J
John S.
Scout
ScoutRamblin' Pines
Weak WiFi
For $90 per night the WiFi should work better. Didn’t connect at all. Had to use the antenna pointed East to get local Baltimore news.
Camping near Harwood, MD
91 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping near Harwood, Maryland encompasses a mix of state parks, private campgrounds, and waterfront sites within easy reach of both Washington DC and Annapolis. The area features established campgrounds like Adventure Bound Washington DC in Lothian and Cedarville State Forest, which provide varying levels of amenities for tent and RV campers. Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis offers youth group camping with Chesapeake Bay views, while smaller private operations like Lacy Oasis Campground provide more intimate camping experiences with just six sites. Cherry Hill Park in College Park stands out as a highly-rated option with full hookups and amenities for those visiting the DC area.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. Cedarville State Forest typically opens in April and closes in October, while Sandy Point State Park operates from March to October. Some facilities like Adventure Bound Washington DC and the Naval Station Annapolis FamCamp remain open year-round. Summer humidity and mosquitoes can be significant, particularly in wooded areas near water. According to reviews, Cedarville State Forest can experience severe mosquito activity in summer months, with one camper noting they "had to buy 100% deet so we could be outside."
The camping options near Harwood reflect the region's position between urban centers and natural areas. Greenbelt Park provides a National Park Service camping experience surprisingly close to DC, though campers note the proximity to civilization is evident. As one visitor observed, "Helicopters and planes fly over regularly, and you can hear sirens from neighboring College Park." For RV travelers, several campgrounds offer full hookups, though not all accommodate large rigs. Cherry Hill Park provides extensive amenities and even offers "a lengthy orientation to Washington, tours, restaurants, Metrorail, parking, museums, and monuments" according to one reviewer, making it particularly suitable for tourists using the campground as a base for DC exploration.
Best Campgrounds near Harwood (91)
1. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
"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 Availability2. Cherry Hill Park
"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 Availability3. Adventure Bound Washington DC
"We had a fantastic time our 1st time at #AdventureBoundCampingResort in Lothian, Maryland."
"This place is a good place to stay, the laundry room & showers are handy, the pool is large, & it's a 40 minute drive to the capital & the Smithsonian Mall or a 25 minute drive to the closest"
4. Washington DC / Capitol KOA
"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."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
5. Cedarville State Forest
"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
from $30 / night
Check Availability6. Pine Tree Associates Nudist Club
"My wife and I were trying to find an RV location near the Annapolis city dock for a boat show and found Pine Tree Associates."
"Camping fees include access to a large outdoor pool, an indoor pool and a hot tub. There is room for tenting and campers."
from $30 - $55 / night
Check Availability7. Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping
8. Lacy Oasis Campground
"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
Check Availability9. Military Park United States Naval Academy/Annapolis Naval Station Annapolis FamCamp
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
10. Breezy Point Beach
"There is additional space behind each site leading onto the beach that houses a table and fire ring. It feels like each site has loads of room out to the beach."
from $60 - $70 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 34 min from Washington, DC
- 34 min from Baltimore, MD
- 58 min from Lexington Park, MD
- 1 hr 25 min from Dover, DE
Recent Camping Photos near Harwood, MD
200 Photos of 91 Harwood Campgrounds
Kristy R.
Adventure Bound Washington DC
Manager P.
Pinetree Associates
Candice N.
Lacy Oasis Campground
Angie G.
Washington DC / Capitol KOA
Nick C.
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Tye S.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
Justin G.
Cedarville State Forest
Kristy R.
Cherry Hill Park
Ally S.
Endeavor Point
Courtney K.
Matoaka Beach Cottages
Jennifer S.
Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
Jennifer S.
Hollofield Area Campground
Recent Reviews near Harwood, MD
608 Reviews of 91 Harwood Campgrounds
- hheather B.Scout
Cherry Hill Park
Like a resort
This camp ground is like a resort with 2 pools mini golf splash pad and many other amenities
- H
Holly B.
GuideCherry Hill Park
My All Time Favorite…so far
This park is top notch. The grounds are immaculate. The staff is friendly and helpful. They have a lovely gift shop. We were in the 400 sites and it was nice and shady. Though you are close to highways I don’t recall hearing and noise. I love that they have shuttles to DC., walking trails and a large dog park. This is my all time favorite park so far and I need to go back.
