The Rustic Cabins are closed due to renovations. Disturbances associated with construction should be expected Monday-Friday in the Fall of 2023-​Fall 2025

Elk Neck State Park is located in Cecil County on a peninsula, formed by the Chesapeake Bay on the west and the Elk River on the east. It makes for great camping near Washington. The park has 2,370 acres of land and includes 250 campsites, 4 youth group sites and 15 cabins. Varied landscapes include marshlands, heavily wooded areas, white clay cliffs, and sandy shorelines.

Elk Neck State Park is divided into four areas. Turkey Point Lighthouse is located at the southern tip of the Elk Neck Peninsula. North East Beach Area and Picnic Shelters is a popular day-use area located in the western portion of the park and features a swimming area, canoe/kayak launch, picnic shelters, picnic tables, and grills. Rogues Harbor Boat Launch Facility offers public boating access to the Elk River, and fishing piers. The Elk River Camping Area is located on the eastern portion of the peninsula and offers over 250 campsites, 15 cabins (9 mini/camper cabins and 6 rustic cabins), a youth group camping area, park store, playground, and a nature center.

Elk Neck State Park Campground

Came here for the day to enjoy the beach, check out the campgrounds, and scout for a potential family reunion location. The beach area was beautiful, and not nearly as crowded as other MD State Park swimming beaches, even on a weekend. Was also nice to be on the actual bay, as opposed to a man-made lake. The water was pretty calm, and felt very refreshing, but was full of seaweed. The bottom was also quite pebbly, so I'd recommend water shoes. Nice playground and picnic shelter. We drove through a few of the camping loops, and they looked very nice and well-maintained. There is also a beautiful (and popular!) lighthouse accessible by foot, but the parking lot at the trailhead often fills to capacity, so get there early! That was the case with us, so we were turned away. Nevertheless, we had a great time, and were all set to host the reunion here, but then learned that they were planning some major renovations to the picnic shelters and a few camping loops in the months leading up to our event. We hope to return next year to camp, once said renovations have been completed!

Large park with beautiful views, in a great location

Campsites on the Choptank, Miles, Elk loop bring you right next to the water. Gorgeous view, and only a few minute hike over to stony point. There's a sandy beach there that provides a relaxing environment to kick back.

Quality views from campsites

Elk Neck had some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever used, and the camp sites were a good size. I didn't feel like anyone was on top of me which was nice. Pretty quiet too, which is always a plus

Clean bathrooms, great location and good sized sites

Beautiful camping at the head of the Chesapeake Bay! Lots of trails and waterways for exploring!!

Great place to camp and hike!

Spent one night here at the State Park. My boyfriend and I traveled from northeast PA, about three hours away, and arrived earlier to the park than the check-in time (3pm). However the ranger was able to check us in as no one had used our site the night before. The ranger was polite and gave us maps of the campground as well as hiking/biking trails, of which there are a few. The park itself is sectioned into loops, we stayed at a loop close to the river, the sites on the river were booked but we were still able to get past the sites and get a view of the river. We hiked/biked to turkey point lighthouse, which is not actually accessible from the campground. Just a short drive past a community is the trail which was fun to bike but still well maintained. Overall would definitely stay again it was peaceful and quiet.

Beautiful and Well Maintained State Park 

This was definitely a state park that was worth the trip. We stayed in the elk loop spot 142. It is the only one with electric in that part of the park so we were the only RV. All the loops we visited were quiet, well maintained and offered nice shade. Quite a few spots also offer water views. There are a bunch of nice, well marked trails throughout.  Camp hosts were not out and about but were friendly and park rangers stopped by from time to time to make sure everyone was parked according to the rules. Overall a very nice experience, several spots to put in kayaks or paddle boards. Clean bathhouse. Playground for the kids. Will be back. 

Great park near the water

Nice state park. Tons of campsites.  One loop has full hookups.   Careful of choosing a site if you have a big rig.  The loop has tight turns and some seriously non level sites.  Trails are nice and well marked.  The pond loop has some amazingly old growth mountain laurels and patches of ghost flowers.  The Turkey Point lighthouse hike is popular go early or late to avoid waiting for a parking spot on nice weekends.  Swimming and boating on the river are popular activities too.  

Nice hiking, family friendly

Good campground, has a couple residents that keep watch. Can get a little crowded on weekends. Each has a fire pit, and there is a store on site that sells general campground supplies (fire starter, hot dogs, band aids). Has a great walking trail to an awesome lighthouse that overlooks the Chesapeake Bay. 

