Bay Shore Campground
Fred’s bay shore
One of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
87 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Berwyn Heights, Maryland cover a mix of developed sites and full-service parks, with options ranging from basic tent sites to RV hookups and cabin rentals. Greenbelt Park Campground, managed by the National Park Service, offers primitive tent and RV camping within a wooded setting just minutes from Washington DC. Cherry Hill Park in nearby College Park provides more amenities including full hookups for RVs, cabin rentals, and glamping options. The region's camping areas are primarily concentrated in small pockets of preserved forest and parkland surrounded by suburban development.
Most campgrounds in the area require advance reservations, especially during the peak spring and summer months when sites fill quickly. Greenbelt Park Campground features paved sites with picnic tables and fire rings but no electric hookups, making it suitable for self-contained camping. The Washington DC/Capitol KOA in Millersville offers more services including water, sewer, and electric connections. Weather conditions remain mild through much of the camping season, though summer humidity can be intense and ticks are common in warmer months. A camper noted, "This park has a serious bug problem. Most of the time, we return home from our hikes only to find ticks on at least one of us!"
The proximity to Washington DC represents the primary draw for many campers staying in the Berwyn Heights area. Greenbelt Park Campground receives consistent praise for its convenient location just 2 miles from the nearest Metro station, providing affordable accommodation for those visiting the capital. Several visitors highlighted the contrast between the urban surroundings and the natural setting within the parks. One reviewer described Greenbelt as "a quiet oasis surrounded by chaos" noting that "this mid-sized campground is just 2 miles from Washington D.C. area traffic, shopping centers, etc." While traffic noise is occasionally mentioned in reviews, most campers report relatively peaceful conditions within the wooded campgrounds despite their proximity to urban areas.
"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."
from $999 / night
Check Availability"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"The campsite is superb with walking trails, wildlife and the occasional overflying US Presidential Helicopter. Easily accessible from close by freeways, and charmingly peaceful"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"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."
from $30 - $70 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $51 / night
Check Availability"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April- one of our first experiences in a Maryland State Park. Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking /multi use trails."
"This campground is pleasant, but the sites are situated quite close to one another."
from $19 - $27 / night
Check Availability"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"
"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
from $30 / night
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One of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
For $90 per night the WiFi should work better. Didn’t connect at all. Had to use the antenna pointed East to get local Baltimore news.
This camp ground is like a resort with 2 pools mini golf splash pad and many other amenities
This park is top notch. The grounds are immaculate. The staff is friendly and helpful. They have a lovely gift shop. We were in the 400 sites and it was nice and shady. Though you are close to highways I don’t recall hearing and noise. I love that they have shuttles to DC., walking trails and a large dog park. This is my all time favorite park so far and I need to go back.
There are some good things about this Famcamp. It's like a diamond in the rough. If the military would spend some time and money on it, it could be a great campground. One of the greatest points about this campground is its location. You are so close to downtown D.C.! Every RV site (as far as I saw) was a level concrete pad. All sites, except for tent sites, have full electricity. Most sites have sewer and water. Sites 12-18 should be mainly used for the smaller travel trailers. I had an interesting time getting my 35' 5th wheel into the site. Even though I got my RV into the site, I don't have much room for my truck. My site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a grill. Everything is rusted beyond repair. My grill was filled with cigarette butts and my fire pit had trash in it. There is some shade. My site has two trees at the front of the pad on both sides of the RV. My bedroom stays nice and cold and I have a good view for my Starlink in the rear. The sites are close to each other, but there is some space. The good thing is that we are surrounded by the golf course. You don't get much noise from the base, because of the location, and because the FamCamp is surrounded by trees. You can hear the busy road outside the fence but I don't hear it much inside the RV. Every once in a while you'll hear an aircraft... but this is an air base, it's expected. We were told the community laundry was not working and to use the base laundry mat. Finally, one of the best parts about the campground, is the lady at outdoor rec that is in charge of the Famcamp. She is very nice and helpful. She will try to assist you with anything you need from directions to useful tips.
Nice campground, maintained very well and clean. Laundry room and Propane fill on site so that was nice. RV Site was fairly level and easy to get into. Some sites are a bit close together and not long enough to keep your tow vehicle hooked up. A bit inconvenient if you’re only there for 1 night.
We spent a week at Bay Shore Campground to explore Rock Hall, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What stands out about this campground? The view!
