2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area near Elkton, Maryland provides equestrian camping options within 25 miles of Villanova. The 5,600-acre park features designated camping areas suitable for visitors with horses. Sites include access to water for horses and space for trailer parking. Bathroom facilities are available near the camping areas, though shower accommodations are limited. The campground maintains toilets and trash facilities but does not offer horse-specific amenities like dedicated corrals. Many sites accommodate tent and RV camping with electric hookups available. The park enforces a no-alcohol policy, and pets are not permitted in camping areas to minimize interaction with horses.
Extensive trail networks connect directly to the camping areas, offering riders easy access to miles of bridle paths through diverse terrain. Many trails follow former railroad beds and cross streams, providing both gentle and challenging riding options. Water access points along the trails allow horses to drink and cool off during rides. The campground operates year-round, making it accessible for winter riding enthusiasts. Trail maps are available at the park office. Riders should bring their own containment systems as highlines and tie-outs are not provided. Visitors mention the well-maintained trails and ample parking space for horse trailers as standout features. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak riding seasons in spring and fall when the campground reaches capacity quickly.
"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
"Starlight is a nice campground to relax or explore central Pennsylvania."
"The campground is in a great location with easy access to Lancaster, Hershey and many other places to explore."
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 near Villanova, Pennsylvania offers diverse terrain for horse enthusiasts in the mid-Atlantic region. Located within the Piedmont Plateau, this area features elevations ranging from 200-500 feet with a mix of hardwood forests and open meadows. Summer temperatures typically hover between 75-85°F, while spring and fall maintain comfortable 60-70°F ranges ideal for trail riding.
Trail riding through diverse terrain: At French Creek State Park Campground, riders can access both gentle and challenging paths. "There are two lakes, Scotts Run Lake and Hopewell Lake that you can fish, kayak, canoe or just relax by. There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish," notes Jen R.
Boating options for non-riding days: When taking a break from horseback activities, Lums Pond State Park Campground provides water recreation just 25 miles from Villanova. "Nice state park with lots to do (kayaking, biking, and more)," shares Matt S. The park permits electric motors only on the pond, making it quiet for fishing or nature observation.
Hiking and wildlife observation: Trails at Hibernia County Park connect to camping areas with varied difficulty levels. "Walking/hiking trails and the lake were super peaceful," reports Chelsea. Many paths follow stream beds and cross gentle hills, perfect for day hikes when not riding.
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate well-spaced accommodations at Brendan Byrne State Forest. "Nice and quiet, sites are spaced out enough to offer privacy. Good trees for hammocking! Plenty of room for a few tents at each site," mentions Lindsay D. This provides separation for horses and camping gear without feeling cramped.
Clean facilities: Many equestrian campers note the importance of well-maintained facilities. "The bathrooms were clean. Showers were a little spidery but kind of expected at a campground," says Megan S. about Brendan Byrne State Forest. This matters particularly for longer stays with horses.
Peaceful environment: Noise levels remain low at most sites, creating a calm atmosphere for both horses and riders. "It was quiet and our neighbors were respectful of the quiet hours and our space. It was a wonderfully peaceful weekend for us all," reports Ellen C. about her stay at French Creek State Park.
Site limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate large horse trailers. "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. about Spruce Run Recreation Area.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian-friendly sites book quickly during peak seasons. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park. This applies especially for sites large enough for trailers and corrals.
Water access varies: Water availability differs between campgrounds. At Hibernia County Park, Jennifer S. notes: "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank." Always check specific site amenities when booking.
Playground access: Mountainview Campground offers child-friendly amenities alongside horse facilities. "Our daughter really enjoyed the playground (which was excellent, by my standards)," shares Mark about a nearby facility, highlighting the importance of having non-horse activities available.
Swimming options: For hot weather relief, seek campgrounds with water recreation. "There is a huge lake where you can rent canoes and kayaks. A huge pool that has a beautiful view overlooking the lake," mentions Jen R. about French Creek State Park.
Safety considerations: When camping with younger children near horses, choose sites with appropriate separation. "The campgrounds were just okay... It was very loud and rowdy into the late night," cautions Douglas P. about Spruce Run Recreation Area, suggesting midweek stays for quieter experiences with families.
Hookup availability: Starlite Camping Resort provides full services for larger rigs. "We had two sites this trip with water and electric, but they do have quite a few full hook-up sites. Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy," explains Craig F.
Site levelness: When bringing both horses and RVs, level sites become crucial. "The site was fairly level, side-to-side, so I really only needed to level front to back. That was a bonus," notes Mark about Lums Pond State Park, reducing setup time and stabilization concerns.
Road conditions: Access roads can challenge large horse trailers. "If you're hauling a big camper you'll need power for the hills," warns Chris G. about Starlite Camping Resort. This applies especially to combined RV and horse trailer setups, where additional vehicle power may be necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Villanova, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Villanova, 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 Villanova, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Villanova, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
