Nestled in the rolling hills of southeastern Pennsylvania, French Creek State Park Campground offers a peaceful retreat just an hour outside of Philadelphia—perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer stay. At 7,730 acres, it’s the largest block of contiguous forest between Washington, D.C., and New York City, making it a haven for nature lovers. We camped here while visiting the local Wild Ones chapter and found it to be a great mix of nature, convenience, and outdoor adventure. Whether you’re pitching a tent, bringing your RV, or looking for a cozy cabin, this campground has something for everyone. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know before booking your stay, from campsite options and park policies to costs and activities. Plus, we’ll share our experience camping here and what we loved about French Creek!
French Creek State Park Campground
410 Park Road, Elverson, PA 19520
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/french-creek-state-park.html
Link to French Creek campground map .pdf
French Creek State Park in Pennsylvania has a pretty great campground if you’re looking for a mix of nature and convenience. It’s a big one, with over 200 sites, including spots for tents, RVs, and even a few cabins and yurts if you want something cozier.
French Creek State Park Lodging Options
Cabins at French Creek State Park
If you’re looking for a little extra comfort while staying at French Creek State Park, the Cabin Colony is a great option!
- There are 10 modern cabins, all fully furnished, so you don’t have to rough it too much.
- Each cabin sleeps up to six people with bunk beds—perfect for families or a group of friends.
- They’re available year-round, which is awesome if you love a cozy winter getaway in the woods.
- You’ll get electric heat, a kitchen, and a private bathroom, so it’s a step up from tent camping but still feels like a nature retreat.
- The cabins are about a mile from the main campground, so you get a little extra privacy but still have access to all the park’s trails and activities.
Cottages at French Creek State Park
If you want something between a tent and a cabin, the cottages at French Creek State Park are a great pick!
- They’re right in the campground, so you’re close to everything—bathhouses, trails, and other campers.
- Each cottage sleeps up to five people with bunk beds, making them perfect for small families or a group of friends.
- You get electric heat, which is a nice perk for chilly nights.
- Outside, there’s a porch, picnic table, and fire ring, so you can still enjoy the classic camping experience with campfires and outdoor meals.
- The cottages also have electricity, so you can charge your gear or bring a coffee maker for those early mornings.
- If you’re bringing a furry friend, Cottage 1 is pet-friendly, but the others are not—so plan accordingly if you’re camping with a dog.
Yurts at French Creek State Park
If you want a unique camping experience, the yurts at French Creek State Park are a fun option!
- They’re right in the campground, so you’re close to all the action but still get a cozy, semi-rustic vibe.
- Each yurt sleeps four people with two bunk beds, making them great for small families or groups.
- Unlike a tent, yurts have a solid wooden deck, so you don’t have to worry about sleeping on the ground.
- Inside, you’ll find some nice conveniences: a stove, microwave, fridge, table, chairs, and electric heat, plus outlets to charge your gear.
- Outside, there’s a fire ring and picnic table, so you can still cook over the fire and enjoy meals outdoors.
If you’re staying in a cabin, yurt, or cottage you’ll need to bring your own bedding, towels, dishes, pots/pans since none of them supply these items!
French Creek State Park Camping
French Creek offers both group and family camping. French Creek State Park has a huge campground with a variety of campsites to fit different camping styles, whether you’re in a tent, RV, or need an accessible site.
Group Camping at French Creek State Park
Organized groups can reserve rustic tent camping areas from April 11-October 31. 16 group sites hold 30 people and one site holds up to 60 people.
There are also group cabins available with a dining hall, central washhouse, camper cabins, and staff quarters. Camp 1 holds 135 people and Camp 2 holds 68 people.
Campsites at French Creek State Park
French Creek offers non-electric, 20/30/50 amp electric, and full hook up campsites. Loop D is all non-electric sites, Loop B is a mix of electric and non-electric, and Loop C has all three types of sites, and Loop A has full hook-up and non-electric sites. We thought that some sites were nice and large, but others felt like they would be tight with a bigger rig.
We loved that the campsites at French Creek are so surrounded by trees. It made each site feel really private and like you’re camping in the woods instead of a parking lot. We stayed here during October and had some great fall colors surrounding us.
Loops A and C are pet-friendly loops, but Loops B and D are non-pet loops. We really appreciate that French Creek offers these options so that everyone can choose what’s most comfortable for them.
French Creek State Park Camping Essentials
As full-time RVers, we’ve spent countless hours researching and testing essential gear to make RV life easier, more comfortable, and better prepared for any adventure. Here are a few of our essentials products we can’t live without:
- Andersen Levelers make RV leveling quick and effortless, allowing you to fine-tune your setup in seconds without the hassle of stacking blocks. Their durable, lightweight design works on a variety of surfaces, making them a must-have for any RVer looking for a simple and reliable leveling solution.
- X-Chocks provide extra stability by preventing your RV’s tires from shifting, reducing movement when parked. Their durable, adjustable design adds an extra layer of security, making them an essential tool for a more stable and comfortable camping experience.
- The GasStop propane gauge enhances safety by automatically shutting off the flow in the event of a major leak while also providing an easy-to-read indicator of your propane level. It’s a reliable tool for preventing leaks, improving peace of mind, and ensuring you never run out of propane unexpectedly.
Campground Amenities
Within the campground, there are showerhouses in each loop, a playground across from Loop A, picnic tables and fire rings in each campsite, and there is a dump station just inside the check-in station.
