1 campground with availability this weekend
Tent campgrounds near Mayo, Maryland offer access to the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waterways, ranging from shoreside tent-only sites to wooded walk-in campsites. Sandy Point State Park provides youth group tent camping from March to October with beach access and water views, though individual tent camping is limited. Campsites at Watkins Regional Park offers walk-in tent sites approximately 25 miles northwest of Mayo, providing another tent-focused option in the region.
Most tent campsites in the Mayo area feature crushed stone or compacted dirt tent pads with picnic tables and fire rings. Campers should note that many sites prohibit alcohol and require on-site firewood purchase to prevent pest introduction. Several campgrounds offer basic amenities including toilets, showers, and trash disposal, though availability varies seasonally. The Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, while farther from Mayo, maintains tent-specific sites with graded pads, though some sites present slope challenges after rainfall. One camper noted, "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."
The tent camping near Mayo provides access to both wooded seclusion and water-based recreation. Areas closer to the Chesapeake offer swimming and fossil hunting opportunities, with several tent-only sites providing direct shore access. Tent campers frequently visit during spring and fall when crowds thin and jellyfish are less prevalent in the bay waters. Sites at Sandy Point can become exceptionally crowded during summer months, affecting the tent camping experience. The Hilton Area of Patapsco Valley State Park offers more wooded seclusion for tent campers seeking trails rather than beaches. A visitor commented that it's "a very nice small campground that is great for kids" with nearby trails and playgrounds, making it suitable for families with tent camping experience.
"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,"
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"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
"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
"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
from $6 / 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.
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.
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.
ScoutThe park is very well maintained, and the campsites have clean fire pits and cooking grills. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and well maintained, and my campsite was large enough to comfortably fit a 6-person tent and a canopy.
However, there were a few concerns during our stay. Despite the campground’s quiet hours policy starting at 10:00 PM, many campers continued to make noise well past that time. I did not notice any campground staff or maintenance personnel making rounds to enforce the quiet hours.
I also felt concerned about security. One of my neighboring campers, who was visiting from South Carolina, told me that his generator had been stolen during the night. He reported the theft to the police, and an official report was filed. Incidents like this made me feel unsafe while camping.
I recommend increasing staff or security patrols, especially during the evening and overnight hours, to enforce quiet hours and improve the safety and security of campers and their belongings. With better enforcement and security, Burke Lake Campground would provide an even better camping experience.
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
Several established tent campgrounds surround Mayo, Maryland, offering access to Chesapeake Bay waters and wooded settings. Sandy Point State Park provides tent sites for youth groups with beach access and bay views, though reviews indicate summer crowds can be overwhelming. Within driving distance, Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers tent campsites in a forested setting with access to hiking trails and river activities. Campers should note that alcohol is prohibited at most state park campgrounds in the area, including Sandy Point and Patapsco Valley.
Most tent campsites near Mayo feature picnic tables and fire rings, with varying levels of amenities. Sandy Point provides drinking water, showers, and toilets, though campers report the park can become extremely crowded during summer months. Patapsco Valley's tent sites are situated on crushed stone pads that can be uncomfortable for tent setup, requiring extra padding and alternative securing methods. After rainstorms, lower-elevation sites in Patapsco can experience significant water runoff. Several campgrounds operate seasonally, with Sandy Point typically open from March to October and Patapsco Valley available from April to late October.
Tent campers in the Mayo area can enjoy both waterfront and forest experiences depending on their preference. At Sandy Point, campers have access to Chesapeake Bay beaches and swimming, though a visitor noted, "This park is extremely crowded and very dirty during the summer season." For a more secluded experience, Patapsco Valley offers wooded tent sites with access to hiking trails, waterfalls, and river views. A camper described Patapsco as "a small gem of a state park campground" with "beautiful" but "moderate to hard" trails. Several parks offer boat-in tent camping opportunities, including Calvert Cliffs State Park and Hart-Miller Island State Park, providing more remote tent camping experiences for those arriving by water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mayo, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mayo, 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 19 tent camping locations near Mayo, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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