Best Cabin Camping near Fairplay, MD

We have stayed in the camping cabins here multiple times. We love the animals and activities for the kids. Fall is the best at this campground with the trick or treating and haunted house.

Olive Green cabin, owned/operated by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is a two floor primitive cabin near Frederick, Maryland. It's a log cabin that was built around the mid-1860's. The last private owner, Olive Green lived in it until the 1980's (I think) when she was still living primitively without electricity or water. She grew her own food and had livestock on her property. The cabin itself is stocked with various cookware (including cast iron), bed frames, tables, chairs, books and games. We went in December after a storm and needed to shovel our way to the outhouse. Manual labor is not a bad thing! The opportunity to stay here and live primitively for a weekend was nice. The only downside is that the cabin is not effectively insulated, with numerous holes between the logging that lets a good amount of cold air in at night. There is also a wood burning stove on the first floor that's great for cooking on, but doesn't produce a lot of heat that needs to make its way to the sleeping quarters in the loft.

This is a very nice converted single family residence turned into a tent and cabin camping area with one RV spot. The RV spot overlooks the camping area and has full hookups. Campground is located on 8 acres with excellent upkeep and grounds maintenance. The site is obviously a labor of love for the owner. It has nice water access to a creek that is wide and inviting. Mixes tall trees with well manicured grass areas. Check out the abundant chainsaw art. It’s a bit out of the way, but road access is good for all but large rigs. All in all, we had a very laid back enjoyable stay. Would recommend to a camper looking for something different.

Great campsite and cabins in the campground. Surrounded by greenery. There is a rafting spot close by. Tonnes of indoor entertainment. There is a mini golf course inside the ground. Great for a weekend getaway.

This place is awesome! Our site (15) was a spacious pull through with great view of the mountain through the fall foliage! Our friends were in the site next to us (17) which was also nice and there was a wide walking path between them. Family also stayed in one of the rental cabins (21). Sites are spaced far apart in the section we were in with lots of foliage for privacy. There is walking path behind the loop along the lake that goes to the beach area and camp store. Easy access to the bath house with several paths off the loop. I recommend the pull through sites for their size and privacy but most sites looked great. The cabin was cute. It had a queen bed, bunk beds, side table and front porch with a couple windows. Picnic tables are large and fire pits were placed perfectly for our site.

Rocky gap is one of my favorite parks to camp in Maryland! It is right along a great lake, where you can swim, fish, kayak or just lay about. The camp store is well stocked and the staff is friendly. We always stay on Dogwood loop, and the camp hosts are there if you need them, but otherwise leave you be to enjoy your stay.

My only complaint is the sounds from the highway. You can hear the trucks go by, and that does take away from the experience a bit.

We just got our tent this year, so we have always stayed in one of the cabins, when camping here. The rest of the sites are rather separated though, and a great camping experience. I'm attaching several photos from our years of camping at Rocky Gap,, in cabin 104 Dogwood.

We usually stay on Dogwood Loop, which has a nice, direct path from one of the sites down to the beach area. I would say that it is about a 1/4-1/3 mile walk from the loop to the beach/playground area. That said, when going to the beach to swim, we took our car. However, for a trip to the playground or just for a nice walk, the path is great.

The beach area here is, by far, my favorite in the area. I've been to Greenbrier and Herrington Manor, and the beach area at RGSP is, in my opinion, superior. There is a roped off area for swimming, an area for dogs and an area for fishing. You can rent kayaks, paddle boards & canoes for about $5-10 an hour (depending on the type) and going out on the lake is a great way to spend the day! The water is incredibly clean and the best part, is that the 'day use' area for the general public is seperate. So, when you go to the beach at Rocky Gap, it is just other campers. This keeps the beach clean, quiet and not crowded.

