The rolling countryside surrounding Barnesville, Maryland features a variety of camping options within a short drive, making it a convenient base for outdoor recreation in the Maryland-Virginia-West Virginia tri-state area. Little Bennett Campground in nearby Clarksburg offers tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and yurts in a wooded setting just 10 miles from Barnesville. Further west, Brunswick Family Campground provides riverfront camping along the Potomac with boat access and proximity to the C&O Canal towpath. Harpers Ferry, approximately 15 miles northwest, hosts multiple camping options including the Civil War Battlefields KOA with full amenities and The Garden, a small private campground with just five sites offering a more intimate experience. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from April through October, though some remain open year-round.
Most campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and fall foliage season when sites fill quickly. Maryland state parks typically prohibit alcohol consumption, a regulation noted by several visitors. The region experiences hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and mild springs and falls ideal for camping. As one camper at Brunswick Family Campground noted, "Half the campground is shaded with trees and half is in more of an open field. It's situated on the C&O canal, so you could walk or bike for miles in either direction." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though coverage may be spotty in some of the more remote campgrounds and along hiking trails in the nearby mountains.
Shaded sites are highly valued during summer months, with campers frequently mentioning tree cover as a key amenity. "It was a very hot weekend but the campground is mostly in full shade. We never felt uncomfortable," reported one visitor to Owens Creek Campground in nearby Catoctin Mountain Park. Proximity to water features is another common highlight, with several campgrounds offering access to the Potomac River, lakes, or smaller streams. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some campgrounds experiencing occasional aircraft noise due to proximity to regional airports or military installations. Bathhouse cleanliness receives consistent praise across most established campgrounds, though amenities range from basic to resort-style depending on the facility and price point.
"Quiet woods in Maryland about 30 or 40 miles north of DC. Tenting, and RV spots partial to full service. Just of hiway 270. pricey ($66/night) for a state park, but nice."
"PROS Very nice small Montgomery County Park
No reservation fee to make on-line reservations
Reserved 137 days prior to arriving
Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone"
$40 - $80 / night
"We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "
"It’s very close to Harper’s Ferry (almost worth the hike into town rather than the difficulty finding parking in a town with one parking lot)."
$30 - $70 / night
"We set up our tent in the far side of the campground close to the lake ( site 27). It is slightly slant but still comfortable in the tent. Bathrooms are close by and kept clean."
"For tent camping I would suggests sites 30,33 or 35 these are tucked along the tree line. The bathroom facilities were the cleanest I have seen in a campground."
$10 - $90 / night
"Picked this location because it is close to our home in Silver Spring, MD but far enough to make us feel like we were leaving town."
"Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it. Lots of different activities for kids and plenty of space at each site to make your home away from home."
$23 - $29 / night
"This park just is near enough to Baltimore and DC to allow for a quick getaway and offers a lot to do."
"Maryland has some great state parks and this is one of them. Decent sized sites, clean bath houses. Swimming lake is excellent. Only basic amenities, but dump station."
$18 - $50 / night
"The site was very level, nicely shaded, and positioned a short distance from the bath house. There was also a water spigot located right at the entrance of the site."
"There was a walking path to the bathhouse between 13 and 14. Sites 8-11 were on a nice open field, with some smaller trees."
$999 / night
"Metrorail is about 6 miles from campground, near University of Maryland."
"Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."
"If you would like to do some exploring, then you can walk the trail right next to the campground into the historical town of Harper's Ferry (If you’re facing the river then the trail is to the right of"
"Harper's Ferry is a little town in WV nestled right next to the Potomac River. It's also a convenient halfwayish point on the Appalachian Trail."
$30 - $70 / night
"We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick."
"We love this home away from home ❤️"
GuidePool, campgrounds area is so great. Don’t forget the bbq place up the street, it is so good! Getting the the bathrooms from my site will be more of a challenge once the campground fills up.
Finished some of the App trail from there
ScoutWell kept, clean facilities, easy to work with camp staff, we stayed at site 51 a full hook up site mostly level with a gravel pad short walk to the restrooms
GuideGreat Park, showers were cold and after the App Trail, A hot shower would have been awesome. Beautiful park though. My site was a little bit uneven but it looks like the park has been through an upgrade recently.
