Camping around Frederick in Maryland ranges from state parks to forest sites with varying amenities. Greenbrier State Park Campground has a nice beach area and good views, though it's currently closed. Codorus State Park Campground is known among local fishers for its good catches. Hikers can find many trails at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground to walk through the woods. You can get to most of these places without trouble since the roads are kept in good shape. The campgrounds typically have bathrooms and drinking water available. Cowans Gap State Park Campground is quieter and feels more removed from busy areas. Some campgrounds even have tractor rides, which kids particularly enjoy. Weather-wise, camping is best in spring and fall when it's not too hot or cold. Summer gets pretty warm, so you'll need to stay hydrated and use sunscreen. Winter camping works if you bring warm sleeping bags and proper cold-weather gear. The Frederick area has camping that works well whether you want to be active or just relax by a campfire.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$23 - $29 / night
"Very nice campground not far from DC area and Frederick. We are going back for second time this month (June 2020). "
"We really enjoyed camping at Greenbrier state park, and was pleasantly surprised how nice the park was given its convenient location to us!"
$23 - $29 / night
"Only 30 minutes north of Frederick. There is a lot of beautiful trails in the area and a man-made lake with two swimming area beaches."
"This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill."
$21 - $65 / night
"There are a few vineyards and breweries nearby. Gettysburg, PA is close as is Frederick, MD. Our site was level and had a good view of the woods. Family was staying in site next to us, site 12."
"Camp next to the president."
$18 - $50 / night
"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."
"The site was very level, nicely shaded, and positioned a short distance from the bath house. There was also a water spigot located right at the entrance of the site."
$30 / night
"Our campsite was quiet with the creek right behind us and had lots of privacy. This place is a great campground to go during summer as it's tucked in the mountains with lots of tree coverage."
"My only complaint is that the fire ring is a little too close to the main road. This is true for most of the sites. However the tent pad was set back in the woods and it was very peaceful."
"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"
$40 - $80 / night
"We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "
"It’s very close to Harper’s Ferry (almost worth the hike into town rather than the difficulty finding parking in a town with one parking lot)."
$10 - $90 / night
"Picked this location because it is close to our home in Silver Spring, MD but far enough to make us feel like we were leaving town."
"Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it. Lots of different activities for kids and plenty of space at each site to make your home away from home."
"If you would like to do some exploring, then you can walk the trail right next to the campground into the historical town of Harper's Ferry (If you’re facing the river then the trail is to the right of"
"Harper's Ferry is a little town in WV nestled right next to the Potomac River. It's also a convenient halfwayish point on the Appalachian Trail."
$21 - $29 / night
"Nice little spot near Thurmont Maryland. Good playground for the kids."
"If you like farther away from stores and restaurants (but not two far). This is a nice option. It is about 2 hours from DC. The firewood they sell is very good."
GuidePool, campgrounds area is so great. Don’t forget the bbq place up the street, it is so good! Getting the the bathrooms from my site will be more of a challenge once the campground fills up.
Finished some of the App trail from there
ScoutWell kept, clean facilities, easy to work with camp staff, we stayed at site 51 a full hook up site mostly level with a gravel pad short walk to the restrooms
GuideProbably my favorite due to the Store, the store employee and the App Trails. Will be back. My site was next to the amp trail which I didn’t particularly like, but my site was beautiful. WiFi available at Camp Store
GuideGreat Park, showers were cold and after the App Trail, A hot shower would have been awesome. Beautiful park though. My site was a little bit uneven but it looks like the park has been through an upgrade recently.
GuideThe sites are close together. The park was not full Mother’s Day weekend. It is a very nice park. The bathhouses were clean. The amenities were good although we didn’t utilize them. The national historic site was very close and we walked over day 1 rode our bikes day 2. The C&O canal is accessible but you must walk your bike across the lower town bridge and carry it down the stairs. This section of the trail was very good and we completed 38 miles.
ScoutThought the campsites were extremely close together. There were A LOT of kids and no quiet hours. Good for families. Not good for a camping camping experience.
TravelerWe stayed one night here (didn't even unhook from the truck). Arrived in the rain and were leaving early the next morning, so I didn't want to disconnect. Our gravel pad was over 6" out of level, requiring me to use leveling pads and a leveling jack to get trailer level. All the short-term gravel sites looked like they needed some love!
Campground is about 80% seasonal, and apparently has no housekeeping restrictions on residents - some sites were pretty full of old dead golf carts and various debris. Not sure I would want to stay for a destination camping experience, but it was cheap and fine for a one night stay.
