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 Dunkirk, MD
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Dunkirk, Maryland range from state forests to private camping resorts, with most facilities concentrated within a 30-mile radius of the town. Cedarville State Forest offers tent and RV camping from April to October with basic amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and shower facilities. Adventure Bound Washington DC in nearby Lothian provides year-round camping with cabin options alongside traditional tent and RV sites. Several campgrounds in the area feature waterfront access, particularly those closer to the Chesapeake Bay, while inland options tend to be more wooded with hiking trails.
Road conditions and site accessibility vary significantly across the region's campgrounds, with some requiring advance planning for larger vehicles. "We chose this campground based on proximity to work. This campground was priced fairly, however, it does come with its downfalls," noted one visitor about Cedarville State Forest. Many campgrounds near Dunkirk maintain seasonal operations, typically opening from April through October, though some private facilities remain open year-round. Summer weekends often see full occupancy, especially at waterfront locations, making reservations essential during peak season. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though coverage may be spotty in more remote sections of state forests.
The camping experience around Dunkirk benefits from proximity to both natural areas and urban amenities. Campers report varying levels of privacy between sites, with state forest campgrounds generally offering more seclusion than private resorts. One camper shared that "the sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us." Wildlife encounters are common, particularly in the more wooded campgrounds where deer sightings are frequent. Noise levels can be a consideration at some locations, with several reviews mentioning aircraft noise from nearby military installations. Most developed campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, and access to restroom facilities, though amenities vary widely between primitive sites and full-service RV parks.
Best Campgrounds near Dunkirk (87)
1. 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 Availability2. 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"
3. 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 Availability4. 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 Availability5. 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 Availability6. 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 Availability7. Pohick Bay Campground
"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability8. Final-Lee Here
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Nestled within the beautiful greenery of Huntingtown, Maryland, this campground offers heart, scenery, and access to numerous adventures."
from $40 / night
Check Availability9. Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
"Site 24 and 25 are very close together but the other sites are at a distance however, 6 of the 25 sites are unleveled so tent camping is probably the only option."
"Close to town but far enough to enjoy yourself. Bathrooms are clean and have decent showers."
from $10 - $45 / night
Check Availability10. Endeavor Point
from $55 - $95 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 31 min from Washington, DC
- 44 min from Lexington Park, MD
- 47 min from Baltimore, MD
- 1 hr 55 min from Salisbury, MD
Recent Camping Photos near Dunkirk, MD
200 Photos of 87 Dunkirk Campgrounds
Candice N.
Lacy Oasis Campground
Kristy R.
Adventure Bound Washington DC
Justin G.
Cedarville State Forest
Tye S.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
Ally S.
Endeavor Point
Courtney K.
Matoaka Beach Cottages
Manager P.
Pinetree Associates
Becky
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Angie G.
Washington DC / Capitol KOA
Evelyn T.
Cherry Hill Park
Angie C.
Pohick Bay Campground
Jen V.
Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
Recent Reviews near Dunkirk, MD
620 Reviews of 87 Dunkirk 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.
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.
Kindra W.GuidePoint Lookout State Park - Temporarily Closed
5 stars! Beautiful, clean, magical
Magical stay at Point Lookout — New Tulip Loop (Full Hook‑Up) and I’m already planning a return. The whole park feels peaceful and safe, the staff were genuinely friendly and helpful, and our site is clean and well‑maintained. The loop’s energy felt magical — quiet, restorative, and tucked into the trees so it felt private but not isolated. Full hookups were convenient and reliable; the site layout is roomy and pet‑friendly, with an easy walk to a beautiful dog beach so our pup had a blast. We walked to stunning beaches and spent afternoons watching water and sky at the tip of the peninsula — spectacular views where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake. The park’s Civil War history and lighthouse added fascinating, walkable sites to explore between beach time, giving the stay both recreation and depth. Clean facilities, helpful staff at the park office, and well-marked trails made everything low‑stress and enjoyable. If you want a peaceful, historic, pet‑friendly Class A spot with full hookups and gorgeous nearby beaches, Tulip Loop at Point Lookout is five stars from me.
- 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 Dunkirk
Camping near Dunkirk, Maryland provides options in forested settings, waterfront locations, and urban-adjacent parks within a 25-mile radius. The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot summers reaching 90°F and mild winters, making April through October the primary camping season for most facilities. Winter camping remains available at select year-round campgrounds including Adventure Bound Washington DC.
