T
Trevor 
Traveler
TravelerBay Shore Campground
Fred’s bay shore
One of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
Camping near Chesapeake City, MD
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
State parks and natural areas surrounding Chesapeake City, Maryland provide diverse camping experiences within an hour's drive of this historic canal town. Elk Neck State Park, located about 15 miles southeast, offers waterfront camping with views of the Chesapeake Bay and features tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins. Lums Pond State Park in nearby Delaware provides year-round camping with spacious sites surrounding a 200-acre millpond. Susquehanna State Park, situated along the river northwest of Chesapeake City, combines historical sites with camping opportunities from March through October. These established campgrounds accommodate various camping styles including tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and cabin rentals, with most facilities maintaining clean bathhouses and basic amenities.
Reservations are essential during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly, particularly at Elk Neck and Lums Pond. Most state parks in the region require advance bookings through Maryland or Delaware reservation systems, with peak season running May through September. Weather conditions vary significantly by season, with humid summers reaching into the 90s and mild springs and falls offering comfortable camping temperatures in the 60s-70s. As one camper at Elk Neck noted, "The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. A short walk provided a very impressive sunrise view." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though coverage may be spotty in some forested sections of the parks.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the region, with multiple parks offering water recreation opportunities. Visitors frequently mention kayaking and fishing as popular activities, particularly at Lums Pond and along the Susquehanna River. According to one reviewer at Lums Pond, "Sites on pond side were more spread apart than the opposite side," highlighting the importance of site selection. Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to scenic areas, with Elk Neck's lighthouse trail receiving particular praise. Noise levels vary considerably between weekdays and weekends, with one camper observing, "I'm not entirely sure I'd want to be here on a weekend in the summer when the place is full of families, noise, and activity. But my visit was very quiet and peaceful." Most campgrounds in the region maintain well-kept facilities with standard amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and potable water.
Best Campgrounds near Chesapeake City (96)
1. Lums Pond State Park Campground
"Near an Ape Adventure park, hike around lake, and any shopping or restaurants you might want are close by. It rained heavy so we didn’t get out much but walk around camp loop is nice and flat."
"The camp loop is a nice walk but there are also trails. They were pretty muddy when we were there. Site 35 was quite spacious as were many of them."
from $29 - $51 / night
Check Availability2. Elk Neck State Park Campground
"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability3. Susquehanna State Park Campground
"The campsites are separated more widely than many other parks in Maryland (Cunningham Falls, Ft. Frederick, Pt. Lookout), and are quite secluded in comparison."
"I was a walk-up with no reservation and since it was a weekday the ranger gave me a great rundown of the best spots in the camp and let me drive through to check them out before going back with my decision"
from $21 - $50 / night
Check Availability4. Woodlands Camping Resort
"It’s a clean, well kept space, completely surrounded by state forest, very close to shore access along the rivers/bay, hiking/biking trails right out of the campground."
5. Blackbird State Forest Campground
"The only thing about this site specifically is the trail was close by so you’d occasionally see people walking by but not enough that it didn’t still feel secluded."
"I was only one in the forest ATM but saw some hikers occasionally throughout the day walking by."
from $25 / night
Check Availability6. Cecil County Permaculture
"Has outhouse, fire pit, running water on side of house near outhouse. An is a wonderful person. Good reception with T-Mobile!"
from $10 - $16 / night
Check Availability7. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
8. Jellystone Park™ Quarryville
"We stayed here in November with beautiful weather which meant the large farm behind the campground was spraying manure over their fields. We could smell it."
"The site was covered and it was cool around 4:30pm when the sun went behind the trees. It didn’t look like all sites had that much cover so be careful."
9. Philadelphia-West Chester KOA
"The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy."