TravelerIf youre looking for fun and people, go to the south campground. But if youre looking for true quiet and have a tent, check out the dispersed campsites. Good shower and bathroom setup that i bet would fare well in a tornado, its got that solid storm shelter feel. Next to a quiet airport, plenty of free firewood to gather
ScoutLess amenities than advertised. We usually camp in more rustic locations and planned this trip simply for the fun of the amenities. Their website claims that the pool is seasonal but doesn't list anything else as seasonal. There was supposed to be mini golf, a giant bounce pillow, indoor basketball, an arcade with air hockey and a pool table. Mini golf was fine. The bounce pillow was deflated and full of water. The arcade/pool table/air hockey building was locked and the maintenance guy(who locks it up) was outside smoking before leaving early for the day. The employee at the camp store said it was supposed to be open until the store closed but that he probably just closed it early.
The rules state that dogs need to be on a leash at all times and, in the two hours we actually stayed, we saw four that weren't. One was staying near us and started chasing us when we rode our bikes by. One was wandering about 4 campsites down from it's owner. We mentioned it to the person at the camp store before we were chased and she just shrugged it off.
The map is incorrect. It lists site numbers that don't exist and doesn't list some sites that supposedly do. We spent a fifteen minutes trying to find a non-existent site before going back to the camp office and getting assigned a new site. They acted like it was a new thing caused by maintenance but we just looked and saw a review from ten months ago saying the map was messed up then.
The description of the site we paid for was non electric tent with a sand tent pad. The site we got was on a hill(no actual flat spot) overgrown with weeds, no tent pad, a slanted picnic table, and no actual parking spot. You had to drive over a drainage ditch and park on the hill. If our car didn't have high clearance we wouldn't have made it. There was also a hole in the middle of the site. And the map showed that number site on the corner where another unmarked site was. Our originally assigned site was supposedly in the same group of sites, so it would've been similar. Also don't believe the claim that they're"large sites." Most of them are crammed together. There are a few that look decent sized and flat, but they want you to pay an extra$30 to pick your own site.
We didn't even look in the bathrooms.
We left after two hours. Definitely a waste of$60+ dollars.
Next time we'll go over to the Brunswick Family campground. Their owners are lovely people who care about their customers.
Camping in the Frederick region sits between 300 and 1,700 feet of elevation, offering varied terrain from riverside flats to mountain settings. The area gets about 43 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forests and full creeks, particularly during spring when water levels peak after snowmelt. Frederick's proximity to mountains, rivers, and historic sites makes it a central hub for diverse camping experiences.
Hike to waterfalls: At Cunningham Falls State Park, the trail system offers varied difficulty levels for seeing Maryland's highest cascading waterfall. "There are plenty of trails, including the Catoctin Trail, but all the trails I was on do not permit biking," notes one visitor who preferred exploring less crowded paths.
Mountain biking: Frederick watershed near Gambrill State Park provides technical trails for mountain bikers. "Right outside the park is the Frederick watershed where many locals take advantage of the trails for mountain biking," explains a camper who enjoyed the combination of camping and riding options.
Appalachian Trail access: Multiple campgrounds connect to sections of the AT. "Hike from visitor center to AT is steep and rocky," warns one reviewer about Greenbrier access points, suggesting preparation for challenging terrain.
Train watching: Some campgrounds offer unique opportunities to observe freight and passenger trains. "The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains," notes a camper at a riverside location.
Historic exploration: Camp near Civil War battlefields and historic towns. "Harpers Ferry is a cute little historic town and the hiking is amazing, being right on the Appalachian Trail," mentions a visitor who appreciated the combination of outdoor recreation and historical sites.
River access: Brunswick Family Campground offers direct river frontage. "The Shenandoah River parallels the campground. The river is beautifully clean clear and cool," according to a camper who enjoyed the water access. Sites along the Potomac provide similar experiences.
Secluded woodland sites: Many campers appreciate the forest settings. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service," writes one RVer about their experience at a Frederick area campground, highlighting the privacy despite proximity to urban areas.
Fishing opportunities: Riverside campgrounds provide excellent fishing access. "Nice small campground WAY back in woods. Been here many times over the last 25 years," shares a loyal visitor to Owens Creek Campground, who returns repeatedly for the outdoor experience.
Night sky viewing: Some campgrounds minimize light pollution. "Great night sky viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings," reports a camper who enjoyed stargazing.
Proximity to trails: Many sites connect directly to hiking networks. "You can walk or easily drive to Harper's Ferry NP visitor center, from where you could take a bus into downtown," explains a camper who appreciated the easy access to both trails and town amenities.
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Frederick sit close to active rail lines. "The proximity to the tracks means that if the sound doesn't wake you up, the rumbling ground will. Every hour through the night," warns a camper at a riverfront site.
