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Camping near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

1,130 Reviews

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, MD is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

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Best Camping Sites Near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (156)

    1. Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    39 Reviews
    Harpers Ferry, WV
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 535-6895

    $40 - $80 / night

    "We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "

    "It’s very close to Harper’s Ferry (almost worth the hike into town rather than the difficulty finding parking in a town with one parking lot)."

    2. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Williamsport MD

    23 Reviews
    Williamsport, MD
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 223-7117

    $99 - $471 / night

    "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."

    "There is a food court in the swimming pool and a camp store right next to it.

    They play movies every night at the outdoor theater near the pool."

    3. Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders

    24 Reviews
    Harpers Ferry, WV
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 535-2663

    "If you would like to do some exploring, then you can walk the trail right next to the campground into the historical town of Harper's Ferry (If you’re facing the river then the trail is to the right of"

    "Harper's Ferry is a little town in WV nestled right next to the Potomac River. It's also a convenient halfwayish point on the Appalachian Trail."

    4. Greenbrier State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    41 Reviews
    Boonsboro, MD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    $23 - $29 / night

    "This park just is near enough to Baltimore and DC to allow for a quick getaway and offers a lot to do."

    "Maryland has some great state parks and this is one of them. Decent sized sites, clean bath houses. Swimming lake is excellent. Only basic amenities, but dump station."

    5. McCoys Ferry Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

    13 Reviews
    Big Pool, MD
    13 miles
    Website

    $20 - $40 / night

    "There is no privacy from adjacent campsites, but you are on the Potomac in sites 1 - 7.
    Price 2023: $10 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Light during the week. 40% full on weekends."

    "We stayed at campsite 1 which had nice views of the river and a pretty good distance from neighbors. Closest site to the drop toilet and day use area portapots (very clean!)."

    6. Lazy A Campground

    7 Reviews
    Gerrardstown, WV
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (240) 538-3555

    $30 - $40 / night

    "We choose this campground due to its location near an event we were attending. It was last minute and the owner was amazingly accommodating!"

    "Gorgeous location in the fall. River access for fishing or splashing around. Decent amenities for the price."

    7. Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA

    19 Reviews
    Williamsport, MD
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 223-7571

    "Set right next to the river and you fish if you want to. DO NOT follow your GPS. Follow the directions on the KOA Website."

    "Beautiful campgrounds situated near a creek. The campgrounds have a homey feel and were decorated nicely for fall & Halloween. The staff & hosts were incredibly nice & helpful."

    8. Fort Frederick State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Big Pool, MD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    $15 - $17 / night

    "Added some more photos to show proximity to other sites. Great spot for some small hikes and history at the fort. There’s also tons of markers on the trails with history."

    "My spot had a cool path down to the river. There aren’t really facilities other then a porta potty near the sites and there is a code to get into the gate."

    9. Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area

    6 Reviews
    Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, MD
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 822-3551

    $10 / night

    "I’ve lived in Hedgesville all my life and have camped around Sleepy creek lake many time. It’s not till recently that we’ve started overlanding that I’ve realized what a gem we have in our back yard."

    "great place to disconnect. no cell service at all- bring a weather radio. campsites are nice and fairly private, wooded between them, many with access to the lake. lake is clear enough in some spots for"

    10. Antietam Creek Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

    11 Reviews
    Sharpsburg, MD
    14 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "All the sites are very open and run along the multi-use trail. People are constantly walking, running, and biking by."

    "Pretty standard campground—the perks are it’s location to nearby attractions and the river/creek. It depends on what you’re looking for—easy camping and proximity to Antietam and Harper’s? Golden."

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Recent Camping Photos near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

456 Photos of 156 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

1130 Reviews of 156 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Campgrounds

  • E
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Camp Cacapon

    Great camping in a perfect spot

    We stayed at this campground Sep 26-28 and had a fantastic time. The campsite is in a perfect spot on the Cacapon river, and the facilities are excellent. Nice campsites, clean bathrooms and a charming little pavilion that you can rent and hang out with your group.

    Highly recommend

  • G
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Middle Ridge Campground

    Private

    If you’re looking for quiet and privacy, this is the place.  they laid out the sites so that you’re not side by side. They are all on an angle which moves you further away from anyone on both sides.  The angled site also was great for driving just past you’re site and practically backing straight back into you’re site.  Decent bath house and friendly, low key staff.  Great rates per night.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Watermelon Park Campground

    Beautiful setting!

    This camping ground is for RVs only. It's right on the Shenandoah River so it's a quiet peaceful setting. However it's a long way from any town, has terrible wifi, (the mobile data was slightly better) & doesn't hav a laundry room. The road in is very narrow so our moterhome had a little difficulty getting in, but we made it! There is only a dumping station. This is just info, not a bad review :) they have showers & firewood & the staff is very friendly & helpful! Tubing on the river was closed for the season but that wud have been a great pass time!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Beautiful spot!

