1 campground with availability this weekend
Patapsco Valley State Park offers the closest tent camping option to Glen Burnie, Maryland, located approximately 15 miles west in the Catonsville area. The park's Hilton Area provides 12 basic tent campsites with crushed stone tent pads in a wooded setting. Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis also provides tent camping, though only for organized youth groups.
Tent sites at Patapsco Valley require campers to set up on designated crushed stone pads rather than directly on the ground, necessitating alternative tent securing methods. Many sites have a noticeable slope, particularly at the lower end of the camping loop where water can accumulate during heavy rains. Each tent site includes a fire ring with cooking grate and picnic table. The campground provides clean restrooms and hot showers, with trash collection available. A camp host sells firewood on-site, as outside firewood is prohibited to prevent harmful insect spread. The camping season runs from April 1 to October 30.
The tent camping experience at Patapsco Valley offers good tree cover and natural surroundings despite the park's proximity to suburban areas. The campground has a surprisingly quiet atmosphere given its location near Baltimore. One visitor noted, "It's not far from Baltimore, and was the perfect get away. We saw deer in the mornings and had an overall great experience." Tent campers have access to numerous hiking trails directly from the campground, including the Campground Connector Trail and River Ridge Trail. A large playground near the park entrance provides entertainment for families with children, though it's a short drive rather than walking distance from the campsites. Walk-in tent campers should note that the terrain features rolling hills that may be challenging with gear.
"We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down."
"There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side."
from $20 - $51 / night
"There are two main beaches and there are picnic tables all over the park. There’s a popular boat launch amd small marina/bait store.
Get there early on weekends and holidays.""There are wonderful views of the water and swimming at the beach, pavilions for social gatherings, showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean, and room for backpacking, hiking, picnicking,"
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"Based on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit."
from $12 - $45 / night
from $6 / night
from $150 - $200 / night
"Whether you are an adult or a child, this place will have a positive effect on you. The owners are involved and designed this space with the visitors pleasure in mind."
from $90 - $190 / night
"Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 / night
"Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."
"This is Organized Group Tenting Only."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
ScoutThe park is very well maintained, and the campsites have clean fire pits and cooking grills. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and well maintained, and my campsite was large enough to comfortably fit a 6-person tent and a canopy.
However, there were a few concerns during our stay. Despite the campground’s quiet hours policy starting at 10:00 PM, many campers continued to make noise well past that time. I did not notice any campground staff or maintenance personnel making rounds to enforce the quiet hours.
I also felt concerned about security. One of my neighboring campers, who was visiting from South Carolina, told me that his generator had been stolen during the night. He reported the theft to the police, and an official report was filed. Incidents like this made me feel unsafe while camping.
I recommend increasing staff or security patrols, especially during the evening and overnight hours, to enforce quiet hours and improve the safety and security of campers and their belongings. With better enforcement and security, Burke Lake Campground would provide an even better camping experience.
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
Tent camping near Glen Burnie, Maryland can be found within a 30-mile radius of this suburban city located in Anne Arundel County. The region sits at low elevations between 10-100 feet above sea level with humid summer temperatures averaging 87°F during peak camping season. Campers should note that the Chesapeake Bay influences local weather patterns, creating frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer months.
Hiking to waterfalls: Patapsco Valley State Park offers multiple trail options beyond the campground area. "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. Luckily I had an app that kept me on trail. There are some pretty cool Bridges, old houses, and a water fall," reports Anthony S.
Kayaking opportunities: For water-based recreation near Glen Burnie, consider Patapsco Valley State Park. "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. The park was clean and it had knowledgable staff," shares Anthony S.
Beach activities: Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping provides Chesapeake Bay access with designated swimming areas. "My family and I have been coming to Sandy Point my entire life. It is a great little spot on the Chesapeake river. Our favorite thing to do is to fossil hunt for sharks teeth. In the summer it can get pretty crowded, so we prefer to visit in late spring while school is still in session," notes Angel G.
Multiple park entrances: Patapsco Valley State Park spans a large area with diverse experiences. "Patapsco Valley offers 6 different entrances. Each one provides a several different trail heads and experiences. For camping or just spending a day out on the trail with the kids we prefer the Hilton entrance. There are two huge playgrounds and a youth campground as well as a family campground," explains Angel G.
Close proximity to Baltimore: For tent camping near Glen Burnie with urban access, consider the Hilton Area. "We absolutely loved this campground!! Very short drive in to Baltimore- around 30 minutes. Getting in to the park was a little difficult. We missed the entrance and had to turn around. Friends who were camping with us had the same problem," shares Gayle B.
Mini-cabins for beginners: The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring offers group camping with basic amenities. For those seeking slightly more comfort at Patapsco Valley, "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely 'rough it,'" notes Sean M.
Group camping restrictions: Several parks near Glen Burnie limit camping to organized groups. At Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping, "This campground is very well taken care of, and seemed safe to me. There are wonderful views of the water and swimming at the beach, pavilions for social gatherings, showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean, and room for backpacking, hiking, picnicking, but youth group camping only," explains Rachel S.
Early arrival considerations: Campground check-in policies vary by location. "This was also the first time we have ever had to wait till exactly 3pm to check in. So if you arrive early expect to wait until 3," warns Gabrielle E. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Weather impacts: Summer storms can create camping challenges in the Glen Burnie area. "One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down," shares Alexandra T.
Playground access: Lacy Oasis Campground provides family-friendly camping experiences. At Patapsco Valley, "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. The nature center was closed when we visited, but the kids still enjoyed the sensory trail and playground," shares Angel G.
Stroller limitations: When tent camping with small children near Glen Burnie, prepare for terrain challenges. "Be aware that neither the hiking trails or playground are stroller friendly," advises Angel G. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Kid-friendly educational options: Several campgrounds offer nature-focused activities for children. "It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes," notes Sean M.
Small RV considerations: Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers limited RV access with no hookups. "Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water no bathrooms or electricity but all in all it's beautiful," explains Chrystal P.
Military options: Active duty and retired military personnel can access additional tent camping near Glen Burnie. "Military campground. Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap," notes Ginny L. about Military Park United States Naval Academy/Annapolis Naval Station Annapolis FamCamp.
Site selection tips: When booking RV sites at Patapsco Valley, consider location within the campground. "We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down. Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby," cautions Alexandra T.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Glen Burnie, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Glen Burnie, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Glen Burnie, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Glen Burnie, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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