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Best Equestrian Camping near Jones Mills, PA

33 Reviews

Shawnee State Park Campground allows horses throughout its extensive grounds, with trails and facilities that accommodate equestrian visitors. The 319-site campground features a mix of tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, cabins, and yurts spread across several loops. Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7 according to visitor observations, indicating frequent equestrian use despite no dedicated horse corrals being listed in the official amenities. The campground provides water access, picnic tables, fire rings, and clean restroom facilities with showers. Sites vary considerably in levelness and privacy, with some situated on inclines making them better suited for certain camping setups than others.

The park offers multiple trail options appropriate for horseback riding, including a scenic loop around the 451-acre lake. Trail access points connect directly from the campground to longer routes. The surrounding wooded environment provides natural scenery for riders exploring the park boundaries. Firewood is available for purchase at the entrance via vending machine, and the campground maintains a sanitary dump station for RV users. Despite its relatively remote feel, some traffic noise from the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike is audible from certain camping areas. Located approximately 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial, the park serves as a convenient base for exploring regional attractions while providing suitable accommodations for those traveling with horses.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Jones Mills, Pennsylvania (2)

    1. Shawnee State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Schellsburg, PA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (814) 733-4218

    $20 - $110 / night

    "Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."

    "The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride."

    2. Big Run State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Bloomington, MD
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 895-5453

    $10 - $55 / night

    "The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."

    "You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Jones Mills, PA

33 Reviews of 2 Jones Mills Campgrounds

  • M
    Aug. 3, 2021

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Is as others say

    Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private. Has wood vending machine at entrance for firewood. Hiking loop around lake is beautiful. Jean bonnet tavern nearby recommended for a great meal in a historic setting.

  • DL W.
    Jun. 23, 2019

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    A treasure to remember, after a long, rough day...

    I had made plans to stay at SSP-PA as my first stopover spot, post leaving my beach friends on the East Coast. The morning drive started early, had several stops and starts, and I was once again glad that my big dog was along for the ride. Shawnee is a lovely state park and I was really pleased with my brief stay. 'Though we were only sleeping the one night, I found the staff to be pleasant and the site spacious. It might have helped that the doggo and I were about the only ones in our campground loop, aside from the campground hosts but the area felt well-maintained and well-proportioned. We had a good night's rest, after enjoying a post-dinner campfire and getting to breathe in the fresh, woodsy air. While sitting fireside, I got to enjoy the local wildlife, from birds to young deer, around the edges of my campsite. The campground restroom was clean and a fair size. I would definitely recommend it and I will certainly look into another reservation, the next time I roadtrip through Pennsylvania.

  • Brian S.
    Apr. 19, 2018

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Close to Really Great Hiking

    Shawnee State Park is about 2.5 hours east of Pittsburgh, and it has pretty much everything: swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and fairly decent hiking. It's close to some really great hiking--just outside the park--and that's how I ended up there. I was trekking on the very wild Mid-State Trail, nearby, when I opted for a night at the conventional campground in Shawnee. No regrets. I usually avoid car-camping because I don't want to listen to other people's classic rock in the woods. But this place was great. I came midweek, so I had the campground mostly to myself. The showers are hot and clean. The lake is beautiful with a nice swimming beach. The area around the park has all the scenic and historic attractions of central PA: covered bridges, big stone farmhouses, quaint towns. My only complaint is that the PA Turnpike screams a little too close by. Also, the sites are pretty close together, so be sure to look at a campground map beforehand to reserve one of the more isolated ones.

  • Danielle S.
    May. 24, 2020

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Pleasant camping

    We stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend just after Covid19 restrictions had been partially lifted. Site 258 on loop D is quiet, but may have been noisy if the yurt and 2 cabins had been rented out. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site. The fire ring is at an angle so cooking on it proved to be a challenge (we bring a grill grate with us just in case, and had to use it). Bathroom and showers were clean, bright, and there is a dish washing sink outside. Showers were push button but pressure was great and the water was hot (make sure you push the button once before you get in so its warm if no one else is showering at that time). Bring shower shoes. We were able to hear a small bit of traffic from the highway, but nothing that disturbed us. There are several stores within a 20 minute drive (Walmart, etc) and a mall an hour away. Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick! It was okay to start a fire, but we went into the woods and picked up dead wood that we cut into manageable logs. There weren't any roadside stacks of seasoned wood, so be prepared if it rains. The picnic table was saturated and too heavy to move, so we ate sitting in camp chairs. We would stay again.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 16, 2025

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Huge state park

    General: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do. 

    Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20’ to 115’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not. 

    Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower. 

    Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season. 

    As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 8, 2023

    Big Run State Park Campground

    Great primitive campsite

    This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals

  • Brittany V.
    Jul. 3, 2025

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Double check site booked

    We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.

  • E
    May. 16, 2021

    Shawnee State Park Campground

    Nice park

    This is a nice park, close to home with a lake. We like to picnic and go fishing. There are nice trails, volleyball areas, and playgrounds.

  • Mark K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Big Run State Park Campground

    Basic drive-in campground - facilities a drive away - but extremely nice

    You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities.  Frankly, the bare campsites are nicer - they are more spread out, wooded, and some of them are located right along the stream.  Mosquitos are something of an issue, but by no means awful; and it is a pleasure to sleep in nature with nothing but birdsong and the sound of the rushing creek.  It is close to the Savage River reservoir, which is great for kayaking.

Guide to Jones Mills

Horse camping in Pennsylvania offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and equestrian-friendly amenities, making it an ideal destination for horse lovers.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • The well-reviewed Shawnee State Park Campground features sites that accommodate horses, ensuring a comfortable stay for both riders and their equine companions.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • Visitors to Shawnee State Park Campground can enjoy swimming and fishing, with a sandy beach area perfect for family fun after a day of riding.

Equestrian campgrounds include spacious sites

  • At Big Run State Park Campground, campers find ample space between sites, allowing for a peaceful experience while accommodating their horses comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Jones Mills, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Jones Mills, PA is Shawnee State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 27 reviews.

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