1 campground with availability this weekend
The forested ridgelines surrounding Libertytown, Maryland offer several tent camping options within a 30-minute drive, ranging from primitive backcountry campsites to walk-in tent sites along the Potomac River. Annapolis Rock Campground along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail provides primitive tent-only camping at 1,700 feet elevation with panoramic views. Dahlgren Backpacker Campground in Greenbrier State Park serves as a dedicated tent camping area for Appalachian Trail hikers. For water-oriented camping, Antietam Creek Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park features walk-in tent sites along the Potomac River, while Washington Monument State Park Campground offers tent sites with both drive-in and walk-in access from April through October.
Most tent campsites in the region require some walking from parking areas, with distances ranging from 75 feet at Antietam Creek to substantial hikes for backcountry tent camping at Annapolis Rock. Surface conditions vary significantly, with Patapsco Valley State Park featuring crushed stone tent pads that require extra padding and alternative staking methods. Many primitive tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though Annapolis Rock prohibits fires and instead provides bear poles for food storage. Seasonal considerations affect availability, with most established campgrounds operating from April through October. Pack-in, pack-out policies are standard at most locations, with limited or no trash facilities available.
Tent campers seeking solitude often prefer the hiker-biker campsites along the C&O Canal, which provide basic amenities in natural settings. According to reviews, Antietam Creek offers "flat campsites with fire rings and picnic tables" though campers must "park on the road and walk about 75 feet" to reach their sites. One visitor noted that Annapolis Rock Campground provides "very basic camping, which is all you need when hiking the AT," with access to "glorious" overlook views. Weather considerations are important, as campers at Patapsco Valley reported that "when it rains it really flushes through the grounds," particularly affecting lower sites. Most tent-only areas provide shade from mature trees, with many riverside locations offering pleasant views but occasional train noise from nearby rail lines.
"Annapolis Rock Campground is right off the Appalachian Trail just about 1/5 of a mile before Annapolis Rock overlook."
"great primitive campsite that has undergone major restorations and preventative measures to reverse the damage from huge camping crowds of the past. no fires, but there are two privies and a really nice"
"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."
"There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side."
from $20 - $51 / night
"This is a stop on the AT open only to multi-day backpackers. I’ve heard it is sometimes enforced."
"Backpacker campground with bathrooms and showers. Close to the South Mountain Inn, a hiker friendly restaurant. Big field."
"All sites are walk-in only, which means you park on the street, cross the bridge over the C&O and towpath, and then down a little hill to your site."
"Small campground with a pit toilet right on the Potomac river picnic table and fire ring with a few nice trees throughout the camp area. Easy to get to and not far from the towns."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $175 / night
from $22 - $100 / night
from $150 - $200 / night
from $12 / night
"There is a porta potty, water pump, and picnic table. Wonderful spot on the river."
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.
TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
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.
GuideThis pet friendly campground in Caledonia State Park is .8 miles from the larger Chinquapin campground (no pets), ranger station and swimming pool. Our site #171 was level, paved, full hook ups and next to modern clean bathrooms with flush toilets, warm showers and outside dish washing sinks. Many available sites with and without services on a Sunday in October. There were a good number of friendly, tidy, long term campers with large wall tents. (They allow 21 day stays after Labor Day)
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.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
The central Maryland region surrounding Libertytown has tent camping areas accessible on both the Appalachian Trail and along the Potomac River. Campsites typically sit at elevations between 400-1,700 feet, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Several sites in this area require hikers to carry gear from parking areas, with walk distances ranging from 75 feet to over 2 miles.
Explore rock climbing spots: The cliffs at Annapolis Rock Campground provide both panoramic views and climbing opportunities. As camper Christopher B. notes, "Rock climbing available. Short walk to Annapolis rock," making this an ideal combination of camping and adventure sports.
Cool off in nearby waterways: During summer months when temperatures reach the 80s, many campers enjoy the water access. At Antietam Creek Campground, one visitor mentioned, "The Potomac is mostly flat with some 'swirlies' for experienced paddlers. I also saw some people tubing."
Visit historic monuments: The region contains significant Civil War history and monuments. While staying at tent sites, you can walk or drive to nearby historic areas. According to a camper at Horseshoe Bend, "Small campsite but no one else was there, so it was perfect. There is a porta potty, water pump, and picnic table. Wonderful spot on the river."
Natural water sources: Access to fresh spring water is appreciated by backpackers. At Dahlgren Backpacker Campground, a hiker mentioned, "The place also has fresh drinking water, another welcome site while on the AT."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The local ecosystem supports diverse wildlife. One Annapolis Rock camper warned, "Be careful for the copperheads that come warm up on the rocky overlook," indicating the natural habitat that surrounds many of the best tent camping near Libertytown, Maryland.
Shower access on trail: Some campsites offer unexpected amenities for backpackers. A hiker at Dahlgren noted it's a "Backpacker campground with bathrooms and showers. Close to the South Mountain Inn, a hiker friendly restaurant. Big field."
Tent pad conditions vary: Different campgrounds have varying surface types that affect setup. At Patapsco Valley State Park, campers report "The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground."
Weather impacts campsites differently: Drainage can be an issue at certain locations after rain. A Patapsco Valley camper noted, "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."
Bathroom maintenance varies: Facilities range from well-maintained to problematic. At Antietam Creek, one camper reported, "The one thing we had to complain about were the bathrooms. When we got there, they were okay, but by the 3rd night they were really gross."
Playground access: Families with children will find dedicated play areas at some campgrounds. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, Angel G. shared, "There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park."
Nature programs: Educational opportunities exist for young campers. According to Patapsco reviews, "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."
Consider cabin options: For families new to camping, cabins provide a transition option. A Patapsco review mentioned, "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.'"
Limited hookup options: Most tent camping areas near Libertytown have few accommodations for larger vehicles. At The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring, they specify "Groups only- no individual campsites," limiting options for RV campers.
Parking restrictions: Many sites require separate parking away from camping areas. At Antietam Creek, campers note, "You have to park on the road and walk about 75 feet to your site. Not much traffic on that road and a trail with many cyclists and runners."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult entrance points. A Patapsco Valley review noted, "It's a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood," indicating navigation can be challenging for larger vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Libertytown, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Libertytown, MD is Annapolis Rock Campground — Appalachian National Scenic Trail with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Libertytown, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Libertytown, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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