Hollofield Area Campground features a dedicated pet loop section separated from the main camping areas for visitors with dogs. Sites throughout this campground offer crushed stone pads with picnic tables and fire rings with grill grates. Tent campers and RV owners with pets can reserve spots in the pet-friendly section, though bathhouse access requires a longer walk from this area. Firewood is available for purchase from camp hosts who deliver directly to sites. Camp Meade RV Park and Cherry Hill Park also welcome pets with designated dog-friendly accommodations including cabins, RV sites with full hookups, and tent camping areas. The bathrooms at Hollofield remain clean but dated, with several reviewers noting plans for future renovations.
Trails accessible directly from Hollofield and other pet-friendly campgrounds connect to over 70 miles of hiking paths, making these dog-friendly campsites near Ellicott City a strong base for active visitors with pets. Dogs must remain leashed while exploring the forested terrain, with multiple river access points providing opportunities for pets to cool off during summer months. The Hilton Area of the park offers both tent sites and mini-cabins that accept pets, along with two playgrounds and a nature center with a sensory trail suitable for families with dogs. Campers note that despite proximity to suburban neighborhoods and major highways, the wooded settings create a secluded atmosphere where wildlife sightings are common, particularly in early morning hours. Both campground areas enforce a strict policy against bringing outside firewood and alcohol, though alcohol is permitted inside RVs at some locations.
$20 - $51 / night
"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."
$19 - $27 / night
"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."
"Pet friendly. Very quiet. I only gave it 4 stars because the camp sites are too close together. Fire pits were well designed, bathrooms were relatively clean."
$999 / night
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
$30 - $70 / night
"We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting."
"We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick."
$20 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"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"
$20 - $195 / night
"We got a spot for two nights in the pet area. We were shaded by trees, but the spots weren’t very private. Bathroom facilities are nice."
"The open field pet friendly sites are also large but provide no shade and it gets hot! You can feel the difference between these sites and the interior loop sites. "
$150 - $200 / night
GuideWe stayed for 10 days in a rustic cabin. Campground is well organized and clean. Tons of activities and even a hiking path. Pet friendly with small dog park. We had civil war soldiers drilling and staying the weekend we were there. Bathrooms are super clean.
RangerThis is part of a super large park that runs 32 miles along the Patapsco River. 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. There are parks on both sides of the river to explore and experience the trails. Be sure to bring/download maps. You are close to Ellicott& Columbia in Maryland and DC.
Campsites- nice size gravel sites, some are a bit close to each other in the “electric” loop and some face a neighborhood that probably couldn’t be seen if the trees had regained all their foliage. There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank. No washer or dryers. There is one bathhouse for the campground, which was clean and well maintained. Tenters will be happy because many of the smaller sites were more secluded and had great views of the woods. Cell coverage was good with our sprint/Verizon.
ALSO- 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.)
We enjoyed hiking the trails directly from our campsite that led us down to the Patapsco River. There is a lot of history associated with the River and the area. You can even swim in this river. Fishing looked like fun too but we didn’t have time.
We really loved road biking to the nearby H Mart to have fun shopping and browsing their unique selection. (This is a super large Korean store packed with fruits, vegetables, seafood and other food stuff that could put an American grocery store to shame. If you are into K Beauty, they have a nice selection)
You can also bike/drive to nearby Ellicott city which has a charming downtown area.
There is mountain biking and kayaking in the area but we were not in explorer mode this visit because we were visiting family.
Here is a link to the updated trail map of the area:
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Documents/Patapsco_HollofieldPickallmap.pdf
Happy Camping! Pamela and Keith
GuideWe have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.
LegendThis place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September. The original site the gave us had a large rut and washed out spot, so we could not get level. I checked in the office and the reassigned another space that was much better. Full hook ups, nice clean shower and bathrooms, playground, pool, large dog park.
TravelerThe staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
ScoutOverall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them. Also the pool and dog park isn’t on site you have to leave to go to it.
TravelerOur first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.
You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.
RangerThis is a campers dream site. Everything you can think of is offered here. You have to check their website to see all. This is the closest site to Washington DC. Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. Pets are pampered here. Even dog walking service available.
ScoutSmaller campground, but big on amenities!
Staff was friendly, attentive and the Campground is extremely well-cared for. Sites vary in sizes and are well-defined. They have a great camp store and their mini-golf was just remodeled and a lot of fun to play. In addition to that, there is a bounce pad, shuffle board, horseshoes, chess, over-sized jenga, playground, dog park, gem mining, basketball, bikes, wood, propane, etc. and they pick up trash daily right at your site. All of this in a beautiful wooded spot near Gettysburg.
I highly recommend!