    Our site was amazing! The very last car camping site on the road. We were right on the river, we swam and fished. There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours. Unfortunately there was a decent bit of trash we cleaned up. The road was a little rough, but our 92 ford camper made it, just go slow

  • Brian C.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cowans Gap State Park Campground

    Solid State Park Camping

    Stayed in a walk-in tent site. Much better spacing than typical sites, though sites 2 & 3 were basically connected. The non-walk in sites in Loop B are typical to smaller than average and mostly suited for campers/RVs.

    Pros : Site spacing/privacy was good Bathrooms and showers were clean. Firewood available at the park ($5 for 6 pieces self-serve). Location near the dam and lake trail is nice. Cell service was limited, but had reliable (but low) signal with T-Mobile at my site. Easy access (on foot) to all of the hiking trails.

    Cons: The tent pads could use some leveling and there was some trash around the site. The major negative was generator noise coming from the facility just beyond the dam. Droning generator noise was on/off at all hours of the day and went on until 10pm in the evening. Not sure how far up in Loop B this was heard, but it was pretty loud in the walk-in site area.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Middle Ridge Campground

    Large wooded sites

    The owners are so friendly and personable. The sites are actually in a wooded area not just a big field. Each site has full hookups. We will definitely return.

  • Zoey W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Horrie Neighbors

    dont disregard the warnings about noise like i did, constant speakers all the time until 4am. i think its out of jurisdiction for park rangers so they wont do anything either

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Riverside site

    The site at the end of the road is beautiful. We stayed right at the end of the road, since we have a 30 foot RV, but there are sites you can walk to all the way down the river. I saw one other site before ours. So limited, but we saw very few people. Got buggy at night, but that happens. Also wish people picked up their trash, but we helped. Absolutely recommend

  • Marcandpatti B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Gettysburg Campground

    Good spot for Gettysburg, a bit spendy.

    We stayed here mid-week in September so it was very quiet. There was a bit of road noise as our site was close to the entrance. Host was super friendly. They have a bunch of things going on with groups that stay here; next group is quilters with vintage trailers, sorry to miss that. All of the utilities worked just fine. Sites re a bit close to each other, not a lot of foliage between sites.

Guide to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Camping near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful scenery and various campgrounds to choose from, it’s a perfect spot for families, solo adventurers, and RV enthusiasts alike.

What to do:

  • Hiking: The area is known for its scenic trails. Many campers enjoy the easy access to the Appalachian Trail. One visitor at Greenbrier State Park Campground mentioned, "Great hiking to Annapolis Rocks or the Washington Monument right from the park, no need to drive!"
  • Fishing and Kayaking: The lakes in the campgrounds provide excellent opportunities for fishing and kayaking. A camper at Owens Creek Campground shared, "My son and I spent an entire day kayak fishing on the small lake and clear clean water."
  • Exploring History: The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal itself is rich in history. Visitors can learn about the canal's past while enjoying the natural beauty. A reviewer at Cunningham Falls State Park noted, "The hiking is great and there is a National Park right next door, the location of Camp David."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and campsites. One happy camper at Harpers Ferry Campground said, "The facilities were extremely clean. Bathrooms were phenomenal great hot showers."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have friendly and helpful staff. A visitor at Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA mentioned, "Staff was always friendly and accommodating."
  • Natural Beauty: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A reviewer at Green Ridge State Forest expressed, "If you love to camp and view nature this is the place to be."

What you should know:

  • Crowded on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A camper at Cunningham Falls State Park noted, "It was crowded but the campground is very wooded so I did not feel a lack of privacy."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may have basic amenities. A visitor at Greenbrier State Park Campground mentioned, "Only basic amenities, but dump station."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise from nearby roads or trains. A camper at Harpers Ferry Campground warned, "The trains run all night."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. A parent at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park said, "This is a huge campground geared around kids."
  • Plan for Crowds: If you’re camping during peak times, arrive early to secure a good spot. A visitor at Cunningham Falls State Park noted, "The campsites were relatively small, and close together."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings easier. A camper at Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA mentioned, "Bathrooms clean and nice food amenities."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites may not be level, making it tricky for RVs. A reviewer at Cunningham Falls State Park warned, "Beware: The sites on the lower side of the road are pretty level."
  • Be Mindful of Space: RV sites can be tight, so be prepared for close quarters. A visitor at Harpers Ferry Campground noted, "Very small camp sites, we were just a few feet from the campsite next to us."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Make sure to know where the nearest dump station is located. A camper at Greenbrier State Park Campground mentioned, "There is a dump station."

Camping near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland, has something for everyone. Whether you’re hiking, fishing, or just enjoying nature, you’ll find a spot that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers a wide range of camping options, with 156 campgrounds and RV parks near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and 12 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA with a 3.7-star rating from 39 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park?

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