GuideThe sites are close together. The park was not full Mother’s Day weekend. It is a very nice park. The bathhouses were clean. The amenities were good although we didn’t utilize them. The national historic site was very close and we walked over day 1 rode our bikes day 2. The C&O canal is accessible but you must walk your bike across the lower town bridge and carry it down the stairs. This section of the trail was very good and we completed 38 miles.
ScoutThought the campsites were extremely close together. There were A LOT of kids and no quiet hours. Good for families. Not good for a camping camping experience.
TravelerIf youre looking for fun and people, go to the south campground. But if youre looking for true quiet and have a tent, check out the dispersed campsites. Good shower and bathroom setup that i bet would fare well in a tornado, its got that solid storm shelter feel. Next to a quiet airport, plenty of free firewood to gather
ScoutLess amenities than advertised. We usually camp in more rustic locations and planned this trip simply for the fun of the amenities. Their website claims that the pool is seasonal but doesn't list anything else as seasonal. There was supposed to be mini golf, a giant bounce pillow, indoor basketball, an arcade with air hockey and a pool table. Mini golf was fine. The bounce pillow was deflated and full of water. The arcade/pool table/air hockey building was locked and the maintenance guy(who locks it up) was outside smoking before leaving early for the day. The employee at the camp store said it was supposed to be open until the store closed but that he probably just closed it early.
The rules state that dogs need to be on a leash at all times and, in the two hours we actually stayed, we saw four that weren't. One was staying near us and started chasing us when we rode our bikes by. One was wandering about 4 campsites down from it's owner. We mentioned it to the person at the camp store before we were chased and she just shrugged it off.
The map is incorrect. It lists site numbers that don't exist and doesn't list some sites that supposedly do. We spent a fifteen minutes trying to find a non-existent site before going back to the camp office and getting assigned a new site. They acted like it was a new thing caused by maintenance but we just looked and saw a review from ten months ago saying the map was messed up then.
The description of the site we paid for was non electric tent with a sand tent pad. The site we got was on a hill(no actual flat spot) overgrown with weeds, no tent pad, a slanted picnic table, and no actual parking spot. You had to drive over a drainage ditch and park on the hill. If our car didn't have high clearance we wouldn't have made it. There was also a hole in the middle of the site. And the map showed that number site on the corner where another unmarked site was. Our originally assigned site was supposedly in the same group of sites, so it would've been similar. Also don't believe the claim that they're"large sites." Most of them are crammed together. There are a few that look decent sized and flat, but they want you to pay an extra$30 to pick your own site.
We didn't even look in the bathrooms.
We left after two hours. Definitely a waste of$60+ dollars.
Next time we'll go over to the Brunswick Family campground. Their owners are lovely people who care about their customers.
GuideIt is NOT closed for 2026! Spent the weekend here as it is only an hour from home. There are 4 large camping loops. Only loop C- cedar has electric. None of the loops have water hookups but all have spigots to fill your rig. There are also 3 fill stations at check in (which we missed). The campground is on a hill and the loop roads are narrow, hilly, and winding. We had no trouble with our 23 ft TT and saw some bigger rigs. There are some tight angles to get into a few sites. But, once you are in, the sites are spacious and mostly private. It is wooded without feeling overgrown. Loop D has some sites that are good buddy campsites. There are many hiking trails and a lovely lake. The only bad thing are the dated bathhouses. Mostly clean but there are only 2 showers for each fenced for each loop and they were yucky enough that we showered at our rig. It was busy but pretty quiet. It’s close to I-70
LegendStayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door. Even with busy road nearby, park was quiet and felt private. Sites were level and paved making setup easy. Sites had 1/2 site extra paved for vehicle with extra parking nearby. There was no litter in park, we observed a staff member daily making the rounds to keep everything clean. There was walking access into the park on wide private roads without traffic. With park access you are able to walk into national forest park from RV camp. National Forest visitor center close by, 1 exit away going south I95. Amenities in RV park included swimming pool, chess board with extra large pieces, playground and clean bath house. Firewood and ice on site.
Camping near Barnesville, Maryland offers excellent access to the Appalachian Trail and Potomac River recreation opportunities. The region sits at the foothills of Sugarloaf Mountain with elevations ranging from 340 to 1,282 feet, creating varied terrain for camping experiences. Most tent sites in this area feature gravel pads, with many campgrounds maintaining heavily wooded settings for natural shade during the hot summer months.