Patapsco Valley State Park stretches over 16,000 acres along 32 miles of the Patapsco River in central Maryland. The campgrounds near Ellicott City range from developed sites with electric hookups to basic tent camping areas, with most operating seasonally from April through October. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions with daytime highs in the 60s to 70s.
Hiking accessible trails: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area features multiple trail options with varying difficulty levels. "This park has a wide range of activities for kids. The hike I did was not very long but was well worth it. The trail was well marked but there was some confusion at one point on where we were suppose to go," notes Anthony S.
Family playground time: Head to the Hilton Area for excellent play structures. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," shares Angel G., adding "Be aware that neither the hiking trails or playground are stroller friendly."
Water activities: When temperatures rise in summer months, cool off in the water. "Roland Lake in Baltimore County is a great place to kayak on the Patapsco River. Tons of wildlife, facilities, and amenities for you and your family," explains Anthony S. from his experience at Patapsco Valley State Park.
Seasonal animal viewing: Codorus State Park Campground offers opportunities to observe local wildlife around its large lake. "The lake is large and fun to explore in the boat," shares Sarah L., who rented a pontoon boat during her stay.
Natural spaces within urban areas: Greenbelt Park Campground offers wooded sites despite its proximity to major cities. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," explains Becky, who appreciates using the campground as a convenient getaway.
Secluded sites in RV areas: At Ramblin' Pines, campers can find more private sites even when facilities are busy. "My brother lives about ten minutes from this campground. He failed to make a reservation so we ended up on a primitive site w no electric or water. Which actually worked out quite well in the end we made it work for us. The spot he chose was big enough for two tents," reports Michelle L.
Easy DC access: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for capital visits. "Getting to DC: There's normally a walking path from the campground to the metro station that takes you into DC (the green line takes you to the National Mall)," explains Laura M. about Greenbelt Park Campground, noting that "The train ride from the Greenbelt station to the national mall is about 30 min."
Level sites for easier setup: When camping with pets near Ellicott City, Maryland, site conditions matter. "Being just barely off the beaten path, I wasn't expecting all too much from the one night stay over planned heading from New Jersey to Shenandoah in Virginia. I was surprised at the quiet, understated beauty of the forestry around the perfectly level campsite," shares Diana S. about Hollofield Area Campground.
Advanced reservations required: Most campgrounds in the Ellicott City region fill quickly, especially on weekends. "We arrived at 1am, hadn't made a reservation, and it was closed and the gates locked. No where on the website does it say it's closed. Very frustrating, especially as a weary traveler," reports a visitor to Greenbelt Park Campground.
Seasonal operation: Plan ahead as most parks close during winter months. "This is our second time to this campground and our first in a new RV. Campground is very close to the Baltimore beltway and basically in a neighborhood but you feel like you are farther from things," explains Michelle H. about Hollofield Area Campground.
Check-in procedures vary: Know the process before arriving. "One drawback is that the spot to check in is a little tricky to find and not very well marked," warns Michelle H. about Hollofield Area, while at Little Bennett Campground, campers note specific entry requirements: "Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone to proceed to campsite."
Site conditions for tents: The gravel pads at some sites may require extra preparation. "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," advises Sean M. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Bring appropriate bedding: Tent campers should prepare for specific ground conditions. "We stayed at site 430. It was a perfect spot tucked away from the others and a short walk to the restrooms. You can purchase firewood from the camp hosts nearby as well," suggests Andrea S. about Hollofield Area Campground.
Consider age-appropriate sites: Different loops cater to different needs at most parks. "Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft. No hookups at any of the sites," explains Laura M. about Greenbelt Park Campground.
Seek out pet-friendly attractions: Cherry Hill Park welcomes pets and offers activities for all ages. "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," notes Elise M.
Consider sound levels: Airport noise affects some campgrounds more than others. "The things I didn't like about it were the old bathrooms- they were clean, but very outdated-, and the fact that the planes from the airport kept flying over, which made it hard to sleep," mentions Jennifer S. about Hollofield Area Campground.
Approach directions matter: Pay attention to height restrictions when arriving with larger vehicles. "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 a reviewer about Little Bennett Campground.
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds offer electric only. "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank. No washer or dryers," explains Travyl Couple about Hollofield Area Campground.
Site spacing varies: Research specific loops and sites. "Great wooded sites set far apart from each other in two concentric circles. The inner circle has electric but no water or sewer. The outer circle is primitive. There is a dump station," notes Rebecca C. about Hollofield Area.
Cell service expectations: Coverage is generally good but can vary by provider. "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. OTA TV was descent using an external omni antenna," explains Ray & Terri F. about their stay at Little Bennett Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ellicott City, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ellicott City, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.2-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ellicott City, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 90 dog-friendly camping locations near Ellicott City, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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