"Everything was within close walking distance and the staff were extremely helpful. Pool and bathrooms were very clean."
from $59 - $86 / night
Check Availability10. French Creek State Park Campground
"We were looking for someplace close to the city but away from the hustle and bustle of our city life, this was the perfect little steal-away; relatively close by, great car camping spots, nice easy hikes"
"If you want starlink, stay toward the entrance of the loop for a good view of the sky. If you want to be away from everyone and don't need a site that has good accessibility, stay in C27."
from $24 - $135 / night
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Drive Time
- 39 min from Dover, DE
- 1 hr from Baltimore, MD
- 1 hr 9 min from Lancaster, PA
- 1 hr 15 min from Vineland, NJ
Recent Camping Photos near Chesapeake City, MD
215 Photos of 96 Chesapeake City Campgrounds
Jim B.
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Michael W.
Woodlands Camping Resort
Ryan D.
Elk Neck State Park Campground
An V.
Cecil County Permaculture
Emily M.
Blackbird State Forest Campground
Andrea H.
Huck and Buck Farm
Jen V.
Susquehanna State Park Campground
Lisa T.
Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina
Stephen S.
Philadelphia-West Chester KOA
Debbie W.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park - Elmer
Paul Q.
Four Seasons Family Campground
Dave G.
Brandywine Creek Campground
Recent Reviews near Chesapeake City, MD
757 Reviews of 96 Chesapeake City Campgrounds
B
GuideSusquehanna State Park Campground
A little noisy - park stuff, not campers
A beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
Isabel Z.
ScoutElk Neck State Park Campground
Great for families
This campsite was amazing for our first tent camping experience. The park was a godsend for keeping our toddler occupied and we felt very safe overall. While the beach is pretty, be careful about the water condition. We were warned before entering and informed of the risks. They were very clear on the condition of the water that day which was a yellow, slight risk. But normally it should be okay. We would definitely camp here again.
- TTroli R.Guide
Aberdeen Proving Ground RV Park
Bougie sites; AWFUL reservation system
BASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
Carol C.ScoutOtter Creek Campground
Lovely tranquil campsites next to river
We stayed only one night in primitive tent site which was massive with a turnaround. It was great. There are fire pits and picnic tables and level ground. Very serene. We walked down to the river, breathtaking. Not sure of other amenities as we didn’t use them.
Brian M.ScoutElk Neck State Park Campground
Good experience
Great campsite, plenty of space. It rained a lot and our campsite was a little muddy (not bad) but nearby campsites had large puddles
Matt S.
LegendFrench Creek State Park Campground
Quiet Park with a Tight Fit
We spent a weekend at French Creek State Park as our home base for the Chester County Balloon Festival. We stayed for 2 nights at a full-hookup paved site, which ran us $55.25 per night.
WHAT I LIKED:
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Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
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Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
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The"Leveling" Challenge: We were at site#C-241, which had a pretty significant slope. It took a few boards under the rear wheels and fully extended jacks just to get us anywhere near level.
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Tight Fit for Big Rigs: Even though there was plenty of open space behind our site, the actual driveway pad was too short to comfortably fit our motorhome and Jeep together. Compared to other state parks we’ve visited, the interior roads and layouts felt a bit on the tight side.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
- Probably. While the site geometry required a little extra setup muscle, it’s hard to beat the location if you're visiting the area or catching the balloon festival.
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Nancy W.LegendMartinak State Park Campground
Quiet camping in the woods.
This is a great little state park tucked away in the woods. Campsites are pretty spacious and have nice shade. The campground has two loops, each with a bathhouse located in the middle. Our site (Butterfly Loop #3) was long enough for our motorhome and tow car. The roads are paved, as was our camping pad. The only utility at our site was 30-amp electric. There are water spigots located throughout each loop and we were close enough to fill our water tank. For the most part, the park is big-rig friendly but we did brush against some trees on our way around the loop. Campsites do vary in length so make sure you include your length when booking. We reserved online and were instructed to just go to our site which was nice and convenient. They sell firewood onsite and have a self-pay station which we loved. There is a nice boat launch and the kayak launch has a platform to assist you getting in and out and there are plenty of places to fish from the bank. There is a nature center (which was not open during our stay), playground, picnic pavilions, amphitheater, The bathrooms could use some more attention. The shower curtains were pink meaning they have not been properly cleaned in a while. Needless to say, we did not shower there. The dump station was closed while we were there but we were told we could use the dump station at Tuckahoe State Park (about 10 miles away). We really enjoyed the short hiking trails and paved trail which allowed us to log about 3 miles without having to leave the park. The campground is a really relaxing place to be. We did drive (about 40 minutes south) to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, both of which we recommend. It is also worth a drive to St. Michaels to see the quaint seaside town and visit the maritime museum (plan on spending half a day at the museum). The only downside is that the park is not gated and open for day use so a lot of people just drive through the campground looking around.
