148 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Brunswick, Maryland provides several campground options along the Potomac River, with most facilities offering a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins. Campgrounds near Brunswick range from full-hookup RV sites on the river to primitive hiker-biker campsites along the C&O Canal towpath, making the area a practical base for both weekend campers and long-distance trail users. Brunswick Family Campground serves as a central destination located directly on the river, operating seasonally from late March through early November. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park runs through the area with multiple primitive hiker-biker campsites including Calico Rocks and Bald Eagle Island. Camping near Brunswick typically includes a blend of developed facilities and basic sites catering to through-hikers and paddlers.
Road access varies throughout the region, with most developed campgrounds accessible by regular vehicles. The C&O Canal towpath provides non-motorized access to primitive camping locations scattered along the riverside. Seasonal operations are common, with many campgrounds closing during winter months from November through March. Flooding can occasionally affect riverside camping areas, particularly in spring. While the terrain is generally mild, train noise is frequently mentioned in reviews due to active railroad operations nearby. A camper noted, "The campground is adjacent to a very large, very busy train yard. It's not bothered me but you should be aware."
The Potomac River represents a defining feature of the camping experience in Brunswick, providing opportunities for fishing, paddling, and swimming. Campsites with river views tend to receive higher ratings but often fill quickly during summer weekends. The C&O Canal towpath offers additional recreational value, allowing campers to access miles of biking and hiking trails directly from most camping areas. One reviewer highlighted, "Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it." Several campgrounds in the area feature campfire rings, picnic tables, and basic amenities, though quality varies considerably between primitive sites and more developed facilities. The mixed-use nature of these campgrounds makes them suitable for various camping styles from tent camping to RV trips with full hookups.
"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)."
from $40 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"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."
"This was my second time to Brunswick Family Campground within two weeks. This campground is so quaint and carefree you almost forget the outside world. The Shanandoah is just as beautiful."
"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."
from $10 - $90 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"All the sites are very open and run along the multi-use trail. People are constantly walking, running, and biking by."
"Pretty standard campground—the perks are it’s location to nearby attractions and the river/creek. It depends on what you’re looking for—easy camping and proximity to Antietam and Harper’s? Golden."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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"
"We recent went camping for the first time at Jellystone in Maryland. 5 of our 6 kids came with us, so we knew we needed to find a camping ground more geared kids."
"There is a food court in the swimming pool and a camp store right next to it. They play movies every night at the outdoor theater near the pool."
from $99 - $471 / night
Check Availability"This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill."
"Deer Spring Loop is near the top of the mountain. This is not a pet friendly loop.
Site 112 is level, mostly shaded, backs up to the woods and has electric.
The site is between two cabins."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"Camp next to the president."
"There are a few vineyards and breweries nearby. Gettysburg, PA is close as is Frederick, MD. Our site was level and had a good view of the woods. Family was staying in site next to us, site 12."
from $21 - $65 / night
Check Availability
TravelerQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
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.
ScoutRoad in was without any major wash outs so I drove in pulling my overlanding trailer in 2WD. Plenty of campsites which allowed everyone here to space out easily. Lots of cut up fallen trees around which made collecting firewood simple.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
GuideThis pet friendly campground in Caledonia State Park is .8 miles from the larger Chinquapin campground (no pets), ranger station and swimming pool. Our site #171 was level, paved, full hook ups and next to modern clean bathrooms with flush toilets, warm showers and outside dish washing sinks. Many available sites with and without services on a Sunday in October. There were a good number of friendly, tidy, long term campers with large wall tents. (They allow 21 day stays after Labor Day)
Scout15 free relatively level sites for smaller rigs and tent camping. Fire rings , picnic tables and some have lantern posts. There are 2 somewhat clean pit toilets.
ScoutBeautiful area. Very primitive, which is great. Roads were fairly decent to the campsite. Didn't stay near the water and no mountain view but still nice. Had a nice trail into the woods.
ScoutThe owners are friendly and te store is stocked and makes great camping/diner food. Well priced, and easy to get around. Bathrooms are solid and clean, with fast hot water!
The Potomac River valley near Brunswick, Maryland sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain for camping from riverside flats to wooded hills. Temperatures typically range from 40-85°F during the April-October camping season. The C&O Canal towpath cuts through the region, offering 184.5 miles of continuous trail access for hikers and cyclists connecting to campgrounds.
Tubing and paddling on the Potomac: At Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders, campers access river adventures directly from their sites. "The river views were amazing," notes Sherri C. The campground connects with River Riders outfitters offering "lazy tubing, white water tubing, zip lining, and great kayaking down the river."
