2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent campers near Harwood, Maryland have several established options within a 30-mile radius, including Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping along the Chesapeake Bay and Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with designated tent sites. Additional tent-friendly campgrounds include The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring, Lacy Oasis Campground, and Campsites at Watkins Regional Park, all offering primitive to semi-developed tent camping experiences within driving distance of Harwood.
Most tent sites in the region feature crushed stone or dirt pads with picnic tables and fire rings, though several reviewers note limitations on where tents can be pitched. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with firewood often available for purchase on-site to prevent invasive insect spread. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer months when sites fill quickly. Water access varies significantly between locations, with Sandy Point offering drinking water and shower facilities, while more primitive sites may require campers to bring their own water supply. Alcohol is prohibited at most state park campgrounds in the area.
Tree cover and proximity to water bodies provide natural benefits for tent campers at several locations. The Hilton Area of Patapsco Valley offers hiking trail access directly from campsites, with multiple terrain options for day hikes. Sandy Point provides beachfront access but becomes extremely crowded during summer months. According to one visitor, "Endeavor Point campsites aren't dispersed and are pretty small, but the pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise." Several tent-only areas restrict RVs, creating quieter experiences for tent campers. Lacy Oasis receives positive reviews for its peaceful atmosphere, while Adventure Park at Sandy Spring primarily accommodates group camping for visitors to its aerial course activities.
"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,"
"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
"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
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"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
from $55 - $95 / night
"Private campground with cabins and tent sites. Tent sites are first come, first service so call ahead to ensure the space is available."
"They have a few tent camping spots as well as cabins. Just call ahead. I just showed up and got a perfect camp spot with a view of the sunrise and access to the private beach."
"Nice and quiet, no hookups, but nice surroundings!"
"It is a very nice walk about 2 miles to the beach where you can hunt for fossils. The beach has gotten smaller over the years however the trail has gotten much better."
from $150 - $200 / 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
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.
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.
ScoutIt was a well maintained campsite. Clean bathrooms and great hikes to fossil beach.
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 options within 30 miles of Harwood, Maryland include several established parks along the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The region's mild climate allows for camping from April through October, with summer highs averaging in the 80s and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Most campsites in this area sit at elevations below 300 feet, offering access to both forest and waterfront environments.
Fossil hunting on beaches: At Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping, visitors can search for prehistoric shark teeth along the shoreline. "The park has a great play ground right off the main parking lot for kids to play on as well as a few bathrooms. Also right off the parking lot is a little fishing pond which leads you to the main trail to get down to the beach which is about a mile - a mile and 1/2," notes Anthony S.
Kayaking and water sports: The Patapsco River offers calm waters for paddlers of various skill levels. "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. The park was clean and it had knowledgable staff," shares Anthony S. about Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area.
Fishing and crabbing: The region's waterways provide ample opportunities for catching blue crabs and various fish species. "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise," writes Ally S. about her stay at Endeavor Point.
Privacy and quiet settings: Some campgrounds offer secluded sites away from crowds. "We tent camped at Matoka Cabins and it was a beautiful Peaceful camping trip! Out spot was very private and you could see the bay and hear the waves," shares Courtney K. about her experience at Matoaka Beach Cottages.
Waterfront access: Many campers appreciate being close to the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries. "We went for labor day weekend and had a great time. it was pretty busy due to the holiday but still manageable. the campsites aren't dispersed and are pretty small but that's the only downside," notes Ally S. about Endeavor Point.
Hiking trail variety: The best tent camping near Harwood, Maryland often includes access to trail networks. "Patapsco Valley offers 6 different entrances. Each one provides a several different trail heads and experiences. For camping or just spending a day out on the trail with the kids we prefer the Hilton entrance," explains Angel G. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "This campground is very well taken care of, and seemed safe to me. 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, but youth group camping only," advises Rachel S. about Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping.
Weather considerations: The Chesapeake region experiences hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon storms. "Nice small campsite in MD not too far from DC. One negative was that 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," reports Alexandra T. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Seasonal jellyfish: Bay waters can become filled with jellyfish during late summer. "My family and I have been coming to Sandy Point my entire life. It is a great little spot on the Chesapeake river. Our favorite thing to do is to fossil hunt for sharks teeth. In the summer it can get pretty crowded, so we prefer to visit in late spring while school is still in session. August is the worst month to visit if you like the water. Jellyfish take over with a vengeance!" warns Angel G.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature designated play areas for children. "This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park. It's a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood, but the Hilton area is great. It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center," explains Sean M.
Educational activities: Look for parks with nature centers or interpretive programs. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," recommends Angel G.
Group camping options: For larger family gatherings, consider specialized sites. "Very convenient for before or after your time in the largest aerial challenge course in North America. Groups only- no individual campsites," notes Elizabeth R. about The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring.
Limited hookup options: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Harwood offer minimal RV amenities. "Military campground. Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap," reports Ginny L. about Military Park United States Naval Academy/Annapolis Naval Station Annapolis FamCamp.
Site surface challenges: Many tent sites have crushed stone surfaces that can be uncomfortable without proper padding. "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 to the ground," advises Sean M. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Off-season advantages: Several reviewers recommend visiting outside peak summer months for better experiences. "Extremely over crowded in the summer. The park closes daily very early as it hits capacity. The best times to go are winter, spring, and fall," suggests Tony P. about Sandy Point State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Harwood, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Harwood, MD is Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping with a 3.3-star rating from 8 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Harwood, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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