Seasonal crowding: Greenbrier State Park Campground can get particularly busy. "When we pulled the rangers where blocking traffic to the park. They said that the park was full. OMG they were right," reports one visitor during peak season.
Alcohol restrictions: Maryland state parks prohibit alcohol. "Be aware: no alcohol in Maryland parks," notes a camper who wanted others to understand local regulations.
Cell service variability: Coverage differs significantly between campgrounds. "If you work remote and depend on service, it's spotty. Very wooded so Starlink can't help much," advises a camper staying at a forested location.
Limited site privacy: Some campgrounds pack sites closely together. "The sites were small and not very private but are well defined. It's very clear where to park, set up the tent etc.," explains a visitor who found the organization helpful despite the proximity to other campers.
Choose campgrounds with activities: Little Bennett Campground offers family-oriented recreation. "My family loves this camp ground. It's conveniently located, it's quite, it's beautiful and there is plenty to do to keep the kids busy," recommends a parent who returns regularly.
Find swimming areas: Lakes provide relief during hot weather. "Lake area can be crowded on weekends, I tend to avoid," suggests one camper who prefers quieter times for water activities.
Look for kid-friendly trail options: Some parks offer shorter routes suitable for children. "The Lower Falls Trail is short but great for younger kids and we saw lots of dogs which was lovely," advises a parent who visited with young children.
Book well in advance: Family-friendly sites fill quickly. "We love going to Cunningham falls annually, however, it books up quickly during peak season!" warns a repeat visitor who recommends planning ahead for family trips.
Consider cabins for novice campers: Multiple campgrounds offer cabin options. "We rented one of the cabins here at Brunswick Family Campground," shares a visitor who found this option worked well despite some limitations in size and amenities.
Check site dimensions carefully: Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA and other campgrounds may have challenging layouts. "Heads up, big rig owners! Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air," cautions an RVer about site conditions.
Look for full hookup options: Utilities vary between parks. "Sites were level and well separated from others, though it was small. Friends joined us and set up a tent next to our RV trailer," notes a camper who found the arrangement worked well for mixed camping styles.
Consider dump station availability: Not all parks offer this service. "This campsite doesn't have a dump station so we went to the Cunningham falls site to dump after leaving and they let us dump no problem," shares an RVer who found a workaround.
Prepare for limited turning space: Older campgrounds may present navigation challenges. "Roads were very narrow and winding. We did fine with the pup, but can't imagine trying to navigate a large motorhome through there," advises a camper about access limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any RV campgrounds near Frederick, MD with full hookups?
Evergreen Point Village is the primary RV park in the immediate Frederick area offering full hookups. While it's more of a mobile home community with some RV spaces rather than a vacation resort, every site provides full hookups. The spaces are tightly packed but private, making it functional for RVers needing convenient access to Frederick. For those willing to drive a bit further, Little Bennett Campground near Clarksburg offers more traditional campground amenities while still providing the hookups needed for comfortable RV camping, including sites that can accommodate larger rigs.
What are the best campgrounds in Frederick, MD for families?
Families visiting Frederick have several excellent campground options. Gambrill State Park Campground is ideal for beginning campers with unique sites, pet-friendly policies, and both tent and electric sites. It's conveniently located just outside Frederick, offering a peaceful natural setting while being close to city amenities. For families seeking more amenities, Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA hosts family-friendly weekend festivities, especially during October when they offer Halloween activities. Though technically in West Virginia, it's a short drive from Frederick and serves as an excellent base for exploring the region's historic sites and natural attractions.
Where can I find riverside or lakeside camping near Frederick, MD?
For lakeside camping near Frederick, Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park offers beautiful sites nestled in Catoctin Mountain, just 30 minutes north of Frederick. The park features a man-made lake with two swimming beaches, though water levels and algae can be seasonal concerns. For riverside options, Brunswick Family Campground provides camping along the Potomac River, offering water activities and scenic views. Both locations combine water access with the natural beauty of Maryland's landscapes, providing refreshing alternatives during the warm summer months when water recreation becomes a priority for campers.
Is there any free or dispersed camping available near Frederick, MD?
True free or dispersed camping is limited near Frederick due to the density of private land and regulated public lands in the region. Adirondack Shelters — Catoctin Mountain Park offers a primitive camping experience, though not entirely free. These three-sided shelters provide a backcountry experience close to Frederick. For hikers and bikers, Swains Lock Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite along the C&O Canal provides low-cost camping options. While not free, these sites are typically more affordable than established campgrounds. True dispersed camping requires traveling further west into George Washington National Forest in Virginia or other national forest lands beyond the immediate Frederick area.
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