Camping cabins near Emmitsburg, Maryland offer diverse accommodations ranging from rustic to fully equipped units across several nearby state parks and private resorts. Located in the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains with elevations around 800 feet, the area experiences moderate seasonal temperature variations with summer highs reaching the mid-80s and winter lows often below freezing. Fall camping cabin rentals are especially popular when the surrounding hardwood forests display vibrant foliage colors.
What to do
Hiking to Cunningham Falls: Access the 43-acre Hunting Creek Lake and the waterfall trail from Houck - Cunningham Falls State Park. "The trails were very enjoyable and we hiked about 15 miles with sections of the Appalachian trail," notes Andres C., while another visitor mentioned, "The trail is an easy six mile loop to and from the falls."
Historical battlefield tours: Camp within minutes of famous Civil War sites when staying at Artillery Ridge Campground. One camper shares, "Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded. Literally right outside the entrance of the campgrounds is where the battlefield starts."
Fishing opportunities: Many cabin locations offer fishing access. "There is a nice catch and release pond in campground," mentions a visitor to Artillery Ridge, while another camper notes, "My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms at Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park. "Bath house was decent. Showers were very nice and looked like they'd been updated recently," notes a reviewer. Another states, "Bathrooms are clean, enough. Camp hosts are friendly."
Family activities: Gettysburg offers extensive programming for different age groups. "We stayed in October so there was plenty of activities for kids from crafts, games, dancing, to trick or treating," reports Michael R. Another visitor adds, "The resort ensured safety for the kids during trick or treating and closed all vehicle traffic for 2 hours."
Natural surroundings: Cabin sites often feature scenic settings. "The sites are small and not very private but are well defined," notes one camper about Cunningham Falls. Another visitor appreciates that "sites have trees and some privacy."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Several parks operate on limited schedules. Manor and Houck areas at Cunningham Falls State Park only operate "April 1 to October 31," making winter cabin camping options more limited.
Reservation timing: High demand periods require advance planning. One Houck area camper states, "This is a very busy campground and I was advised it normally sells out on weekends, so securing a site in advance is wise."
Varying privacy levels: Site spacing differs significantly between parks and even within the same campground. A visitor to Caledonia State Park Campground observed, "Sites are very close to each other, there's no privacy, and you can hear everyone and everything."
Bathroom access: Facilities vary between locations. "The loop C bathrooms had 3 toilet stalls and 2 shower stalls," reports a Codorus camper, while another mentions, "There are paths to the bathroom through many sites so people walk through your site to get to the bathhouse."
Tips for camping with families
Weekend activities: Plan around scheduled events at Gettysburg Campground. "It is a wonderful place to have Kids. tons of things for them to do," reports Kelly J. Another visitor enjoyed that "the whole campground was clean and well kept. This campground is approximately a 3 minute drive from everything in the town of Gettysburg."
Swimming options: Most state parks offer water recreation. "The beach area at the lake was fantastic! My kids loved it plenty of areas to grill and dogs are allowed," shares a Cunningham Falls visitor, though note that at Codorus "There is no swimming allowed in the lake but there is a pool located at the park."
Playground access: Consider site location relative to play areas. At Granite Hill, one visitor recommends camping in "the 'C' row site. Great shade and access to the playground. You can let the kids play all day while sitting at your campsite cooking and just hanging."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Bring adequate leveling equipment for many parks. At Granite Hill Camping Resort, one RVer warns, "It took 2 hours to get our camper set up because of the very uneven stone lot, thankfully we had enough wood to get the jack up without having to over extend it."
Electrical connections: Cabin and RV sites offer varying electrical options. "The hookups are oddly spaced and you need to ensure you have extentions handy. My electric hookup didn't work on 30A," reports an RVer at Granite Hill.
Sewer placement: Check hookup locations before setup. At Drummer Boy, one camper noted, "The biggest complaint about our site was that the sewer hookup was inconveniently placed about six inches above the ground which meant that it would not drain properly."
Site selection: Research specific site details before booking. "We had a site right on next to the trail going to Stangler Farm," shares an Artillery Ridge visitor, while another RVer recommends, "Site 74 in the same section caught my eye as being very private, tucked away, and backing up to thick woods."
