Dowell is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Dowell campgrounds just for you. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Dowell camping trip.
The campground will be closed for the 2023 season due to water and sewer replacement.
This park's peaceful surroundings on a peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River in St. Mary's County belie its history as the location of a camp which imprisoned as many as 52,264 Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. A museum on site recounts this vivid history. A park map is available at park headquarters, the camp office, camp store and the Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center. The Point Lookout Lighthouse is currently closed for renovations.
$21 - $50 / night
The lat/long on The Dyrt were updated 5/5/2022 to reflect what the State Forest site says is the CORRECT way to get into this campground.
Equestrian Camping
Campsites are primitive and a bathhouse is located in the center of the equestrian/special events camping loop. Equestrian Camping is roughly $30.00 per night per campsite. Make a reservation by calling 1-888-432-2267 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online during the camping season (April through October). A horse is required to stay in this campground. Youth Group Camping
Youth group passes are honored. Youth group camping reservations can only be made by calling the Maryland Park Service Reservation Service at 1-888-432-2267 Make future reservations by calling 1-888-432-2267 or online. The Maryland Park Service reserves the right to restrict the maximum and minimum number of vehicles and individuals admitted under one youth group pass per visit.
Check out a map of the youth group and special event loops.Family Camping
Family camping is available from April to October. Walk-ins are not permitted in office; same day reservations are made by calling 1-888-432-2267 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online (24/7).
Check out a map of the Family Camping Area.$30 / night
Youth Group Camping
There are five youth group camping sites available and reservations are required. Youth Group passes are honored.
Access to pit toilets, fire ring, and one 12 foot picnic table are provided with each site. (Available April-October)
You can make reservations through parkreservations.maryland.gov or by calling 1-888-432-2267.
Choose your next adventure at Pohick Bay Campground in Lorton, Virginia. Bring the kids for a day of splashing and sliding at Pirate’s Cove Waterpark, spend a day on the bay with our canoe, paddleboard, stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals; or bring your own boat to our public boat launch ramp. Make a day of it by renting a picnic shelter or stay a little longer and reserve one of our cabins or campsites.
$30 - $60 / night
The mainland portion of the park offers over 100 campsites, 49 of which are equipped with electrical hook-ups to accommodate tent or vehicle campers.
Each site is equipped with a camping pad, picnic table, fire ring and lantern post.
Three centrally located bath houses have hot water showers and flush toilets.
Campers must arrive and check-in before quiet hours start at 10:00 PM. Campers who arrive after 10:00 PM will not be allowed into the park and will have to find other accommodations for the night.
Backcountry Campsites and Permits The primitive backcountry campsites are equipped with tent platforms and boat landings. Campers at these environmentally sensitive sites must obtain a permit from the park and strictly follow Leave No Trace principles. Call the park at 410-968-1565 for more information about backcountry permits.
Youth Group Camping The park offers a 30 person youth group site, featuring a shaded but open area with a stone fire pit, group grill and picnic tables.
Full Service Cabins Four rustic waterfront cabins are available for rent year round. Each sleeps six persons and is equipped with three bedrooms, a common area, kitchen, bathroom, a screened porch with picnic table, air conditioning, heat, gas log fireplaces (available seasonally), an outdoor fire ring with a grill, a picnic table and ample parking. Cabin kitchens are equipped with an oven, stove, refrigerator, coffee pot, microwave, basic cooking utensils and service for six. Renters must provide their own towels and bedding (linens, pillows and blankets).
Camper Cabins Four waterfront camper cabins that sleep four are available during the camping season. Each has a capacity of four persons and is equipped with air conditioning and heat, electric, a table and chairs, either two sets of bunk beds or a double bed and a set of bunk beds, ceiling fan, a picnic table and fire ring. Occupants must use the campground bathhouses.
Located just outside of Crisfield on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Janes Island State Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Within the mainland portion of the park are the campground, with 103 campsites, rental cabins, a lodge, picnic areas, pavilions, and the boat ramp and marina.
The island portion of the park – Janes Island – includes over 2,900 acres of saltmarsh, over 30 miles of water trails and miles of isolated pristine beaches. Although people have harvested the resources of the island for thousands of years, today the island is wild and seemingly untouched. A haven for birds, fish, crabs and other saltmarsh dwellers, Janes Island provides visitors a tranquil setting to explore the wildlife of the bay while enjoying the expansive vistas and stunningly beautiful sunsets. Whether fishing or crabbing, motor boating, paddling or simply relaxing, visitors to Janes Island will experience a world still ruled by the weather, the tides and the wildlife that first drew people to this very special place.
