Camping sites near Chase, Maryland typically center around river access, with both tent and RV options available within 30-45 minutes of town. The region sits at low elevation, generally under 300 feet above sea level, with humid summer conditions and mild winters. Most campgrounds in this area experience heavy weekend occupancy throughout the main camping season from April to October, with notable midweek availability.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: Patapsco Valley State Park offers numerous hiking opportunities within 30 minutes of Chase. "We hiked back to the campground from here, which was a nice easy-to-moderate trail. The beginning was pretty rough for me, since I was wearing my infant son while navigating an uphill trail, but it quickly evened out," notes one visitor to Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area.
Waterfront fishing: Fishing directly from campsites proves popular at waterfront locations. At Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina, one camper mentions, "You can fish from your chair. Kayak rentals, boat slips. Close to all types of stores, civilization, 7-11, a nice seafood store to get crabs or fish if you didn't catch any."
Wildlife observation: Birdwatching opportunities abound near the Chesapeake Bay and river areas. "We saw bald eagles and great blue heron," reports a visitor to Elk Neck State Park Campground. Another camper at Bay Shore notes, "If you enjoy beautiful sunsets, seeing bald eagles every day, having a nice breeze, not too buggy, well kept campground this is the place to go."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Modern restrooms with reliable hot water feature prominently in positive reviews. A camper at Susquehanna State Park Campground mentions, "Restrooms were fairly clean, had flush toilets, electricity, and hot running water showers!! Since I had to look presentable for work the next day I had sent planned on doing much hiking (hot and humid June) but with the revelation of showers!!! I went for a lovely 3 mile evening hike."
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer adequate site separation, especially in less busy seasons. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, a reviewer notes, "The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun. The bathroom facilities and laundry are clean and modern. There are separate, individual shower rooms."
Honor system firewood: Several campgrounds make firewood accessible outside store hours. "They also sell ice and firewood at the campstore AND there is an honor system with it available to you after the campstore hours. This is great so that you don't have to time things around when the campstore is open," reports a Susquehanna State Park camper.
What you should know
Weekend crowding: Many campgrounds experience significant visitor increases Friday through Sunday. One visitor to Hollofield Area Campground observed, "The campground and park fill up on the weekends but are nearly empty during the week."
Variable cell service: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. A camper at Bay Shore Campground notes, "WiFi is not there yet, but they have portables just in case you need to remove some instead of moving the entire camper." Another camper adds, "Before purchasing Wifi, check your coverage. We have AT&T and had plenty of service."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require extra effort for leveling. "Site was very shaded, and probably the most secluded feel of anywhere we've camped. Camping pad was nice and level, although the driveway was slightly sloped," reports a Susquehanna State Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Consider site proximity to play areas when reserving. At Patapsco Valley State Park, one visitor notes: "This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park. It's a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood, but the Hilton area is great. It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center."
Water precautions: Several campgrounds have water access requiring supervision. "We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park. All sites had a picnic table and fire ring," mentions a Patapsco Valley visitor.
Activities for different ages: Many sites offer diverse options for varied age groups. A camper at Merry Meadows Recreation Farm shares, "We stayed here this past Easter and they had plenty of activities for kids and adults. Easter egg hunts for kids, adult scavenger hunts for alcohol. Wonderful experience for the whole family."
Tips from RVers
Hookup access variations: Pay attention to utility placement when selecting sites. One RVer at Bar Harbor notes, "Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open."
Dump station locations: Several campgrounds offer dump stations even without full hookups. "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer - although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank," explains a visitor to Hollofield Area Campground.
Elevation and leveling: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger rigs. "The road on the FHU loop is narrow and hilly. Our site was uphill and at a difficult angle. Plenty of bigger TTs and 5th wheels were camping," reports an RV camper at Elk Neck State Park.
