Located in western Maryland's wooded highlands, Cavetown sits at approximately 800 feet elevation with a moderate climate that features warm summers and cool falls. The area's numerous campgrounds operate primarily from April through October, with many closing for winter due to freezing overnight temperatures in December through February.
What to do
Hiking the Appalachian Trail: Access trail segments from Annapolis Rock Campground, which requires a moderate 2+ mile hike from Route 40 to reach the sites. "About a dozen campsites to choose, and several group sites. Some fairly private. No camp fires allowed. Short walk to cold natural spring for water," notes one visitor.
Battlefield exploration: Tour Civil War sites near Gettysburg / Battlefield KOA, which offers quick access to historical sites. "The campground is about a 5 minute drive to downtown Gettysburg," reports a camper. "This was a great experience overall and one of the best KOA's we have been too."
Swimming and lake activities: Cool off at Greenbrier State Park's lake when temperatures rise. "Lake area can be crowded on weekends, I tend to avoid. Hike from visitor center to AT is steep and rocky," advises a regular visitor. The park also offers kayak and canoe rentals during summer months.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Cavetown maintain high cleanliness standards. "Bathhouse had no hot water and was filthy. Guest services was non existent. On a positive note, A perk for us for our first trip with a camper was the pull thru sites," notes a guest at Jellystone Park in Williamsport.
Mountain views: The elevation in local parks provides pleasant vistas. "The elevation at Annapolis Rock is 1700 feet so its quite a trek up to the site," explains one reviewer. "Spring and compost outhouse. Great views. Been camping there for decades."
Natural water features: Gambrill State Park Campground offers creek access at select sites. "We stayed in site number two. It was a perfect site, you can't see the facilities but it was a short walk across the creek. We were able to set up our tent maybe five feet from the creek so we could hear it babble when we went to sleep," shares a camper.
What you should know
Pet policies vary: For pet-friendly camping near Cavetown, check specific loop restrictions. At Greenbrier State Park Campground, "There were a lot of signs that pet prohibited in the park. But the cedar loop did have dogs. They are just not allowed in the rest of the park," one visitor clarifies.
Campsite privacy differences: Site privacy levels vary considerably between parks. At Caledonia State Park, "We enjoyed our stay here very much. The trails were very enjoyable and we hiked about 15 miles with sections of the Appalachian trail. Restrooms were very clean and park was beautiful, only negative comment would be how close sites are to each other."
Seasonal limitations: Most facilities have restricted operating dates. "We camped here in early April 2021. The first weekend open of the season. This is a smaller campground, only 34 sites, but it had all you needed," reports a Gambrill State Park visitor. Some parks close entirely from November through March.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Williamsport provides extensive family programs. "What an amazing campground for adults and kids. 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. Jellystone was amazing in every way possible," states one parent.
Nature programs: Some parks offer structured activities for children. At Cunningham Falls State Park, a visitor noted: "During peak season, there are nature programs going on." The park also offers junior ranger activities during summer weekends.
Playground access: Several pet-friendly campgrounds provide play areas. "There's a lake, boating, playgrounds, hike to the falls. So much scenery and nature. The electric "A loop" is paved so it's great for bike riding," shares a regular visitor to Cunningham Falls.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Cunningham Falls State Park has limited spaces for larger rigs. "Parking pads are 22', so take that into consideration if you are trailering/RVing," advises one camper. Some loops have larger sites than others.
Hookup availability: Electric service varies widely between parks. "We stayed at M17 after staying at M26 for a night. 17 wasn't as level and so we had to scrunch to one side of the site to get level. It was closer to the bath house. Overall cozy," notes a Cunningham Falls visitor.
Dump station access: Plan ahead for waste disposal. "This campsite doesn't have a dump station so we went to the Cunningham falls site to dump after leaving and they let us dump no problem," shares an RVer who stayed at Gambrill State Park.
