor recreation options within a single destination.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many equestrian campers appreciate the site layout at Turkey Swamp Park. "Sites are in the woods and widely spaced apart to give you privacy and the feeling of being out in the Forrest," writes Katheryn N. This separation allows horse owners to maintain some distance from other campers.
Clean bathroom facilities: Despite rustic settings, several horse-friendly campgrounds maintain good facilities. At Hibernia County Park, "porta potties are very clean and don't smell and are lit with a street lamp," reports Anna. The park also offers "running water available" near the campground area.
Natural surroundings: Mountainview Campground provides a quiet retreat with "plenty of open field as well as wooded areas" according to Mario M. Another camper, Christina H., notes the campground's wildlife encounters: "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!"
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most equestrian camping areas have limited operating seasons. Turkey Swamp Park is open "Apr 1 to Nov 15" according to their listing, while Spruce Run operates from "April 1 to October 31." Plan accordingly for trail riding seasons.
Limited water hookups: At Hibernia County Park, "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV," cautions Jennifer S. Most equestrian sites throughout the region have minimal services, so come prepared with water tanks filled.
Tick prevention crucial: When horseback riding near Jenkintown, protect yourself and your animals from ticks. One camper at Turkey Swamp Park reported: "I had 3 ticks on me. My dog had one and by the end my husband had 2. That was so crazy because we were just sitting by our camper."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly fishing ponds: Hibernia County Park offers specialized fishing areas for young anglers. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," mentions Anna. This provides an alternative activity when children need a break from horse-related activities.
Playground access: Lums Pond State Park features excellent recreational facilities for families. "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)," shares Mark. Having these amenities can make equestrian camping more appealing for families with younger children.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer learning experiences alongside horseback riding. At French Creek State Park, there are connections to "Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site" as Ellen C. mentions. These sites provide historical context to the natural landscape families are exploring on horseback.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for large rigs: When bringing horses and RVs, choose sites carefully. Jennifer S. advises that at Hibernia County Park, "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."
Water management: Since many equestrian camping areas have limited hookups, RVers should plan accordingly. "If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank," recommends Jennifer S. about Hibernia. This applies to most horse camping sites in the region.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at most equestrian sites. At Hibernia, sites "aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," notes Jennifer S. Bringing additional leveling blocks is advisable for most horse camping locations near Jenkintown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Jenkintown, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Jenkintown, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Jenkintown, 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
Jenkintown, PA?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Jenkintown, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Jenkintown, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring