Burtonsville campers can access several natural areas within 30 miles, including Patapsco Valley State Park and Little Bennett Regional Park. The region experiences humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F from June through August, making spring and fall ideal for tent camping. Winter camping remains available at several year-round facilities, though temperatures can drop below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Hiking trails for all levels: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers miles of hiking opportunities. "There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes," notes Sean M., who adds that "the trails were well marked but there was some confusion at one point on where we were suppose to go."
Water activities: Patapsco River provides recreational options during warmer months. "You can even swim in this river. Fishing looked like fun too but we didn't have time," explains one reviewer from Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area.
Urban exploration: Greenbelt Park Campground offers excellent access to Washington DC. "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," explains one camper. The park is just minutes from public transportation into the capital.
Playgrounds and recreation: Many area campgrounds feature extensive children's facilities. "There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," writes Angel G. about Patapsco Valley, while Lake Fairfax Campground provides "a water park, paddle boats, playgrounds, trails, skate park, sports fields."
What campers like
Convenience to urban areas: Hollofield Area Campground provides a natural setting surprisingly close to Baltimore. One camper notes it's "convenient and inexpensive to stay here. Nice wooded sites set far apart from each other in two concentric circles." Diana S. adds, "Being just barely off the beaten path, I wasn't expecting all too much from the one night stay over... I was surprised at the quiet, understated beauty of the forestry."
Clean facilities: Little Bennett Campground maintains well-kept amenities. "Toilet/shower facility very clean," mentions one reviewer who appreciated the "3 washers and 3 dryers, along with folding tables in the basement of the check-in building."
Wildlife sightings: Greenbelt Park Campground offers unexpected nature experiences despite its urban location. "The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods," writes one camper. Another notes that "There is plenty of space between camp site clusters. The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods."
Wooded privacy: Many area campgrounds feature natural separation between sites. At Cherry Hill Park, "The landscaping, trees and site placement does help the esthetics." This privacy extends to most campgrounds in the region, with Little Bennett offering "quiet, spacious and heavily wooded sites."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many parks require advance booking during peak seasons. Greenbelt Park Campground mandates online reservations: "This is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online."
Site variations: Campsite quality and amenities vary significantly between and within parks. At Lake Fairfax Campground, "The outer loop campsites are easily more level than the center loop. If leveling perfectly is a concern you may want to call ahead and ask before commiting to the inner loop."
Urban noise: Despite wooded settings, some locations experience ambient city sounds. At Greenbelt, "Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground." Similarly, Patapsco Valley campers mention "after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby. Where we were hiking."
Weather considerations: The region experiences rapid drainage issues during heavy rains. "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," notes a Patapsco Valley camper.
Tips for camping with families
Choose parks with kid-focused amenities: Ramblin' Pines offers extensive children's activities. "Nice large sites with friendly staff. Lots of free activities for children and it's close to home," notes Christopher M. The campground includes "a pond for fishing, a pool for swimming... the kids loved the bounce pillow."
Consider tent site surfaces: Some parks have challenging terrain for tent setup. At Patapsco Valley, "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."
Plan for educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programs. Patapsco Valley State Park features a "nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center." The Hilton area specifically "is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children" with numerous learning opportunities.
Prepare for weekend crowds: Weekends bring significantly more visitors to most area campgrounds. At Lake Fairfax, "this place gets crowded. I shouldn't be surprised since it's in the middle of the city but driving through the masses picnicking on the weekends takes you out of it."
Tips from RVers
Select appropriate hookup sites: Washington DC / Capitol KOA offers full-service RV sites. "If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy," advises Elise M.
Check site dimensions carefully: Many campgrounds have size restrictions or challenging access. At Cherry Hill Park, "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side."
Verify electrical service: Amperage varies between campgrounds. Little Bennett campers appreciate "50A service, water and sewer hookup" while Hollofield Area provides only "electric but no water or sewer. There is a dump station."
Consider satellite reception limitations: Dense tree cover affects connectivity. At Little Bennett, "There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy. OTA TV was descent using an external omni antenna."
Legend
