Shad Landing Campground

I camped here a few years ago during an April vacation. It was early in the season, so not all the loops were open. Our site in Deer Run had electric and was plenty large and level for our teardrop camper. The bathroom was spotless and shower stalls had all you would wish for, with seating and sufficient hooks. Though we had neighbors, the campground was quiet.

 There’s a marina and boat launch, with the marina offering electric and potable water. Boat rentals include canoes, kayaks, rowboats and electric boats in season. There’s a playground for kids. They also have a swimming pool, but in 2021 it looks like hours are limited to weekends due to staffing, so don’t make that the sole reason for camping here. There are several different wooded loops and sites are generally level and spacious with fire rings, picnic tables, lantern poles, and fish-cutting tables.

Note that Water’s Edge loop does not offer electric and the bathroom facilities are under the store. This loop is open year round. Acorn and Deer Run offer electric and the bath house is in the center of the loop. Robin’s Nest loops is open year round and has a mix of campsites with and without electric as well as mini cabins.. The Blue Heron loop has 3 group sites(distinct from youth group sites in a different area). If you have a pet, note that they are permitted in Water’s Edge and Acorn loops.

In addition to the boating and fishing on site, Assateague State Park and National Seashore are about 45 minutes away to the northeast and Chincoteague to the south. Shad Landing made a great base for exploring the area and making a trip to the coast to watch the sunrise and seek out the wild horses. Ocean City is nearby if you need anything tourist-style activities, but this is a great place to get away. If you've forgotten anything, big box stores in Pocomoke City are only 10 minutes away. It’s important to note that the Milburn Landing campground at Pocomoke River is about 25 minutes away and less convenient for exploring the coastal attractions.

We camped here 2 years ago in June on a unseasonably hot weekend. This time we tried it in April and the weather was perfect. My husband camped here growing up and loves it. We stayed in loop Acorn Trail site 20 which is the dog friendly loop. Our site was very long, level, and faced the woods. The next site over sat close to the road but ours sat very far back. We fit the camper and 3 cars with the 3rd one sitting angled. 2 cars are allowed overnight. The site itself was a good size but the fire ring is in the corner so you could only sit around about 2/3 of it. There is a pool and boat rentals. The ranger states the pool WILL be open for summer 2021. There is a camp store and deli and activities in summer as well. The other loops are near each other with Deer Run having all electric sites. Robins Nest is mixed. Blue Heron, Waters Edge, and Fox Den are non-electric. Some loops are open year round. There are trails throughout the campground and even a water trail for canoe or kayaks. There’s a fishing pond as well. There is a youth group camp area and mini cabins. We will keep this one in our regular rotation of amp grounds! Need to add that I found 2 ticks on my dog, unattached, and one on me attached. Only place I’ve ever found ticks on me is at this campground. Always check yourselves.

Shad Landing ( and it’s parter site Milburn Landing) offer enough for you to spend a week close enough to the beaches of Assateague, Ocean City, and Chincoteague to smell the ocean. Sites are medium to large. There is one pet loop that is popular with the RV crowd. The park offers a warm shower, clean restrooms, a camp store that houses a small kitchen(pizza, sandwiches, ice cream) and canoeing through a pretty decent water trail. When not blocked by pandemic proposals, the nature center is a hub of educational activity and some great ranger programs. The park can get crowded fast. The eastern shore gets busy quick, even on the weekdays. When open, there is Assateague National Park, Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge, Wallops Island NASA center, and the fun of Ocean City- all within an hour drive. The towns of OC, Pocomoke City, and Berlin all have enough food to satisfy. The waterfront loop has no attached bathroom/showers, but instead uses the facilities under the camp store- a long walk in the middle of the night. There is water available. There is a washer/dryer available as well. Cabins are also available for rent. The one big problem with both Shad and Milburn are the bugs. It gets insanely humid here, and the mosquitoes, flies, and ticks take full advantage- especially if you decide to hike through the nearby State Forest. As of this writing, both the pool and the nature center is closed due to COVID. As well as the Marina and the Camp Store, which we found out on arrival. Wal-mart and Dollar General are just eight miles from the park. As we had already booked the week, we stayed- but without the pool at least and without the presence of the staff and the camp store ( and the boat rental as well) the experience was not as good as it was in the past. Until the COVID restrictions are relaxed and the park gets its amenities back, I cannot recommend staying here as much as I have in the past. The bathrooms in the fox den loop need updated as well- I noticed the doors are rusted and the stalls are very small.

