3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cabin options near Columbia, Maryland include Patapsco Valley State Park's mini-cabins with electricity and heating. These rustic cabins accommodate small families or groups, with a fire pit and picnic table outside each cabin. Guests staying at the Hilton area campground have access to hiking trails, playgrounds, and nature centers. Additional furnished cabins can be found at Ramblin' Pines in Woodbine, Cherry Hill Park in College Park, and Washington DC/Capitol KOA in Millersville. Most cabins feature electric lighting, beds, and climate control systems. "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely 'rough it.'"
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Pine Tree Associates, Camp Meade RV Park, and Little Bennett Campground offer cabin accommodations with varying levels of amenities. Most parks require advance reservations, especially during peak summer months. Cherry Hill Park provides more luxurious cabin options with access to pools, splash pads, and concierge services for DC tours. Pet policies vary by campground, with Patapsco Valley State Park allowing pets at their cabin sites. A visitor commented, "We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm." Some cabins operate seasonally, closing from late October through early April.
Most cabins include basic furnishings but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities vary widely between campgrounds, with some offering only outdoor cooking options while others provide microwaves or small refrigerators. Firewood is available for purchase at most parks, including Patapsco Valley where regulations prohibit bringing outside wood due to harmful insects. On-site camp stores at Cherry Hill Park and Ramblin' Pines stock basic provisions, though all cabin locations are within a short drive to grocery stores and restaurants. The region's cabin campgrounds maintain bathroom facilities with showers, though their quality and cleanliness vary by location. A review noted, "Bathrooms were clean and well maintained."
"Located less than 3-miles from I-95, about 40-minutes drive time from downtown Washington, DC, and about 35-minutes from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, this park is ideally situated for a capitol vacation."
"We had another great stay at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD. "
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"The Hilton area campground is unique because, unlike the Hollofield area of the park, it doesn't allow RVs and its tent sites are non-electric."
"Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
from $20 - $51 / night
"We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick."
"It has a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds. I really like all the trees. Space between sites seems to be standard."
from $30 - $70 / night
"They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc)."
"After a peaceful protest,my sister, nephew and I stayed in a cabin for 1 night. We all slept well in the clean and comfortable cabin. The campground is a safe place for families."
"viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors
Site#D69 shady
Very quiet campground
Site"
"We live in Montgomery County and this is a nice camping get away close to home."
"Nice clean restrooms and showers. Friendly hostess and we had a nice shady spot, what was great with a heat of 94F."
"My wife and I were trying to find an RV location near the Annapolis city dock for a boat show and found Pine Tree Associates."
"There is a bath house with outdoor showers. Camping fees include access to a large outdoor pool, an indoor pool and a hot tub. There is room for tenting and campers."
from $30 - $55 / night
"The open field pet friendly sites are also large but provide no shade and it gets hot! You can feel the difference between these sites and the interior loop sites. "
"Nice big flat sites, lots of shared common areas. Heavily wooded in the sites we stayed in but there are some that are out in the open without many trees."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $195 / night
"We were at site 133, non electric non water. I feel like the spots at the end of each loop might have slightly more privacy, but our site was fine."
"Great camp sites each with a picnic table and fire pit. There are a ton of things to do at this park, boat ramps, water park, mini golf, disc golf, kayak rental, and hiking trails."
Available this weekend
from $150 / night
"It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private."
"Great Park, friendly staff, clean facilities. We stayed with our Pop Up for two nights at an electric -supported site. Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store."
Available this weekend
from $34 - $90 / night
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
ScoutThis is are first camping adventure in are new travel trailer. Camp ground is quiet and well maintained. Bath rooms and shower facilities are fantastic.
GuidePrimitive feel with full hookups. I have a 22' trailer, and it fits fine. I hope you like trains. Plenty of them go by.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
Camping cabins near Columbia, Maryland provide year-round shelter options within a 30-mile radius of the city. The area sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level in the Piedmont region between the Coastal Plain and the Appalachian Mountains. Winter cabin camping temperatures typically range from 25-45°F, while summer temperatures average 65-90°F with moderate humidity levels.
Hiking trails access: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers extensive trail networks connecting directly to camping areas. "There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The trails we have been on are all pretty moderate to hard but offer beautiful waterfalls and river views. This definitely is a park that takes a while to explore all of it," notes Angel G.
Water activities: Washington DC/Capitol KOA features seasonal pool facilities open from late spring through early fall. "They have a nice looking pool area, but it was too cold. The shop was cute and staff nice. Sites were pretty level," according to Joe R.
Playground access: Multiple playground options exist for families staying at cabin sites. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," reports Angel G.
Historical exploration: Cabin lodging provides convenient base camps for exploring regional historical sites. "The park is close to Washington DC and offers a concierge service for tours and things to do. On site are pools, splash pad, rv supplies and repair parts, a snack bar and lots more," explains Scott C.
Privacy levels: Little Bennett Campground offers secluded cabin sites with natural buffers. "Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors," notes Napunani.
Evening activities: Many campgrounds schedule regular entertainment for overnight guests. "They have a bus stop for metro service to the city, but we took the 20 minute drive. They have a nice looking pool area, but it was too cold," according to Joe R.
Natural setting: Despite proximity to urban areas, many cabins maintain woodland surroundings. "Great night sky viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings," explains Napunani about Little Bennett.
Transportation convenience: Cherry Hill Park provides direct transportation options to major attractions. "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," shares Jennifer H.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance booking with specific check-in windows. "This was also the first time we have ever had to wait till exactly 3pm to check in. So if you arrive early expect to wait until 3," advises Gabrielle E.
Seasonal availability: Ramblin' Pines operates year-round cabins for winter stays. "Open all year" and "clean," notes Jeff B., making this location valuable for off-season cabin trips.
Site preparation: Weather conditions can impact cabin site accessibility. "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down," cautions Alexandra T.
Firewood regulations: Outside firewood is restricted at most parks. "Remember: no alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects. But the money goes toward the parks volunteer program," explains Sean M.
Activity planning: Schedule around organized children's events at campgrounds. "The park was nice, 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," shares Ben G.
Nature education: Pohick Bay Campground offers wildlife viewing opportunities. "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" mentions Kathie M.
Weather preparation: Pack additional supplies for unexpected conditions. "After the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby. Where we were hiking," warns Alexandra T., highlighting the importance of weather awareness with children.
Bathroom proximity: Select cabin sites near facilities when traveling with young children. "The only drawback is that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. The bathhouse is central and well maintained," notes Alexandra T.
Site leveling: Bull Run Regional Park requires preparation for uneven sites. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," advises Drew M.
Utility hookups: Electric service varies between campgrounds, with some offering limited power. "D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C& E are tents only. AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy," explains Ray & Terri F.
Camping style options: Multiple accommodation types exist at most parks. "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it," shares Bridget H.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Columbia, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Columbia, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Columbia, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 41 cabin camping locations near Columbia, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
