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Christopher P.
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TravelerBig Run State Park Campground
Generous sized sites, quiet, beautiful area.
Equestrian Camping near Accident, MD
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Big Run State Park Campground near Accident, Maryland provides primitive campsites for equestrians along a stream with ample space between sites. The campground offers camping areas adjacent to the reservoir with easy canoe and kayak access. While horse corrals are not available on-site, the spacious campsites accommodate horse trailers and portable corral equipment. The campground includes picnic tables, pit toilets, and fire rings at each site. Campers should note that drinking water is available but requires a 10-minute drive to New Germany State Park, where a dump station is also located. The campground maintains a pet-friendly policy applicable to both dogs and horses. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best sites near Accident, Maryland.
The trails surrounding Big Run State Park provide access to streams where trout and crayfish are abundant, offering natural water sources for horses. Savage River reservoir is located nearby, though no dedicated horse trails are specified in the immediate vicinity. Sites are reservable year-round, allowing for seasonal riding opportunities. Campers should come prepared with their own containment systems for horses as the campground does not provide permanent equine facilities. For those seeking more amenities, Shawnee State Park Campground in nearby Pennsylvania offers electric hookups, water hookups, showers, and fifty-amp service that can accommodate larger horse trailers and RVs. The campground experiences occasional traffic noise from the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike that may affect some horses unaccustomed to vehicle sounds.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Accident (2)
1. Big Run State Park Campground
"This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $55 / night
2. Shawnee State Park Campground
"Campground reeks of horse manure 24/7. Was pleased by the quiet despite size of campground and proximity to highway. Sites not overly large or private."
"It's close to some really great hiking--just outside the park--and that's how I ended up there."
117 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 - $110 / night
Drive Time
- 40 min from Morgantown, WV
- 1 hr 8 min from Johnstown, PA
- 1 hr 41 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 49 min from Winchester, VA
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Accident, MD
35 Reviews of 2 Accident Campgrounds
Nancy B.
RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Well maintained
The sites and roads are well maintained. Some sites are on hilly roads but are acceptable for tenters. The bathhouse is older but the showers are hot. August 2026
Brittany V.
LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Double check site booked
We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35’ TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. Luckily it was opening weekend and the rangers and super accommodating! We moved over one site and it made all the difference. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage. Easy access to the dump station as you exit. It’s not directly on the lake but there is a ton of parking and easy access points.
Lee D.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Huge state park
General: 300+ site campground with a mix of FHU, 30 and 50-amp electric, and non-electric tent sites, yurts, and cabins. Select loops allow pets but not all do.
Site Quality: Varies by type and location within the park. I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20’ to 115’ Most of the non-electric sites had no definable pads at all and as mentioned, were not level. Some roads in the campground were paved but a few were not.
Bath/Shower House: was clean. Did not use the shower.
Activities: A somewhat dated playground was located in the A Loop. A lake and beach are a short distance from the campground. We did see a boat launch and what appeared to be kayak rentals, but we were there out of season.
As remote as the campground feels, there was a surprising amount of road noise. This was just an overnight stay for us. We’ve been to many stellar Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, but this one was not as good as many others.
- JJennifer R.
ScoutShawnee State Park Campground
Loved the park but not the site
We loved the swimming and fishing in this park. Awesome Sandy swim beach and roped off area in the water made it great for keeping an eye on the kids while they swam. We had site 59 and are tent campers. This site was on an incline so the cots we brought were pretty miserable to sleep on. This spot was in its own little wooded cubby hole so it gave us a little more privacy but we thought that a lot of these sites were much too close together. We plan to scope out other sites to find a more level and more private option. Overall we really loved the park itself and will be back!
Rick G.LegendShawnee State Park Campground
Met our Needs Perfectly
Booked for 5 nights to have an opportunity to explore the Bedford, PA area. Great access to Flight 93 Memorial, local covered bridges, Fort Bedford Historic Fort, and many other attractions. Loop D was quiet with ample space between sites that provided privacy. Bathhouse was clean and used for showers. Dump and water fill station easy to access on your way in or out. Verizon signal good enough for streaming.
- KKatie H.Scout
Big Run State Park Campground
Great primitive campsite
This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks. Clean and well maintained. The camp store nearby offers a good selection of basics along with boat rentals
Christina V.
GuideShawnee State Park Campground
Large, accompdating campground- Quiet on the weekdays!
Shawnee State Park is a very large campground (319 campsites with mixed electric and non-electric, some pet friendly, some not) about 10 minutes off highway 76 and 20 minutes from the Flight 93 National Memorial.
My fiancé and I visited on August 21, 2022- a Sunday. We did not have a reservation and utilized the campground’s honor system envelopes to reserve our site. We drove all over the entire campground (which is, again, quite large) and decided that sites 22 and 34 were both well suited for our Sprinter van 144 and not too crowded for our reactive dog.
The park employees were very helpful and accommodating, though we only needed limited assistance with our arrival since we didn’t have a reservation. A campsite list is posted at the entrance that displays the list of available sites for that night.
