Best Campgrounds in Maryland
Maryland's camping landscape features a mix of established campgrounds and more rustic options within state parks and forests. Assateague State Park Campground on the Atlantic Ocean and Rocky Gap State Park with its lake and mountain setting offer popular options for tent and RV campers. Green Ridge State Forest provides more primitive experiences in western Maryland, with spacious sites tucked into dense woodland. Elk Neck State Park and Tuckahoe State Park campgrounds accommodate a variety of camping styles including cabins and yurts, creating accessible options for different comfort levels.
Most Maryland campgrounds have seasonal operating schedules, with the fullest services available from April through October. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for waterfront sites and during summer weekends. One camper noted, "We stayed in cabin 170 in Fir loop and the site was incredibly spacious, heavily shaded, close to the bath house, path to the beach, and well distanced from other sites." Green Ridge State Forest offers year-round access but requires high-clearance vehicles for many sites, with no reservations available—campers must arrive early to secure spots. Cell service varies significantly across the state, with more remote areas in western Maryland offering limited connectivity.
The camping experience differs substantially between Maryland's coastal and mountain regions. Along the Atlantic shoreline, Assateague campgrounds provide beach access and opportunities to observe wild horses, though one visitor mentioned that "knee-high pricker-grass" has replaced the sandy sites at some locations. In contrast, western Maryland's camping areas offer forest immersion and solitude. A camper at Green Ridge noted, "The forest is beautiful, the campsites are large and very spaced out, firewood is bountiful, the area feels very remote." Many campgrounds provide amenities including clean bathhouses, picnic tables, and fire rings, but primitive sites typically offer only basic facilities. Mixed-use campgrounds with both tent and RV sites are common, allowing for various camping styles within the same area.
