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Campgrounds near Elkridge, Maryland range from full-service RV parks to more rustic tent camping areas, with several options within a 30-minute drive. Patapsco Valley State Park offers multiple camping areas including the Hilton Area and Hollofield Area, both providing tent sites, RV spots, and some cabin accommodations. Cherry Hill Park in College Park provides more amenities with electric hookups, water, sewer connections, and accommodations for tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping options. Greenbelt Park Campground, operated by the National Park Service, offers a more natural setting with tent and RV sites but fewer hookups, making it popular for those seeking a more primitive experience while still being close to urban areas.
"This campground is what it is, just a camp site. It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD," noted one camper about Patapsco Valley State Park. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with many sites open from April through October. Patapsco Valley State Park's camping areas typically operate from April 1 to October 30, while some private campgrounds like Ramblin' Pines in Woodbine remain open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend camping during summer months when sites fill quickly. Weather in the region can be humid in summer with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall offer more moderate temperatures. Many campgrounds provide basic amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathrooms, though the quality and availability of showers varies by location.
Campers frequently mention the convenience of camping near urban areas while still enjoying natural surroundings. "If you are looking for an affordable outdoors-y option to stay while you're visiting DC from out of town, this probably fits the bill," one reviewer wrote about Greenbelt Park. The region's campgrounds often provide access to hiking trails, with Patapsco Valley State Park featuring numerous paths along the Patapsco River. Several campgrounds offer water-based recreation opportunities, though swimming is prohibited in some areas like Patapsco River. Sites with electric hookups tend to be more crowded and closer together than non-electric sites. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some campgrounds experiencing occasional aircraft noise from nearby military installations or airports, while others provide more secluded experiences, particularly during weekdays or off-season periods. For campers seeking reliable amenities, sites near Elkridge span a wide spectrum — from primitive campsites with fire rings and pit toilets to full-hookup RV parks with shower facilities and camp stores.
"Metrorail is about 6 miles from campground, near University of Maryland."
"Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."
from $999 / night
Check Availability"Camp site(Tent camping)
The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :) It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD.""Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
from $20 - $51 / night
Check Availability"It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April- one of our first experiences in a Maryland State Park. Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking /multi use trails."
"This campground is pleasant, but the sites are situated quite close to one another."
from $19 - $27 / night
Check Availability"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"The campsite is superb with walking trails, wildlife and the occasional overflying US Presidential Helicopter. Easily accessible from close by freeways, and charmingly peaceful"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick."
"We love this home away from home ❤️"
from $30 - $70 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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
Check Availability"Quiet woods in Maryland about 30 or 40 miles north of DC. Tenting, and RV spots partial to full service. Just of hiway 270. pricey ($66/night) for a state park, but nice."
"PROS Very nice small Montgomery County Park
No reservation fee to make on-line reservations
Reserved 137 days prior to arriving
Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone"
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
ScoutThe park is very well maintained, and the campsites have clean fire pits and cooking grills. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and well maintained, and my campsite was large enough to comfortably fit a 6-person tent and a canopy.
However, there were a few concerns during our stay. Despite the campground’s quiet hours policy starting at 10:00 PM, many campers continued to make noise well past that time. I did not notice any campground staff or maintenance personnel making rounds to enforce the quiet hours.
I also felt concerned about security. One of my neighboring campers, who was visiting from South Carolina, told me that his generator had been stolen during the night. He reported the theft to the police, and an official report was filed. Incidents like this made me feel unsafe while camping.
I recommend increasing staff or security patrols, especially during the evening and overnight hours, to enforce quiet hours and improve the safety and security of campers and their belongings. With better enforcement and security, Burke Lake Campground would provide an even better camping experience.
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
ScoutThis campsite was amazing for our first tent camping experience. The park was a godsend for keeping our toddler occupied and we felt very safe overall. While the beach is pretty, be careful about the water condition. We were warned before entering and informed of the risks. They were very clear on the condition of the water that day which was a yellow, slight risk. But normally it should be okay. We would definitely camp here again.
ScoutStaff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
TravelerFor $90 per night the WiFi should work better. Didn’t connect at all. Had to use the antenna pointed East to get local Baltimore news.
