Martinak State Park Campground welcomes pets at all campsites, cabins, and RV spaces across both Butterfly and Acorn loops. Sites throughout the wooded camping areas include fire rings with cooking grates and picnic tables, providing comfortable spaces for campers and their dogs. Campground facilities include clean, modern bathhouses with hot showers centrally located within each loop. Both electric and non-electric sites accommodate tents, RVs, and pet owners can also reserve mini cabins that allow dogs. The park requires pets to remain leashed at all times while in camping areas and on trails. Located on the Choptank River with additional access to Watts Creek, the park offers multiple water access points where pets can cool off during warmer months. Rangers regularly patrol the grounds, creating a secure environment for visitors traveling with animals.
Several paved walking paths throughout Martinak provide excellent options for exercising dogs, with the waterfront trail offering scenic views particularly suitable for morning and evening dog walks. The nearby sister park, Tuckahoe State Park (approximately 15 minutes away), offers additional pet-friendly amenities and more extensive trail systems for longer hikes with dogs. Both parks maintain pet waste stations and trash receptacles throughout camping areas and along trails. The town of Denton sits just minutes away with a Walmart, Food Lion, and Petco providing convenient access to pet supplies and emergency items. The park's wooded setting offers substantial shade during summer months, keeping pets comfortable during hot weather. Multiple playgrounds throughout the grounds provide recreation for families while designated quiet hours help ensure barking doesn't disturb other campers. The recently renovated facilities and peaceful setting make this location particularly suitable for first-time campers with pets.
$21 - $70 / night
"Park is that the Electric loop has larger back in sites on both sides ot the drive loop. The bath house is located in the center of the loop. A separate adjoining loop has a small playground."
"Those can be found at the campground entrance. Each loop has a wood shed and clean, well-appointed bathhouse. There are water pumps along the road for refills."
$18 - $77 / night
"The park is pet friendly. The ranger was very vigilant and friendly. We met new friends and even attended a concert at their pavilion 🥰"
"Sites are level, in a loop around the bath house. There are also a few cabins available to rent. There's a small $1 surcharge for out of state campers."
$17 - $79 / night
"The trail around the lake was awesome with some slight inclines but mostly flat. There were short spurs to scenic spots of the pond. Total walked was 4 miles."
"I’d prefer to be further away from each other campsite, which was only like ten or fifteen feet. But otherwise, the primitive campsites were very wooded and nice!"
$49 - $57 / night
"They do have restrictions on dog breeds per their insurance guidelines; some sewer sites available; they do have rules and they are followed but they make for an enjoyable time; also have church services"
"There is a smell due to being next to a chicken or animal farm; however, after a few minutes outside, the smell goes away."
$17 - $53 / night
"We were able to get a yurt as a walk up after the office closed thanks to the help of a kind staff member. The yurt was cozy and had a waterfront view of the pond."
"There are miles of well maintained trails for bicycles, and free bike rentals from the campground bike shed."
$40 - $50 / night
"Was close to casino only like 7 min drive and shopping everywhere was a weekend full of busy even while it rained."
"We found this place by accident as us and several friends planned on attending the 45th Annual June Jam in Houston and wanted somewhere close to stay. "
$20 - $80 / night
"There is also a section of walk-in tent sites, each with 1 parking spot semi close by. (Bring a wagon if you stay at one of these)."
"There are miles upon miles of walking and biking trails. There are nice play facilities for kids, loads of water and beach access."
"Off the beaten path from beach noise but does require a 15-30 minute drive to popular beaches. Pros: large area for back in campers."
"Close proximity to the beach. Lots of family friendly activities. Full stocked camp store."
$21 - $55 / night
"Accessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff"
"Our go to State Park for camping as it is pretty close to home. Standard State Park with all the amenities you need. We are tent campers/ non electric (no pets/ no kids)."
TravelerCampground sites are nice and spacious, bathrooms are good, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course. We always travel with our dogs and this place has the BEST dog park. Big open space with access to lots of water play. We definitely recommend this spot!
