Best Tent Camping near Havre de Grace, MD

Tent campsites near Havre de Grace, Maryland can be found within several state parks and county-managed campgrounds across Maryland and nearby Pennsylvania. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers dedicated tent-only camping with non-electric sites in a forested setting about 40 miles southwest of Havre de Grace. Hibernia County Park in Pennsylvania provides primitive tent camping with two loops—Lake Loop and Fiddler's Loop—situated along scenic Chamber's Lake approximately 25 miles northwest of Havre de Grace.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of access. At Patapsco Valley, tent sites are set on crushed stone surfaces that can be challenging for securing stakes, while Hibernia County Park offers more natural dirt and grass surfaces. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at both locations, though campers should note that Hibernia operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no hookups and limited water access. Vault toilets or pit toilets are common at the more primitive sites, while Patapsco provides access to clean bathhouses with hot showers. One camper noted that "bathrooms were clean and well maintained" at Patapsco Valley.

The tent camping experience around Havre de Grace offers varying levels of seclusion depending on the specific campground. Walk-in sites at Mill Creek Camping Area provide a more isolated experience, while tent sites at Hibernia County Park's Lake Loop are more open and popular with group campers. Patapsco Valley's tent sites in the lower section of the camping loop can experience drainage issues during heavy rain, so higher elevation sites are preferred during wet weather. In warmer months, the wooded settings provide welcome shade for tent campers. A recent review highlighted that Hibernia County Park offers "running water available, porta potties are very clean and don't smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."

Best Tent Sites Near Havre de Grace, Maryland (17)

    1. Susquehannock State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Drumore, PA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 252-1134

    $28 - $72 / night

    "Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."

    "This is Organized Group Tenting Only."

    2. Blackbird State Forest Campground - CLOSED TIL FURTHER NOTICE

    6 Reviews
    Townsend, DE
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (302) 653-6505

    $25 / night

    "This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting."

    "Spent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it."

    3. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    19 Reviews
    Catonsville, MD
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 461-5005

    $20 - $51 / night

    "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."

    4. Hibernia County Park

    8 Reviews
    Coatesville, PA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (610) 383-3812

    $15 - $50 / night

    "Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."

    "We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."

    5. Group Camp — Ridley Creek State Park

    10 Reviews
    Gradyville, PA
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (610) 892-3900

    $57 / night

    "Terrific space for exploring"

    "well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."

    6. Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping

    8 Reviews
    Gibson Island, MD
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    "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,"

    7. Mill Creek Camping Area

    2 Reviews
    Lancaster, PA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 299-8215

    $23 / night

    "Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents, camping cost $25 a night flat rate, for up to 6 days. Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook."

    8. Hart-Miller Island State Park

    Be the first to review!
    Fort Howard, MD
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 592-2897

    $6 / night

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 17 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Havre de Grace, MD

703 Reviews of 17 Havre de Grace Campgrounds


  • E
    Oct. 2, 2022

    Susquehanna State Park Campground

    Susquehanna is a nice hidden gen

    Has access to Susquehanna River, nice hiking trails. Can picnic on Deer Creek and go tubing. Close to Connowingo Damn for fishing and birdwatching. Havre de Grace sits near Chesapeake Bay.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 25, 2022

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Campsites Jammed Closely Together

    PROS 

    Reserved 328 days prior to arriving

    $13.50 senior discount 

    Immediately greeted by Loop C camp host who was extremely friendly and helpful 

    Site C3 parking pad level asphalt 

    Metal frame wooden picnic table that was moveable 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Metal fire pit which was cleaned out upon our arrival 

    Some vegetation between sites provided a bit of privacy from neighbors sites 

    Park is 21 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park. Catch National Park Service 90 minute trolley tour at the Visitor Center. 

