2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
State parks and public lands surrounding Patuxent River, Maryland offer several tent camping options with waterfront views, ranging from walk-in primitive tent sites to more developed tent campsites with showers and fire rings. Calvert Cliffs State Park provides youth group tent camping from March through October, featuring basic amenities in a natural setting. Lacy Oasis Campground offers six tent sites with more developed facilities including showers and toilets. For military personnel, Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds at Naval Airstation Patuxent River provides tent-only sites with fire rings and water hookups. Matoaka Beach Cottages maintains a limited number of walk-in tent sites with beach access and views of the Chesapeake Bay.
Most tent campsites in the Patuxent River region feature flat, grassy or dirt surfaces with minimal site preparation. Campers should verify seasonal availability, as many locations operate from spring through fall only. Calvert Cliffs State Park's tent sites include drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables, but limited facilities beyond basic toilets. At Caledon State Park across the Potomac in Virginia, tent campers must hike approximately 2.5 miles on groomed gravel trails to reach designated tent pads. One camper noted the park has an honor system for firewood sales ($4) but no water source on site, requiring visitors to pack in all drinking water.
Tent-only sites throughout the region provide varying levels of privacy and natural settings. At Matoaka Beach Cottages, visitors report peaceful tent camping with private spots offering bay views and the sound of waves. According to reviews, "Our spot was very private and you could see the bay and hear the waves." The primitive tent camping experience at Caledon State Park rewards hikers with Potomac River views after a moderate trek. Backcountry tent camping options require more preparation but offer greater seclusion. Tent campers should arrive early at popular locations, particularly on weekends when sites fill quickly. Pack-out policies are common at primitive tent sites, with campers responsible for removing all trash upon departure.
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."
"Nice and quiet, no hookups, but nice surroundings!"
"It is a very nice walk about 2 miles to the beach where you can hunt for fossils. The beach has gotten smaller over the years however the trail has gotten much better."
"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
"7 or 8 tent pads. Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile. You’re not supposed to setup anything outside of the “tent pads”."
"It was my first hike in primitive camping experience. We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 / night
from $20 - $30 / night
"Good for a day use, parking is full most of the time but have a lot of space to park you may have to walk but you will find one spot..."
"Close to me so theres nothing new"
from $15 - $18 / night
from $50 - $80 / night
"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
"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,"
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.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
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.
ScoutIt was a well maintained campsite. Clean bathrooms and great hikes to fossil beach.
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.
TravelerGood spot to get away and pitch a tent. Never anyone else there too! Make sure to get a daily ($4) or annual (~$22 I forget) Access Permit on Virginia DWR, as well as special WMA camping license (free)
GuideWhat a gem! We found this place as an alternative to staying in DC during 4th of July festivities. Nice spacious sites, cabins were super clean and smelled great! Did I mention they were air conditioned during the hotest week of the summer!
Bathrooms and showers were spotless.
Many things to see and do there. Historic property, big lake (no swimming), boating, fishing, hiking. There is an Art Center with juried displays for sale.
Tent camping near Patuxent River, Maryland offers coastal and riverfront experiences along the western shore of Chesapeake Bay. The region sits at low elevation—generally under 100 feet above sea level—with humid summers frequently reaching 85-90°F during peak camping season. Most sites require advance planning as primitive options have limited water access and developed campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends.
Fossil hunting and beachcombing: Calvert Cliffs State Park provides access to Chesapeake Bay shorelines where visitors search for prehistoric shark teeth and fossils. According to one camper, "This park is awesome! I have been going here for years... the beach is very beautiful even though every year it gets smaller and smaller. The park staff are very friendly, and are very informative on the many fossils you may find on your visit."
Fishing and crabbing: Endeavor Point offers pier access for fishing and crabbing activities. A camper notes, "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise. Definitely would recommend!"
Hiking to waterfront sites: Caledon State Park across the Potomac River requires a moderate trek to reach camping areas. One visitor explains, "It's a nice 3 mile hike to the campsite which is right by the Potomac river! They have porta Johns and a pavilion close by. The beach is beautiful and we saw the most gorgeous sunset."
Bay views and sounds: Matoaka Beach Cottages offers waterfront tent sites with natural ambiance. A camper shares, "We tent camped at Matoka Cabins and it was a beautiful Peaceful camping trip! Out spot was very private and you could see the bay and hear the waves."
Peace and quiet in off-season: Leesylvania State Park Campground attracts fewer crowds during spring and fall. A visitor notes, "This campground was so pretty. It is small, but the price and location near DC cannot be beat. It is directly on Potomac River."
Close proximity to waterfront: Tent sites at Endeavor Point provide convenient water access. A camper reports, "We went for labor day weekend and had a great time. It was pretty busy due to the holiday but still manageable. The campsites aren't dispersed and are pretty small but that's the only downside."
Seasonal challenges: Sandy Point State Park experiences extreme crowding during summer. One visitor warns, "Extremely over crowded in the summer. The park closes daily very early as it hits capacity. The best times to go are winter, spring, and fall."
Pack-in water requirements: Primitive sites often lack potable water sources. At Caledon State Park, a camper advises, "Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile... No water on site and no reasonable source to filter water from so be prepared."
Strict regulations: Lacy Oasis Campground enforces specific rules and quiet hours. A recent visitor describes, "If you are a nature lover, a person who loves peace, serenity, and tranquility, or just need some respite, Lacy Oasis is the place to be."
Playground access: Several parks offer play areas for children near main facilities. At Calvert Cliffs State Park, a camper mentions, "The park has a great play ground right off the main parking lot for kids to play on as well as a few bathrooms."
Educational opportunities: Sandy Point State Park provides nature learning experiences. A regular visitor shares, "My family and I have been coming to Sandy Point my entire life. It is a great little spot on the Chesapeake river. Our favorite thing to do is to fossil hunt for sharks teeth."
Weather considerations: Plan for summer heat and insects. One camper at Naval Airstation Patuxent River notes, "In addition to an insane amount of bugs making the experience here uniquely miserable — it is not quiet or peaceful."
Limited RV accessibility: Many sites near Patuxent River restrict large vehicles. At Endeavor Point, reviewers mention the sites are small and not suitable for big rigs.
Military facilities: Annapolis FamCamp welcomes eligible military members with RV-friendly amenities. A visitor describes it as "Military campground. Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap."
Advance reservations essential: RV spaces at developed campgrounds require booking weeks ahead during peak season, especially for waterfront sites with electric hookups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Patuxent River, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Patuxent River, MD is Endeavor Point with a 3-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Patuxent River, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Patuxent River, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
