Dog-Friendly Camping near Brinklow, MD

Brinklow, Maryland sits at approximately 541 feet above sea level in Montgomery County's Piedmont region. The area experiences warm, humid summers and mild to cold winters with average annual rainfall of 43 inches. Most campgrounds within 30 minutes of Brinklow feature mixed hardwood forests with moderate terrain and well-maintained access roads suitable for various camping setups.

What to do

Hiking trails at Patapsco Valley: The park offers over 70 miles of hiking trails directly accessible from camping areas. Hollofield Area Campground provides access to riverside trails with varying difficulty levels. "Being just barely off the beaten path, I wasn't expecting all too much from the one night stay over planned heading from New Jersey to Shenandoah in Virginia. I was surprised at the quiet, understated beauty of the forestry around the perfectly level campsite," reports Diana S.

Visit DC monuments: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring Washington DC. Greenbelt Park Campground offers affordable camping with metro access. "The other great thing about it that you can spend entire days at the always-free Smithsonian museums and still fall asleep in the woods. Can't beat the close proximity to DC," writes one reviewer. The train ride from Greenbelt station to the National Mall takes approximately 30 minutes.

Children's activities: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Brinklow provide dedicated areas for young campers. "They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc). If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy," notes Elise M. about Washington DC/Capitol KOA.

What campers like

Shaded campsites: Most campgrounds around Brinklow feature wooded sites that provide natural cooling. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," reports Ray & Terri F. about Little Bennett Campground. Many reviewers appreciate the privacy created by vegetation between sites.

Clean facilities: Reviewers consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses. "Great night sky viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings," notes one camper at Little Bennett. Another reviewer adds, "Very clean, nice people, and nice sites" when describing their stay at Ramblin' Pines.

Pet-friendly trails: Dogs are welcome at virtually all campgrounds in the region. "Patapsco Valley offers 6 different entrances. Each one provides several different trail heads and experiences," writes Angel G. "The trails we have been on are all pretty moderate to hard but offer beautiful waterfalls and river views."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds near Brinklow operate from April through October. "This campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table. The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground," advises Sean M. about the Hilton Area at Patapsco Valley State Park.

Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advance booking, especially during summer months. "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online," explains Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park.

Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby roads or air traffic. "We could barely hear the traffic from the road outside the park," mentions Miranda M., while another camper notes that "the planes from the airport kept flying over, which made it hard to sleep" at Hollofield Area.

Tips for camping with families

Playground options: Select campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "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," recommends Angel G. "The nature center was closed when we visited, but the kids still enjoyed the sensory trail and playground."

Swimming access: During summer months, water activities provide relief from heat. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring combines camping with adventure activities. It's "very convenient for before or after your time in the largest aerial challenge course in North America," according to Elizabeth R. The facility offers group camping only.

Level sites for tents: Families with young children should research site topography. "Sites were well-maintained, including lavatories. Plenty of tree cover. NOTE: park service forbade tying lines or straps to the trees at the time of our visit (Autumn 2024), so if you favor hammock camping or deploying tarps/ridgelines, plan accordingly," advises Timothy C.

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Many pet-friendly campgrounds near Brinklow can accommodate larger rigs but with some limitations. Ramblin' Pines in Woodbine offers spacious sites for RVs. "My brother lives about ten minutes from this campground. He failed to make a reservation so we ended up on a primitive site w no electric or water. Which actually worked out quite well in the end," shares Michelle L.

Hookup availability: Electrical service varies between campgrounds. "D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C & E are tents only. 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," notes Ray & Terri F. about Little Bennett Campground.

Leveling requirements: Some campgrounds require significant leveling. "Sites vary in levelness, some are fairly level and some are on a mini hill. Driveways are all very narrow. Most have too much tree cover for solar or starlink, but some sites are more open and you might be able to make it work," explains a reviewer at Greenbelt Park.