Best Campgrounds near Charlotte Hall, MD

The Charlotte Hall area of Maryland provides camping opportunities across several developed campgrounds within a short drive of the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Cedarville State Forest offers a small loop campground accommodating both tent and RV camping with electric hookups available at inner loop sites. Other nearby options include Endeavor Point with its waterfront location and Westmoreland State Park Campground across the state line in Virginia, which features cabins and glamping accommodations in addition to traditional tent and RV sites. Most campgrounds in the region are situated within state forests or parks, providing access to hiking trails and water recreation.

Camping seasons vary significantly across the region, with many facilities operating from March through October. According to one visitor at Cedarville State Forest, "The sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us." Weather conditions can affect camping experiences, particularly at lower elevation areas near water. Ticks are a common concern in warmer months, with multiple reviewers mentioning tick prevention as essential gear. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Campground amenities typically include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to toilets and showers, though availability varies by location. Cell service is generally available but may be limited at more remote camping areas.

The camping experience in the Charlotte Hall region benefits from proximity to both wooded areas and water access. Sites at Endeavor Point provide opportunities for fishing and crabbing from piers, with one camper noting, "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise." Several campgrounds offer nature trails within walking distance of campsites. Noise levels vary by location, with some areas experiencing occasional aircraft noise due to proximity to military facilities. Family-friendly camping dominates the region, with most sites suitable for beginners and experienced campers alike. While some camping areas offer significant privacy between sites, others have more compact layouts where neighboring campers are visible. Most campgrounds provide firewood for purchase on site, typically through self-service honor systems or ranger delivery.

Best Camping Sites Near Charlotte Hall, Maryland (79)

    1. Cedarville State Forest

    17 Reviews
    Brandywine, MD
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 888-1410

    $30 / night

    "We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."

    "Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."

    2. Westmoreland State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Montross, VA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (804) 493-8821

    "The sites we have stayed at have all been super clean and close to bathrooms and water. They include a fire ring, picnic table and a hook for your trash. The bathrooms are clean and have hot showers."

    "The park is well off the beaten path, but has plenty of historic and other attractions near by."

    3. Pohick Bay Campground

    39 Reviews
    Lorton, VA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 339-6104

    $37 - $170 / night

    "We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."

    "We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."

    4. Endeavor Point

    5 Reviews
    Patuxent River, MD
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (443) 684-7666

    $55 - $95 / night

    5. Charity’s Hope Family Farm Resort

    1 Review
    La Plata, MD
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (202) 277-3004

    $60 - $100 / night

    6. Final-Lee Here

    1 Review
    Huntingtown, MD
    13 miles
    +1 (410) 414-3100

    $40 / night

    "CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Nestled within the beautiful greenery of Huntingtown, Maryland, this campground offers heart, scenery, and access to numerous adventures."

    7. Breezy Point Beach

    5 Reviews
    Chesapeake Beach, MD
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 535-0259

    $60 - $70 / night

    "There is additional space behind each site leading onto the beach that houses a table and fire ring. It feels like each site has loads of room out to the beach."

    8. Patuxent Camp Sites

    1 Review
    Broomes Island, MD
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 586-9880

    9. Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023

    9 Reviews
    Marbury, MD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    $27 - $65 / night

    "They are in short distance from the water. There is a playground, bathhouse, and historical buildings that are accessible to campers. There are hiking trials, but none are two extensive."

    "Nice trails, water sports available, and historic landmarks"

    10. Matoaka Beach Cottages

    2 Reviews
    St. Leonard, MD
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 586-0269

    "I just showed up and got a perfect camp spot with a view of the sunrise and access to the private beach."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 79 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Charlotte Hall, MD

520 Reviews of 79 Charlotte Hall Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds — Naval Airstation (Nas) Patuxent River

    Left Early, Won’t Be Back

    When we saw a review of this campground on Rec.gov complaining about the amount of bugs we thought they were being ridiculous, they were not. In addition to an insane amount of bugs making the experience here uniquely miserable — it is not quiet or peaceful. A (clearly quite drunk) group nearby was singing at the top of their lungs until at least 11pm when we made the decision to bail seeing as we weren’t going to be getting any sleep between being eaten alive and serenaded.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Adventure Bound Washington DC

    Nice

    This place is a good place to stay, the laundry room & showers are handy, the pool is large, & it's a 40 minute drive to the capital & the Smithsonian Mall or a 25 minute drive to the closest Metro station. It's crowded but folks are quiet & respectful!

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Aquia Pines Campground

    Good stopover near the highway but hidden between the trees

    We where forced land-inwards because of tropical storm Erin (potential hurricane hitting the Outer Banks). So we decided to visit Washington DC and had a stopover here. It was conveniently located. Terrain is not flat but our spot was well levelled. There is a big dog (and an older gentleman) in the office to welcome you. Full hook up was oké and our spot was nicly secluded between the trees.

