Maryland might be small, but with its beautiful oceanside beaches and thick forests, the state is perfectly suited to camping.
Options range from stunning beachfront campgrounds to secluded sites tucked away among the woods.
Whether you're planning for a remote backcountry getaway or a family-friendly vacation at a full-service campground, here are the best camping spots I found in the state.
Beste Camping Ideas
Assateague State Park
Occupying the northern end of Assateague Island, Assateague State Park is the only oceanfront park in Maryland.
Visitors typically come here hoping to see the wild horses that live on the island, but other popular activities include surfing, fishing, and swimming in the ocean.
Camping is only permitted in designated areas, but most campsites include a picnic table, a fire ring, and access to a public bathhouse and the beach.
Most of the campsites can be reserved between late April and late October; reservations are especially recommended if you're planning to visit on a summer weekend or holiday.
6915 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Berlin, MD 21811, Phone: 410-641-2918
Bay Shore Campground
Sitting in Chesapeake Bay, Bay Shore Campground is conveniently located only 3 miles outside the town of Rock Hall, Maryland. Plenty of shops and restaurants are only a few minutes' drive away, but many visitors choose to spend their time here simply swimming, fishing, and enjoying the beach.
Electric hookups and water hookups are available, and campers are also welcome to use the campground's two bathhouses.
Other amenities include a games room, a boat ramp, a children's playground, and basketball and volleyball courts.
Campsites are available all throughout the year, but rates vary according to the season.
4228 Eastern Neck Rd, Rock Hall, MD 21661, Phone: 410-639-7485
Brunswick Family Campground
Tucked in between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Brunswick Family Campground is perfectly situated for fishing, boating, and strolling along the scenic pathway by the canal.
The campground is open between late spring and early fall; both tent sites and RV sites are available, and there are also four rustic cabins for anyone who would like to enjoy a bit more comfort during their stay.
Regardless of which option they choose, all guests will have access to hot showers, restrooms, communal picnic areas, fire pits, and running water.
100 S Maple Ave, Brunswick, MD 21716, Phone: 301-834-9952
Camp Merryelande
Established in 1984, Camp Merryelande is a family-friendly campground that offers both beachfront campsites and cozy cottages that can accommodate between 2 and 24 people. All of the campsites feature picnic tables and fire rings, and other amenities include showers, restrooms, a games area, and a children's playground. There are plenty of activities to keep visitors busy, including fishing, mini-golf, and beach cook-outs. The cabins must be booked for a minimum of two, three, or four nights depending on the time of week and the season, and check-in is only available on Mondays, Wednesdays. and Fridays.
15914 Camp Merryelande Rd, St. George Island, Piney Point, MD 20674, Phone: 301-994-1722
Romantic Camping
Catoctin Mountain Park
Lying on the northeastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Catoctin Mountain Park offers beautiful views, excellent fishing, and approximately 25 miles of hiking trails.
There are three different campgrounds in the park to choose from for couples and families: Owens Creek Campground, Adirondack Shelters, and Poplar Grove Youth Camp Site, which is only open to adult-supervised groups of youths under the age of 18. Adirondack Shelters can only be reached by a 3-mile hike, making it best suited for people interested in exploring the backcountry. None of the sites can accommodate large RVs, but Owens Creek Campground welcomes RVs under 22 feet.
14707 Park Central Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, Phone: 301-663-9388
Cherry Hill Park Campground
Cherry Hill Park Campground is one of the closest campgrounds to Washington, D.C., so it's a wonderful place to base yourself if you're interested in spending some time in the capital while on vacation. In addition to traditional tent and RV sites, the campground offers cabins, yurts, and even unique glamping pods with air conditioning and electricity. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout most of the property, and other amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, water, and a bathhouse. Tent and RV sites are available on a walk-in basis only, but all other accommodation can be booked in advance.
9800 Cherry Hill Rd, College Park, MD 20740, Phone: 301-937-7116
Cunningham Falls State Park
Set in the stunning Catoctin Mountains, Cunningham Falls State Park is home to a 43-acre lake, plenty of meandering streams, and the biggest waterfall in the state. Visitors are permitted to camp in two different areas, one with more than 100 basic sites and another with just over 20 basic sites. Both campgrounds have a handful of sites with electric hookups as well, and reservations are strongly recommended for both types of site. The park is open to campers all throughout the year, but full amenities are only available between the beginning of April and the end of October.
14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, Phone: 301-271-7574
Family Camping
Elk Neck State Park
Established in 1936, Elk Neck State Park sits on a peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River. Visitors come here to fish, hunt, canoe or kayak, and hike the 12 miles of trails found in the park. The campground is found on the eastern end of the peninsula, and it offers more than 200 campsites as well as 15 cabins. Some of the sites are equipped with electric, water, and sewer hookups, and all campers are given access to a bathhouse with hot showers. A maximum of six people are permitted at each campsite, and advance reservations are recommended.
4395 Turkey Point Rd, North East, MD 21901, Phone: 410-287-5333
Frontier Town Campground
Only a few miles away from Ocean City, Frontier Town Campground offers more than 600 campsites on the shores of Sinepuxent Bay. Options range from basic sites with no hookups to deluxe waterfront sites that can accommodate large RVs, but all sites offer at least a picnic table and a fire ring. Several food and beverage outlets are located on the property, including a Western-style saloon and a camp store. The campground also offers plenty of other activities to keep visitors entertained, including a Western theme park, a zipline obstacle course, a water park, and an 18-hole mini-golf course.
8428 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Berlin, MD 21811, 800-228-5590
Green Ridge State Forest
Encompassing more than 47,500 acres, Green Ridge State Forest is the second largest state forest in Maryland. There are approximately 100 primitive campsites in the park; the sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, but there are no other amenities. Because of the campground's rural nature, campers are required to leave no trace of their stay and to keep their food and garbage away from bears by storing it in a bear-proof container or by hanging it between two trees. The sites are open to visitors year round, but permits are required for anyone wanting to spend the night.
28700 Headquarters Dr NE, Flintstone, MD 21530, Phone: 301-478-3124
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