1 campground with availability next weekend
State parks and public lands surrounding Linthicum, Maryland offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, located in Catonsville about 15 minutes west of Linthicum, provides tent-only campsites in a forested setting. The C&O Canal National Historical Park offers primitive tent camping at multiple hiker-biker sites along the Potomac River, including Swains Lock and Horsepen Branch, which are accessible within 45 minutes from Linthicum. Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis provides youth group tent camping with Chesapeake Bay views, while Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers a more secluded backcountry tent camping experience.
Tent sites at Patapsco Valley State Park feature crushed stone pads that require extra padding and alternative tent-securing methods. Campers should avoid the lower sites during rainy periods, as one reviewer noted that "when it rains it really flushes through the grounds" at lower elevation sites. Most tent campgrounds provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathhouses or vault toilets. The hiker-biker sites along the C&O Canal are more primitive with portable toilets and non-potable water pumps. Many sites operate seasonally, with Patapsco Valley open April through October and Sandy Point available March through October. Firewood must be purchased on-site at most locations to prevent the spread of invasive insects.
Walk-in tent sites at Swains Lock provide river views with minimal effort. According to reviews, the site is "just a short walk from road access with parking for approximately 8 vehicles." The sites are flat and dispersed with most located adjacent to the Potomac River. Patapsco Valley State Park offers convenient tent camping with access to extensive trail networks. The park remains surprisingly quiet despite proximity to urban areas, with one camper reporting it was "quiet with just a hint of traffic noise." Fall camping is particularly popular for the foliage colors, and wildlife sightings including deer are common in early mornings. Pack-out policies apply at most primitive tent camping areas, with no trash receptacles available.
"We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down."
"There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side."
from $20 - $51 / night
"There are two main beaches and there are picnic tables all over the park. There’s a popular boat launch amd small marina/bait store.
Get there early on weekends and holidays.""There are wonderful views of the water and swimming at the beach, pavilions for social gatherings, showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean, and room for backpacking, hiking, picnicking,"
from $150 - $200 / night
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"Based on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit."
from $12 - $45 / night
from $6 / night
from $22 - $100 / night
"Whether you are an adult or a child, this place will have a positive effect on you. The owners are involved and designed this space with the visitors pleasure in mind."
from $90 - $190 / night
"Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 / night
TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
ScoutThe park is very well maintained, and the campsites have clean fire pits and cooking grills. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and well maintained, and my campsite was large enough to comfortably fit a 6-person tent and a canopy.
However, there were a few concerns during our stay. Despite the campground’s quiet hours policy starting at 10:00 PM, many campers continued to make noise well past that time. I did not notice any campground staff or maintenance personnel making rounds to enforce the quiet hours.
I also felt concerned about security. One of my neighboring campers, who was visiting from South Carolina, told me that his generator had been stolen during the night. He reported the theft to the police, and an official report was filed. Incidents like this made me feel unsafe while camping.
I recommend increasing staff or security patrols, especially during the evening and overnight hours, to enforce quiet hours and improve the safety and security of campers and their belongings. With better enforcement and security, Burke Lake Campground would provide an even better camping experience.
Tent camping options near Linthicum, Maryland span from basic sites to group campsites with varying amenities and natural surroundings. This small Maryland community sits at approximately 108 feet above sea level within the Patapsco River watershed, experiencing humid subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. Most local camping areas remain open from April through October, though availability varies by specific location.
Playground adventures: The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley State Park features extensive play areas for children. "There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," notes Angel G. The park offers "a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center," according to Sean M.
Fossil hunting: Take a day trip to Sandy Point State Park for a unique Chesapeake Bay experience. "My family and I have been coming to Sandy Point my entire life. It is a great little spot on the Chesapeake river. Our favorite thing to do is to fossil hunt for sharks teeth," shares Angel G. This activity works best in late spring before summer crowds arrive.
Baltimore visits: Campers at Patapsco Valley can easily access urban attractions. "Very short drive in to Baltimore—around 30 minutes," writes Gayle B., making it convenient for campers wanting to combine outdoor recreation with city explorations.
Convenient cabins: Patapsco Valley offers alternatives for those not wanting traditional tent camping. "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,'" explains Sean M.
Peaceful environment: Lacy Oasis Campground provides a tranquil camping experience within driving distance of Linthicum. "If you are a nature lover, a person who loves peace, serenity, and, tranquility, or just need some respite, Lacy Oasis is the place to be," shares Terrance D. The campground emphasizes natural surroundings and quiet.
Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness stands out at several campgrounds near Linthicum. At Sandy Point State Park, Rachel S. notes there are "showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean." Similarly, at Patapsco Valley, campers mention "the bathhouse is well maintained and clean."
Weather considerations: Lower elevation sites at Patapsco Valley State Park require careful planning during rainy periods. Alexandra T. reports, "One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm."
Entrance challenges: Some campgrounds have access issues. At Patapsco, Gayle B. notes, "Getting in to the park was a little difficult. We missed the entrance and had to turn around. Friends who were camping with us had the same problem."
Seasonal timing impacts: For the best tent camping near Linthicum, Maryland, consider visiting Sandy Point in off-peak times. Tony P. advises, "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."
Children-focused amenities: The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring combines camping with adventure activities. Elizabeth R. describes it as "Very convenient for before or after your time in the largest aerial challenge course in North America." This group-only facility accommodates youth organizations and families.
Easy hiking options: Patapsco Valley offers accessible trails for beginners. "The hike I did was not very long but was well worth it. The trail was well marked," reports Anthony S., adding there are "some pretty cool Bridges, old houses, and a water fall."
Check-in timing: Plan arrivals carefully at Patapsco Valley. Gabrielle E. advises, "This was also the first time we have ever had to wait till exactly 3pm to check in. So if you arrive early expect to wait until 3."
Affordable military option: Service members seeking the best camping near Linthicum can consider Military Park United States Naval Academy/Annapolis Naval Station Annapolis FamCamp. Ginny L. describes it as "Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap." While basic, it provides essential amenities like water and electric hookups.
Tent pad alternatives: The crushed stone tent pads at Patapsco Valley require adaptation. Sean M. advises, "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."
Group camping challenges: Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers secluded tent camping but requires preparation. "The camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors... it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water no bathrooms or electricity," explains Chrystal P.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Linthicum, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Linthicum, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Linthicum, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Linthicum, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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