  • Erin W.
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Lake Fairfax Campground

    Nice for a quick weekend

    This campground is nice for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground. The sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded. Our site, 41, was level and nicely spaced from other sites but many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant. There is a waterpark that is an extra cost which is fun for kids. Bathrooms are well maintained and huge.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Cherry Hill Park

    Can’t beat it

    Proximity to DC and surrounding areas can’t be beat. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments. Our uber rides ranged from 20-45$ for a family of 5. So $4-9 per person. We rode in all 4 days this way. Personalized, comfortable. Door to door. We saw tons of stuff. No one can say they saw everything. We took the train from Union station to Penn station. Saw the nationals, the orioles. So fun. The park itself has more than most. Mini golf, two pools, arcade, 24 hour laundry, a store and office open early!! And late!!! Wow! Just can’t be beat. Great sites. So many other things in the park. Splash pad, paved roads for scootering. Just awesome!

  • L
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    Nice Little Campground

    Decent little campground! It was quiet aside from occasional air traffic noise, and while there wasn't much spacing between some camp sites everyone was respectful. My spot was a little difficult to find because the online park map was incorrect, and the spot was basically an extended shoulder of the road. Checking in was a breeze, though!

  • Edward S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 22, 2025

    Fredericksburg-Washington DC KOA

    Small and quiet

    We stayed here for one night for our travel home. Not far off i95, plenty of signage telling you where to go.

    Once here it's tucked away nicely away from everything, sites feel spacious enough and mostly level on their own.

    Pool facility looks clean and good size for all to enjoy. With a playground right next to it and a small mining operation for the kiddos.

    Will likely be back to explore the area more!


Guide to Charlotte Hall

Camping near Charlotte Hall, Maryland offers access to both secluded woodland sites and waterfront locations along the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers. The region sits at low elevations ranging from 20-200 feet above sea level, creating mild winter camping conditions compared to western Maryland's mountains. Summer temperatures regularly reach 85-95°F with high humidity levels from June through September, while spring and fall provide more moderate conditions for outdoor activities.

What to do

Fossil hunting on beaches: Westmoreland State Park Campground features a special beach area where visitors can search for prehistoric shark teeth. "I LOVE this park... I did hike down to fossil beach but definitely avoided the water. If you're anything like me, traveling for peace and quiet and solitude, I highly recommend Sunday and Monday nights if you have flexibility with jobs etc," notes one visitor at Westmoreland State Park Campground.

Disc golf courses: Pohick Bay Campground maintains an 18-hole disc golf course through wooded terrain. A camper mentioned, "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course."

Creek exploration: The trails at Final-Lee Here lead to peaceful water features. "The creek was so peaceful. I would have loved to have more time here just taking it all in, but evening and another storm came upon us," reports one camper who enjoyed the natural setting.

What campers like

Private campsites: Smallwood State Park Campground offers well-spaced sites with natural buffers. A visitor noted, "These campground is a great find. The sites are well spaced, and while on the smaller side they're very private with woods between each one. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked."

Crabbing and fishing access: At Endeavor Point, waterfront amenities make fishing and crabbing convenient. According to one review, "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise. Definitely would recommend!"

Clean facilities: Despite its rustic setting, Smallwood State Park maintains good bathroom facilities. "The entire grounds are very well maintained, and the bathrooms are some of the cleanest I've come across for campgrounds. There are some neat little hikes, and some good fishing spots, but mostly spent my time relaxing at camp."

What you should know

Tick prevention essential: Multiple campgrounds report significant tick issues, particularly from April through October. "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers. Each site had picnic table, fire ring, and pretty level parking spot," notes one camper at Cedarville State Forest.

Seasonal closures: Check operating dates before planning trips as many campgrounds close during winter. "We stay here at least 6 trips a year. Nice layout, not all sites are level (half). Staff are always nice and go out of their way to help," reports a regular visitor to Pohick Bay Campground.

Firewood availability varies: Some parks offer firewood delivery service while others require self-service or bringing your own. "The ranger delivers firewood to your site within about 10-15 min of calling, which was very convenient. Cost was $5 for 8 logs," explains a camper at Cedarville State Forest.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly activities: Breezy Point Beach combines camping with beach activities suitable for children. "Great time yesterday with my little guy, playing the the water and sand! I also collected shark teeth... 178 shark teeth to be exact 🦈" reports an enthusiastic parent.

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas near campsites. One camper at Smallwood State Park noted, "The site was large, almost perfectly level, and wooded. It was also right next to the bath house, which was great for the kids."

Nature programs: Watch for scheduled educational activities at larger campgrounds. "They informed us that they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning," shared a parent camping at Pohick Bay.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Pohick Bay Campground offers varied terrain that may require preparation. "Sites are spacious and decently level (depends on the site I'm sure). Plenty of playgrounds and trails nearby to keep the family busy. Amenities and such are what you'd expect - clean but not new."

Electric hookups location: At Cedarville State Forest, inner loop sites have better utility access. "The sites were good but not for larger rigs. We have a pop up and had to navigate around a tree that would have been very difficult for larger rigs. Site 5 or 7 wouldn't have that problem."

Water access limitations: Not all sites provide direct water hookups, so planning is necessary. "I had to mark it down for the loose-sandy sites; yes, I know it is a beach but they really need to firm-up the actual RV parking spots... there is no dump station and the pump-out option is only offered a couple days per week," reports an RV camper at Breezy Point Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Charlotte Hall, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Charlotte Hall, MD is Cedarville State Forest with a 3.8-star rating from 17 reviews.

What parks are near Charlotte Hall, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Charlotte Hall, MD that allow camping, notably Fort Washington Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway.