3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Beaver Creek State Park Campground features an equestrian camp on Sprucevale Road with 59 primitive horse camping sites for horse owners. The sites are non-electric and include vault latrines and tie-ups for horses. Twelve of these sites can be reserved in advance, while the remaining are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The park maintains separate camping areas for different needs: the family campground with 50 sites (including 6 with electric), the equestrian camp for those traveling with horses, and a group camp that can accommodate up to 30 people. No showers or flush toilets are available at any of the camping areas, though drinking water and sanitary dump stations are provided at the family campground. Sites at the horse camping area are spacious enough for both trailers and camping equipment.
The North Country National Scenic Trail provides direct access for riders from the campground, connecting to numerous bridle paths throughout the park. Scenic wooded terrain surrounds the riding trails, offering views of Beaver Creek as it winds through the valley. The creek itself is a notable feature for horse watering and recreation, though water levels can be low during dry periods. The small, quiet nature of this park makes it particularly appealing for equestrians seeking less crowded riding conditions. While facilities are basic compared to larger equestrian campgrounds, the well-maintained trails and natural setting compensate for the primitive amenities. The park's location about an hour from Pittsburgh makes it a convenient weekend destination for horse owners in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio looking for trail riding opportunities.
"It is right next to the bike trail and has access to the lake. I have enjoyed my time at Moraine and will enjoy it every time I visit."
"In fact my family used to own property near by. This park has an awesome trail system for walking or biking"
"Portals/parks/PDFs/parks/Maps/Beaver_Creek/beavercreekcampmap.pdf)
- 6 electric sites
- 44 non-electric sites
- Dump station
- No showers; no flush toilets
- Pets are permitted on all sites
Equestrian"
"I live near by to this state park and have spent much time exploring the entirety of it."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $19 - $50 / night
"The bathrooms are clean and include a laundry and sinks outside to wash your dishes. Campground hosts and staff are friendly and helpful. Sites are roomy and clean. Lots of variety."
"There is no WiFi and barely one bar of cell service; your best internet access is at the nice public library 7 miles away in Ravenna Sand beach is an easy walk from all camp sites and boat trailers can"
Available this weekend
from $29 - $40 / night
"The group next to us seemed a little rowdy when we first pulled in, but by 10:00 there was no noise anywhere near us. "
"Wood is dry and cheap right outside the park entrance. Bass fishing is top notch on the lake. I would definitely come back here again and again."
Available this weekend
from $23 - $80 / night
"The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."
"This campsite was close to an archery tournament for me. It is a huge campsite that is remote and peaceful. I will try to get this place again next year."
from $50 / night
"This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning."
"Tucked away in southeastern Ohio is a gem of a park for camping, hiking and horse camping. Clean water, restrooms, playground, sand volleyball and basketball court."
Available this weekend
from $19 - $29 / night
"Couple beautiful walk in tent sites right on the water. Plenty of nice hiking trails. Great beach for kids."
"Located deep in a county park in the forested rolling hills of PA. Every site is huge and mostly private. Combination of paved main roads and gravel dirt camp loops."
ScoutI struggled making a reservation online, you need an account and it wouldn’t let me make one but i was able to call in and reserve a spot same day. I’m traveling to the east coast and just needed a place to pitch a tent for the night. worked perfect.
GuideWe were passing through on a weeknight in mid September. Many open sites. Sites are paved and many are sloped. Most are shaded. Our site #41 was fairly level with electricity. Close to huge bathhouse with flush toilets, showers and laundry. High above the lake with views through the trees. Appeared there were many long term campers but just as good for our short overnight stay. Online registration. $45 for electric only site.
GuideMosquito Lake gets a bad rap because of its name. We had such a great time launching our kayak from our campsite! I’ve attached a highlighted map marked with the sights on or very close to the water to launch a kayak. Additional kayak launch sites available around the park if you can’t get one of these. It’s great campground if you have kids or a dog. Plenty of great playgrounds and a dog park/dog beach. The camp host was very nice and welcoming. The wash house has laundry and showers. Everything was clean.
GuideI've heard there are campgrounds that discriminate against car camping, first time experiencing it. There are many sites where people have a LARGE camper, a car, and multiple tents spread out over a large area. We have 2 SUV's with tents that attach to the backs. We followed all the rules and are taking up about HALF of our site. We were told that is not allowed. When asked for reasoning and comparing to what we've seen around the park, we get no clear answer that makes sense. We are here with a group that rented about 20 sites. After spending 4 hours setting everything up, she says one may have to leave; she's waiting to hear from her boss. I will definitely never return here!
TravelerVery neat and clean and organized
ScoutWhen we arrived, we checked in at the camp office. The ladies there were very kind. The roads through the campground are wide enough for two-way traffic and nicely paved.
This is a beautiful, heavily treed campground. Even on Memorial Day weekend with lots of people, the park was very peaceful. The sounds of birds permeate the air round the clock. Chipmunks run amok. They’re just so cute.
We booked site 56 for our 39’ fifth wheel. As soon as we pulled up, we knew there was no way we’d fit even though the reservation site said it would accommodate a 40’ rig. The camp hosts happened to be passing by as we were surveying the site. They were very helpful redirecting us to a nearby site that would be more suitable. FYI, sites 55 and 56 have deep culverts on either side. One wrong turn and you’re going to have a problem. The majority of sites along our road were just wide enough to keep the tires out of the dirt, but not wide enough for the stairs to land on asphalt. If you have a motorhome or other wide-bodied rig, like an Alliance Paradigm, I would recommend choosing one of the sites on the loop around the playground. Those are better suited for newer big rigs.
