3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland stands as a notable equestrian camping option near Willow Street, Pennsylvania, approximately 35 miles from the town. The campground accommodates both tents and RVs with electric hookups and water access points available throughout the property. While the facilities do not include dedicated horse corrals, the spacious campsites provide room for portable corrals and high-tie systems that campers typically bring. The trails connect directly to an extensive network of riding paths through the 5,600-acre natural area. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with trash collection available at designated stations. The level terrain throughout most of the camping areas allows for easy horse trailer parking.
Located approximately 40 miles from Willow Street, Starlite Camping Resort offers additional camping options with full hookups and amenities that accommodate horse owners by special arrangement. The surrounding area provides access to several bridle paths, though most serious equestrians prefer Fair Hill's more extensive trail system. French Creek State Park, while not offering dedicated horse facilities at its campground, maintains separate day-use equestrian parking areas with access to bridle trails. Riders must bring their own portable containment systems when staying overnight with horses. The campground terrain consists primarily of packed dirt and grass surfaces that drain well after rainfall. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during peak season from May through October when equestrian campers typically visit the region.
"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
"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."
"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
"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
from $10 / night
from $22 - $100 / night
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.
TravelerThis is the most quietest campground. Perfect when you need to go somewhere to think. The people here are very nice. The wildlife is amazing
TravelerHarder to do with a large group due to the early quiet hours, but park is very nice and well kept
Equestrian camping options and horse trails exist within 40 miles of Willow Street, Pennsylvania. The region features several state parks and private campgrounds that accommodate riders at various levels of amenity. Most equestrian campsites in the area consist of crushed gravel or grass surfaces and require advance reservations during peak season from late spring through early fall.
Fishing opportunities: French Creek State Park maintains two lakes stocked with northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, and panfish. "We spent Saturday afternoon fishing but not catching anything at Scott's Run. It's a beautiful location and it was still a fun way to spend the day with the kids away from the site," notes one camper at French Creek State Park.
Trail hiking: Hibernia County Park offers multiple walking paths through wooded areas. "Walking/hiking trails and the lake were super peaceful," mentions a visitor to Hibernia County Park. The park features several marked trails with the longest extending approximately 2 miles.
Water activities: Lums Pond State Park provides electric-motor boating and paddling opportunities on its large pond. "There is a large pond that you can rent paddle boats and small v-bottom boats! We did enjoy the paddle boats and saw a few cranes," shares a reviewer who visited this Delaware park located within driving distance of Willow Street.
Level parking areas: Campsites at French Creek include paved spaces for recreational vehicles and equipment. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze. Sites were not on top of each other," remarks a visitor at French Creek State Park. This feature proves especially helpful for horse trailers requiring stable footing.
Clean facilities: The campground amenities at Lums Pond State Park receive consistent praise for maintenance. "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," writes one camper who appreciated the attention to cleanliness.
Privacy between sites: Many campsites throughout the region offer natural barriers between camping areas. At Starlite Camping Resort, "Overall the sites were large, with trees between, providing additional privacy. Except for the Plateau sites, which have the amazing view, the rest of the campground had a great tree cover!"
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian camping sites near Willow Street require advance booking, especially during weekends. At Hibernia County Park, "The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by." Weekends typically fill faster than midweek dates.
Campground terrain: The topography varies significantly between facilities in the region. While Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers relatively level terrain suitable for horse trailers, other parks present challenges. At Starlite Camping Resort, "Yes, it is quite hilly throughout the campground, but the individual sites are very level to park the camper with almost no blocks needed."
Facility limitations: Not all campgrounds provide full hookups or amenities. Hibernia County Park offers primitive camping with minimal facilities: "There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either."
Playground access: Several parks offer dedicated play areas for children near camping loops. French Creek State Park features "at least two playgrounds (perfect for our kids), the bathrooms were well maintained," according to one family who visited. The main playground at the park includes a popular zip line feature.
Swimming options: While not all parks permit swimming, some provide pool facilities during summer months. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers "clean family friendly environment with tons of extra curricular activities for all," making it suitable for families with children of various ages.
Youth group camping: For larger family gatherings or youth organizations with horses, specialized options exist. Fair Hill "has two primitive youth group camping areas. There are specific rules that need to be followed and the guidelines are on the website."
Hookup configurations: Electric and water connections vary by site and campground. For campers visiting French Creek State Park, "We were in the D loop which is rustic with no hookups. Quiet, very few people mid-week. Spacious sites."
Site selection strategies: When booking at equestrian campgrounds near Willow Street, Pennsylvania, site selection impacts comfort and convenience. At Haldeman Campground, site placement includes electric, water, and sewer connections, though spaces may be limited for larger rigs with horse trailers.
Seasonal availability: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. Starlite Camping Resort operates from May 1 to November 1, while many state parks maintain some winter camping options with reduced services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Willow Street, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Willow Street, 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 Willow Street, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Willow Street, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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