Central Maryland glamping options near Pikesville span elevations of 300-600 feet with a humid subtropical climate that averages 42 inches of rain annually. The area features hardwood forests interspersed with meadows and small waterways. Most campgrounds remain open April through October, though several luxury glamping sites maintain year-round operations with climate-controlled accommodations.
What to do
Horseback riding tours: 5 minutes from battlefield. At Artillery Ridge Campground visitors can take guided horseback tours through historic sites. "You can take guided tours of the battlefield on horseback. Nice catch and release pond in campground," notes Zack in a review.
Hiking wooded trails: Multiple difficulty levels. The trail system at Susquehanna State Park Campground offers routes along the river with wildlife viewing opportunities. "We hiked back to the campground from here, which was a nice easy-to-moderate trail. The beginning was pretty rough for me, since I was wearing my infant son while navigating an uphill trail, but it quickly evened out," shares reviewer Jen V.
Family water activities: Memorial Day through Labor Day. Swim in the pool at the Washington DC/Capitol KOA or enjoy multiple water features. One visitor notes, "They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc). If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy."
Disc golf: 18-hole courses. Play through wooded fairways at Gifford Pinchot State Park. "Both areas also have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge all over the prime walking areas through the course," warns Danielle V.
What campers like
Large, level sites with privacy: Most under mature trees. The spacious camping areas at Little Bennett Campground provide natural separation between campers. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," mentions Ray & Terri F., who appreciated the site layout.
Clean, modern bathhouses: Recently renovated. Many reviewers highlight the quality of facilities at Cherry Hill Park, where bathhouses receive regular maintenance. According to Joe R., the campground offers "Easy access and well laid out sites. They have a bus stop for metro service to the city, but we took the 20 minute drive. They have a nice looking pool area, but it was too cold."
Pet-friendly amenities: Designated exercise areas. Multiple campgrounds feature special areas for dogs to run freely. A reviewer at Washington DC/Capitol KOA observed, "We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time. They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."
Seasonal activities: Holiday-specific events. Many campgrounds organize special weekend programming. "We stayed here this past Easter and they had plenty of activities for kids and adults. Easter egg hunts for kids, adult scavenger hunts for alcohol. Wonderful experience for the whole family," shares Melissa E. about Merry Meadows Recreation Farm.
What you should know
Reservation policies: Required weeks in advance. Most campgrounds near Pikesville require advance bookings, especially for premium sites. "Advance reservations are a must — this place books up fast!" warns Wendy W. about Merry Meadows Recreation Farm, where glamping yurts are particularly popular.
Site selection considerations: Research placement. Site quality varies widely within the same campground. A reviewer at Codorus State Park noted, "The site we originally picked was advertised as 'partially shaded' but when we got there we found one small tree per site in a grass field. But on the way in we noticed there are lots of wooded sites, and asked to move."
Cash-only transactions: Plan accordingly. Several campgrounds maintain cash-only policies for certain fees and services. "One of the complaints was they work on cash. Yeah, I knows it's not popular because most of us live in a plastic dominated world. I read it in advance and I just made sure we had some with us," explains Sharon L.
Campground access limitations: Check hours. Entry gates often have restricted hours that affect check-in procedures. According to Sean M., "The keycard entry system is pretty inconvenient though ($40 cash only deposit!) and the hours are inconvenient as well. You can only check in between 2 and 4! This might be off season though."
Tips for camping with families
Recreation schedules: Coordinate around specific times. Many family amenities have limited operating hours. A reviewer of Little Bennett Campground mentioned, "jumping pillow and pedal cars are only open at certain hours. there is no swimming pool or lake."
Playground proximity: Request sites accordingly. When booking, consider distance to playgrounds if traveling with children. "This is great if you want to be away from the playground, as you can book one of the sites further off and not have kids running about. That said, this also leaves limited sites that are close to the playground, for families who would like easy access," observes Jennifer S.
Swimming restrictions: Verify policies. Some campgrounds have specific rules regarding swimming. One camper at Codorus State Park pointed out, "It was a shock we had to pay to swim when we camped there," while another noted, "I didn't like that non potty trained kids are not allowed to swim in their pool."
Kid-friendly navigation: Consider campground layout. Select campgrounds with manageable terrain for children on bikes. "The camp road was minimally hilly and would be safe and easy for little kids to ride their bikes, unlike some of the campgrounds that have pretty decent hills," notes a reviewer about Susquehanna State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Bring blocks. Many campsites require significant front-to-back leveling. A reviewer at Little Bennett Campground mentioned, "Site #D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back."
Limited turnaround space: Plan arrival carefully. Some entrance areas restrict larger RV maneuverability. A camper at Ramblin' Pines noted, "Entrance gate required entry code. Instructed by staff via gate phone to proceed to campsite as check-in at camp store is at dead end with insufficient turning space for pickup towing 28ft bumper pull; complete check-in after camper was unhooked at site."
WiFi and connectivity: Variable by location. Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds and even within sites. "AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy. OTA TV was descent using an external omni antenna. There is no WiFi," reports Ray & Terri F.
Premium site selection: Consider specific needs. For RVers seeking more privacy, certain site types offer advantages. "If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy," advises Elise M. about Washington DC/Capitol KOA.
