Washington DC / Capitol KOA's designated pet areas provide ample space for dogs to exercise during camping trips near Arnold, Maryland. The campground offers tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and pet-friendly cabins. Cherry Hill Park also welcomes pets with a comprehensive pet policy that includes dedicated dog walking areas throughout the property. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area permits pets at their campsites with standard leash requirements. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to be leashed when outside designated exercise areas, with leash lengths typically restricted to six feet. Campers consistently note the cleanliness of pet facilities, particularly at Cherry Hill Park where dog walking services are available for campers spending full days exploring nearby Washington DC. The bathrooms at pet-friendly campgrounds remain impeccably clean despite the presence of pets.
Trails throughout Patapsco Valley State Park provide excellent opportunities for hiking with dogs, with multiple access points available from the campground. The dog parks at Washington DC / Capitol KOA and Cherry Hill Park feature separate areas for small and large dogs, allowing pets to socialize safely off-leash. Seasonal considerations affect pet comfort, with summer temperatures requiring extra water and shade precautions. Most campgrounds provide waste stations with bags and designated disposal areas. Greenbelt Park Campground offers a pet loop area specifically for campers with dogs, though this section has limited bathroom facilities compared to the main camping areas. The fenced dog park at Ramblin' Pines includes agility equipment, making it particularly popular with active dogs needing exercise during camping trips.
"We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
$999 / night
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
$20 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
$20 - $51 / night
"Camp site(Tent camping)
The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :) It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD.""Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
$30 - $55 / night
"My wife and I were trying to find an RV location near the Annapolis city dock for a boat show and found Pine Tree Associates."
"Camping fees include access to a large outdoor pool, an indoor pool and a hot tub. There is room for tenting and campers."
$42 - $82 / night
"Because we went in the middle of the week, we had a lot of space to our self and open areas for our dog to play."
"We spent one morning walking the various trails at the Eastern Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, which is only 7 minutes away. Campground also close to the restaurants in Rock Hall for seafood. "
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
$19 - $27 / night
"Pet friendly. Very quiet. I only gave it 4 stars because the camp sites are too close together. Fire pits were well designed, bathrooms were relatively clean."
"It may be close to suburbia (a neighborhood right through the trees) and convenient to major highways (literal minutes to I95), but you will feel like you are truly secluded in the woods."
"We had a fantastic time our 1st time at #AdventureBoundCampingResort in Lothian, Maryland."
"This place is a good place to stay, the laundry room & showers are handy, the pool is large, & it's a 40 minute drive to the capital & the Smithsonian Mall or a 25 minute drive to the closest"
TravelerThe staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
TravelerOur first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.
You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.
RangerThis is a campers dream site. Everything you can think of is offered here. You have to check their website to see all. This is the closest site to Washington DC. Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. Pets are pampered here. Even dog walking service available.
LegendCherry Hill Park was easy to find and get to basically right off I-95. This was our first time RVing into the WA DC area and we were concerned about traffic getting to the campground(CG). As we arrived, traffic was heavy on I-95 but manageable. Cherry Hill’s and our RV GPS directions were spot on getting us to the park. We were very impressed with this CG from the moment we entered. We picked up our package outside the office(no contact check-in) and went to premium site 93 with FHUs. Back-in was easy. The wifi was very good but the CG was only about a 1/4 full. Cherry Hill has many different ways to stay; cottages, cabins, yurts, glamping pods, premium and regular tent sites in addition to the RV sites. As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same. There are a few sites in the CG on the end that will give you a little more yard space like 97(need to be a competent backer), 402, and 1723. We got 2 bars each on Verizon and AT&T. The CG’s cable provided a large selection of channels and worked well. We were impressed with the main laundry facility due to the amount of large washers and dryers, very fair pricing and very clean. The two off leash dog parks(in the same area) were nice plus there’s a well maintained walking trail that goes around this very large CG’s perimeter. We really liked how there are trash receptacles and dog poopy bag dispensers nicely placed all over the CG. Though we didn’t use it, they even have a dog walker service so you can spend a lot of time exploring the DC area without worrying about your pups. About the only draw back was the road noise from the interstate and highway pretty much 24/7, but considering the area that is to be expected. Sites 13-38 and 1500 sites near the premium tent area are the farthest away from the road noise. We would definitely stay here again.
