1 campground with availability this weekend
The Greenbelt Park area offers multiple tent camping opportunities with diverse environments and accessibility levels. Campers seeking primitive experiences will find options at Patapsco Valley State Park's Hilton Area, which features 12 basic tent sites in a wooded setting approximately 15 miles northwest of Greenbelt. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring, located about 10 miles north, maintains several walk-in tent sites within a forested landscape.
Tent camping surfaces vary significantly across these locations, with most sites featuring crushed stone or natural forest terrain. At Patapsco Valley, campers should note that many sites have slight grades that can complicate tent setup, especially after rainfall when lower sites may experience water runoff issues. Most tent-specific areas provide fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities remain minimal at primitive locations. Water access is inconsistent across sites, with some offering potable water while others require campers to bring their own supply. Many locations enforce seasonal closures, with Patapsco Valley's tent camping area operating from April through October.
The backcountry tent camping experience near Greenbelt focuses on accessibility to nature with varying levels of seclusion. Sites at Patapsco Valley offer quick access to hiking trails and stream exploration. As one camper noted, "There was plenty of downed trees and limbs for firewood. If you like being close to stores, this is your place." Despite proximity to urban areas, many tent sites maintain a natural forest setting with opportunities to observe wildlife, particularly in early morning hours. Marsden Tract Group Campsite, while requiring advance planning as a group site, provides a more secluded tent camping experience. A visitor described it as "beautiful, secluded, quiet, wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors." These primitive tent setups typically attract campers seeking a quick nature escape without long-distance travel from the DC metropolitan area.
"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
"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 $150 - $200 / 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
"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"
"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
"Good for a day use, parking is full most of the time but have a lot of space to park you may have to walk but you will find one spot..."
"Close to me so theres nothing new"
from $15 - $18 / night
from $55 - $95 / 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.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
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.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
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.
GuideWhat a gem! We found this place as an alternative to staying in DC during 4th of July festivities. Nice spacious sites, cabins were super clean and smelled great! Did I mention they were air conditioned during the hotest week of the summer!
Bathrooms and showers were spotless.
Many things to see and do there. Historic property, big lake (no swimming), boating, fishing, hiking. There is an Art Center with juried displays for sale.
Tent camping near Greenbelt Park centers primarily around small, community-focused campgrounds with varied terrain and seasonal considerations. The area sits at low elevation (250-400 feet) with humid subtropical conditions that create distinct camping challenges through Maryland's four seasons. Most tent sites within a 20-mile radius of Greenbelt require advance planning, particularly during summer months when thunderstorms and high humidity affect camping conditions.
Hiking with children: Patapsco Valley State Park offers trails suitable for families with varying skill levels. At the Hilton Area entrance, visitors find "a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center" that's "perfect for keeping the kids entertained," according to Angel G. These amenities provide alternatives when weather conditions affect tent camping.
Kayaking opportunities: The Patapsco River provides accessible water recreation options near tent camping areas. A camper noted that "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," making it a good day trip option from tent sites.
Playground access: Multiple tent camping locations near Greenbelt feature playground facilities that complement outdoor activities. The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley has "a huge playground" that one visitor described as having "a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center."
Post-rain wildlife viewing: After rainfall, many tent campers report increased wildlife activity near their sites. At Endeavor Point, the pier locations are particularly good for this, with one camper mentioning it was "perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise."
River swimming spots: Less-known swimming areas exist near several tent camping locations. A camper at Patapsco Valley mentioned finding "a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park," providing cooling options during hot summer months.
Fishing accessibility: Multiple tent camping areas offer direct water access for fishing. Leesylvania State Park sits "directly on Potomac River," with one visitor noting that its "price and location near DC cannot be beat," making it convenient for tent campers wanting to combine urban exploration with fishing.
Weather-related site selection: Choose tent sites carefully based on terrain drainage patterns. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, campers noted, "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."
Strict check-in times: Many campgrounds enforce exact check-in windows regardless of arrival time. One visitor mentioned, "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."
Insect considerations: Roaches have been reported at some locations. A visitor noted, "The only thing we didn't like is how many roaches we saw everywhere and that they don't sell ice," highlighting the importance of proper food storage.
Seasonal crowding patterns: Sandy Point experiences extreme crowding during peak seasons. A visitor observed, "The park closes daily very early as it hits capacity. The best times to go are winter, spring, and fall," suggesting tent campers plan accordingly.
Sensory trails for children: The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring offers specialized trails that engage multiple senses, making them ideal for younger campers. The park features "the largest aerial challenge course in North America," which can be combined with tent camping for groups.
Playground proximity: When tent camping with children, select sites based on distance to play areas. A camper at Patapsco Valley noted the playground "is not within walking distance for little kids but it's a very short drive by the entrance to the park."
Bathroom facilities: Restroom quality varies significantly between locations. One visitor mentioned, "The restrooms were central and well maintained," making certain loops more suitable for families with small children.
Off-season family activities: Consider winter camping for special events. A camper noted, "Lights on the Bay is a great Christmas light drive thru that's over a mile long," providing unique seasonal experiences for tent campers with children.
Electrical hookup limitations: Most tent-focused areas near Greenbelt have minimal electrical options for hybrid camping. Lacy Oasis Campground is one exception, described as "a peaceful oasis for glamping" where tent campers can access more amenities.
Site surface challenges: RVers who also tent camp note surface issues at several locations. A camper mentioned, "The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent."
Shared facility considerations: When facilities are shared between RV and tent campers, timing affects availability. During busy periods at tent-focused parks, one camper suggested arriving early as "the line to get in can be a mile long" at popular locations with limited parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Greenbelt Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Greenbelt Park 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 Greenbelt Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Greenbelt Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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