There is also a roughly 5 mile loop trail the goes around the lake, and starts and finishes near the camp store. I have not done this hike, but often see runners and hikers coming in and out and have heard it is fantastic. There is also a small trail that comes off of the dogwood loop, across from the camp host's site. My small dog and I have done about 1/2 mile of it- it is rocky, but beautiful.

My son was 6 when we came here last and he was able to ride his bike around the dogwood loop just fine. It is a little hilly, but not too much and I've also enjoyed running the loops in years past.

I've been to 6 Maryland campgrounds this year, and I have to say that Rocky Gap has, by far, the best bathhouse. The women's room has 2-3 very updated shower stalls, roughly 5 bathroom stalls and is always clean. Outside of the bathhouse, is a dish washing station with hot water and a garbage disposal.

You can purchase bundles of firewood for $5 at the campstore and ice is around $3. They also don't have trash dumps on the loops, and you take your trash to the main trash area near the camp store.

My go-to weekend KOA getaway! They should give frequent visitor rewards. 😀 I love this KOA. People are always so friendly and neighborly. Living in DC, this takes 1 hour to get to, and it is the closest I can get to experiencing a “real” camping experience. Meaning, you’re deep in the woods, smells of campfires, kids biking around, large groups of friends and family; yet, you have all of the amenities of a KOA resort. Excellent campground for kids, too. Lots to do and special events all of the time. It’s a huge campground, so there is a place for everyone: large rv’s with patios away from the woods, then everyone else gets to be in the woods. Beautiful cabins throughout the campground. The tent areas are awesome. Highly recommend!

I camped near Chimney rocks and Hermitage cabin and the place is truly magnificent. If you want to stay at the cabin, it looks super cute. If not, there’s a few campsites just a little bit down, close to the river and large enough for 4 double tents. There’s a lot to do near by with a town not too far away. I definitely recommend paying this place a visit!

We stayed in a cabin here, was alittle pricey but worth it. Toddler had a blast with all the activites. and its located close enough to everything

Great location in Western Maryland. 10 min ride to Cumberland (larger town) 5 min ride to small town of Flintstone. Lots of well marked trails that range from beginner to advanced. Lake holds opportunity for numerous activities from swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddle board, and canoeing. No motorized boats which can be a good thing sometimes. The lake even has areas for pets to swim! Campground has tent sites, cabins, camper sites and group sites. All loops have bath houses with showers. Several loops have sites with electric hook ups and pets friendly loops as well. Casino and golf course located on the opposite side of the lake if you wish to visit them while camping.

We had trouble leveling our rig and almost had to buy more leveling blocks from the camp store for $60($28 on Walmart.com) We made it work without but we saw one of our neighbors use a cooler to support there stabilizer jacks that couldn't reach the ground🤦‍♂️.

This was a great weekend trip. We took River Riders down the river. The KOA has a foot path that leads there or a shuttle with scoop you up. We had a really nice site with the deluxe patio on the end of the row. It gave us plenty of room, however most sites were very crammed together.

We had some friends stay in a cabin which they enjoyed. The cabin was located back in the woods by the civil war trench and was pretty secluded.

Well-appointed, semi-rustic cabins set in Catoctin Mountain. Not far from the Wm. Houck lake area and trailhead to Cunningham Falls.

Our cabin came equipped with A/C and heat, full kitchenette, fireplace, screened in porch, and firepit area (including wood and fire starters!) with seating and picnic table.

Ole Mink Farm is very resort-like with a central pool and clubhouse. They also offer various activities — mainly on weekends — like cornhole tournaments and campfire gatherings.

And I can’t say enough about the customer service!! They take hospitality to whole new levels! We ran into a couple personal snags on our trip, and they were so accommodating. Even when my Mom got sick, they checked in on us and asked about her by name. What a wonderful group of owners!

If you want to “glamp,” I would HIGHLY recommend this place!

Deer Spring Loop is near the top of the mountain.

This is not a pet friendly loop.

Site 112 is level, mostly shaded, backs up to the woods and has electric.

