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.