Hiking and biking trails: Little Bennett Campground has an extensive trail network with varying difficulty levels. "There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly," notes one camper who appreciated the accessible outdoor recreation right from their campsite.
Water activities: Brunswick Family Campground provides direct Potomac River access for swimming, fishing, and paddling. "The Shenandoah river parallels the campground. The river is beautifully clean clear and cool," according to a camper who enjoyed the riverside location.
Historical exploration: Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA serves as an excellent base for history enthusiasts. "Location, Location, Location! Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door," explains a camper who used the site for regional exploration.
Farm animal interaction: Ramblin' Pines offers a unique animal experience not found at other nearby campgrounds. "The campground offers a lot for the money. There's a pond for fishing, a pool for swimming... the kids loved the bounce pillow," shares a visitor who particularly enjoyed the barnyard area with goats.
Privacy and separation: Little Bennett Campground earns high marks for spacious sites. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," reports one RVer who appreciated the natural buffers between camping spots.
River access: Campers consistently highlight the easy water entry at Brunswick Family Campground. "Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it," mentions a visitor who enjoyed the shoreline access.
Cool microclimate: Gambrill State Park Campground provides relief during hot weather. "We stayed at site #2. It was a perfect site, you can't see the facilities but it was a short walk across the creek. We were able to set up our tent maybe five feet from the creek so we could hear it babble when we went to sleep," describes a camper who enjoyed the natural cooling effect.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain good bathroom standards, but Greenbrier State Park receives particular praise. "The facilities were clean. The sites on Dogwood are quite close together, but it still felt like camping. The nearby trails are great and the lake is a good place to swim," notes a visitor who appreciated the attentive maintenance.
Weekend crowding: Greenbrier State Park Campground experiences significant visitor traffic. "The only downsides are how crowded it can get peak season, and they don't allow dogs in the lake at all. That's annoying when you camp in summer heat with your dog," warns a camper about the popularity of the swimming area.
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Barnesville have railroad tracks nearby. "You are directly next to train tracks... The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains," explains a visitor at Harpers Ferry Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "You can only check in between 2 and 4! This might be off season though," notes a visitor at Ramblin' Pines, highlighting the importance of confirming check-in procedures.
Cell service variability: Despite proximity to urban areas, connectivity varies. "AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy," reports an RVer at Little Bennett Campground.
Water park access: Lake Fairfax Campground offers excellent family amenities. "A lot to do: mountain bike trails (horses and walking, too); wooded hikes with water along the trails, skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing, & canoeing," lists a family who found plenty to keep children engaged.
Kid-friendly activities: Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA provides structured programming. "The amenities for kids were incredible, with arts/crafts, a movie theatre, an arcade, nice playground, and jumping pillow," mentions a family who appreciated the organized entertainment.
Shady playgrounds: Little Bennett Regional Park maintains well-shaded play areas. "My family loves this camp ground. It's conveniently located, it's quite, it's beautiful and there is plenty to do to keep the kids busy," shares a parent who found the natural setting perfect for family time.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing without special permits. "Fishing in the pond-no license required. Creek is cool- swings for kids plus a field," notes a camper at Gambrill State Park who enjoyed the easy access to fishing with children.
Site leveling challenges: Harpers Ferry Campground requires careful setup for larger rigs. "Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site(#199) had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air," warns an RVer who needed to change sites.
Hookup quality: Little Bennett Campground provides reliable services for RVs. "Site#D69 gravel parking pad...Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," notes a camper who found the utility connections well-maintained despite some leveling issues.
RV storage options: Cherry Hill Park offers unique services for visitors to Washington DC. "They even allowed us to store the camper while we took a cruise out of Baltimore!" shares an RVer who appreciated the flexibility for multi-destination trips.
Road access considerations: Brunswick Family Campground requires careful navigation. "The road into the campground was badly in need of repair. Site was not level and infested with black flies," cautions an RVer in a travel trailer who found the approach challenging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Barnesville, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Barnesville, MD is Little Bennett Campground with a 4-star rating from 23 reviews.
What parks are near Barnesville, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Barnesville, MD that allow camping, notably Rock Creek Park and National Mall & Memorial Parks.
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