Camping near Dickerson, Maryland provides easy access to the Potomac River and Appalachian Mountains, with most campgrounds situated at elevations between 300-500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F, creating ideal conditions for outdoor activities from April through October. Sites fill quickly on weekends when day temperatures reach the 80s.
What to Do
Hiking the C&O Canal: Brunswick Family Campground offers direct access to the historic towpath. "The C&O canal cuts right through to allow for some great walks. Close to Harpers Ferry and tubing," notes Susan K. The path connects to numerous trails for multi-day explorations.
Mountain biking: Gambrill State Park Campground attracts riders with technical trails. "Right outside the park is the Frederick watershed where many locals take advantage of the trails for mountain biking," explains Melissa C. The park features multiple trail loops with varying difficulty levels.
Fishing spots: Riverside sites allow for bank fishing without additional travel. "The Shanandoah is just as beautiful. The little store has just the necessities and there is an amazing playground for the kids," shares Brian S. about his experience at Brunswick Family Campground. Many campers bring their own gear for smallmouth bass and catfish.
What Campers Like
River access: Harpers Ferry Campground provides waterfront sites. "It is right on the river so you can go swimming right from your campsite! The only downside is you are directly next to train tracks," explains Robin W. Sites along the water typically cost $5-10 more than standard sites.
Privacy between sites: Greenbrier State Park Campground offers wooded separation. "Each loop winds its way up a hillside, in a woodsy setting, so even though the sites are close to one another, you get a feeling of separation," notes Jonathan B. The campground features four distinct camping loops with varying levels of seclusion.
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities receive regular attention. "The bathhouse was very clean and the staff friendly. Water fill & Dump Station on the beach side of the bathhouse," reports Corey B. about Lake Fairfax Campground. Most established campgrounds clean facilities twice daily during peak season.
What You Should Know
Train noise: Multiple campgrounds along the Potomac River sit near active rail lines. At Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA, one camper noted, "Cell service in the area for both AT&T and Verizon was poor. I do not know if this was due to the terrain or lack of towers." Train schedules typically show most activity between 5am-10pm.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in this mountainous region have uneven terrain. "Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," reported a camper at Little Bennett Campground. Bringing extra leveling blocks is recommended, especially for sites numbered 60-80 in most parks.
Weekend crowding: Summer weekends fill quickly, particularly at sites with water access. "When we pulled the rangers where blocking traffic to the park. They said that the park was full. OMG they were right," shares Jim L. about Greenbrier State Park. Reservations made 3-4 months in advance are strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday stays.
Tips for Camping with Families
Water activities: Lake Fairfax Campground offers multiple water features. "A lot to do: mountain bike trails; wooded hikes with water along the trails, skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing, & canoeing," shares Amy B. The water park charges a separate admission fee of $10-15 per person.
Educational opportunities: Historic sites provide learning experiences. "Harpers Ferry Lower Town and Bolivar Heights are a few minutes by car (or shuttle from the Visitor Center). Frederick and Antietam are each barely 30-minutes by car," notes Matt S. Many sites offer junior ranger programs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature updated play equipment. "My family loves this camp ground. It's conveniently located, it's quite, it's beautiful and there is plenty to do to keep the kids busy," reports Ryan D. about Little Bennett Campground. Most playgrounds are centrally located near bathroom facilities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: End sites typically offer more space. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup. D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C& E are tents only," advises Ray & Terri F. about Little Bennett Campground. Corner sites often cost $2-5 more per night but provide 30-40% more space.
Dump station locations: Several campgrounds offer convenient facilities. "Clean and level gravel site with well-maintained utility hook-ups," reports Matt S. about Harpers Ferry KOA. Dump stations typically operate from 8am-8pm with limited Sunday hours at some locations.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly throughout the region. "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," notes Ray & Terri F. Signal boosters are recommended for remote work needs, particularly in valley campgrounds.
