2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
French Creek State Park Campground and Lums Pond State Park Campground offer horse-friendly camping options near Media, Pennsylvania. French Creek provides equestrian trails throughout its 7,730-acre forest, with designated horse camping areas that accommodate trailers. Campsites in Loop C allow pets including horses, with some sites featuring full hookups for RV campers traveling with horses. The park maintains several miles of bridle paths that connect directly to camping areas. Lums Pond features an equestrian center adjacent to its campground with facilities for horses including an off-leash area where horses can be exercised. Both parks provide water access for horses and picnic tables at campsites.
The trail system at French Creek connects riders to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site through wooded terrain suitable for day rides. Horseback riding is permitted on specifically marked trails, with maps available at park offices showing designated equestrian routes. Lums Pond offers water crossings and varied terrain for riders of different experience levels. Horse owners should bring their own feed as neither park sells equine supplies on-site. Manure disposal areas are provided at both locations, and campers must clean up after their horses as part of park regulations. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months when equestrian sites fill quickly. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, located nearby in Maryland, provides additional horse camping options with extensive trail networks.
"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 next weekend
from $24 - $122 / 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 next weekend
from $22 - $37 / 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
"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 camping options near Media, Pennsylvania include primitive camping sites and modern campgrounds within a 50-mile radius. The area's rolling Piedmont terrain features mixed hardwood forests and gentle slopes at elevations ranging from 200-400 feet. Fall camping season offers moderate temperatures in the 60s-70s during day with cooler evenings, while summer months can be humid with temperatures frequently reaching the high 80s.
Trail riding at Brendan Byrne State Forest: Located about an hour east of Media in New Jersey's Pine Barrens, this forest offers extensive riding trails through unique pine forest ecosystems. "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. We have also attending an Orienteering event here which was nation wide and really exciting," notes Jen R. who visited French Creek State Park.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks offer fishing for various species. "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," according to a review from Hibernia County Park.
Hiking trails: Parks in the region offer trails suitable for various skill levels. "There are plenty of hiking, a decent amount of hiking. There's an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp," explains Ellen B. about the amenities at Lums Pond State Park.
Private sites: Many campgrounds offer spacious sites with good separation. "Sites were not on top of each other. Bathrooms were very nice and clean with large showers. Nice area to wash dishes. Very nice playground area and clean," reports Jen R. about her stay at Lums Pond State Park.
Modern facilities: Some parks offer upgraded amenities. "This place is a gem, even among nice state parks... Beautiful park setting with fantastic site— spacious, level, good-working hookups, and paved," notes Matt S. about his experience at Lums Pond.
Natural surroundings: The region's diverse ecosystems create varied camping environments. "It's in the great NJ pine barrens. This place is fantastic! The smells, the sounds, the wildlife. Love it," shares Benjamin K. about his experience at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest.
Shower facilities vary: Some parks have better facilities than others. "Bathrooms were just okay. Muddy floors - don't know how often floors are cleaned. Showers were odd - one large stall but no separate dressing area so you have to be very careful so as not to get your stuff wet during the shower," notes Cheryl K. about French Creek.
Reservation requirements: Popular parks fill quickly during peak seasons. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B. about securing a spot at Lums Pond.
Park rules: Alcohol policies differ between parks. "Since this is a State Park there is no alcohol allowed. The Park Rangers drive by regularly which is nice in case you are having any problems or just have general questions about the park," explains a reviewer at French Creek State Park.
Playground access: Several parks offer 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. All kids and adults agreed it was the most fun!" shares a camper from Blackbird State Forest.
Educational opportunities: Historical sites near campgrounds provide learning experiences. "If you can't find enough to keep you busy at the campground or park there are a few attractions nearby... Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and Daniel Boone Homestead," notes a review about French Creek.
Swimming options: Some parks offer swimming facilities. "We were there in October, so the pool was closed, but it looked nice. We did take our inflatable kayak out on the water, and it was lovely!" reports Katie M. about French Creek.
Site selection for larger rigs: Not all sites accommodate big trailers. "As I said in the first paragraph, we mostly camp in a 28ft 5th wheel and 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," explains Jennifer S. from Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.
Hookup availability: Options vary between parks. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well," reports Ellen B. about Lums Pond.
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze," notes Jen R. about French Creek, while at other parks, "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," according to a reviewer at Hibernia County Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Media, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Media, 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 Media, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Media, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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