128 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Damascus, Maryland provides access to several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, including Little Bennett Campground in Clarksburg and Ramblin' Pines in Woodbine. The area features a mix of public and private camping facilities that accommodate various camping styles from tent sites to RV hookups and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in the region are situated near natural features like the Patapsco River valley or within forested state parks, offering both recreational opportunities and natural scenery. Little Bennett Regional Park provides year-round camping with both primitive and developed sites, while several other nearby options like Greenbrier State Park and Gambrill State Park offer seasonal camping.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with many state park campgrounds operating from April through October. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when facilities reach capacity. Most developed campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, though amenities vary significantly between locations. The terrain around Damascus features rolling hills and wooded areas, with some campgrounds situated near water features like lakes or rivers. As one camper noted about Patapsco Valley State Park, "This is where this campground shines. It has access to many trails and the Patapsco River. Saw Mill trails is great for a family hike."
Campers consistently rate the proximity to natural features and recreational opportunities as highlights of the Damascus area. Several campgrounds provide access to extensive trail systems for hiking and mountain biking, with Catoctin Mountain Park and Patapsco Valley State Park frequently mentioned in positive reviews. Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds and swimming areas are available at larger facilities such as Greenbrier State Park. The region's campgrounds balance accessibility with a sense of seclusion, as many sites are within an hour's drive of Washington DC and Baltimore while still providing a natural setting. A visitor to Gambrill State Park described it as "a very peaceful and heavily wooded park, with minimal but perfectly adequate facilities," highlighting the balance between convenience and natural immersion that characterizes camping in the region.
"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"
"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"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 Availabilityfrom $15 - $55 / night
Check Availability"We set up our tent in the far side of the campground close to the lake ( site 27). It is slightly slant but still comfortable in the tent. Bathrooms are close by and kept clean."
"For tent camping I would suggests sites 30,33 or 35 these are tucked along the tree line. The bathroom facilities were the cleanest I have seen in a campground."
from $30 - $70 / 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"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."
"There was a walking path to the bathhouse between 13 and 14. Sites 8-11 were on a nice open field, with some smaller trees."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"This park just is near enough to Baltimore and DC to allow for a quick getaway and offers a lot to do."
"Maryland has some great state parks and this is one of them. Decent sized sites, clean bath houses. Swimming lake is excellent. Only basic amenities, but dump station."
from $23 - $29 / 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"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."
"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."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability
ScoutFrome the moment you drive up the women at the gate is about as welcoming ( as my Pops would say ) "A fart in church.," Great way to start your vacation. Didn't get much better in the office. The one guy that worked there did at least smile at us....
TravelerThere are some good things about this Famcamp. It's like a diamond in the rough. If the military would spend some time and money on it, it could be a great campground. One of the greatest points about this campground is its location. You are so close to downtown D.C.! Every RV site (as far as I saw) was a level concrete pad. All sites, except for tent sites, have full electricity. Most sites have sewer and water. Sites 12-18 should be mainly used for the smaller travel trailers. I had an interesting time getting my 35' 5th wheel into the site. Even though I got my RV into the site, I don't have much room for my truck. My site has a picnic table, fire pit, and a grill. Everything is rusted beyond repair. My grill was filled with cigarette butts and my fire pit had trash in it. There is some shade. My site has two trees at the front of the pad on both sides of the RV. My bedroom stays nice and cold and I have a good view for my Starlink in the rear. The sites are close to each other, but there is some space. The good thing is that we are surrounded by the golf course. You don't get much noise from the base, because of the location, and because the FamCamp is surrounded by trees. You can hear the busy road outside the fence but I don't hear it much inside the RV. Every once in a while you'll hear an aircraft... but this is an air base, it's expected. We were told the community laundry was not working and to use the base laundry mat. Finally, one of the best parts about the campground, is the lady at outdoor rec that is in charge of the Famcamp. She is very nice and helpful. She will try to assist you with anything you need from directions to useful tips.
TravelerNice campground, maintained very well and clean. Laundry room and Propane fill on site so that was nice. RV Site was fairly level and easy to get into. Some sites are a bit close together and not long enough to keep your tow vehicle hooked up. A bit inconvenient if you’re only there for 1 night.
TravelerHas all sorts of amenities, sites along a creek, was very quiet &peaceful. Kids will never get bored. Pets are allowed. The fireflies at night along the creek were so relaxing
LegendWe spent 4 nights at Gettysburg Campground to attend the AIM Club Rally(Lincoln’s Legacy- Gettysburg 250), and it served as base camp for the event.
WHAT I LIKED:
Location, Location, Location: This park is an absolute winner for convenience—just 5 minutes from the Gettysburg battlefields, museums, and the heart of town.
The Atmosphere: The staff gave us a warm reception at check-in, and the site itself was clean, well-maintained, and spacious enough to back up to a running creek. Lots of mature trees offer lots of shade and character.
Big-Rig Friendly: Navigating a 45-foot motorhome with a toad can sometimes be stressful, but this park was easy to maneuver.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
Late-Night Power Struggles: On our final night, the campground experienced grid strain. Our Hughes Watchdog Power Center saved the day—but it had to shut off our power 7 different times due to low voltage. Aside from losing a few hours of sleep to the chorus of appliances cycling off and on, no harm was done. I recommend using a surge protector/voltage regulator if you stay here.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
ScoutFlat grounds, level campsites, nice pool, kids have tons of fun!