GuideI was able to book my site the day before the trip. The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area.
Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side. Firewood was $5 a bundle, but the register wasn't working and they could only take cash.
The hiking in the immediate area was beautiful, lots of fun trails and wildlife. Fishing, kayaking, zip lining, tons of great activities.
The firepits have grates over one half, so campfire cooking is a breeze. Cook up and use the provided picnic table for an easy dinner set up.
The park itself is very dog friendly and most sites had dogs. There is also an off leash dog park at Lum's pond and dog water dishes outside the camp store.
The showers and bathrooms were incredibly well kept with hot water and stocked supplies. If you didn't feel like walking so far, the tents had a spiget with running water near the parking areas.
Reception for Verizon was spotty, t mobile was pretty great. Wish there was an ATM on site though I don't think the cash only situation is a normal one for this campground.
All in all an amazing trip, and I'll be back as soon as possible.
TravelerOur first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.
You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.
GuideWe do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.
Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.
Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!
ScoutThis is our favorite campground! It is close enough to ocean city we can enjoy the beach daily but far enough to relax in the woods! This campground is the small sister campground to frontier town. They have a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to assateaque island, frontier town, and ocean city. Campers here are eligible for discounts at frontier town as well! We tent camp but there are RV sites and cabins as well. There is an arcade, camp store, heated pool, playground, dog park, and mini golfing! The main pavilion has rentals for recreational equipment at no extra cost (hula hoops, balls, etc.) There are also themed weekends and scheduled activities throughout the week! The bathhouses are cleaned many times a day and the showers are spacious enough. The staff here is friendly and welcoming. Each tent site is far enough away from the other that you feel spread out and private. This is definitely a place I recommend to friends and family.
LegendOur GPS wanted to take us to the main park entrance on Howell School Rd versus Red Lion Rd to the campground entrance on the other side of the pond. The gate and store were not open so we went directly to back-in site 26 with FHUs. Our reservation sheet and vehicle pass were on the post when we arrived. Back-in was okay with having to swing our F-450 and 39’ 5th wheel into the grass between sites across the street. Utilities were smartly placed at the middle of the pad. We had 2 to 3 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on AT&T. However, we had trouble with AT&T maintaining internet on our Weingard Connect. The CG is in two loops. Sites 1-30 make up the first loop and that is where most of the larger rigs camped. A rough estimate(double check site size online) is that sites 12- 18 will take larger rigs up to around 45’ but you’ll need to park your tow vehicle or toad angled in front of your rig. Our site was long enough for our 39’ fifth wheel but we had to park our truck at an angle as well. The second loop does have larger sites but is mainly suited for small rigs to include a tent area. Both loops have a large grass field in the middle that the sites back up to, which is great for playing outside games and without many trees so you could use satellite from almost all the sites. From a spaciousness point of view, the best site in the CG is 17, but it is near the walking trail. The shower house also contains a small laundry with 3 washers and 4 dryers that are reasonably priced, although one washer was out of service at the time. However, there was not a change machine. You could purchase firewood from one of the on duty camp hosts. A short drive from the campground to another Lum’s Pond State Park area there’s a really cool dog park where you can walk the dogs off leash down trails and with open play areas along the pond. One of the best features of this off-leash area is how secluded it is away from the main road. Supposedly this is known as a haunted campground, although we didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary. If in the area, we would stay here again.
GuidePlenty of room for big rigs. Sites are spacious and roads are wide. Hookups work great and it has the best wifi I've ever seen. Hotspots throughout the park. It is on the Rehobeth Bay. They have sites on the bay or on the shores of the lagoons. Restaurants, bars, pool, beach, dog park and beach, game room, well stocked store, the list goes on and on. We had to cancel this years trip there but just took a day trip and stopped in. They are still adding amenities throughout the park. The staff is excellent. Golf cart, kayak, and bike rentals are available. This is an excellent park to bike ride and kayak in. Just outside the campground is a public boat launch into the bay. It's a neat place to sit on the docks and watch the boats or fish. Crabbing and clamming can be done right at the campground. The offer a shuttle to Rehobeth Beach which is a great idea because the parking at the beach is limited.
