Camping options near Sykesville, Maryland range from wooded state parks to family-friendly campgrounds with modern amenities. Situated in the Piedmont Plateau at approximately 545 feet elevation, the area experiences warm summers and mild springs and falls with average temperatures between 70-85°F during peak camping season. Local campgrounds often feature fishing ponds, hiking trails, and planned weekend activities that change seasonally.
What to do
Horseback riding tours: Artillery Ridge Campground offers guided battlefield tours on horseback through historic Gettysburg. "You can take guided tours of the battlefield on horseback. Nice catch and release pond in campground," mentions one camper who visited during a holiday weekend.
Hiking trail exploration: Little Bennett Campground features an extensive network of hiking paths. According to a visitor, "This place is quiet, the spaces are big. Lots of nature trails." The trails vary in difficulty and showcase the native Maryland forest ecosystem.
Water activities: Codorus State Park Campground centers around a 43-acre lake with multiple recreation options. "You can bring your own boat (gas allowed) or rent one from their marina. There is no swimming allowed in the lake but there is a pool located at the park," explains one camper, noting there's no additional cost for pool access when staying overnight.
Historical sites: Gettysburg Campground puts you minutes from Civil War battlefields and museums. "It's a few minute drive to historic Gettysburg. It's nice and out of the way of the busy parts of town," says a regular visitor who returns annually to explore the area's rich history.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Merry Meadows Recreation Farm receives praise for its site layout. "Wooded sites, open sites, tent sites. All great!" shares a frequent visitor who made five trips in a single year. The campground offers a mix of shaded and open spaces to accommodate different preferences.
Clean, updated facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathrooms at many area campgrounds. At Washington DC/Capitol KOA, "The grounds were clean and well maintained. The campground store had a great variety of merchandise and camping essentials," according to a recent visitor.
Family-friendly amenities: Cherry Hill Park offers extensive recreation options. "We loved the brick patio with patio furniture. Close to plenty of attractions," writes one camper. Another adds, "Mini golf, two pools, arcade, 24 hour laundry, a store and office open early and late!"
Natural water features: Several campgrounds incorporate creeks or ponds into their design. At Gettysburg Campground, tent sites are positioned "right by river. Not far to go anywhere walking. Porta potties were cleanest I have ever seen even with a ton of recent rain."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds in the region fill quickly, especially during summer and fall. "This is a very busy campground and I was advised it normally sells out on weekends, so securing a site in advance is wise," notes a visitor to Cunningham Falls State Park.
Seasonal operations: Operating seasons vary significantly between campgrounds. Codorus State Park Campground runs from the second Friday in April until November 1, while Little Bennett Campground operates from April 1 to October 30. Some campgrounds like Ramblin' Pines remain open year-round.
Site characteristics: Terrain and site layout differ substantially between parks. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," describes a camper about Little Bennett's D Loop, adding "There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy."
Payment policies: Some campgrounds have specific requirements. A visitor to Merry Meadows notes, "One of the complaints was they work on cash. Yeah, I know it's not popular because most of us live in a plastic dominated world. I read it in advance and I just made sure we had some with us."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: When booking at Merry Meadows Recreation Farm, consider site location relative to play areas. "The pool through RV sites are in the centerfield and kind of exposed to the elements but you are right across from the pool and right across from an amazing playground," advises a frequent visitor.
Activity schedules: Plan around operating hours for family amenities. A camper at Ramblin' Pines shares, "This is our local campground and our second time here and we really like it. It has a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds."
Swimming restrictions: Check pool policies before promising kids swimming time. "I didn't like that non potty trained kids are not allowed to swim in their pool. Luckily we only have a 9 month old currently that isn't potty trained so she didn't care," explains a parent who stayed at Washington DC/Capitol KOA.
Education opportunities: Many campgrounds offer ranger programs during peak season. A regular at Cunningham Falls State Park notes, "During peak season, there are nature programs going on," providing educational opportunities for children to learn about local wildlife and ecology.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Cherry Hill Park, corner sites offer more privacy. "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side," advises an experienced RVer.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. "Site #D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," reports a camper about their stay at Artillery Ridge Campground.
Hookup variations: Review utility details when booking. "No water but the bath house was close and very clean," notes an RVer at Codorus State Park, while another camper at Little Bennett mentions their site had "50A service, water and sewer hookup. D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C & E are tents only."
Entry procedures: Some campgrounds have specific check-in processes. A visitor to Little Bennett explains, "Entrance gate required entry code. Instructed by staff via gate phone to proceed to campsite as check-in at camp store is at dead end with insufficient turning space for pickup towing 28ft bumper pull."