A little crowded

Rv sites are huge and private, not on top of one another. Beach, boat ramp, hike to the lighthouse with incredible views of the 2 rivers and bay. If you boat and camp, it's perfect. Nature center, great store, clean, well maintained and staffed for a state park. Nice beach. So much to do. They do have a no alcohol policy unless you are inside a cabin or RV, but unless you get stupid, no one bothers you. Can't wait to go back.

Breathtaking

This campground is very family friendly. We saw so many children running around having a great time! They have fairly many camp sites with an amazing view. Unfortunately we did not reserve our site in time to get one of the better ones. We still could see the water but not right water front. We enjoyed hiking the Beaver Marsh Trail. From our campsite we had to drive to a trail head but there were a few sights that had direct access. Also the lighthouse trail is a must. It is about a five minute drive to get to the trail though, but is worth it! 
The camp host were very friendly and were actually in charge of keeping the bathrooms clean (which they did excellent at)! The bathrooms were nothing fancy but I was impressed with the cleanness. 
I would definitely recommend giving this campground a try! 

Beautiful Camping Location

I went to Elk Neck at the end of September.  This place was super clean, really nice sites, and the trails were awesome.  I would absolutely go back.  I only gave it 4 stars because I was only there for 2 days and wasn’t able to experience everything.  

Awesome

Finished the season at this state park in MD with full hook up (20, 30, and 50 amp, water and sewer) and the water was still on in November. Bathhouses were open with hot water. Nice clean bathhouses. Sites were level, spacious, spaced apart, with packed gravel surface. Back in and pull through sites available. Near the state forest with a rifle, archery, and handgun ranges including skeet shooting. In summer there is a beach on the North East River for swimming and the Turkey Point Lighthouse is nearby. The town of North East is close and is a quaint town with a Main Street and great little shops. Woodys famous crab house is there along with other restaurants. Turkey Point Vineyard is nearby. There are views of the Elk River from many sites. Stayed in the North East loop and there are mini cabins available as well.  

Late season camping

Went camping for the first time in for ever 

First camping trip

Our go to State Park for camping as it is pretty close to home. Standard State Park with all the amenities you need. We are tent campers/ non electric (no pets/ no kids). So we don’t need much other than some privacy. Some sites are closer together than others though. Decent bathhouses. Town of North East is about 10mins drive away which is nice when it rains when you want to grab a bite to eat.  

All you need...

Stayed on the full hook-up North East loop (incline or decline into some of the sites, well spaced). Cleanest state park bathroom in all of MD!  Activities included: the town of North East (15min away), loop hike to the Turkey Point Lighthouse at sunset, and hanging out on the Elk river (fishing/kayaking).  At least four play grounds throughout the camp loops.  The North East River, where the park’s main beach area is located had failed it’s latest bacteria level test.  Check out theswimguide.org for the latest water quality tests.  Only 1hr away from Baltimore and you don’t have to cross the Bay Bridge.

Father’s Day weekend

My son and I stayed on a quick overnight while traveling South.  The reservation was easy to make, the staff super helpful, the area beautiful.  I wish we had been able to stay more to explore.

Quick Overnight

This was nice because you could see the water from the site. 

It was a short jaunt to toilets/showers/potable water and everything was surprisingly clean. 

Nearby was a beach that was small but cute and a cool lighthouse you could go up. 

There is a camp store that had all the basics and ice and firewood was available 24/7 outside of store hours. 

I will say the first night was quiet but once the weekend hit it was very busy and the site next to us had 6 collage age jawing it up until 2am and you can hear everything very clearly. 

Spot #166 had great views! 

I booked a tent site as my first introduction to the park. Setting up a reservation was incredibly user friendly, park staff was fantastic at getting us checked in, and the camp store was well stocked and priced.   
  

Our site, however, left something to be desired. The sites were all very close together, and the tent pad areas were fairly small. You can drive right up to your site and park there, which is incredibly convenient in terms of unpacking and set up. Around our site was pretty loud with neighbors at all hours, regardless of quiet hours, and balls being kicked into our tent pad area from surrounding visitors. There were some bottle caps and garbage on our tent pad upon arrival.  

  

I think if you had kids and were looking for a "not so quiet" get away into nature, this would be a fantastic spot. There were larger and more private sites on our loop, and if I returned I would prioritize getting one of those. There are also more loops than the one we were on. 

  

The firepit had an adjustable height grill grate, and there was a picnic table at each site. Firewood ran $5 a bundle at the camp store.  Ice and potable water was also available. 

  
There was a nearby dumpster that was easy to use. Disappointed that there did not seem to be a recycling receptacle. Bathrooms were nice, the handicapped shower was very spacious. No shortage of hot water.   
  