- Nancy W.Legend
Lums Pond State Park Campground
Clean, big-rig friendly, large sites.
Overall, this is a nice, small (about 65 sites) state park with plenty of recreational opportunities inside the park. There is nice separation between sites so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. Tall trees are scattered about which provide shade at some sites but overall, the park is pretty open. Roads getting to the park are easy to navigate with any size RV. Within the park, roads are paved and free of potholes and there are no low hanging branches. Since the roads are one-way they are not very wide so backing in big-rigs can be a little tight and you might have to run over the grass.
All RV sites are full hook-up and there is a separate area for tents and there is one canvas yurt for rent. The tent sites are nice in that they are tucked along the wood line slightly away from RVs with more privacy and shade. The only downside is that they are pretty far away from the centrally located bathroom and showers. The bathroom has separate rooms for showers which is nice and private. They were tended to daily and very clean. Also, located in the center of the campground is a playground, camp store and laundry. The dumpsters and recycle bins are located in a separate area on the way out of the campground and were frequently full and overflowing. Campsites are paved and some have wide enough that the patio is paved but others have a narrow pad for the RV and gravel patio. We discovered that most sites are level but a few are not (like 22 and 24). The campground is very clean and camp hosts were diligent about picking up trash and cleaning out fire pits every day.
Across the pond (north of the campground) is where most of the amenities are located such as concessions, ball fields, horseshoe pits, disk golf, and more. For those wanting to fish there is a pier in the campground and a self-serve vending machine with bait in it. There are additional fishing piers located in other parts of the park and there are boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. We stopped in at the Nature Center but it was a bust– just a few taxidermy specimens and not much information. One of the most popular areas of the park is Go Ape which is a ropes/zip line course through the canopy (which does require admission fee). There are nice trails that leave right from the campground– some 17 miles in all. There is a boat launch about a quarter mile from the campground entrance which is suitable for trailerable boats and paddle craft but there are no docks so you can’t leave your boat tied up there. There is an off-leash dog area but it is located far from the campground so it’s best to drive.
Guide to Chesapeake City
Camping opportunities around Chesapeake City, Maryland center on the region where the Elk and Northeast rivers feed into the northern Chesapeake Bay. This area sits at low elevations under 100 feet above sea level, creating access to both wooded terrain and water-based recreation. Summer humidity levels frequently reach 80-90% during peak camping months, requiring proper ventilation for tents and RVs.
What to do
Hiking trails: Lums Pond State Park offers a 7-mile hiking trail and an 8-mile multi-purpose trail surrounding a 200-acre millpond. One camper noted, "The trails were well marked, and the day we took a hike, we ended up on the equestrian trail that runs all the way around the pond. It was a long, but easy hike."
Water activities: Susquehanna State Park Campground provides access to creek wading and river exploration. "There are also plenty of areas to stop along the road in the campground, with access to the creek for wading. The water felt great, but the bottom was rather pebbly," explains one visitor. Fishing opportunities exist throughout the park's waterways.
Historical exploration: Visit the working grist mill at Susquehanna State Park. As one camper mentioned, "There is a historic area in the park, with a working grist mill, mansion and other little buildings to view." This area offers educational opportunities about the region's industrial past.
What campers like
Private camping spots: Elk Neck State Park Campground receives high marks for its site layout and natural buffer zones. "Site was well maintained and very clean. Bathrooms were clean with showers and wash stations. Great views of the bay and beaches," says one reviewer who appreciated the park's maintenance standards.
