Limited equestrian camping options exist near Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. None of the campgrounds in the immediate area offer dedicated horse corrals or stables, making overnight accommodations with horses challenging. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in nearby Elkton, Maryland has trails that permit horseback riding, but the campground itself does not have specific equine facilities like corrals or wash stations. Sites accommodate tents and RVs, with electric hookups and water available. Portable corrals or highlines must be brought by campers traveling with horses.
Trail riders at French Creek State Park can access riding paths during day use, but no specialized equestrian camping facilities exist within the campground. Sites vary in size and terrain, with some campers noting the rocky ground makes setup difficult in certain areas. The park contains multiple camping loops with varying amenities - some with full hookups, others primitive - but equestrian-specific accommodations are absent. The park maintains hiking and riding trails throughout its 7,526 acres, though overnight horse camping requires alternative arrangements.
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $75 / 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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $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!"
"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.
Equestrian campgrounds near Upper Darby, Pennsylvania remain limited, with many riders needing to travel beyond city limits for overnight horse facilities. The region averages 47 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush but sometimes muddy trail conditions. Spring and fall typically offer the most moderate temperatures for horse camping, while summer can bring high humidity that affects both horses and riders.
Trail riding at Brendan Byrne State Forest: Located approximately 1 hour from Upper Darby, this forest provides extensive riding opportunities. "There are a ton of picnic tables too so you can take a lunch and just sit by the lake to relax and have a bite to eat," notes one visitor at Brendan Byrne State Forest.
Explore historic sites: The region offers trails near historically significant locations. A camper at Hibernia County Park mentions, "There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends," making it ideal for riders wanting to combine equestrian activities with historical exploration.
Lake activities between rides: After riding, enjoy fishing or kayaking at area lakes. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish," explains a camper about French Creek State Park. The water provides a welcome activity after a day of riding.
Well-maintained facilities: Even without dedicated equestrian amenities, campers appreciate clean grounds. "Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes," reports a visitor at French Creek State Park Campground.
Privacy between sites: Campers value separation between camping areas. At Hibernia County Park, a visitor notes, "The sites are farther from the lake than I expected and there are no running water bathrooms. Very clean and wooded sites." This spacing provides privacy for those bringing horses.
Proximity to riding areas: Access to trails remains a priority. "The drive to our site had some inclines and was relatively rocky and some vehicles would surely struggle," explains a camper at Mountainview Campground, highlighting the need to consider access when hauling horses.
Trailer parking limitations: Many campgrounds have size restrictions that affect horse trailers. "This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites," describes a visitor at Blackbird State Forest Campground, indicating limited space for larger rigs.
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts both camping and riding conditions. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great!" says a winter camper at French Creek, though winter camping requires additional preparation for both humans and horses.
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises a camper about Lums Pond State Park, which applies to any camping with horses where sites are limited.
Playground access: Children need entertainment while adults prepare for riding. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)," reports a parent, providing important distractions for children.
Multi-activity options: Families need diverse activities beyond riding. "There are trails for mountain biking or hiking, a frisbee golf course, playground at the campground and at the lake," lists a camper at French Creek, offering alternatives when everyone can't ride.
Child-friendly fishing: For non-riding time, fishing provides entertainment. A visitor at Hibernia County Park shares, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," creating complementary activities for families with horses.
Hookup availability: Horse owners with living-quarter trailers need utilities. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," explains a camper at Lums Pond State Park Campground, making it suitable for larger horse trailers with living quarters.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require leveling adjustments. A visitor at French Creek notes, "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back," which is particularly important when parking larger horse trailers.
Water access concerns: Water sources for horses can be limited. At Hibernia County Park, a camper cautions, "There is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee," indicating similar limitations may apply for water access needed by horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Upper Darby, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Upper Darby, 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 Upper Darby, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Upper Darby, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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