The park offers ADA accessible restrooms and four accessible campsites. The park store, nature center, picnic pavilions, recreation area, fish cleaning station and dock area are also ADA accessible.
There is no fee to enter the park for day-use, but there is a fee to use the park's boat ramp. ($7.00 for Maryland residents. $9.00 for out of state residents.)
$21 - $87 / night
Matoaka is a privately owned and operated bay-front getaway in Calvert County, Maryland. The facility is nestled quietly on the west shore of the Chesapeake Bay with hundreds of feet of bay views and a one third of a mile private sandy beach for visitor access.
The property's many acres are primarily wooded with fields and a winding dirt lane which brings visitors to the main grounds. The main grounds boast beautiful views of the bay, sunrises, and easy access to the beach. The cabins back up to a bamboo forest and overlook the bay.
Cabin Rentals: April 15 to November 1
Check in between 3-8pm - Check out by 11 am
Dogs are not permitted
All cabins have their own kitchen with fridge, propane stove, microwave & basket style coffeemaker.
Bathrooms have stall showers, flush toilets and sink.
Grills are for charcoal cooking only, no wood fires please.
Cabins are not furnished with bedding, towels nor kitchen utencils, etc.
Please remember to bring: Bedding, towels, kitchen items, paper products, soap and charcoal for the grill.
Area Info:
Grocery stores are located about 10 minute drive away in both Prince Frederick (north) and Lusby (south).
Nearby Restaurants -
Gateway Seafood Restaurant & Lounge, Port Republic, MD (Take out & Dine-in)
Fredy's Woodfire Pizza, Prince Frederick, MD (Delivery Available)
Happy Buddha, Saint Leonard, MD (Take out)
NOTE: THERE IS A 2 NIGHT MINIMUM FOR HOLIDAY WEEKENDS.
Great place for fishing, camping, kayaking, lazy days on the beach grilling and hanging out with family and friends. Book family events on the beach. Come and explore the historic Benedict village. Join us at our Endeavor Point to enjoy simplicity and remarkable views of the Patuxent river. The Endeavor Point is located at the end of Mill Creek Road, offering breathtaking views of the Patuxent river, overlooking Golden Beach and St. Mary's County shoreline. Far enough for a serene retreat and yet just a few minutes drive to shops and restaurants in Prince Frederick or Charlotte Hall. Endeavor Point is a diamond in the rough. Come play, fish, relax, and have fun! Whether you’re in Maryland for a day, weekend stop or a week of touring, Endeavor Point is the perfect spot for bird watching, fishing, kayaking, camping, stargazing, or just enjoying a serene evening by the fire. Enjoy breathtaking views from each one of our 3 comfortable accommodations or from any of the campsites. Spacious outdoor area, rustic beach, long pier. Explore the Patuxent river or Mill Creek with our kayaks or paddle board, available for rent on site.
$55 - $95 / night
Breezy Point Campground is closed for the 2023 season for both short-term and seasonal camping for the completion of an extensive shoreline restoration project on the camping beach area. This project will consist of erosion mitigation and beach revitalization.
At Breezy Point Beach, there’s fun for the whole family. Our beach is a popular destination for fossil hunting, swimming in the bay and fishing. Because of the popularity of the beautiful beach, especially during summer weekends and holidays, the park often fills to capacity. We highly recommend you visit our Facebook page or call ahead of time to ensure the capacity status of the beach: https://www.facebook.com/breezypointbeachpark/
$60 - $70 / night
The campground will be closed for the 2023 season due to water and sewer replacement.
This park's peaceful surroundings on a peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River in St. Mary's County belie its history as the location of a camp which imprisoned as many as 52,264 Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. A museum on site recounts this vivid history. A park map is available at park headquarters, the camp office, camp store and the Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center. The Point Lookout Lighthouse is currently closed for renovations.
$21 - $50 / night
The lat/long on The Dyrt were updated 5/5/2022 to reflect what the State Forest site says is the CORRECT way to get into this campground.