GuideThis campground is perfect for a quiet visit to the Eastern shore town of Rock Hall as It sits conveniently between the village of Rock Hall and Eastern Neck sanctuary. The area reserved for RV campsites overlooks a bluff on the Chesapeake Bay….gorgeous. Because we went in the middle of the week, we had a lot of space to our self and open areas for our dog to play. Admittedly there isn’t a lot to do in the campground itself, even the bathrooms were closed down for Covid and only self contained RVs could camp.There is a small playground and a dog park, and a small pond for fishing. Sewer hook ups are not yet available but they are coming. Purchasing the WiFi access was a waste of money and our Verizon signal was very weak. The biggest attraction is the view over the Bay. So if you are looking for beautiful scenery and a cooling breeze this is a lovely and relaxing place. We met the owner who was very attentive to our needs and also helped us use the dump station as this was the maiden voyage with our new RV. The campground is clean and nicely landscaped. Be sure to go into the town of rock Hall for a seafood dinner at Waterman’s.
GuideNeeded a place for 13 weeks near Baltimore. This was the only place available. Could be nice,but... Most expensive site we've ever had, plus had to pay electric at almost double electric company rates. Had to allow others to drive through our site, plus had to drive through someone elses to get to ours. Completely unkept. Filthy laundry room. Half the toilets and showers out of order. Took about a month just to put up out of order signs on washer and dryer that at least 3 people brought to their attention. Won't allow you to receive mail or packages and claim it is a county rule. Just tell people you don't want to mess with their mail. Any time the power even flickered due to wind or rain (which was frequently) it would take about 8 hours for wifi to come back up. Had to walk up the hill to get any cell service. Got a call because we had Memorial Day flowers outside. We're told we couldn't have them in a pot and Needed to plant them in the ground. Was told water was shut off for routine sanitization, then noticed small signs behind restroom and at dog park about e. coli being in the well. Tried to give away firewood when leaving, but the guy didn't want it on his site because he might fail his site inspection. Using pressure regulator messes with the well pump and makes it pulsate. Their answer is don't use a regulator. Since we went 5 days over 3 months our going away gift was to be put on a daily rate of $76 so it cost almost $400 for the last few days. Every other place we've stayed just continues you at the same rate. "Oh, we can't do that," was the response. There is more, but I'll stop now. Would not stay here again.
GuideAccessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff
ScoutThe park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom. The bathroom is a average out door bathroom with no A.C. and the floor always seems to be wet, but I never had an issue with no toliet paper. The trails are maintained. You could tell there was even some work in progress spots. Wish there were some doggie bag stations just for the trash can. The trail comes close to the road enough times that it could be a great add for a visitor who brings pets and staff would not have to hike in to hike out a bag of garbage.
LegendWe stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick. The campground is quite large with lots of seasonal sites but there are some transient spaces that can accommodate big-rigs. In addition to RV sites, there are tent sites and cabins.
We stayed in one of the transient sites (#FR14) across from the RV storage lot. It was a long gravel back-in with 50-amp FHU. The water hook-up is in a pit so it doesn’t freeze so look under the cover. It can be a bit difficult to reach and you have to get on the ground to hook-up. Based on the location of the spigot, we were not able to attach our water filter (we drank the tap water anyway and it was good). The electric worked fine and were able to reach the sewer with our 20’ hose. The view out of our front window was of the storage lot which was not the most scenic. However, parking in the FR row is the easiest place for big-rigs to park since some roads in the park are tight and hard to navigate with the trees and with the two-way traffic.
There are lots of amenities and it seems some people come here for the activities and things to do. It is a destination for many campers. They have lots of themed events, the most popular being the entire month of October celebrating like Halloween. They set up a haunted walk through the woods, have pumpkin carving, trick or treating, a costume contest, haunted hayride, and site decoration contest every weekend. If you want to camp on the weekends– book early because we found it very difficult to get a reservation during October and you have to pay in full and there are no refunds for cancellations. Other weekends have live music, bingo, hayrides, cornhole tournaments, crafts, and more. Basically, there is something every weekend.