- TTroli R.Guide
Aberdeen Proving Ground RV Park
Bougie sites; AWFUL reservation system
BASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
Jeremy G.
TravelerJoint Base Andrews Military FamCamp
Could be a great campground but......
There 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.
- AAimee K.Traveler
Washington DC / Capitol KOA
Good location
Nice 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.
Nancy W.
LegendMartinak State Park Campground
Quiet camping in the woods.
This is a great little state park tucked away in the woods. Campsites are pretty spacious and have nice shade. The campground has two loops, each with a bathhouse located in the middle. Our site (Butterfly Loop #3) was long enough for our motorhome and tow car. The roads are paved, as was our camping pad. The only utility at our site was 30-amp electric. There are water spigots located throughout each loop and we were close enough to fill our water tank. For the most part, the park is big-rig friendly but we did brush against some trees on our way around the loop. Campsites do vary in length so make sure you include your length when booking. We reserved online and were instructed to just go to our site which was nice and convenient. They sell firewood onsite and have a self-pay station which we loved. There is a nice boat launch and the kayak launch has a platform to assist you getting in and out and there are plenty of places to fish from the bank. There is a nature center (which was not open during our stay), playground, picnic pavilions, amphitheater, The bathrooms could use some more attention. The shower curtains were pink meaning they have not been properly cleaned in a while. Needless to say, we did not shower there. The dump station was closed while we were there but we were told we could use the dump station at Tuckahoe State Park (about 10 miles away). We really enjoyed the short hiking trails and paved trail which allowed us to log about 3 miles without having to leave the park. The campground is a really relaxing place to be. We did drive (about 40 minutes south) to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, both of which we recommend. It is also worth a drive to St. Michaels to see the quaint seaside town and visit the maritime museum (plan on spending half a day at the museum). The only downside is that the park is not gated and open for day use so a lot of people just drive through the campground looking around.
Matt S.LegendBay Shore Campground
What stands out about this campground? The view!
We spent a week at Bay Shore Campground to explore Rock Hall, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What stands out about this campground? The view!
For me, this is a 4-star campground because of the view and nice staff, but not 5-stars because of the sloped site packed in with the neighbors and no sewer connection.
THINGS I LIKED:
— Great view from our site of the Chesapeake Bay— especially for sunset each evening
— Friendly staff
— Nearby Rock Hall, Chestertown, and Eastern Neck Island Wildlife Refuge
— They offered a promo to pay for 6 nights, and the 7th was free
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
— Our site(Site B) had an amazing view of Chesapeake Bay, but the slope made it difficult to get even close to level— even with my front jacks fully extended. I had to buy additional leveling blocks from the camp store(at twice the price of Amazon) just so we didn’t feel like walking uphill to walk around our motorhome. I admit, I am spoiled but really appreciate the campgrounds that level their sites. I think it could be done in a few hours with a rented front loader at a couple nights’ cost.
— Our site(Site B) was tight. The neighbor’s awning was just inches from our motorhome. I understand the need for any business to maximize revenue, but this was unpleasantly close.
— There are no sewer hookups at the sites. They do have a couple of dump stations for your way out and provide a pump-out service once per week at$40 a pop. They were nice enough to pump me out a second time since I stayed 7 nights. Again, I know I’m spoiled, but a sewer connection is a necessity when you’re staying 8 days.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Sure thing, but we’d stay at a different site.
- ccara S.Scout
Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
Hilton area
Thought the campsites were extremely close together. There were A LOT of kids and no quiet hours. Good for families. Not good for a camping camping experience.
Guide to Harwood
Camping near Harwood, Maryland provides access to both freshwater and saltwater environments within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The region sits at elevations typically below 100 feet, creating gentle terrain suitable for camping throughout most of the year. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity levels that drop significantly during spring and fall camping seasons.
What to do
Fossil hunting at beaches: Some campsites offer prime shark tooth collecting opportunities along Chesapeake Bay shorelines. At Breezy Point Beach, one camper reported "great time yesterday with my little guy, playing in the water and sand! I also collected shark teeth... 178 shark teeth to be exact 🦈." The beach has undergone recent renovations to protect the shoreline.