Equestrian Camping
Campsites are primitive and a bathhouse is located in the center of the equestrian/special events camping loop. Equestrian Camping is roughly $30.00 per night per campsite. Make a reservation by calling 1-888-432-2267 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online during the camping season (April through October). A horse is required to stay in this campground. Youth Group Camping
Youth group passes are honored. Youth group camping reservations can only be made by calling the Maryland Park Service Reservation Service at 1-888-432-2267 Make future reservations by calling 1-888-432-2267 or online. The Maryland Park Service reserves the right to restrict the maximum and minimum number of vehicles and individuals admitted under one youth group pass per visit.
Check out a map of the youth group and special event loops.Family Camping
Family camping is available from April to October. Walk-ins are not permitted in office; same day reservations are made by calling 1-888-432-2267 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online (24/7).
Check out a map of the Family Camping Area.$30 / night
Youth Group Camping
There are five youth group camping sites available and reservations are required. Youth Group passes are honored.
Access to pit toilets, fire ring, and one 12 foot picnic table are provided with each site. (Available April-October)
You can make reservations through parkreservations.maryland.gov or by calling 1-888-432-2267.
Choose your next adventure at Pohick Bay Campground in Lorton, Virginia. Bring the kids for a day of splashing and sliding at Pirate’s Cove Waterpark, spend a day on the bay with our canoe, paddleboard, stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals; or bring your own boat to our public boat launch ramp. Make a day of it by renting a picnic shelter or stay a little longer and reserve one of our cabins or campsites.
$30 - $60 / night
The mainland portion of the park offers over 100 campsites, 49 of which are equipped with electrical hook-ups to accommodate tent or vehicle campers.
Each site is equipped with a camping pad, picnic table, fire ring and lantern post.
Three centrally located bath houses have hot water showers and flush toilets.
Campers must arrive and check-in before quiet hours start at 10:00 PM. Campers who arrive after 10:00 PM will not be allowed into the park and will have to find other accommodations for the night.
Backcountry Campsites and Permits The primitive backcountry campsites are equipped with tent platforms and boat landings. Campers at these environmentally sensitive sites must obtain a permit from the park and strictly follow Leave No Trace principles. Call the park at 410-968-1565 for more information about backcountry permits.
Youth Group Camping The park offers a 30 person youth group site, featuring a shaded but open area with a stone fire pit, group grill and picnic tables.
Full Service Cabins Four rustic waterfront cabins are available for rent year round. Each sleeps six persons and is equipped with three bedrooms, a common area, kitchen, bathroom, a screened porch with picnic table, air conditioning, heat, gas log fireplaces (available seasonally), an outdoor fire ring with a grill, a picnic table and ample parking. Cabin kitchens are equipped with an oven, stove, refrigerator, coffee pot, microwave, basic cooking utensils and service for six. Renters must provide their own towels and bedding (linens, pillows and blankets).
Camper Cabins Four waterfront camper cabins that sleep four are available during the camping season. Each has a capacity of four persons and is equipped with air conditioning and heat, electric, a table and chairs, either two sets of bunk beds or a double bed and a set of bunk beds, ceiling fan, a picnic table and fire ring. Occupants must use the campground bathhouses.
Located just outside of Crisfield on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Janes Island State Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Within the mainland portion of the park are the campground, with 103 campsites, rental cabins, a lodge, picnic areas, pavilions, and the boat ramp and marina.
The island portion of the park – Janes Island – includes over 2,900 acres of saltmarsh, over 30 miles of water trails and miles of isolated pristine beaches. Although people have harvested the resources of the island for thousands of years, today the island is wild and seemingly untouched. A haven for birds, fish, crabs and other saltmarsh dwellers, Janes Island provides visitors a tranquil setting to explore the wildlife of the bay while enjoying the expansive vistas and stunningly beautiful sunsets. Whether fishing or crabbing, motor boating, paddling or simply relaxing, visitors to Janes Island will experience a world still ruled by the weather, the tides and the wildlife that first drew people to this very special place.
The park offers ADA accessible restrooms and four accessible campsites. The park store, nature center, picnic pavilions, recreation area, fish cleaning station and dock area are also ADA accessible.
There is no fee to enter the park for day-use, but there is a fee to use the park's boat ramp. ($7.00 for Maryland residents. $9.00 for out of state residents.)
$21 - $87 / night