Huge fishing pond, shuffleboard, horseshoes, large dog park with agility, game room, playgrounds, jump pillow, heated swimming pool, and exercise room (which was decent but didn’t have a television to occupy your time), 18-hole mini golf. A short but nice hiking trail winds through the woods and is nice for walking dogs. There is a large covered pavilion with picnic tables for big gatherings. There is free Wi-Fi but it doesn’t reach sites in the back of the campground. Wi-Fi is great if you are near the office/store. The camp store is fairly large with some food/beverage items, t-shirts, large amount of RV supplies, and misc. other items. There is a coffee maker with free coffee.
Greenbelt Park Campground sits within a 1,100-acre wooded area just 13 miles from Washington DC. The forested setting provides natural shade during summer months when temperatures regularly reach 85-90°F. Several campgrounds in the region remain open year-round while others operate seasonally from April through October.
Morning hiking trails: Greenbelt Park Campground offers over 9 miles of hiking trails directly accessible from the camping area. "Beautiful campground, fairly large with 4 separate loops. Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft," notes Laura M. about Greenbelt Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Bring fishing gear to try your luck at Sandy Point State Park, located within 30 minutes of Arnold. "Great day at the beach," shares Tom F. about his experience at Sandy Point State Park. The park provides shoreline fishing access along the Chesapeake Bay.
Explore historic sites: Camp at Hollofield Area Campground as a base for visiting nearby historic Ellicott City. "This is part of a super large park that runs 32 miles along the Patapsco River. It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April... Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking/multi-use trails," explains Travyl Couple.
Convenient DC access: Cherry Hill Park provides transportation options to Washington DC attractions. "This campground is byfar one of the best I have ever stayed at. The price is a little steep, but with all the amenities you get, it is well worth it... This campground is very close to DC and you are able to ride the metro bus right from the campground," shares Jonathan B. about Cherry Hill Park.
Bayshore sunsets: Campers at Bay Shore Campground appreciate the waterfront views. "If you enjoy beautiful sunsets, seeing bald eagles every day, having a nice breeze, not too buggy, well kept campground this is the place to go," writes Lisa V. about her experience at Bay Shore Campground.
Playground facilities: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers excellent play areas for children. "This is a small gem of a state park campground... It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center," explains Sean M.
Reservation requirements: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Arnold require advance reservations through recreation.gov or their own booking systems. At Greenbelt Park, "Cost is $20/night, must reserve on recreation.gov, and you can do that when you arrive and pick a site (no service fee for this site)," advises Laura M.
Seasonal crowds: Sandy Point State Park becomes extremely busy during summer months. "Extremely over crowded in the summer. The park closes daily very early as it hits capacity. The best times to go are winter, spring, and fall," cautions Tony P.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds near Arnold provide opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Hollofield Area Campground, campers can hike trails leading to the Patapsco River and observe local fauna. "We enjoyed hiking the trails directly from our campsite that led us down to the Patapsco River," shares Travyl Couple.
Nature exploration activities: Patapsco Valley State Park offers specially designed nature areas for children. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," writes Angel G. about Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area.
Mini-cabins for comfort: Consider booking mini-cabins at Patapsco Valley State Park if camping with small children. "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely 'rough it,'" recommends Sean M.
Jellyfish season awareness: If visiting beaches with children during summer, be aware of jellyfish risks. "August is the worst month to visit if you like the water. Jellyfish take over with a vengeance!" warns Angel G. about Sandy Point State Park.
Campsite selection strategy: At Washington DC/Capitol KOA, choose sites strategically based on privacy needs. "If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy," advises Elise M. about Washington DC/Capitol KOA.
Level site challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven sites requiring additional leveling equipment. "Camp site wasn't level at all. I was actually kind of worried that it would slide into the woods," shares Guerrmo about Washington DC/Capitol KOA.
RV dump station access: Cherry Hill Park provides full hookups at most sites. "50 amp hook-up, Water, Sewer... On-site camp store, On-site bus shuttle," lists Beth R. about the amenities available for RVers at Cherry Hill Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Arnold, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Arnold, MD is Washington DC / Capitol KOA with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Arnold, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Arnold, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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