Tyler State Park
🏆 Official Guide: Tyler State Park: 1,711 acres of old farmland and woods in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about 33 miles from Center City Philadelphia. The park has a free 36-hole disc golf course, 25 miles of trails and summer boat rentals on Neshaminy Creek, and no entrance fee. Verified with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as of September 2026.
Neshaminy Creek winds slowly through the middle of Tyler State Park and splits it into a patchwork of meadows, hedgerows and wooded slopes. Park roads and trails follow the lines of the old farms, so a walk here passes old farm buildings as often as woods. The Spring Garden Mill, once a grain and feed mill, is now a small theater. A former hay and horse barn houses the Tyler Park Center for the Arts. On a weekend morning the paved paths fill with cyclists and strollers, and disc golfers head out from the Upper Plantation Picnic Area.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | 101 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940. Main entrance at Swamp Road and PA 413 (Newtown Bypass); from I-95 take Exit 49 (Newtown/Yardley) and follow PA 413 north |
| Entrance fee | None. Pennsylvania state parks are free to enter |
| Hours | Open every day of the year, 8 a.m. to sunset. Day use areas close at dusk |
| Phone | (215) 968-2021 · [email protected] |
| Reservations | Picnic pavilions and groves: online or 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday |
| Camping | No camping in the park |
| Swimming | No swimming area |
| GPS | 40.23103, -74.95315 |
Things to Do
Disc Golf
DCNR calls Tyler’s 36-hole disc golf course one of the top-ranked courses in the country. Play is free. The course starts at the Upper Plantation Picnic Area, where you can pick up course maps and scorecards (also at the park office). The 36 holes are usually played as two 18-hole layouts, East and West. The East layout plays to par 58, with holes from 158 to 598 feet. The Bucks County Disc Golf Alliance runs tournaments, clinics and leagues here. More courses: our guide to disc golf in state parks.
Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding
- Hiking: about 25 miles of trails through farmland, woods and along the creek. Several parking lots on the edge of the park give access to the quieter areas.
- Biking: 10.5 miles of multi-use paved trails. Bicycles are allowed only on designated paved trails, and picnic tables along the way make good rest stops.
- Horseback riding: 10.5 miles of unpaved trails on both sides of Neshaminy Creek. Horse-trailer parking is in the large lot across from the arts center and at the Fisherman’s lot. Riding is not allowed in the picnic areas.
Boating on Neshaminy Creek
The creek is calm and easy to paddle upstream from the boat rental. Electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. Rowboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are all common. In summer a concession rents canoes, single and double kayaks and paddleboards, open Thursday through Monday from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (the last boat goes out at 5 p.m.). You need a deposit and a driver’s license (Driftwood Water Adventures, 267-994-1319). Boats you bring yourself need a Pennsylvania boat registration or a launch permit.
Fishing: Catch and Release Only
You can fish from the banks of Neshaminy Creek or from a canoe or kayak. Common species are sunfish, black crappie, carp and smallmouth bass. Important: A “Do Not Eat” advisory covers all fish species in the Neshaminy Creek basin, including Tyler State Park, because of extremely high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Fish here for sport only.
Picnicking and Culture
Every picnic area has tables, restrooms and drinking water. The Boardwalk Picnic Area has a playground and is popular with families. The Boat House Picnic Area has a pavilion, two shelters and a warming area with a fire ring, and it is the best starting point for the bike and bridle trails on the west side. Upper Plantation and the larger groves can be reserved. The Langhorne Players stage plays in the Spring Garden Mill. The Tyler Park Center for the Arts offers classes and workshops and hosts the annual Crafts in the Meadow craft show. From September through May the park runs public programs and environmental education.
Hunting Season Closure
Tyler holds permit-only deer hunts on about 1,500 acres: a one-day shotgun hunt and a four-week archery hunt. On the day of the shotgun hunt the entire park is closed to visitors. During the archery hunt, the areas north and northwest of Betz Hill Trail are open to hunters. Check with the park office before planning a fall visit.
Safety
In an emergency, call 911 and tell a park employee. The nearest hospital is St. Mary Medical Center, 1201 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Langhorne (215-710-2000), about 2.5 miles away as the crow flies. Cell service in Pennsylvania state parks is unreliable, so download the park map before your visit. Dogs must be leashed and under control at all times.
Does Tyler State Park charge an entrance fee?
No. Pennsylvania state parks, including Tyler State Park, charge no entrance fee. The 36-hole disc golf course is also free. Only reservable picnic pavilions and groves and the private boat rental cost money.
Can you swim or camp at Tyler State Park?
No. Tyler State Park is a day-use park with no campground and no swimming area. You can paddle on Neshaminy Creek (electric motors only, no-wake speed), with rentals in summer.
Can you eat fish caught in Neshaminy Creek?
No. A “Do Not Eat” advisory covers all fish species in the Neshaminy Creek basin, including Tyler State Park, because of extremely high PFOS levels. Fishing is fine as catch and release.
Last updated: September 2026. All facts are from the official Tyler State Park page (DCNR) and its activity pages. Disc golf layout details are from UDisc. Looking for Tyler State Park in Texas? See Tyler State Park (Texas).
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Tyler State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in day-use areas of Pennsylvania state parks and in designated campground sites, but must be physically controlled, attended at all times and leashed, caged or crated.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash required at all times; no universal maximum length — inquire at the park office (electronic fences/shock collars not accepted as control)
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are prohibited in swimming areas and designated beaches
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Dogs allowed in a limited number of designated cabins, cottages and yurts (pilot program); maximum two dogs per unit; dogs must be house-trained and current on rabies vaccination
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No standard statewide pet fee; fees may be assessed for damage in dog-friendly lodging
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Maximum two non-caged pets per campsite; pets prohibited in buildings; pet food may not be left outside camping units
Are dogs allowed at Tyler State Park?
Pets are allowed in day-use areas of Pennsylvania state parks and in designated campground sites, but must be physically controlled, attended at all times and leashed, caged or crated. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via pa.gov. More: Pennsylvania state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
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