Well-maintained facilities: Campers frequently praise the bathhouse conditions at several parks. At Susquehanna State Park, a visitor observed, "Bath house was immaculate; by far the cleanest I have ever seen in a campground. Must have been recently renovated." This attention to cleanliness makes longer stays more comfortable.
Family-friendly amenities: Blackbird State Forest Campground offers spacious sites with basic amenities. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return!" reports one camper. The forest setting provides natural play spaces for children.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: For Lums Pond State Park, securing spots requires advance planning. One visitor advised, "We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations. Book early because it fills up fast!" This is especially true for waterfront and full hookup sites.
Site conditions vary: At Elk Neck State Park, tent campers should note ground conditions. "The pad for pitching tents seemed to have poured concrete a few inches down, making it tough to stake anything down," reported one camper, suggesting bringing alternative anchoring methods for tents.
Limited facilities at some locations: Blackbird State Forest offers a more primitive experience. A visitor explained, "No running water- only port a potties but they were clean." Campers need to bring their own water supply when staying at this location.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Philadelphia-West Chester KOA provides excellent recreation options for children. "The camp playground was brand new when we arrived and they had just broken ground. There are two different playground in the same area to accommodate kids of all ages. They also have pickleball, mini golf and a lovely pool," notes one family.
Nature engagement opportunities: Susquehanna State Park offers wildlife viewing close to camp. "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," shares a parent who visited with young children.
Weather preparation: Summer temperatures at most campgrounds regularly reach the 90s with high humidity. Pack extra clothing for children and consider sites with shade. One Elk Neck visitor recommended, "Sites on pond side were more spread apart than the opposite side," highlighting the importance of selecting sites with natural cooling.
Tips from RVers
Site selection insights: At Woodlands Camping Resort, RVers should note infrastructure details. "Only 4 50 amp spots, luckily we secured one. No sewer hookup, but there is a dump station in the seasonal/permanent section," explains one RVer, emphasizing the importance of requesting specific hookup requirements when booking.
Access considerations: Philadelphia-West Chester KOA presents challenges for larger rigs. "I did have major trouble backing in because the road is too narrow for a 45' motorhome to back in on a nearly 90-degree angle. The trailers/5th wheels seem better because they 'bend' at the hitch," cautions one RVer who experienced difficulty.
Hook-up availability: Lums Pond State Park offers full hookup sites with concrete pads. "Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer," noted one camper, making this location particularly suitable for RVers seeking modern amenities within a natural setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available near Chesapeake City, MD?
What campgrounds are available near Chesapeake City, MD?
Several excellent campgrounds are available within a short drive of Chesapeake City. Elk Neck State Park Campground offers peaceful sites with pet-friendly options in the Miles loop. Just a bit further, Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area provides a more rustic camping experience. Other nearby options include Woodlands Camping Resort near Elkton and Martinak State Park Campground on Maryland's Eastern Shore. For RVers seeking convenience, several overnight parking options exist along the I-95 corridor.
What amenities do Chesapeake City campgrounds typically offer?
What amenities do Chesapeake City campgrounds typically offer?
Campgrounds near Chesapeake City typically offer a range of amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Tuckahoe State Park Campground features multiple camping styles including RV and tent sites, plus access to kayaking on the lake. Many sites have electric hookups, while some loops remain primitive for a more natural experience. Killens Pond State Park Campground provides typical facilities, though some campers note the grounds can get sandy during wet weather. Most area campgrounds offer water access, restrooms with showers, picnic tables, fire rings, and hiking trails. Some also feature playgrounds, fishing spots, and recreational programming.
What is the best time of year to go camping in Chesapeake City?
What is the best time of year to go camping in Chesapeake City?
The ideal camping season near Chesapeake City runs from late spring through early fall. May through September offers pleasant temperatures perfect for outdoor activities. Pequea Creek Campground shines in summer when visitors can enjoy creek splashing and floating. Early fall at French Creek State Park Campground provides comfortable temperatures and beautiful foliage. Spring camping (April-May) offers blooming landscapes and fewer crowds, though prepare for occasional cool nights. Summer weekends tend to be busiest, especially at family-friendly parks, while mid-week visits even during peak season often provide a quieter experience.
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