1 campground with availability this weekend
Tent camping near Riverdale, Maryland offers several established options in state parks and regional recreation areas, with Patapsco Valley State Park's Hilton Area providing dedicated tent sites 12 miles northwest of Riverdale. Watkins Regional Park Campsites offer tent-specific camping closer to Riverdale, while Sandy Point State Park provides youth group tent camping on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.
Most tent sites in the Riverdale area feature level crushed stone or gravel pads, though some campers note these surfaces require extra padding for comfort. The Hilton Area sites include fire rings with grill grates and picnic tables, while offering clean bathhouses with hot showers. Potable water is available at most established campgrounds, though not directly at individual sites. Campgrounds like Patapsco Valley typically operate seasonally from April through October, with Patapsco Valley specifically open April 1 to October 30. Fire restrictions may apply during dry periods, and firewood must typically be purchased on-site to prevent the spread of invasive insects.
The tent camping experience around Riverdale provides easy access to trails and natural features. At Patapsco Valley State Park, tent sites are set in a wooded loop with access to numerous hiking trails, including the Campground Connector Trail that links to the wider trail network. The park's lower elevation sites can become quite wet after rainfall, making site selection important. Families particularly appreciate the combination of natural setting with nearby amenities. Marsden Tract offers more primitive tent camping along the Potomac with access to the C&O Canal towpath for hiking and biking. A recent review noted: "We found everything reasonably priced. This is a very nice small campground that is great for kids!"
"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,"
"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
"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
from $150 - $200 / night
from $55 - $95 / night
"Private campground with cabins and tent sites. Tent sites are first come, first service so call ahead to ensure the space is available."
"They have a few tent camping spots as well as cabins. Just call ahead. I just showed up and got a perfect camp spot with a view of the sunrise and access to the private beach."
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.
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.
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.
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
Tent camping near Riverdale, Maryland offers options within a 15-mile radius of this suburban community located east of Washington, D.C. The region features mostly flat terrain with elevations under 300 feet above sea level, creating accessible camping conditions for beginners. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with daytime temperatures between 60-75°F.
Hiking trails: The area surrounding Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers numerous interconnected trails for all skill levels. "There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table," notes Sean M. Many trails follow the Patapsco River, providing scenic routes for day hikes.
Water activities: Fishing and crabbing opportunities abound at Endeavor Point, where campers can enjoy direct access to the water. "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise," reports Ally S. Fishing licenses are required, with many campsites positioned for easy water access.
Nature programs: Family-oriented nature activities are available at several parks near Riverdale. "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," writes Angel G. Ranger-led programs often run on weekends during peak season.
Accessible playgrounds: Parks near Riverdale feature extensive play areas for children. "There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center," according to Sean M. These facilities provide entertainment options between hiking and camping activities.
Waterfront views: Many campers appreciate the scenic water settings at Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping. "This campground is very well taken care of, and seemed safe to me. There are wonderful views of the water and swimming at the beach, pavilions for social gatherings," explains Rachel S. The Chesapeake Bay location offers distinctive camping experiences.
Affordability: Tent camping near Riverdale tends to be reasonably priced. At Marsden Tract Group Campsite, one camper noted it was "Beautiful and not for the faint of heart! Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors." Group sites often offer better value for families camping together.
Site surfaces: Many tent sites have crushed stone or gravel surfaces that require extra padding. "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.
Reservation timing: Most parks fill quickly during peak season. At Patapsco Valley State Park, Alexandra T. notes, "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." Making reservations 6-8 weeks in advance is recommended for weekend camping.
Weather considerations: The terrain around Lacy Oasis Campground and other parks can be affected by rainfall. "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," reports Alexandra T.
Playground access: Select campsites with easy access to play areas. "Patapsco Valley offers 6 different entrances. Each one provides a several different trail heads and experiences. For camping or just spending a day out on the trail with the kids we prefer the Hilton entrance. There are two huge playgrounds and a youth campground," explains Angel G.
Nature centers: Visit on-site educational facilities for kid-friendly activities. "The nature center was closed when we visited, but the kids still enjoyed the sensory trail and playground. It's the perfect little getaway from the city for camping, fishing and hiking," shares Angel G., adding, "Be aware that neither the hiking trails or playground are stroller friendly."
Cabin options: For families new to camping, consider the mini-cabins at The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring. "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,'" recommends Sean M.
Limited hookups: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Riverdale have minimal RV amenities. "The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table," notes Sean M. RVers should check for electric hookups and water availability before booking.
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow entrance roads. "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," reports Gayle B. Smaller RVs under 25 feet generally have better access to campgrounds in this area.
Seasonal availability: Most RV-accessible campgrounds operate seasonally. Patapsco Valley State Park's camping season runs "April 1 to October 30," with limited facilities during shoulder seasons. Call ahead to confirm hookup availability during early spring or late fall camping trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Riverdale, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Riverdale, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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