Hiking forest trails: Cedarville State Forest offers multiple trail options through diverse woodland habitats. According to one visitor, "There are decent trails to hike here too. There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk. Equestrian trails go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail."
Washington DC tourism: Cherry Hill Park provides dedicated transit options for those wanting to explore the capital. One camper explained, "The best park in the DC area! Plan and reserve you DC tours right at the campground. No need to drive anywhere, the tour buses pick you up at the park!" Many campgrounds offer similar transit or driving options to reach DC attractions.
What campers like
Chesapeake Bay access: Waterfront sites at Breezy Point Beach Campground allow campers to enjoy beach access directly from their sites. A camper noted, "There is additional space behind each site leading onto the beach that houses a table and fire ring. It feels like each site has loads of room out to the beach." This creates a unique camping experience with bay views.
Forest seclusion close to urban areas: Greenbelt Park Campground offers woodland camping surprisingly close to urban amenities. As one camper described: "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground. Living nearby but storing my popup camper elsewhere, I often park my camper here for a few days while I pack it for a trip. It's also just nice to experience that 'getaway' feeling without being too far from home."
Pool and recreation facilities: Many campgrounds feature swimming pools and recreational amenities for families. At Washington DC Capitol KOA, one camper mentioned, "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." These amenities help when summer temperatures rise.
What you should know
Bug protection essential: The region's combination of woods and water creates ideal conditions for ticks and mosquitoes. At Cedarville State Forest, visitors warned: "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers." Mosquitoes are equally problematic in summer months.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds operate on reservation systems with varying lead times. For Greenbelt Park Campground, a visitor advised: "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online." Always check booking requirements before arriving.
Campground privacy varies: Site spacing differs significantly between campgrounds. One camper at Adventure Bound Washington DC noted: "Sites were very close. The site was part Gravel and mostly mud/grass. There was trash on site. It appears that most of the people here live full-time." Research site maps or call ahead if privacy is important.
Tips for camping with families
Metro access for DC trips: Washington DC Capitol KOA and other campgrounds near DC offer convenient metro access. A camper at Greenbelt Park advised: "Take the METRO if you are going into the District. There are two stations very close to camp (Greenbelt and University Park). Rides vary depending on how far you are going but on average I spent about $10 per day on METRO versus $20-$40 on parking in the district area."
Beach day options: Sandy Point State Park offers day-use beach facilities that complement camping trips. However, timing matters: "This park is extremely crowded and very dirty during the summer season." Visit during spring or fall for less crowded conditions, or arrive early during peak season.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds cater specifically to families with children. As one Cherry Hill Park visitor stated, "This campground has so much to offer. We loved it. Pros: Playground, Mini Golf, Swimming Pool, Hot tub, Basketball court, Snack bar on site, Nightly hayride." These facilities help keep children entertained during longer stays.
Tips from RVers
Difficult leveling at beach sites: Breezy Point Beach and Campgrounds offers waterfront camping but presents challenges for RVs. One RVer explained: "I had to mark it down for the loose-sandy sites; yes, I know it is a beach but they really need to firm-up the actual RV parking spots. Some are worse than others, but it can be a challenge leveling and stabilizers can't get a firm footing, be sure to have some wood or other platform for your stabilizers."
Limited dump facilities: Some campgrounds lack on-site dump stations. At Breezy Point Beach, a camper noted: "There is no dump station and the pump-out option is only offered a couple days per week. Finally, there is no camp store although Breezy Point Market is just a mile or so away." Plan accordingly when booking multi-night stays.
Site size considerations: Verify RV length restrictions before booking. As one camper at Cedarville State Forest observed: "The loop is very small, with all the sites pretty close together... Site 6 was good but not for larger rigs. We have a pop up and had to navigate around a tree that would have been very difficult for larger rigs. Site 5 or 7 wouldn't have that problem." Many campgrounds list maximum RV lengths on their websites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Harwood, MD?
Which is the most popular campground near Harwood, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Harwood, MD is Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park with a 4.2-star rating from 32 reviews.
What parks are near Harwood, MD?
What parks are near Harwood, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Harwood, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Fort Dupont Park.
Keep Exploring