    Shady Maple Smorgasbord...authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking…largest buffet in the USA…16 miles from French Creek SP 

    CONS

    $6.50 reservation fee for making my own on-line reservation 

    Horrible signage along PA-345. Never saw very small sign when we where intensely searching 

    Such a large overall park, but camping loop sites are jammed together

    Pitiful low water pressure  in Loop C

    Site sewer connection is high; needs to be knocked down to ground level 

    Short length of site caused creative tow vehicle parking 

    Loop C women’s toilet/shower building a big nasty mess Saturday 

    Trash dumpsters are on the main road near the campground check-in station (not walkable) 

    Noisy campground; 9pm quiet hour not enforced

    Lots of barking dogs 

    No wood sales in park 

    No WiFi 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Nate & Erika L.
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Susquehanna State Park Campground

    Great State Park Camping

    We decided to stay a weekend at Susquehanna based on the reviews on the Dyrt and it’s closer proximity to home. We arrived and were greeted by super friendly rangers who gave us the lay of the land. We found the rangers to be very knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife, plants, and trees in the park. They had two display tables full of flora and fauna by the check-in station set up for kids and adults alike to glean some knowledge. On one night while we were there, there was a program run by the rangers where kids could learn about some common native and invasive species.

    We hiked the Green Trail, which had a sign saying it was ‘very difficult’, but we found it to be no problem for our crew of seven kids aged 3-10 and four adults. We only passed one other hiker. We saw some champion trees, lots of deer, and had some run ins with more than a few spotted lantern flies. One ranger told us they have nine champion trees in the park, we’d love to go back and hike to find the others.

    With only two loops, the sites were fairly spaced out with lots of trees between them. We had a spacious electric site for our pop up and camped with friends who had a nice level, secluded tent site. We hardly ever heard any neighbors and all was quiet at night. Each loop shares a bathhouse, and there are some portable toilets spaced around the loop, too. The facilities were cleaned every morning. They even have a large laundry utility sink in the bathhouse should you need it. The only downside we found was that showering at prime time (around 8 or 9 pm) led to very little hot water. A small price to pay for good camping and hiking!

  • Jim N.
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Hibernia County Park

    Hidden gem

    A nice primitive campground - good for a quick trip away. The campground is a county run one that works on a first come first serve basis, which is fine if there are others close by. They are wooded sites and have 2 loops. There is no store, but there a places close to get supplies. The park is dry, no alcohol. No hook ups either. There is an old mansion that gives tours on weekends.

  • A
    Sep. 24, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Nice Small Campsite Close to DC

    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 and it was very wet even after the rain died down. Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby. Where we were hiking. 😬 The positives are as others have pointed out there is a huge park for kids- it’s not within walking distance for little kids but it’s a very short drive by the entrance to the park. There’s also another small park on the loop. The restrooms were central and well maintained. We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park. All sites had a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood available from camp host. Hiking poles would have been good for the trails when we had a kid in a pack on our back. Overall a nice close small campground.

  • Sean M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Great Small Campground - Cool Cabinso

    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. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes.

    The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table. 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. There are helpful and friendly camp hosts always on duty. The bathhouse is nothing special, but it’s well maintained and clean. The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely “rough it.” We found everything reasonably priced.

    Remember: no alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects. But the money goes toward the parks volunteer program.

    This is a very nice small campground that is great for kids!

  • Max C.
    Oct. 14, 2019

    French Creek State Park Campground

    Gorgeous in the fall

    Stayed in B-08 on mid October and had a great trip. The site was non-electric and it seems most of the outer side of this loop is basic camping with the inside of the loop having power. The other loops offer full hookups but opting for this area kept us from being surrounded by massive RV's. Easy back in spot for our car, partially shaded, decent brush cover between sites and able to keep tent about 20 yards from the road on a crushed rock pad. I will say this site has a little bit of slope but nothing that affected our sleep. The fire ring is very high sided and if you're not sitting on a higher camp chairs you kind of miss the fire. Picnic table was sturdy but easy enough to move lnto place to fit our needs. Tons of hike mg within the park including some historic sites at Hopewell Furnace like the blacksmith shop and old residences. Checked in a. It before the stated 3pm time without issues. Very few rangers seen during stay but it is after labor day and most of the seasonal attractions like the pool etc were closed for the season. Very clean bathrooms with easy to use dish sinks on the outside. Overall for a trip that within 75 minutes of Philly you can't go wrong for a quick jaunt out of town.