Another amenity we really appreciated at French Creek are the “predicament sites,” which are campsites reserved for when people have site or reservation issues. It’s nice to know that there is this option if something goes wrong instead of having to try to find another campground entirely.
French Creek State Park Showerhouse Review
Since we didn’t have full hook-ups, we used the showerhouse while staying at French Creek. Josh is less picky than I am and was perfectly happy with the showers, but I found them to be more mid-quality. This is the type of showerhouse with toilet stalls and shower stalls all in one big room. The women’s side had two shower stalls. One is the accessible stall, which is large but has no divider between the changing area and shower. The other stall has a smaller shower area, but a divider between the shower and changing areas so your clothes stay drier. However, the lock on that stall wasn’t working right, so I had to use the accessible stall. My other issue with this stall is that it felt like the gap between the door and the frame was pretty wide, but I ended up just hanging a towel over the door to feel more comfortable. The showerhouse was kept clean, but could use some maintenance touch ups.
French Creek State Park Dump Station
The dump station for French Creek is outside of the campground loops, right next to the check-in booth. This is convenient for when you’re first coming and going to the campground. But for us, since we weren’t on full hook-ups, it did make it annoying for having to dump our gray tank with a portable tote mid-stay.
Campground Costs
- Non-electric campsites: $22/night, $147/week
- Electric-only campsites: $29/night, $196/week
- Full hook-up campsites: $42/night, $287/week
- Camping cottages: $43.50/night, $280.40/week
- Yurts: $44.10/night, $320.20/week
- Modern cabins: $64.40/night, $471.80/week
Campground Rules & Policies
- Open beginning of March to first weekend of January
- Check in and check out at 3pm
- $6.50 non-refundable transaction fee on all reservations
- Non-refundable $10 fee for reservation changes (except adding nights)
- Cancellations made 6 or less days before arrival forfeit first night’s fee
Activities at French Creek State Park
Hiking at French Creek
French Creek State Park has over 35 miles of trails, some of which even connect to other parks to offer even more hiking! Trails within the park range from 0.4-8 miles and are a mix of easy, moderate, and difficult hiking.
If you’re looking to hike more than just in the park, the Colliers Trail, Horseshoe Trail, and Lenape Trail will take you to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. The Horseshoe Trail is also part of a 140 mile long regional trail. Trail descriptions can be found on the park website here.
With AllTrails+, you can download offline trail maps for French Creek State Park, ensuring you always have access to navigation, even in areas with no cell service. This is especially useful for staying on track in the park’s dense forests and winding trails, giving you peace of mind on every hike.
French Creek State Park Swimming Pool
Swimming is not allowed in either lake at French Creek State Park, but there is a public pool near Hopewell Lake. The swimming pool is open 11am-7pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is a charge for pool access of $13/person for a day pass, but season passes are available too.
The pool area has a bathhouse, concession stand, picnic pavilions, and is lifeguard supervised.
Boating and Boat Rentals
French Creek State Park has two lakes: 68 acre Hopewell Lake and 22 acre Scotts Run. Both lakes have boat launching areas and allow electric motors at slow no-wake speeds. All boats must display current registration. Nonpowered boats must display one of the following: boat registration, launching permit from PA state parks, or launching permit from PA Fish and Boat Commission.
French Creek offers boat rentals seasonally, which can be found next to the pool by Hopewell Lake.
Fishing at French Creek
Fishing is popular on both Hopewell and Scotts Run lakes in French Creek State Park. This area is well-known for its bass, but also has northern pike, chain pickerel, walleye, muskey, and panfish. Make sure to follow all state fishing regulations.
Hunting
Hunters can find deer, turkey, rabbit, pheasant, and squirrel at French Creek State Park. Hunting, trapping, and dog training are allowed in designated areas of the park. Make sure to check and follow all regulations and seasons.
Mountain Biking at French Creek State Park
Over 20 miles of trails at French Creek State Park are open to mountain biking. The trail description page of the park website outlines which trails allow for biking.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is allowed at French Creek State Park on the Horse-shoe trail, which runs 140 miles from Valley Forge National Historic Site to the Appalachian Trail near Harrisburg. Horseback riding is not allowed on any other park trails.
French Creek State Park Disc Golf
French Creek State Park has a great 18 hole disc golf course! We played on the course over two days and really enjoyed it. The course is located near Hopewell Lake and winds through the woods. Each hole has two baskets- a beginner friendly one and a more advanced one.
The course is maintained by the Dead Dogs Disc Golf Club and their volunteers clearly do a great job keeping it clean and in good shape! If you’re looking to get into disc golf, this is a great beginner friendly course. We each have a set of Innova discs and they’re a really solid set at an entry-level price.
Orienteering Course
French Creek has a permanent orienteering course and maps are available to pick up at the park office.
Winter Activities at French Creek State Park
French Creek State Park is a great spot to visit for winter activities! Both lakes allow ice fishing (just make sure it’s frozen thick enough!). Sledding is allowed on the backside of the dam at Scotts Run Lake and ice skating is also allowed on the lakes.
French Creek is also a popular spot for cross country skiing, which is allowed on all hiking trails and in all open areas of the park.
Things to Do Near French Creek State Park
There is so much to see and do in this area of southeastern Pennsylvania. We talk about everything we did in our 10 days there in this blog post:
French Creek State Park is also only an hour away from Philadelphia. We did one day in Philadelphia and focused on history and National Park sites. See more of that visit here:
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