TIP…the line at the dump station is long on the holiday weekends. Plan accordingly.
GuideWhat a hidden gem this place is! Located deep in a county park in the forested rolling hills of PA. Every site is huge and mostly private. Combination of paved main roads and gravel dirt camp loops. Most of the sites look relatively flat. The whole park is spotless clean, no trash anywhere! Bathrooms and showers are clean and maintained regularly. There is no camp store! Stock up before arrival. Firewood and ice. Can be outside the park at a bait shop and local farm about 2 miles away. Or just stop in Oil City first. You can grab a site online .....site unseen and be happy on arrival. Definitely on my must return list. Happy camping!
GuideFirst time here. They told me Ohio State Parks were voted #1 in the US. Well there is a reason for that. Beautiful, clean, great spots, not a bad site in the entire park. Wood is dry and cheap right outside the park entrance. Bass fishing is top notch on the lake. I would definitely come back here again and again.
ScoutWe live really close so we stay at mosquito for our first stay every year. This year we were disappointed. They had no staff there to check us in, the signs says closed Monday through Wednesday. Bathrooms were supposed to be open because we stayed April 16th, but only some of them were. (Even though online states April 1st they reopen). Some sites are more wet than others. We stayed at site 54 this time. The pad was very narrow and it was wet around it (it has been raining a lot). The person before us must have purchased a $12 bale of hay that they were selling up front because there was hay everywhere. Wish they would just put gravel down.
Otherwise, it's quiet. We love the nature play area for the kids. We love the playgrounds.
When they are open, the bathrooms are very clean. The shower house is dated but clean. Far walk from every site basically as they put it on the main road between both loops.
Beaver Creek State Park offers equestrian camping facilities near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, approximately 45 minutes from New Castle. The park's bridle paths connect to the North Country National Scenic Trail, creating an extensive network for riders. Equestrian campsites feature 59 primitive sites with tie-ups for horses, making this one of the most accessible horse campgrounds near New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Trail riding opportunities: Beaver Creek State Park Campground provides direct access to numerous bridle paths and connects to the North Country Trail. As visitor Tracy H. notes, there's "direct access to the North Country National Scenic Trail and trails through main park."
Fishing at nearby lakes: West Branch State Park Campground offers excellent water activities with multiple fishing spots. Visitors can explore "many inlets to explore or fish. There is a boat launch at the campground," according to reviewer Alisa G.
Swimming at state parks: Several parks near New Castle have swimming areas with varied facilities. At Mosquito Lake State Park, one reviewer mentioned that "Beach was great and there an epic playground for kids. If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters."
Private wooded sites: Two Mile Run County Park provides secluded camping experiences. Reviewer Robyn S. confirms the park "seemed huge with lots of sites, we basically had a whole area of sites to ourselves, and it was a very wooded area."
Spacious camping areas: Many equestrian campgrounds near New Castle, Pennsylvania feature generous site dimensions. According to reviewer Matt H., Beaver Creek has "an unbelievably spacious site under towering pine trees. The site sits back off the road and really makes you feel like you have the place to yourself."
Lake access: Mosquito Lake State Park Campground provides waterfront camping with convenient boat access. One visitor mentioned, "Sites are spacious and level. Very clean park. There are several full hook-up sites. Electric sites near the lake."
Limited shower facilities: Some campgrounds have primitive amenities only. At Jefferson Lake State Park Campground, visitor Alex S. warns, "They also advertise a water filling station but neglected to mention that it is non-potable water so if that's something you're looking for then keep that in mind."
Primitive camping options: Danner Primitive Campground offers hike-in sites with basic facilities. Reviewer Casey L. explains it "is a hike in or paddle in only campground. The shortest distance is about 2 miles from the trailhead at the Kennerdell bridge, but there are other trailheads throughout the tract also."
Seasonal considerations: Some parks have limited access during certain times. Beaver Creek maintains separate camping areas with different amenity levels, and as reviewer Aaron B. noted at another site, "When you pull into Beaver Creek Family Campground you pretty much have two choices: either you go left into multiple Pine tree sites or right into two cabins and more RV friendly open sites."
Playground facilities: Several parks feature child-friendly play areas. At Mosquito Lake, a visitor shared: "There an epic playground for kids. If your kids are 8 and under they'll love the nature playground and nets provided to catch critters."
Kid-friendly sites: Choose locations with appropriate amenities for children. Matt H. recommended Beaver Creek, saying, "We got a site near the playground, which my 3 year old enjoyed. The campground wasn't busy and we had a lot of privacy."
Nature activities: Moraine State Park offers educational opportunities despite limited camping. As Alice M. recalls, "It was very quiet and secluded feeling, yet not far from the restrooms, bike trail, water/fishing area."
Site leveling challenges: At some parks, prepare for uneven terrain. At Starr Farm, Daniel confirms it's "a huge campsite that is remote and peaceful," but you'll need leveling equipment.
Limited hookups: Many horse campgrounds near New Castle feature primitive sites. Beaver Creek reviewer notes, "A few of the RV sites have electric, but no water for their tanks. I suggest the pine sites for any tent or hammock campers."
Site selection strategy: Choose carefully based on specific needs. As one visitor to Beaver Creek explained, "Site was fairly clean, but be sure to move the pine tree duff away from the fire pits to be safe."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near New Castle, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near New Castle, PA is Group Camping and Cabins — Moraine State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near New Castle, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near New Castle, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