The site is between two cabins. Not a problem except the cabins were empty and the ac was running. Noisy and kind of wasteful.

There are lots of good hiking trails in the park. It’s a nice walk to the lake. Note that the hike back is 2/3 uphill.

They sell ice at the camp entrance, which is nice.

The bathrooms were moderately clean and had plenty of hot water.

I was not aware that there was a camp host until the third morning as I was readying to leave. I approached another camp to ask a question and they said they were the “camp hosts”.

This campground has tons of nice cabins and tent sites, all in wooded surroundings. There is a small creek to play in and a nice little hiking trail within the campground. Has a great water park, playground and bounce pad feature. Definitely recommend for families and /or anyone looking for easy convenience camping.

We had a nice, spacious site with inconsiderate neighbors. The website says quiet hours are enforced but sadly there was no one to enforce them. There was one bathhouse that was fairly clean. They offer many seasonal sites and cabins. The best part was the convenience to the Western MD Rail Trail and the C&O Canal.

This park is a lot of fun in warm weather with kids. The facilities are also top-notch. I couldn't get over how nice the bathrooms were! We rented mini cabins which each have electricity but no bathroom or running water. Ours had a futon, folding table, double bed and bunk beds. The office will lend you a box fan at check-in and the cabins do get stuffy.

The swimming beach and playground are absolutely beautiful! We had a great time at the nature center reptile feeding program. We also walked around the aviary, where you can see many of the birds from the outside even if it isn't open for a program. We hiked the loop around the lake, not realizing that it was over 5 miles! It also takes you right through the casino parking lot and crowded day use area at one point. If there's a drawback to this park, it's that it really doesn't feel very remote. You're basically across the lake from a big hotel and casino. But it's convenient to DC and a great place for kids and new campers!

Gambrill State Park is great for those just starting out to camp. It is located in Frederick, about an hour outside of Baltimore and Washington D.C. Though the campground is small, each site looks pretty unique. It offers tent sites, electric sites, and 4 cabins. All of the campsites are pet friendly as is Cabin 18. The restroom facility offer hot showers and multiple stalls. One downside is that there is no dishwashing station. You must bring your own dishwashing tubs.

As it is small and located conveniently off of the highway, it is used by a lot of passerbys. This area is very rich in Civil War history so many people will stay at Gambrill as it is a great middle point between Gettysburg and Antietam Battlefields. Right outside the park is the Frederick watershed where many locals take advantage of the trails for mountain biking. The park itself is well known for hiking trails that take you up and around the mountain. Every hiking trail except for the white trail allows mountain biking and horseback riding. Visit in May and the forest will be filled with songbirds. If you are lucky, you may see foxes and bears along with the standard woodland creatures. If you are extremely lucky, you may see the ever elusive bobcat.

The campground is easily accessible- there are 9 loops and a group site. The best loops for families with pets are Dogwood and Elm. No pets? Go to Ironwood loop and get a site close to the water. Water is readily available. The bathrooms are clean and the showers warm. After October, most of the loops close, the exception being Ash loop, which offers electric hookup for RV. The camp store is stocked well, but dinner may have to come from a local market if you’re planning a cookout at your site. The beach is also pet friendly. There is boat rental and several opportunities for Ranger led activities for all. Recently, the park has been taking part in American Chestnut revitalization. If there is any detractors at all, it’s the casino on the other side of the park. It’s bright and loud ( though and outdoor events are quiet by 10 ish) There is a strict no alcohol policy unless your in an RV or a cabin. Meaning the alcohol must stay inside at all times. Firewood is readily available. The sites can be a bit close, but as a family camper with a load of six people plus two dogs, we never have felt claustrophobic in our site choice. The web site offers limited photos of the sites. This park is our go to place for a weekend with kids and as it’s cheap and nearby, it’s well worth it. As a side note, the food at the casino isn’t bad. Just not a good place for kids. The trails are well maintained. Keep a careful watch for snakes and bears.