  • K
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Nice campground for primitive tenting

    Large campground but only 15 sites dedicated to“roughin’ it” tent camping. However, those sites are isolated from the others. The tent sites were in very good condition, spaced well, and fairly private. Most sites have plenty of shade and grassy, though a few are dirt only. Many sites within walking distance from the lake(no swimming) and set up for you to store and launch your kayak or other boat. Water, bathrooms, and showers a little distant but everything clean and in excellent condition. Ice and firewood available on the grounds. There is also a small store but I didn’t see it because it was open for very limited weekend hours only. Otherwise, major grocery stores are only a few minutes’ drive. Definitely going back…!

  • E
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Elk Neck State Park Campground

    Good Intro to Camping

    I booked a tent site as my first introduction to the park. Setting up a reservation was incredibly user friendly, park staff was fantastic at getting us checked in, and the camp store was well stocked and priced. 

    Our site, however, left something to be desired. The sites were all very close together, and the tent pad areas were fairly small. You can drive right up to your site and park there, which is incredibly convenient in terms of unpacking and set up. Around our site was pretty loud with neighbors at all hours, regardless of quiet hours, and balls being kicked into our tent pad area from surrounding visitors. There were some bottle caps and garbage on our tent pad upon arrival.

    I think if you had kids and were looking for a "not so quiet" get away into nature, this would be a fantastic spot. There were larger and more private sites on our loop, and if I returned I would prioritize getting one of those. There are also more loops than the one we were on. 

    The firepit had an adjustable height grill grate, and there was a picnic table at each site. Firewood ran $5 a bundle at the camp store.  Ice and potable water was also available. 

    There was a nearby dumpster that was easy to use. Disappointed that there did not seem to be a recycling receptacle. Bathrooms were nice, the handicapped shower was very spacious. No shortage of hot water. 

    We hiked all available trails from the trail map, though it seems there were more than listed, and a portion of the park is closed following previous tornado damage. We saw an abundance of herps, gorged ourselves on pawpaws, and generally foraged and tracked a ton of interesting wildlife. The trails themselves were pretty, but the rankings somewhat misleading. The "hard" trails would be hard in comparison to a flat gravel path, but in terms of general hiking, were comfortable with only a couple mildly steep or narrow points. I am unsure if the ranking system is for general hiking or in terms of ADA accessibility, however. If accessibility, it makes a lot of sense. For hiking? Less so; I'd rank the trails as a normal difficulty for their 'hard' trails. 

    The beaches were lovely! We did not get the opportunity to kayak, swim, or fish, but are hoping to do that sometime in the future. Was still relaxing to sit out with a book and watch the water.

    I do feel like we explored most of what the park had to offer, so while I would be happy to return it feels less urgent to do so. I think I would be better equipped to pick a site (or explore a cabin!) the next time which would resolve my minimal issues. Given the relaxed atmosphere of the trails, close amenities, etc. I think this would be a good choice to bring friends who are new to the camping scene, or for families.


Guide to Havre de Grace

Tent camping near Havre de Grace, Maryland, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can enjoy the great outdoors. With well-reviewed campgrounds nearby, you'll find the perfect place to pitch your tent and unwind.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The Susquehannock State Park Campground features drinking water, electric hookups, and clean shower facilities, making it a comfortable choice for campers.
  • At Blackbird State Forest Campground, you'll find spacious sites with picnic tables and firewood available, perfect for a cozy evening under the stars.
  • Hibernia County Park offers a beautiful setting with picnic tables and fire rings, ideal for family gatherings and outdoor cooking.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Tent campers should check out the unique features

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Havre de Grace, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Havre de Grace, MD is Susquehannock State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Havre de Grace, MD?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Havre de Grace, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.