For me, this is a 4-star campground because of the view and nice staff, but not 5-stars because of the sloped site packed in with the neighbors and no sewer connection.
THINGS I LIKED:
— Great view from our site of the Chesapeake Bay— especially for sunset each evening
— Friendly staff
— Nearby Rock Hall, Chestertown, and Eastern Neck Island Wildlife Refuge
— They offered a promo to pay for 6 nights, and the 7th was free
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
— Our site(Site B) had an amazing view of Chesapeake Bay, but the slope made it difficult to get even close to level— even with my front jacks fully extended. I had to buy additional leveling blocks from the camp store(at twice the price of Amazon) just so we didn’t feel like walking uphill to walk around our motorhome. I admit, I am spoiled but really appreciate the campgrounds that level their sites. I think it could be done in a few hours with a rented front loader at a couple nights’ cost.
— Our site(Site B) was tight. The neighbor’s awning was just inches from our motorhome. I understand the need for any business to maximize revenue, but this was unpleasantly close.
— There are no sewer hookups at the sites. They do have a couple of dump stations for your way out and provide a pump-out service once per week at$40 a pop. They were nice enough to pump me out a second time since I stayed 7 nights. Again, I know I’m spoiled, but a sewer connection is a necessity when you’re staying 8 days.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Sure thing, but we’d stay at a different site.
Thought 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.
If 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
Camping near Berwyn Heights, Maryland offers sites with diverse terrain across several state and regional parks within a 20-mile radius. The region sits at elevations ranging from 50 to 300 feet above sea level, creating moderate hiking conditions suitable for families. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with high humidity levels, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more comfortable 60-75°F temperatures.
Hiking and biking trails: Patapsco Valley State Park offers 70 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and biking. A visitor noted, "Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking/multi use trails. There are parks on both sides of the river to explore and experience the trails. Be sure to bring/download maps."
Water activities: Lake Fairfax Campground in nearby Reston has multiple water-based recreation options. "A lot to do: mountain bike trails (horses and walking, too); wooded hikes with water along the trails (great for dogs in the summer heat), skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing, & canoeing)," shares one camper.
Disc golf course: Pohick Bay Campground offers an 18-hole disc golf course for campers. A regular visitor recommends, "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course."
Proximity to cities: Greenbelt Park Campground offers an outdoor retreat with easy city access. A reviewer described it as "an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground... There is a dump station and water available at spickets throughout the campground. Showers and bathrooms are basic and clean."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds in the area provide opportunities for wildlife observation. At Patapsco Valley State Park, campers report seeing diverse wildlife: "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC."
Affordable camping near attractions: Cherry Hill Park offers value with numerous amenities. A camper explains, "Proximity to DC and surrounding areas can't be beat. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments. Our uber rides ranged from $20-45$ for a family of 5. So $4-9 per person."
Tick prevention: Many local campgrounds report tick issues, especially during warmer months. At Cedarville State Forest, a camper warned, "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. At Hollofield Area Campground, a camper noted, "The campground and park fill up on the weekends but are nearly empty during the week."
Varied site privacy: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds and loops. A Cedarville State Forest visitor noted, "The loop is very small, with all the sites pretty close together. The forest behind the site was sparse, enough so that it was hard to find fuel for the fire."
Kid-friendly amenities: Adventure Bound Washington DC campground offers numerous activities for children. A visitor shared, "They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc)."
Natural playgrounds: Some parks feature nature-based play areas. At Patapsco Valley State Park, a parent mentioned, "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."
Evening programs: Many campgrounds offer organized activities. A Cherry Hill Park visitor noted, "The park itself has more than most. Mini golf, two pools, arcade, 24 hour laundry, a store and office open early!! And late!!! Wow! Just can't be beat. Great sites. So many other things in the park. Splash pad, paved roads for scootering."
Site selection: Choose sites carefully based on size and levelness. At Washington DC/Capitol KOA, one RVer advised, "If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy."
Electric hookup options: Electric service varies between campgrounds. At Hollofield Area Campground, an RVer noted, "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank."
Approach routes: Some campgrounds have height restrictions on access roads. One RVer at Hollofield Area Campground cautioned, "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park.)"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Berwyn Heights, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Berwyn Heights, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What parks are near Berwyn Heights, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Berwyn Heights, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.
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