128 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Newtown Square, Pennsylvania include a variety of established campgrounds within a short drive of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Several campgrounds like Ridley Creek State Park offer group camping areas with tent sites, while facilities such as French Creek State Park Campground and Philadelphia West Chester KOA provide more developed camping experiences with RV hookups, cabin rentals, and glamping accommodations. Most campgrounds in the region are concentrated within a 30-mile radius, offering a mix of state park, private, and KOA camping facilities.
Seasonal availability varies significantly across the region's campgrounds. French Creek State Park Campground and the KOA locations in Clarksboro and West Chester operate year-round, while others have limited seasonal operations. Campsite reservations are recommended, particularly during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and restroom facilities, though the level of development ranges from primitive tent sites to full-service RV campgrounds with electric, water, and sewer hookups. As one camper noted about Ridley Creek State Park, "They have a nice open field with two sites and two fire pits. They also have a tone of trails to hike on."
The camping experience in the Newtown Square area is characterized by accessible outdoor recreation with proximity to urban amenities. Many campgrounds feature hiking trails, with Ridley Creek and Evansburg State Parks receiving particular praise for their trail systems. Water activities are available at several locations, including Lums Pond State Park in nearby Delaware, which offers boat-in camping. For those seeking unique experiences, Tinicum Island provides boat-in primitive camping, while urban glamping options exist at locations like Philly Love Boats. Several reviewers mentioned the proximity to wildlife and natural settings despite being close to Philadelphia. A reviewer of Evansburg State Park highlighted this balance: "Great park to do everything outdoorsy including hiking, horseback riding, hunting and fishing. I caught a beautiful Brown Trout here."
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
"We found a lot of really unique sites around the park. Will keep going back"
from $57 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability"They also have a catch and release pond and we found a pickleball court at a nearby city park."
"In addition to the peaceful vibe, the people are friendly, the little office store has everything you forgot to pack, and if you look around the campground edges or follow the walking trail into the woods"
"The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy."
"Everything was within close walking distance and the staff were extremely helpful. Pool and bathrooms were very clean."
from $59 - $86 / night
Check Availability"It's almost 500 acres filled with trails, woods,and river. I usually go to the parking right off of Militia hill rd.and Skippack Pike intersection."
"m following up on my review from over a year ago with new photos, updated weathered campers’ tales and a quick snapshot of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Rustic group camping nestled in nearly"
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"It was a great place to walk with your dog and enjoy the Pennsylvania outdoors."
"Since he was 2 years old I’ve taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails to wandering in the woods looking for “adventures”."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"Near an Ape Adventure park, hike around lake, and any shopping or restaurants you might want are close by. It rained heavy so we didn’t get out much but walk around camp loop is nice and flat."
"The camp loop is a nice walk but there are also trails. They were pretty muddy when we were there. Site 35 was quite spacious as were many of them."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $120 - $145 / night
Check Availability"year ago with some refreshed insight, additional photos and, well, because once wasn’t enough, here’s a quick reel of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS: HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Hidden slice of suburban woodland tucked"
from $1 - $100 / night
Check Availability
ScoutChoose another campground unless you are certain you can arrive before 4pm. Otherwise, you'll not be allowed in. Owner is belligerent on this point, and from other comments, belligerent on other issues also.
We strongly recommend the nearby French Creek State Park campground.
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.
ScoutNice campground had my 6 and 7 year old. The site was pretty private and had bathrooms close. I would definitely go again.
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.
GuideWe camp here several times thru out the year. Always an enjoyable stay. Staff is very friendly and accommodating.
LegendLike always we like to begin our camping season with a Easter Weekend Trip, my husband's family is partial to the Lancaster Area, so we headed there to Sun Retreats Lancaster. As we drove up I loved the look and location of the campground. You could see there was a indoor pool setup, arcade, playground, store, ice cream, mini-golf and a huge lake and that was everything we saw from the truck. We pulled up to a gate and a guy came out of the shed next to it to check us in.
The campground looked well maintained, the sports were on both sides of the lake and they offered many different options like woods or open, pull through or back up. We choose a really wooded site. It was tight getting in but I can't complain I don't drive the truck. It seemed like there was a fair amount of seasonal sites but they didn't overwhelm the place. I could see also a lot of cabins there were some shaped like teepees, a frontier cabin, and a caboose. They had a fair amount of open grass to play and enjoy. You can bring your own golfcart or they have on site rentals also.
They had an activity list that would help keep everyone busy, they had a mini golf course that was in great shape, an arcade which was definitely lacking in the game department, I think there was 4 pinball machines, 2 Skee ball, 3 racing games, and the play to you win machine. The playground x2 were both in great condition with a lot to keep kids playing on. I can only comment on the indoor pool which at the time was said to be under construction however still open, the water was on the colder side and the hot tube the same temp as the pool, the ceiling had been ripped off so the iron rusting beams were exposed and rust falling down. The kids still went in the pool unfortunately the air from the open window made them too cold so we didn't stay long. I am hoping it will be finished because the concept of the indoor-outdoor pool area looks so fun.
The staff was extremely helpful and super friendly. The store was fully stocked with everything you could want. The bathrooms were all kept so clean and in working order with hot water. We enjoyed the area we ventured out to see the Choo Choo barn, the green dragon flea market, and kitchen kettle village which are a must if your in the area. We also choose to hike the Welsh Preserve and Money Rock. The lake had a path you could walk completely around and you could choose to fish if that's your thing.
I would definitely return to this campground again, we had 8 sites in total and we all really thought it was a wonderful place and really enjoyed our holiday weekend there. It was very busy but the staff was present but not overbearing. People were very respectful and friendly.