GuideThis campground is perfect for a quiet visit to the Eastern shore town of Rock Hall as It sits conveniently between the village of Rock Hall and Eastern Neck sanctuary. The area reserved for RV campsites overlooks a bluff on the Chesapeake Bay….gorgeous. Because we went in the middle of the week, we had a lot of space to our self and open areas for our dog to play. Admittedly there isn’t a lot to do in the campground itself, even the bathrooms were closed down for Covid and only self contained RVs could camp.There is a small playground and a dog park, and a small pond for fishing. Sewer hook ups are not yet available but they are coming. Purchasing the WiFi access was a waste of money and our Verizon signal was very weak. The biggest attraction is the view over the Bay. So if you are looking for beautiful scenery and a cooling breeze this is a lovely and relaxing place. We met the owner who was very attentive to our needs and also helped us use the dump station as this was the maiden voyage with our new RV. The campground is clean and nicely landscaped. Be sure to go into the town of rock Hall for a seafood dinner at Waterman’s.
GuideAccessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff
Martinak State Park Campground sits along the eastern shore of Maryland, offering water recreation opportunities on both the Choptank River and Watts Creek. The campground features two distinct loops, Butterfly and Acorn, with water access points throughout the property where campers can launch kayaks or fish. Located at approximately 20 feet above sea level, the area maintains relatively mild temperatures even during summer camping season, though humidity can be significant during July and August.
Fishing on the water: At Martinak State Park Campground, many visitors take advantage of the river access. "This is a great place to catch some good action fish. I've always had some success whenever I've been here. It's a fun place to spend a night or two and relax," notes Sam D., who finds the fishing opportunities worth the trip.
Hiking accessible trails: The walking paths at Tuckahoe State Park complement Martinak's trail system for longer excursions. "20 miles of hiking trails are also open for biking and horseback riding," according to Mary S., who appreciates the extensive trail network. However, she warns, "as a hiker, I am extremely wary of hiking in parks at a time when hunting is allowed."
Water sports on multiple waterways: Paddle craft enthusiasts find plenty of options at area campgrounds. "Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports," notes Laura M. about Martinak. Tuckahoe offers additional water recreation with "Canoe/kayak launch between sites 46 and 48. The walk to Tuckahoe Creek from the parking area is very short, and the creek leads to Tuckahoe Lake."
Spacious wooded sites: Elk Neck State Park offers campsites with natural separation. "Sites were level, spacious, spaced apart, with packed gravel surface. Back in and pull through sites available," reports Laure D., who camped there in the off-season. The park maintains "fairly many camp sites with an amazing view" according to another reviewer.
Quiet atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the peaceful environment at Holiday Park Campground, about 15 miles from Denton. One reviewer describes it as a "nice quiet campground. Older but clean." Another visitor, Janet P., appreciated that "Very quiet, took my grandson and him and my husband had the pool all to themselves."
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness receives consistent positive feedback. At Tuckahoe, Regina C. notes, "Electric loop with central bathhouse. Clean with dishwashing station." Similarly, Rhonda S. observes, "Bathrooms were like brand new. Water and electric on our loop." This attention to facility maintenance makes these sites particularly appealing for pet-friendly camping near Denton.
Seasonal considerations: When planning pet-friendly camping near Denton, Maryland, timing matters. At Trap Pond State Park, about 40 miles east of Denton, Lee D. notes, "At Trap Pond, we missed being able to rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat by a week. Free bike rentals were still available (donations accepted)." This highlights the importance of checking seasonal availability.
Varying site sizes: Campsite dimensions differ significantly between and within parks. At Tuckahoe State Park, Buck P. warns, "The web site does not say site 21 is extremely small.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Denton, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Denton, MD is Tuckahoe State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Denton, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Denton, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
