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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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."
Tips for camping with families
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."
Tips from RVers
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.