Hiking to historic viewpoints: Trails connect many camping areas to significant historic sites. "The hike that leads to the lookout about harpers ferry was fantastic. This hike takes you well above the town settled in West Virginia," writes Anthony S. "While some points are pretty steep don't let this deter you from completing it."
Mountain biking at Catoctin: Near Cunningham Falls State Park Campground - Houck Area, find extensive trail systems. The park offers "plenty of well-maintained hiking trails of varying difficulty (the Cliff Trail to the falls is short but semi-challenging and beautiful)," according to Amanda W., who calls it "my absolute favorite place to camp."
Fishing from your campsite: Multiple sites offer direct fishing access from camp. At Brunswick Family Campground, Brian S. notes the "beautifully clean clear and cool" river just "100 yards from here campsite." The campground includes a "nice boat loading ramp and dock for fishing."
Direct river access: Many campsites sit right against the Potomac. "Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it," explains Nicholas S. about Brunswick Family Campground. Similarly, Robin W. appreciates how "you can go swimming right from your campsite!"
Natural swimming areas: Greenbrier State Park Campground offers alternatives to river swimming. A camper shared, "For that, nice lawn and sand areas for sitting and enjoying the lake view." The park provides "a swimming beach, kayak/canoe rentals, and some tough, rocky east-coast mountain biking, all without leaving the park."
Historic town proximity: Campers appreciate how close historic sites are. As one reviewer at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA noted, "Location, Location, Location! Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit... Harpers Ferry Lower Town and Bolivar Heights are a few minutes by car."
Well-maintained campsites: Across multiple campgrounds, reviews highlight site quality. One Greenbrier camper noted, "Big, immaculately groomed tent pads" and "Almost all sites were nice and shaded." Another mentioned, "Each site is a well groomed crushed gravel pad with a picnic table and fire ring."
Train noise is common: Many campgrounds sit near active train tracks. At Antietam Creek Campground, a reviewer noted the environment is "not for those looking for silence and solitude. All the sites are very open and run along the multi-use trail. People are constantly walking, running, and biking by."
Crowding during peak season: Several campgrounds experience heavy use, particularly at swimming areas. One camper described Greenbrier: "The beach by the lake is PACKED every weekend with day trippers - we avoided it since we are careful due to COVID."
Weather impacts: Flash flooding can affect riverside sites, especially in spring. Rainy conditions can also make some trails challenging as one camper at Cunningham Falls noted: "It rained most of the weekend, but we still had a blast!"
Variable cell service: Coverage differs dramatically across the region. A camper at Antietam Creek reported, "I have Verizon and had better service by my car on the road than at the actual campsite. At the site I could make calls but couldn't check the internet."
Water activities for children: Jellystone Park™ Williamsport offers extensive water features. As Mary noted, "5 of our 6 kids came with us, so we knew we needed to find a camping ground more geared kids. Jellystone was amazing in every way possible. The kids were never bored and had so much fun."
Playgrounds and kid-friendly facilities: Many area campgrounds include child-specific amenities. Beth C. described Jellystone as having "a great water park, playground and bounce pad feature. Definitely recommend for families and/or anyone looking for easy convenience camping."
Educational opportunities: Historical sites provide learning experiences. A visitor to Harpers Ferry noted, "The trail is well maintained, marked, and exciting. It is filled with tons of history."
Distance considerations: When selecting sites, consider walking distances for children. At Cunningham Falls, a parent shared, "There is a steep hike back and forth from campsite to beach, we ended up driving to beach area after our first attempt to walk to beach with all our gear."
Site leveling challenges: At some campgrounds, RVers report significant leveling issues. A reviewer at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA warned, "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."
Loop selection matters: Certain camping loops better accommodate larger rigs. At Little Bennett Campground, a reviewer explained, "D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C& E are tents only" and noted their "site D72 for 4 days. The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup."
Cell and internet connectivity: Multiple RV campers report variable service. One camper at Little Bennett shared, "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. OTA TV was descent using an external omni antenna."
Seasonal availability: Most camping sites near Brunswick, Maryland operate from April through October or early November, with many campgrounds closing after the first frost. Full-hookup sites tend to book fastest during summer weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Brunswick, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, Brunswick, MD offers a wide range of camping options, with 148 campgrounds and RV parks near Brunswick, MD and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Brunswick, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Brunswick, MD is Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA with a 3.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Brunswick, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Brunswick, MD.
What parks are near Brunswick, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Brunswick, MD that allow camping, notably Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
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