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Christopher P.
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TravelerBig Run State Park Campground
Generous sized sites, quiet, beautiful area.
Equestrian Camping near Markleton, PA
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Big Run State Park Campground provides primitive camping with equestrian access near Markleton, Pennsylvania. The campground features wide-open sites with significant space between each location, allowing ample room for horse trailers. Sites adjacent to the stream offer natural water access for horses, though no dedicated horse corrals are available. Camping areas near the reservoir provide easy lake access for riders planning to combine water activities with trail riding. The park maintains clean pit toilets, though riders should note that water facilities and dump stations are located 10 minutes away at New Germany State Park. Sites accommodate tents and can fit campers up to 26 feet in length, with flat areas large enough for camping equipment and horse care.
Trail access surrounds the campground with multiple riding options connecting to the wider Western Maryland wilderness area. Riders can enjoy the peaceful setting with minimal traffic and natural sounds from the creek creating a serene environment for both horses and campers. The campground's stream access provides natural watering opportunities for horses after trail rides. Mosquito protection is recommended during summer months. Nearby Shawnee State Park Campground offers additional facilities with full hookup options, though riders should verify horse regulations before booking. Both locations operate year-round, allowing for seasonal riding opportunities. Wooded sites provide natural shelter and shade for horses during summer camping, while the stream areas offer water access after trail excursions.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Markleton (2)
1. Big Run State Park Campground
"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. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $55 / night
2. Shawnee State Park Campground
"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."
100 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
Drive Time
- 57 min from Johnstown, PA
- 1 hr 1 min from Morgantown, WV
- 1 hr 22 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 28 min from Altoona, PA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Markleton, PA
35 Reviews of 2 Markleton Campgrounds
Nancy B.
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee 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.
Lee D.LegendShawnee 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.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
- KKatie H.Scout
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
Christina V.
GuideShawnee State Park Campground
Large, accompdating campground- Quiet on the weekdays!
Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Gina I.RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Beautiful
Nice campground. Some of the campsites are a little bit too close together with no privacy. Our site/47 was too sunny. No shade, no privacy. But during the week was not too crowded, nice and quiet. The bathrooms were nice and kept clean. We had to ride our bikes or walk to get to the beach, that was more then a mile away or just felt like it was more, because it wasn’t mostly flat and for the kids was hard to ride they’re bikes . But when we got there we were pleased. Large,clean beach with sand , no rocks or aquatic plants in the water. I will do more day trips to the beach in the future.
Guide to Markleton
Big Run State Park Campground offers equestrian-friendly camping in Maryland's western region, approximately 20 miles from Markleton, Pennsylvania. Located at an elevation of 1,750 feet, the campground experiences cooler temperatures than surrounding lowland areas, with summer highs typically ranging from 70-85°F. The primitive sites can accommodate tent campers and smaller trailers on terrain that ranges from wooded areas to streamside locations.
What to do
Stream exploration: At Big Run, children can safely wade in shallow creek areas when supervised. "Beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!" notes Zoe H. about the Big Run State Park Campground.
Trout fishing: The streams within the park contain active populations of trout. Nathan S. observed the stream was "incredible and lively with trout and crayfish," making it ideal for fishing enthusiasts bringing appropriate gear and licenses.
Kayaking: The reservoir areas provide easy water access for paddlers. According to Katie H., "The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks," which makes launching watercraft simple for day trips.
Lake swimming: Shawnee State Park Campground features water recreation opportunities within driving distance. Casey S. mentions, "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating."
What campers like
Spacious sites: The significant distance between camping locations allows for privacy. Andy C. commented that their site was "flat, large, clean and right by the creek" and accommodated a "26ft hybrid camper" comfortably.
Natural soundtrack: Many campers appreciate the ambient noise from nearby streams. Mark K. describes the pleasure of sleeping "in nature with nothing but birdsong and the sound of the rushing creek."
Lake accessibility: For those wanting water recreation near equestrian trails, the proximity to lakes provides additional activities. Gerard notes that Shawnee's "lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach," which complements trail riding experiences in the region.
What you should know
Mosquito preparation: Insect protection is essential, particularly in warmer months. Aakansha J. warns that "the mosquitos sucked" during their summer stay at Big Run, suggesting campers bring appropriate repellent.
Limited facilities: The primitive nature of some horse campgrounds means basic amenities only. Nathan S. points out that "Water and dump station is 10 minutes up the road at New Germany State Park," requiring planning for longer stays.
Site selection: Some sites offer better features than others. Mark K. advises that "the bare campsites are nicer - they are more spread out, wooded, and some of them are located right along the stream," making them preferable for horse camping.
Tips for camping with families
Creek play areas: Children can enjoy natural water features at stream-adjacent sites. Andy C. reported, "The kids loved playing in the water. Very quiet and relaxing!" making these sites ideal for families with children.
Site levelness: When reserving spots for family camping with horses, check site conditions. At Shawnee, Brittany V. cautions, "We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked," highlighting the importance of verifying site dimensions.
Consider shower access: For longer family stays with children, consider facilities. While Big Run offers primitive camping, families wanting shower facilities might need to use other nearby parks or schedule shorter stays.
Tips from RVers
Length limitations: Horse campgrounds near Markleton, Pennsylvania typically accommodate smaller to mid-sized rigs. According to Andy C., sites can fit "a 26ft hybrid camper" but larger rigs may have difficulty at many locations.
Full hookup alternatives: When needing full services for longer equestrian camping trips, Gerard recommends looking for specific sites: "We happened to be assigned what I believe was the best of the RV sites, a pull through that had full hook up," noting that not all sites offer equal access.
Approach challenges: Access to some sites requires careful navigation. Gerard observes that "many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them," suggesting advance research for horse trailer combinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Markleton, PA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Markleton, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Markleton, PA is Big Run State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
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