What to do
Fishing and crabbing opportunities: At Breezy Point Beach, campers have waterfront access to the Chesapeake Bay. "Great time yesterday with my little guy, playing the the water and sand! I also collected shark teeth... 178 shark teeth to be exact," noted one visitor about the beach activities. Sites back directly to the water, providing immediate beach access.
Outdoor water activities: Many campgrounds offer swimming or water recreation options. "The sites were well-maintained, including lavatories. Plenty of tree cover," reports a camper at Greenbelt Park Campground. The park features trails and natural spaces for outdoor recreation despite being close to urban areas.
Day trips to DC: Several campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring Washington DC. "We took the METRO from the Greenbelt station to the national mall in about 30 min. Get off at the Archives station to be in the center of all the sites," explains a camper about using Greenbelt Park Campground as a base for city exploration. The station parking costs $5 weekdays and is free on weekends.
What campers like
Waterfront camping: Campsites with water views rate highly among visitors. "The sites are backed right to the Chesapeake Bay and the view and access are priceless. The day-use folks are not allowed on the camping side of the beach... so, there's plenty of beach space and water space for campers," notes a visitor to Breezy Point Beach, appreciating the dedicated beach access for overnight guests.
Amenities at private resorts: Cherry Hill Park receives high marks for facilities. "50 amp hook-up, water, sewer, playground, mini golf, swimming pool, hot tub, basketball court, snack bar on site, nightly hayride, gated, on-site camp store, on-site bus shuttle," lists one camper describing the comprehensive amenities available. This facility focuses on convenience for families and RVers.
Wildlife encounters: Many campers appreciate natural surroundings and wildlife viewing opportunities. "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates," comments a visitor to Cedarville State Forest, highlighting the biodiversity of the area. Early morning and evening hours typically offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities.
What you should know
Site spacing and privacy: Campgrounds vary significantly in how close sites are positioned. At Pohick Bay Regional Park, "Sites are spacious and decently level (depends on the site I'm sure)," according to one review. This contrasts with more densely packed private facilities.
Seasonal considerations: Ticks can be problematic during warmer months. "Lots and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers," warns a camper about conditions at Cedarville State Forest. Insect repellent is considered essential equipment from April through October.
Noise factors: Background noise varies between locations. "It's close to a Naval base, and therefore you constantly hear airplanes, and helicopters at all times," notes a camper about one location. Urban-adjacent sites often experience more ambient noise than those deeper in forested areas.
Tips for camping with families
Recreation options: Adventure Bound Washington DC offers activities for children. "We had a fantastic time our 1st time at Adventure Bound Camping Resort. This camp has electric and water at each site, clean toilet and shower facilities, playground and pool," shares a grandmother who camped with her grandchildren, noting the family-friendly amenities.
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality can significantly impact family camping experiences. "Bathrooms are clean and showers are warm. Water is readily available," notes a camper at Cedarville State Forest, providing important information for families with children who may need reliable facilities.
Safety considerations: Some campgrounds lack security features. "The driveway was dirt/gravel with a lot of holes. Nearby road was very busy with a lot of traffic noise especially early in the morning," cautions a visitor to Adventure Bound, highlighting potential safety concerns for families with young children.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Louise F. Cosca Regional Park has limited large rig access. "This is not big rig friendly but there are pull through sites but the roads are very narrow and there is only 1 way in and 1 way out," advises a camper familiar with the park. Only 5 of the 25 sites offer electrical hookups, with sites 2, 5, 18, 24, and 25 being the only options for powered camping.
Leveling challenges: Several campgrounds present leveling difficulties. "Check out your site before booking, some sites are steep but spacious," recommends an RVer who stayed at Louise F. Cosca Regional Park, emphasizing the importance of site selection for larger vehicles.
Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds near Dunkirk offer only partial hookups. "The sites for tents are big enough for a 4 person tent. There are clean bathrooms and the hosts, who I have spoken to many times, are friendly and knowledgeable about the area," explains a visitor to Cedarville State Forest, noting the modest site sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Dunkirk, MD?
Which is the most popular campground near Dunkirk, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dunkirk, MD is Cedarville State Forest with a 3.8-star rating from 17 reviews.
What parks are near Dunkirk, MD?
What parks are near Dunkirk, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Dunkirk, MD that allow camping, notably Fort Dupont Park and Fort Washington Park.
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