2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area near Mont Clare provides equestrian camping options across its 5,600-acre park. While the campground does not feature dedicated horse corrals, it offers suitable accommodations for equestrians with trailer parking and access to over 80 miles of multipurpose trails. The sites accommodate tents and RVs with drinking water and electric hookups available. Equestrians must bring their own portable corrals or highlines as no permanent equine facilities are installed at individual campsites. The bathrooms include toilets but no showers, and trash collection is available throughout the grounds. Trails within the park are generally well-maintained with moderate terrain suitable for riders of varying experience levels.
The extensive trail system connects directly to the campground, allowing riders to access routes without trailering to separate areas. Most trails are wide enough for side-by-side riding with good footing and minimal rocky sections. Water crossings are available at several points along the trail system, providing natural watering opportunities for horses during longer rides. Horse owners should bring their own feed storage containers as the campground does not provide secure feed storage options. Equestrians typically report minimal encounters with other trail users, even during peak camping season from May through October. The park maintains a strict carry-in, carry-out policy for manure management, requiring campers to clean up after their horses and pack out waste or scatter it away from campsites and water sources.
"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
"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
"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
"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!"
"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."
"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
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area provides equestrian camping options near Mont Clare, approximately 12 miles southeast of the city. The terrain consists of rolling hills and mixed woodlands across Cecil County, with elevations ranging from 220 to 420 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with moderate humidity, making spring and fall ideal camping seasons.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Scott's Run Lake at French Creek State Park Campground offers fishing for northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and panfish. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish. Ice fishing is also allowed at both lakes and the ice thickness is monitored," notes Jen R.
Hiking through wooded areas: The 7-mile trail system at Lums Pond State Park Campground provides scenic routes for day hikes. "The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike," reports Mark.
Frisbee golf between rides: Equestrians looking for alternative activities can enjoy the frisbee golf course at French Creek. "There is also a frisbee golf course in the woods to make it even more interesting and competitive. The trees definitely make it harder!" explains Jen R.
Private, secluded sites: Campers appreciate the privacy at Hibernia County Park, which offers equestrian-friendly spaces. "Most sites are heavily wooded which means plenty of hammock hanging opportunities. The sites are mostly grass, and not very well defined which means the distance between you and your neighbor can vary depending on how you set up camp," writes Jennifer S.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high on camper priorities at equestrian-friendly campgrounds. "Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," shares Jen R. about French Creek State Park.
Wildlife encounters: The natural environment around Mountainview Campground provides unique wildlife viewing opportunities. "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.
Booking requirements: Most horse campgrounds near Mont Clare require advance reservations, especially during peak seasons. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park.
Seasonal availability: Check operating seasons before planning your equestrian camping trip. "This campground is only open on the weekends, in season. Sites can be reserved online, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration," notes Jennifer S. about Hibernia County Park.
Campsite terrain variations: Spruce Run Recreation Area offers sites with different characteristics. "Lots of grassy and open area. Still a good amount of shade," explains Dan G., which can be important for setting up temporary horse containment systems.
Playground access: Several equestrian campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. "There is a huge lake where you can rent canoes and kayaks. A huge pool that has a beautiful view overlooking the lake. There are trails for mountain biking or hiking, a frisbee golf course, playground at the campground and at the lake," shares Jen R. about French Creek.
Educational opportunities: Combine equestrian camping with learning experiences. "Not to mention close by there is Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and Daniel Boone Homestead," notes Jen R., providing educational side trips between trail rides.
Kid-friendly fishing: Children can enjoy fishing at designated areas. "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," says Anna about Hibernia County Park, making it perfect for young anglers while adults tend to horses.
Site selection for larger rigs: When bringing horses and an RV, site choice matters 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!" explains Craig F.
Leveling considerations: Equestrians with RVs should note terrain issues. "The individual sites are very level to park the camper with almost no blocks needed," reports Craig F. about Starlite Camping Resort, which is important when hauling both horses and camping equipment.
Hookup locations: Check utility placement when bringing horses and RVs. "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," shares Amanda H. about Lums Pond, highlighting potential challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mont Clare, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mont Clare, 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 Mont Clare, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Mont Clare, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