There is a loop that can accommodate larger RVs but most of those were full- the remaining sites are not necessarily level, and only about 1/4 of them appear to have electricity. Our site, 34, is not an electric site.
The campground appears well maintained, though the $33.50 fee is a little more expensive than we are used to paying. But the price of the site was worth it for us for a safe and quiet place to stop for the night on our way to the Flight 93 Memorial and Pittsburgh.
A note that traffic and highway noise can be heard from the campground but it isn’t incredibly loud- you do get nature sounds that drown out the highway noise at times, as the bugs here are very loud, but if the sound of the highway in the background will bother you, this might not be your ideal campground.
This campground clearly gets very busy during some weekends, so definitely plan a visit during the week if you’re like us and prefer a more private camping experience.
Gina I.RangerShawnee State Park Campground
Beautiful
Nice campground. Some of the campsites are a little bit too close together with no privacy. Our site/47 was too sunny. No shade, no privacy. But during the week was not too crowded, nice and quiet. The bathrooms were nice and kept clean. We had to ride our bikes or walk to get to the beach, that was more then a mile away or just felt like it was more, because it wasn’t mostly flat and for the kids was hard to ride they’re bikes . But when we got there we were pleased. Large,clean beach with sand , no rocks or aquatic plants in the water. I will do more day trips to the beach in the future.
Guide to Accident
Big Run State Park Campground sits at an elevation of approximately 2,000 feet in western Maryland's Garrett County. The surrounding terrain features dense forest and rocky streams characteristic of the Appalachian highlands. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing with significant snowfall, while summer brings moderate temperatures averaging 75°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms during July and August.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Big Run State Park offers access to streams containing abundant trout and crayfish. According to Nathan S., "Stream was incredible and lively with trout and crayfish. So quiet and very little traffic." The park connects to the Savage River reservoir, providing additional fishing locations.
Water recreation: The camping areas adjacent to Shawnee State Park Campground reservoir allow for easy canoe and kayak access. As Casey S. notes, "The lake and the trails around it are beautiful. Great swimming and kayaking/small boating." Rentals may be available seasonally at some locations.
Trail exploration: The park's trail system offers routes suitable for day hikes along streams. Mark K. describes the experience: "It is a pleasure to sleep in nature with nothing but birdsong and the sound of the rushing creek. It is close to the Savage River reservoir, which is great for kayaking."
What campers like
Stream proximity: Many campers appreciate sites located directly beside running water. As Zoe H. explains, "Beautiful campsite and loved the sound of the river as white noise!" These stream-side sites provide natural soundscapes and cooler air during summer months.
Site spacing: Big Run State Park Campground offers considerable distance between campsites, enhancing privacy. Nathan S. mentions, "Tons of space between sites. Water and dump station is 10 minutes up the road at New Germany State Park." This spacing is particularly valuable for equestrian campers requiring additional room for horses and equipment.
Reservoir access: Katie H. highlights site options, noting "The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds. The camp sites next to the reservoir have no privacy but offer extremely easy access for canoes/kayaks."
What you should know
Limited amenities: Basic facilities require planning ahead. Aakansha J. cautions, "The pit toilets were a nice long walk or a short drive away and not the worst I've seen. Definitely would come back for a short stay - probably not for a whole camping trip." Drinking water requires a 10-minute drive to New Germany State Park.
Weather considerations: The elevation brings cooler temperatures year-round. At Shawnee State Park Campground, Danielle S. reports, "We stayed at Shawnee for 2 nights Memorial Day weekend. Site 258 on loop D is quiet. There is a 20 amp plug and 30 amp service at this site." Morning fog is common, particularly in spring and fall.
Insect preparation: Summer brings increased insect activity. Multiple reviewers mention mosquitoes, with one noting they "sucked" during warmer months. Bringing appropriate repellent is essential, particularly for camping near water sources.
Tips for camping with families
Water play opportunities: Shallow streams provide safe recreation spots. Andy C. shares, "Used lot 73 for a 26ft hybrid camper. Fit perfectly! It was flat, large, clean and right by the creek. The kids loved playing in the water."
Site selection strategy: For equestrian camping near Accident, Maryland with families, choose sites balancing access and facilities. Mark K. advises, "You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. Frankly, the bare campsites are nicer - they are more spread out, wooded."
Alternative accommodations: Shawnee State Park Campground offers more developed options. Gerard notes, "The lake is gorgeous and has a large, sandy beach. There are numerous tent sites, some with electric, that appear to be large and fairly level." These might better suit families needing more amenities.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many sites require preparation for larger vehicles. Lee D. advises, "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level."
Campsite verification: Brittany V. suggests, "We absolutely loved our stay at this park once we changed sites. We have a 35' TT and there was no way it was going to fit in the site we originally booked. The sites are spacious with a ton of tree coverage." Always verify site dimensions when booking for larger rigs or horse trailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Accident, MD?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Accident, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Accident, MD is Big Run State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
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