We hiked all available trails from the trail map, though it seems there were more than listed, and a portion of the park is closed following previous tornado damage. We saw an abundance of herps, gorged ourselves on pawpaws, and generally foraged and tracked a ton of interesting wildlife. The trails themselves were pretty, but the rankings somewhat misleading. The "hard" trails would be hard in comparison to a flat gravel path, but in terms of general hiking, were comfortable with only a couple mildly steep or narrow points. I am unsure if the ranking system is for general hiking or in terms of ADA accessibility, however. If accessibility, it makes a lot of sense. For hiking? Less so; I'd rank the trails as a normal difficulty for their 'hard' trails. 

  

The beaches were lovely! We did not get the opportunity to kayak, swim, or fish, but are hoping to do that sometime in the future. Was still relaxing to sit out with a book and watch the water.

  

I do feel like we explored most of what the park had to offer, so while I would be happy to return it feels less urgent to do so. I think I would be better equipped to pick a site (or explore a cabin!) the next time which would resolve my minimal issues. Given the relaxed atmosphere of the trails, close amenities, etc. I think this would be a good choice to bring friends who are new to the camping scene, or for families.

Good Intro to Camping

This is a very quiet and peaceful campground-- caveat, though, that I was there during the week. There is a variety of types of sites, from tents to small rig to larger pull-throughs with some being more secluded than others. The North East Loop as full hookups and the electric was clean and the water pressure very good. The park store is closed Mon- Wed(while I was there) but they sell firewood and ice on an honor-system basis. My site was relatively level and it seems most of them are that way. They also have a Nature Center but that was closed as well for renovations.

Clean, well-maintained, and a variety of sites

Very clean facilities, some sites are sort of close but plenty of more private sites 


Very clean

**Camp site / Amenities**  

Camp sites were spacious and the bathroom was clean.  

  

**Surrounding area**  

There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids.  

To get the lighthouse, you would need to drive for a few minutes which is definitely worth it. The view from the lighthouse is stunning. Parking lot is pretty small so there is a good chance you'll need to wait for a parking spot. The trail itself is very family-friendly.

Cozy and quiet place 

Elk Neck is one of the largest campgrounds I’ve been to so even when I planned this trip last minute there were a couple spots available. Once you check in there’s a park store to your left in case you forget anything (as of May 2022 the park store is closed &amp; the nature center is undergoing renovations. Ice &amp; wood is still being sold outside the park store). We stayed in the Choptank Loop which was lovely, and in the distance, we could see Elk Neck River but there are no trails from this loop. The Wye and Susquehanna Loop are right near trails that lead to Rogues Harbor Area for a fishing pier &amp; boat launch (Beaver Marsh Loop 2 miles). You can also take the Beaver Marsh Loop, connect with the White Banks trail and you have about a four-mile hike to the North East Beach Area for swimming &amp; fishing. You can also drive to both areas. The Turkey Point Lighthouse is definitely a must see. The parking lot is small so if you’re there on the weekend try to get there early as possible. The trail to the lighthouse is about .8 miles and family friendly. Great area for bird watching and the perfect spot to have a picnic with the cliff side views over the water. To reach the top of the lighthouse you must be able to climb a ladder so your little one might not be able to go.

\*Playground right next to Choptank Loop

Turkey Point Lighthouse 

Admittedly, I was here mid-week in May.  I'm not entirely sure I'd want to be here on a weekend in the summer when the place is full of families, noise, and activity.  But my visit was very quiet and peaceful.  I stayed on the pet-friendly Miles loop.  There were only two other sites in use, aside from the camp host at #171.  The predominant sounds were birds and my own footsteps, although there is some unidentifiable hum that seems to come up off the water.  I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.  

  

The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints.  Site 166, where I was, offered a wooded path directly back to the nearby  bathhouse, which was otherwise inconspicuous from my site.  Across the way, there was a partially tree-obscured view of the water.  You could see enough through the trees, at least this time of year, to get the benefit of a sunrise view.  A short walk provided a very impressive sunrise view.

  

Within a short walk were a small dumpster for trash, a potable-water pump, and the aforementioned bathhouse (with a slop sink for dishwashing outside, at the rear).  The site itself had a fire ring, a picnic table, a post with a hook on it, and a stonedust pad.  All tents have to be on this area and not drift into the adjacent, softer earth.  Although clean, dry firewood and bags of ice are available on an honor system outside the otherwise closed park store (near the entrance) there was plenty of dry, dead, downed wood to be found if one was inclined to gather one's own.

  

Park rangers were very pleasant and helpful.  They occasionally drove past but weren't overbearing in any way.  Similarly, the camp host offered a cheerful greeting and pleasant conversation as I walked by but was otherwise invisible.  Their efforts were obvious, however.  The bathhouse was immaculate, as were all of the unoccupied sites I walked past.  The grounds are clearly well maintained.   