Our site was Deer Run loop # 111 but there was NO way we could back our small 18’ RV around the tree in the way (though this was just our 3rd trip with an RV). We switched to site 110 which was no problem. Very sparsely populated, it was near empty. Acorn Trail and Deer Run have electric. Water spigots were difficult to find in our loop but there’s a filling station near the sewer dump (don’t listen to the gal in the camp store, it’s there). We reserved our site just 2 or 3 days prior with lots of site choices. It’s buggy so bring whatever works for you. It rained twice but nothing was flooded or even very wet so good drainage at our site. The electric went out for about 3 hours in the middle of the night during a storm but the storm cooled things down. They offer canoe and kayak rentals and there’s a great pool! Bath house was beautiful but only 2 showers and one didn’t work on our last night there. We drove to the marina bath house instead. The store is nice as were the staff. Take bikes, it’s fairly level throughout. We went to Assateague State Park beach about a 30 min. drive. It was $4 a person in state / $6 for out of state. Terrible bath house really but great beach! Camp is near the town of Snow Hill which is a small town walkable place with quaint stores. I would stay here again!

Shad Landing,along with it’s sister park Milburn Landing, make up Pokomoke State Park. It’s just 45 minutes away from the beach at Assateague Island and an hour or so to Ocean City or Chincoteague. The sites are varied- some are more apt to hold smaller tents than larger ones, there are RV sites as well- cabins too. Each loop, with the exception of Waters Edge have full bathrooms with warm showers and flush toilets. Pets are allowed in some loops. The marina/ park office has a well stocked camp store as well as a kitchen that serves pizza and the like. Boat rental are available as well (try the canoe loop trail) There have been years when we stay here instead of hotels at OC- much cheaper and close to more than just commercial crap. Besides the beaches, it’s also close to the truly excellent NASA Wallops Island center that my kids thoroughly enjoy, as well as incredibly awesome food in nearby Berlin and Pocomoke City. Each site provides a picnic table and fire ring. Most have a lantern hook. In season there is a large swimming pool- free for campers. The nature center regularly holds programs and there are a few hiking trails here and in the nearby Pocomoke State Forest.

Open from April to September (except Waters Edge and Robins Nest loops which are open year round) the tent sites here can be a little close together. Particularly the sites at Waters Edge. The camp sites , which are up to 200 or so are just large enough for a 6 person tent. Larger sites at the Fox Den loop can accommodate larger tents for larger families. Each site has a fire ring and table. Most have a lantern pole.all sites have access to water and all but Waters Edge have shower and bathrooms. ( Waters Edge bathrooms are under the camp store which is next door, but can be a long walk in the middle of the night). Shad landing offers good fishing, boat rental, and in season a well maintained pool. The camp store is not only well stocked, it offers a lunch and dinner menu, which the kids love as they’ll eat pizza whenever. Firewood is available for purchase. What is truly great about Shad Landing is it’s location. Want to go to the beach? Assateague Island is 30 minutes away, Ocean City 40 minutes. Chincoteague just shy of an hour. Wanna try local food? Pokomoke City, Berlin, OC, and several other place can help out. Just outside of Chincoteague is Wallops Island- a NASA launch and testing center. The science center is a huge hit with the kids. Assateague and Chincoteague both offer National Park activities. Chincoteague also has a wildlife area that is astounding to view ( as well as lighthouse tours and another science center. ) We’ve come here regularly for years and have never had what would be considered even a mediocre day.