LegendTucked just off Route 309 north of Quakertown, Melody Lakes Country Estate feels far less like a traditional campground and much more like a quiet, semi-permanent residential community, with a small pocket of opportunity for the occasional overnight RV stay if you happen to time it right.
While my review from a few years ago provides a ton of detail, I thought I would follow up that review with a topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS along with a smattering of new photos.
HIGHLIGHTS:(1) Peaceful, tucked-away setting surrounded by wooded acreage that gives the property a calm, removed feel from nearby roads;(2) Access to a range of community-style amenities including a pool, clubhouse, playground, and small fishing ponds;(3) Proximity to Quakertown makes it relatively easy to access groceries, restaurants, and basic supplies within a short drive;(4) Nearby outdoor options like the Upper Bucks Rail Trail provide a great outlet for hiking and biking;(5) Close to local gems like Kathy’s Country Kitchen, which is well worth the stop if you’re passing through.
LOWLIGHTS:(1) Extremely limited RV availability, with only a handful of spots, making it unreliable for spontaneous overnight stays;(2) Not a true campground experience, as the majority of the property is made up of semi-permanent or seasonal residences;(3) No tent camping options whatsoever, limiting flexibility for different types of campers;(4) Entrance is easy to miss with minimal signage, requiring careful navigation or prior knowledge to find;(5) Unclear availability of full hookups due to the limited number of transient sites and lack of consistent turnover.
Happy Camping!
Camping near Newtown Square, Pennsylvania offers locations within a 30-mile radius that balance natural settings with access to Philadelphia. The area experiences mild springs, warm summers with average highs of 85°F, colorful autumns, and winter temperatures that can drop below freezing. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, while others close from November through March due to seasonal weather patterns.
Creek exploration: Ridley Creek State Park offers multiple water access points for wading and exploration. "Beautiful area to hike along the creek was great. We found a lot of really unique sites around the park," notes Andrea R., highlighting the park's water features.
Bird watching: Fort Washington State Park Campground provides elevated observation decks for hawk watching during migration seasons. "If you are a bird watcher, you'll be particularly interested as from this very spot you can view the beautiful raptors that migrate here on a seasonal basis," shares Stuart K., who documented numerous species including "Dark-eyed Junco, Common Loon, Blue Heron, Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagles."
Water activities: Canoeing at Philadelphia-West Chester KOA offers access to the Brandywine River with rentals available on-site. "Being on the Brandywine, you can fish and rent canoes. The river is usually very calm and good for a float," explains Jim N., highlighting the accessibility for families.
Privacy between sites: French Creek State Park Campground features natural barriers between many campsites. "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.
Patio sites: Philadelphia South/Clarksboro KOA offers premium sites with outdoor furniture included. "Great site (once you're in it!) including patio furniture on a paver patio and seating around an upgraded fire pit. The landscaping made up for the tight squeeze," notes a camper who appreciated the amenities despite space limitations.
Lake access: Lums Pond State Park Campground offers waterside activities just 30 miles from Newtown Square. "We did enjoy the paddle boats and saw a few cranes! They offer fishing at the pond which was also enjoyable," shares Amanda H., highlighting the water recreation opportunities.
Tent site limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger tents. "Many of the sites surrounding ours were very rocky and left little option for a larger than normal sized tent so keep this in mind if you have a large family sized tent," warns Ellen C. from French Creek State Park.
Big rig access challenges: Some sites have difficult angles for large RVs. "I did have major trouble backing in because the road is too narrow for a 45' motorhome to back in on a nearly 90-degree angle. So difficult, that I cracked the bottom of my front cap catching the grass and gravel beside the grave road," cautions Matt S. about certain sites at Philadelphia-West Chester KOA.
Boat-in only access: Tinicum Island offers primitive camping but requires water transportation. "A great place to stay if you have a watercraft," explains Bobby S., making this a unique option for those with canoes, kayaks, or small boats.
Playground offerings: Compare equipment quality and age ranges. "The camp playground was brand new when we arrived... There are two different playground in the same area to accommodate kids of all ages. They also have pickleball, mini golf and a lovely pool," explains Phinon W. about Philadelphia-West Chester KOA.
Kid-friendly hiking: Evansburg State Park Campground offers progressive trail options. "I've spent countless hours hiking and fishing in Evansburg. Since he was 2 years old I've taken my son, and we always have an amazing time, either hiking the trails to wandering in the woods looking for 'adventures'," shares Andrew C.
Prepare for mud: Pack extra shoes and clothes for creek exploration. "The only downside, I've ever experienced is I find Evansburg to be the muddiest State Park I've every experienced; I always bring a pair of sneakers to change out of my hiking boots, as well as a shoes and change of clothes for the little guy," advises Andrew C.
Uneven sites: Bring leveling blocks to most campgrounds. "The set up was relatively easy, although one person might have some difficulty. It held up well during an evening thunderstorm, but for a small seam leak near the door. We believe this is a result of the fact that our site was slightly uneven," notes Ellen C. from French Creek State Park Campground.
Campground navigation: Watch for narrow interior roads. "It was nice to just be able to back up our camper and have it mostly level already. Mostly every site that I saw also had a grassy area which is fantastic when you have young kids. I am not a fan of all gravel sites!" shares Jen R., highlighting the partial-paved sites at French Creek.
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds remain open year-round. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great! The honor system of payment at the office makes it really easy to come in late and leave early, make sure you have cash on you," advises Galit P. about French Creek's off-season availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Newtown Square, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Newtown Square, PA is Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
Keep Exploring