ScoutThe grounds are poorly kept. It is mostly occupied by what appears to be abandoned seasonal sites. There is no WiFi. Service is spotty. Management seems inconsistent on enforcing rules and tends to be less favorable to campers visiting for a weekend.
RangerI love this place. The tent sites are super, rustic but superior. Showers are a walk. Tent Sites are very private huge and I love that.
ScoutFriendly staff, well shaded, good size site 23 with easy in and paver patio and sturdy furniture
Campgrounds near Damascus, Maryland offer options within the Catoctin Mountain range, where elevations reach approximately 1,900 feet in some areas. The climate features four distinct seasons with summer highs averaging in the mid-80s, while spring and fall deliver moderate temperatures ideal for outdoor recreation. Most established campgrounds in the region operate on paved or gravel pads with varying levels of tree coverage.
Hiking network access: Little Bennett Campground connects to numerous trails suitable for all skill levels. "There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly," notes a camper from Little Bennett Campground.
Mountain biking options: Lake Fairfax Campground serves as a hub for mountain biking enthusiasts. "This is a great place to mountain bike as we noticed several groups camping and biking during our stay," explains a visitor to Lake Fairfax Campground.
Water recreation: Greenbrier State Park offers swimming and paddling options during summer months. "The lake is beautiful!" reports one camper, while another mentions the "nice lawn and sand areas for sitting and enjoying the lake view."
Historical exploration: Gambrill State Park provides access to Civil War historical sites. "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," explains a reviewer familiar with the region.
Natural seclusion: Hollofield Area Campground offers wooded sites despite urban proximity. "We were surprised at the quiet, understated beauty of the forestry around the perfectly level campsite," shares a visitor to Hollofield Area Campground.
Spacious campsites: The Garden provides well-separated sites for greater privacy. A visitor notes, "Farm super cool," while another camper at The Garden appreciates that "James and his lovely wife warmly welcomed us on a moments notice."
Wildlife viewing: Gambrill State Park offers opportunities to spot native species. "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," reports one camper.
Family amenities: Ramblin' Pines features recreational facilities for all ages. A visitor mentions, "It has a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds. I really like all the trees."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season. At Greenbelt Park Campground, "This is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online."
Seasonal operation: Many campgrounds close during winter months. "We were at site D72 for 4 days. The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," explains a Little Bennett visitor staying during their operational season.
Cell service varies: Connectivity fluctuates based on location and carrier. At Gambrill State Park, one camper reported, "At 12:35pm on a Friday, T-Mobile via Nighthawk MR-1100 - 63 mbps down, 13 mbps up and 39 ms ping."
Bridge outages: Access routes may change due to weather damage. At Greenbelt Park, "There's normally a walking path from the campground to the metro station that takes you into DC, but as of Oct 2023 the bridge is out due to a storm."
Activity programming: Cunningham Falls State Park offers organized nature programs. "During peak season, there are nature programs going on," notes a visitor to Cunningham Falls State Park.
Playground access: Little Bennett Campground features play areas for children. "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," reports one family camper.
Natural play spaces: Hollofield Area includes natural features repurposed for play. "The 'natural playground' aka, large rocks and overturned trees. The kids loved it," shares a family who visited with children.
Loop selection: Choose camping loops based on family needs. At Cherry Hill Park, a visitor notes, "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."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment for proper leveling. A visitor to Cherry Hill Park advises, "Cons: Gravel pad," while others note variation in pad levelness throughout area campgrounds.
Electric service details: Confirm amperage before booking as it varies by location. "PROS: 50 amp hook-up, water, sewer," reports an RVer at Cherry Hill Park, while another camper at Gambrill State Park notes more limited options.
Site size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. At Hollofield Area, a camper advises, "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.)"
Water fill locations: Many sites lack direct water hookups. "No toilet/shower facility in FHU loop so had to hike to facilities in Loops B & E," mentions a camper at Little Bennett, while another notes, "There is a dump station and a place to fill your water tank."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find RV rentals in Damascus, Maryland?
While Damascus itself has limited RV rental options, several nearby campgrounds offer RV accommodations. Cherry Hill Park provides RV rentals and is known for its excellent amenities and cleanliness. Another option is Prince William Forest RV Campground, which offers a clean campground with bathroom facilities and a pool, making it a good nature getaway less than an hour from the DC area. For additional options, check with local RV dealerships in the greater Montgomery County area or online RV rental platforms that offer delivery to your preferred campsite.
What are the nearest camping options to Damascus, Maryland?
Damascus has several excellent camping options nearby. Brunswick Family Campground is a short drive away, offering riverside sites that campers find mesmerizing with welcoming staff. Owens Creek Campground in Catoctin Mountain Park provides peaceful, shaded campsites with creek access and more privacy than neighboring parks. Other nearby options include Cunningham Falls State Park Manor Area with its family-friendly amenities and Greenbrier State Park (temporarily closed) which features hiking trails, a lake for paddling and fishing, and proximity to sections of the Appalachian Trail.
Which is the most popular campground near Damascus, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Damascus, MD is Little Bennett Campground with a 4-star rating from 23 reviews.
What parks are near Damascus, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Damascus, MD that allow camping, notably Rock Creek Park and Greenbelt Park.
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