ScoutThis camp ground is like a resort with 2 pools mini golf splash pad and many other amenities
Camping options near Elkridge, Maryland range from full-service RV parks to primitive tent sites within 30 miles of the city. Located in the Piedmont region with elevations between 100-500 feet, the area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures averaging 85-90°F and mild springs and falls. Winter camping is available at select locations like Ramblin' Pines in Woodbine, which stays open year-round with temperatures typically ranging from 30-45°F.
Hiking trails with river access: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers 70 miles of trails with varying difficulty levels. "My wife and I were trying to find a beautiful area near Annapolis and found it to be private, beautiful, well maintained," a visitor noted about outdoor recreation in the region.
Metro access to DC attractions: Greenbelt Park Campground provides urban camping with easy city access. "The green line takes you to the National Mall... This worked very well for us. You can pay for the metro with an app or get a card, either way it costs you $2 to buy the card, and then $2 each way on the train," writes Laura M..
Children's activities: Little Bennett Campground offers family-friendly recreation options. "There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park. The nature center was closed when we visited, but the kids still enjoyed the sensory trail and playground," writes Angel G.
Water-based recreation: Chesapeake Bay access from nearby parks for swimming and water sports. "We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park," reports Alexandra T. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Privacy between sites: Many campsites in the area offer natural buffers. "Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors," writes a camper about Little Bennett Campground, which features spacious, wooded sites.
Convenience to urban areas: Washington DC / Capitol KOA offers proximity to major cities with camping amenities. "We only spent three nights there. Staff was friendly and helpful with any information we needed. Nice play ground for the kids. They also really enjoyed the jumping pillow," notes Stephanie H.
Clean facilities: Campground bathhouses and amenities receive regular maintenance. "The bathhouse is nothing special, but it's well maintained and clean. The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat," reports Sean M. about Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area.
Natural settings close to cities: The ability to camp in wooded environments minutes from urban areas is frequently mentioned. "If you are looking for an urban oasis, this is it. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," writes Becky about Greenbelt Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season. "Reserved 137 days prior to arriving," notes one camper at Little Bennett Campground about planning ahead.
Campsite types: Cherry Hill Park offers multiple accommodation options. "There are some nice tenting sites under the trees and off by themselves for the true campers, and for the rest of us glampers there are hookups and lots to do," explains Scott C.
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate from April through October with limited winter options. "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. Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby," reports Alexandra T. about weather challenges.
Noise levels: Despite wooded settings, some campgrounds experience urban noise. "The negatives are the planes from the airport kept flying over, which made it hard to sleep," Jennifer S. mentions about Hollofield Area Campground.
Playground access: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hollofield Area features nature-based play areas. "There is a 'natural' playground in the loop, and then if you drive down further to the park entrance, there is a large playground for the kids. I've attached photos from the 'natural playground' aka, large rocks and overturned trees. The kids loved it," shares Jennifer S.
Activity options: Campgrounds with recreational amenities help keep children entertained. "They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc). If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy," says Elise M. about Washington DC / Capitol KOA.
Weekend crowding: Many parks fill to capacity during summer weekends, making weekday visits better for families. "The campground and park fill up on the weekends but are nearly empty during the week," reports Rebecca C. about camping conditions.
Mini cabins: Alternative camping options for families new to camping. "We absolutely loved this campground!! Very short drive in to Baltimore- around 30 minutes. Nice playground for the kids. Some nice scenic areas- great for pictures," writes Gayle B. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Site leveling: Many RV sites require adjustment for proper leveling. "Site wasn't level at all. I was actually kind of worried that it would slide into the woods," notes one camper at Washington DC / Capitol KOA.
Limited hookup options: Ramblin' Pines provides full hookups for RVs. "Nice large sites with friendly staff. Lots of free activities for children and it's close to home," reports Christopher M. about the RV-friendly campground.
Approach directions: Some campgrounds have height or access restrictions. "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park)," warns Travyl Couple about Hollofield Area Campground.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds with electric have sewer connections. "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank," notes a reviewer about Hollofield Area Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Elkridge, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elkridge, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What parks are near Elkridge, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Elkridge, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.
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