  

The only hiccup in that regard was a damaged camper parked in the best site on the loop, #169.  The roof was badly dented, and apparently the occupants had escaped harm when a tree  fell on the camper as they slept.  This is a park, after all, and trees will sometimes break or fall.  Fortunately no one was injured - and honestly, that really IS the best site on the loop, as it offers the best view of the water.   

  

I didn't explore the entire park, as I was in the area for an event at Cecil County Fairgrounds.  That said, I did do a bit of exploring.  Although you can certainly drive to the parking lot that's only a mile or so from the lighthouse, you can easily walk there from the campground if you're so inclined.  The only downside to that is that approximately a mile of your walk (each way) will be on the paved road, and cars can be brisk (so I wouldn't recommend it with small children).   Trails through the park are extremely easy to navigate (the substrate isn't rugged at all) yet it's scenic in a gentle, understated way.  I enjoyed the Beaver Marsh loop which is easy to get to from the Miles campsites.  

  

If I had any criticisms, they'd probably be more along the lines of cautions.  Not all campsites are equal.  Sites 159 &amp; 160 are across from and adjacent to the dumpster, respectively, for example.  Maybe that wouldn't be an issue if you were in an RV, but I would think that the aesthetics (and summer aroma?) would be a deal-breaker if you were pitching a tent.  Site 157 has a nearly unobstructed view of the bathhouse as its "backyard".  On the other hand, Site 155 is directly across from the potable water pump, and that might be a convenience.  Site 152 on Miles loop is nearest to the playground, and within eyesight of it, which could either be wonderful or nightmarish depending on whether or not you have (or want to hear) small children.

  

Arguably, the best sites are probably 167, 169 (which I would say is THE best one on this loop), and 176.  The latter has the most direct access to a path that leads gently down to a sandy shoreline, and it seems to have a little more privacy than some of the other sites.  This is just my casual impression while walking around.

  

All in all, this is a clean, beautifully maintained, pleasantly staffed, and well equipped campground.  It isn't far from "civilization" (you know, if you need to pick up something from a store), but the campground itself is quiet and has enjoyable trails to wander.

Pleasant place to stay

Campsites were a good size with plenty of space and not too close to other sites. The bathrooms were clean. It was very cozy and a peaceful stay overall. Our site was right next to the river and had a trail leading down to the water, it was so beautiful! I would definitely stay here again. 

Such a cozy campground 

This is a great spot, with water access and tree cover. The camp store is well stocked and the firewood is kept dry (a rarity in MD SPs!) and every staffer we spoke to was awesome. We stayed in the Miles loop and could hear the water lapping while we listened to the campfire crackle. We spent time at the North East Beach Area (unguarded, small, and lots of goose poop though!) and got ice cream from the camp store. A Walmart, Lowes, and Food Lion are a 20 minute drive away for any other last minute needs. In the first few days we saw numerous Bald Eagles and osprey, deer, a salamander, and a woodchuck. I’m the Miles loop it’s worth noting 160 is next to a dumpster and across from the bathhouse 💩

Lovely and Convenient, Great Wildlife 

I grew up 5 minutes from this park, It’s a great scenic view for such a small town, Back woods park.

There is great walking and hiking trails throughout the park and even one that goes to an old lighthouse out on Turkey Point! It’s a gorgeous walk and an amazing view when you reach the lighthouse. In season you can even go inside of it! 

There’s also great camping and fishing throughout the area, The Susquehanna river is full of every kind of fish imaginable! And scattered ponds are just waiting for you to discover them.

All around amazing area to visit! 

Elk Neck Will Always Be Beautiful!

What a park! We loved it here and will definitely be back. This was the quietest campground we have ever stayed at. There was so much to do being on the bay. We went on a hike to check out the lighthouse. We visited an overlook and found a winery on-site. We tried to rent kayaks but there were no doubles available. Next time we will have our own. Our site was directly in front of a small playground with a slide, swings and monkey bars. It was great so our daughter (5) could go when she wanted and we were right there to play and watch. Baltimore is close enough for a day trip so we will plan that on our next trip. The bath houses were clean but no doors on the showers only curtains. The overlook was beautiful and had a winery on-site which was wonderful because it was so hot that weekend. We relaxed and cooled off and refueled and then went to get some milkshakes. We were celebrating our sons and my birthdays while there and enjoyed our long weekend unplugging and being a family.

Peaceful place to relax

We love Elk Neck State Park!
It is pristine… The bathrooms are immaculate…The town of Northeast is a hidden Gem… We will always stop here on our way to and from the Keys during our snow bird journeys…

A++++++ State Park

Accessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff 