2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland, located near Narberth, Pennsylvania, offers primitive camping facilities for equestrians with direct access to an extensive trail system. The campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with limited amenities but provides electric hookups, drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables at most sites. Horse owners should note the campground does not offer horse corrals, so portable pens or highlines are necessary. The camping areas accommodate horse trailers with designated parking spaces for vehicles and trailers at each site. Trails remain accessible year-round with some seasonal limitations during hunting season or extreme weather conditions.
The extensive trail network encompasses over 80 miles of marked trails through rolling terrain, forests, and open fields. Riders access multiple trail loops directly from the camping areas without needing to trailer to trailheads. Sites must be reserved in advance through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reservation system with payment required at the time of booking. Campers supply their own feed and hay, as no horse provisions are available on-site. While Fair Hill allows camping with horses, the facilities are basic compared to dedicated equestrian campgrounds. Most campsites provide enough space for portable corrals or high-line setups between trees, allowing horses to remain near their owners throughout their stay.
"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!"
"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."
"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.
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers primitive equestrian camping near Narberth, Pennsylvania, but numerous other camping options exist within driving distance. The region spans parts of southeastern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware, and western New Jersey with elevations ranging from 200 to 600 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds in this area experience four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging in the 80s F and winters dropping below freezing.
Hiking trails and forests: French Creek State Park features over 80 miles of marked trails through diverse terrain. "There are many trails for walking, hiking or biking as well as frisbee golf course," notes Jen R., who adds the "trees definitely make it harder" when playing disc golf through the wooded course.
Water activities: At Spruce Run Recreation Area, visitors can enjoy fishing, kayaking and swimming. "You can launch your kayak easily from the shore," explains Ruette W., who appreciates the water views. The reservoir provides a perfect setting for water recreation, and as Jules T. mentions, "A duck visited us every morning" at their waterfront site.
Equestrian trails: Beyond Fair Hill, Brendan Byrne State Forest offers extensive trail systems for riders. "Plenty of trails for hiking, family friendly," notes Katie M. The forest has "hundreds of miles of trails through the woods and bogs to explore," according to Benjamin K., making it an excellent alternative horse camping destination near Narberth.
Private campsites: At French Creek State Park Campground, campers appreciate the thoughtful layout. "As long as you don't stay right across from the bath houses you will find ample shade at your site. There are so many trees and brush in between most sites you can't even really see your neighbors," explains Jen R.
Spacious layouts: Lums Pond State Park offers "beautiful site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved," according to Matt S. The sites provide plenty of room with Adam and Suzanne B. noting they are "large and well spaced."
Natural settings: At smaller campgrounds like Hibernia County Park, the environment itself is the main attraction. "We LOVE this campground. It's tiny, it's quiet, it's heavily wooded. There is NOTHING to do except walk or bike the beautiful trails, spend time on Chamber's Lake, spend time in the hammock and stare at the fire," shares Jennifer S.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds near Narberth require advance booking. At French Creek, "You can book your sites online which is also a nice feature," according to Jen R., but popular periods fill quickly.
Facility variations: Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between campgrounds. Blackbird State Forest offers more primitive conditions with "No running water- only port a potties but they were clean," reports Sarah M.
Access limitations: Some campgrounds have specific entry rules. At Mountainview Campground, Christina H. notes, "They do not allow you to come late, but did refund the first night," when they couldn't arrive before the 9 PM check-in deadline.
Playground access: French Creek offers multiple play areas for children. "There is a very nice playground situated conveniently between the loops of the campground. It had some slides, a bridge, lots of monkey bars, ladders to climb on and the best feature was the zip line," reports Jen R.
Swimming options: Hibernia County Park Lake Campground provides family-friendly water activities. "Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under," notes John Z., making it an affordable option for families.
Wildlife encounters: Kids often enjoy the natural animal sightings at these campgrounds. At Mountainview Campground, Christina H. describes, "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!"
Site selection: At Spruce Run, RVers should note that "If bringing your RV, the safest bet is to reserve a spot with no shade as the other spots often times have very low hanging tree limbs," advises Douglas P.
Hookup availability: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of services. At Lums Pond, Adam and Suzanne B. appreciate the "large and well spaced" full hook-up sites, noting that "Many are in full sun."
Space constraints: Not all horse campgrounds near Narberth can accommodate larger RVs. At Hibernia County Park, Jennifer S. explains, "Though 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. They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Narberth, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Narberth, 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 Narberth, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Narberth, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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