153 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Knoxville, Maryland sits at the convergence of multiple camping environments, with options ranging from full-service RV parks to primitive tent sites along the Potomac River. The Brunswick Family Campground offers riverside camping with boat access just minutes from town, while the Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA provides year-round accommodations with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Antietam Creek Campground in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers more primitive camping experiences with walk-in tent sites. The region's proximity to both the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath creates opportunities for hikers and cyclists to access hiker-biker campsites, many featuring basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter camping options except at the Harpers Ferry KOA. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends when proximity to Washington DC (approximately 60 miles southeast) creates high demand. Maryland state parks like Greenbrier and Gambrill enforce alcohol prohibitions, unlike some private campgrounds. As one camper noted, "The sites are flat and dispersed with most located adjacent to the river. Each site comes with a picnic table, fire ring and grill." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though coverage may be spotty in more remote sections of the Appalachian Trail corridor.
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors, with the Potomac River and nearby lakes serving as focal points for recreation. Many campgrounds feature shaded sites that provide relief during hot summer months. According to one reviewer at Gambrill State Park, "This is a very peaceful and heavily wooded park, with minimal but perfectly adequate facilities." Families appreciate the swimming beaches at Greenbrier State Park and Cunningham Falls, though these areas can become crowded on summer weekends. Historical attractions add another dimension to camping in this region, with Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Antietam National Battlefield, and the C&O Canal providing educational opportunities within short driving distances of most campgrounds.
"We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "
"It’s very close to Harper’s Ferry (almost worth the hike into town rather than the difficulty finding parking in a town with one parking lot)."
from $40 - $80 / night
Check Availability"If you would like to do some exploring, then you can walk the trail right next to the campground into the historical town of Harper's Ferry (If you’re facing the river then the trail is to the right of"
"Harper's Ferry is a little town in WV nestled right next to the Potomac River. It's also a convenient halfwayish point on the Appalachian Trail."
"This park just is near enough to Baltimore and DC to allow for a quick getaway and offers a lot to do."
"Maryland has some great state parks and this is one of them. Decent sized sites, clean bath houses. Swimming lake is excellent. Only basic amenities, but dump station."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"Picked this location because it is close to our home in Silver Spring, MD but far enough to make us feel like we were leaving town."
"Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it. Lots of different activities for kids and plenty of space at each site to make your home away from home."
from $10 - $90 / night
Check Availability"All the sites are very open and run along the multi-use trail. People are constantly walking, running, and biking by."
"Pretty standard campground—the perks are it’s location to nearby attractions and the river/creek. It depends on what you’re looking for—easy camping and proximity to Antietam and Harper’s? Golden."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"The site was very level, nicely shaded, and positioned a short distance from the bath house. There was also a water spigot located right at the entrance of the site."
"There was a walking path to the bathhouse between 13 and 14. Sites 8-11 were on a nice open field, with some smaller trees."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We recent went camping for the first time at Jellystone in Maryland. 5 of our 6 kids came with us, so we knew we needed to find a camping ground more geared kids."
"There is a food court in the swimming pool and a camp store right next to it. They play movies every night at the outdoor theater near the pool."
from $99 - $471 / night
Check Availability"Quiet woods in Maryland about 30 or 40 miles north of DC. Tenting, and RV spots partial to full service. Just of hiway 270. pricey ($66/night) for a state park, but nice."
"PROS Very nice small Montgomery County Park
No reservation fee to make on-line reservations
Reserved 137 days prior to arriving
Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone"
"This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill."
"Deer Spring Loop is near the top of the mountain. This is not a pet friendly loop.
Site 112 is level, mostly shaded, backs up to the woods and has electric.
The site is between two cabins."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability"Camp next to the president."
"There are a few vineyards and breweries nearby. Gettysburg, PA is close as is Frederick, MD. Our site was level and had a good view of the woods. Family was staying in site next to us, site 12."
from $21 - $65 / night
Check Availability
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
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.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
TravelerRoad in was without any major wash outs so I drove in pulling my overlanding trailer in 2WD. Plenty of campsites which allowed everyone here to space out easily. Lots of cut up fallen trees around which made collecting firewood simple.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
GuideThis pet friendly campground in Caledonia State Park is .8 miles from the larger Chinquapin campground (no pets), ranger station and swimming pool. Our site #171 was level, paved, full hook ups and next to modern clean bathrooms with flush toilets, warm showers and outside dish washing sinks. Many available sites with and without services on a Sunday in October. There were a good number of friendly, tidy, long term campers with large wall tents. (They allow 21 day stays after Labor Day)
Scout15 free relatively level sites for smaller rigs and tent camping. Fire rings , picnic tables and some have lantern posts. There are 2 somewhat clean pit toilets.
ScoutBeautiful area. Very primitive, which is great. Roads were fairly decent to the campsite. Didn't stay near the water and no mountain view but still nice. Had a nice trail into the woods.
Camping near Knoxville, Maryland offers diverse terrain with elevations ranging from 250 to 1,000 feet along the border of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Potomac River Valley. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F while spring and fall bring cooler weather between 45-75°F, creating ideal camping conditions from April through October. The area's unique positioning at the junction of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia provides access to multiple state parks and historical sites within a 30-mile radius.
Hiking to waterfalls: Cunningham Falls State Park features Maryland's largest cascading waterfall with multiple trail options. "I hate it when you go to some parks and it looks forced or man-made," notes a visitor to Houck - Cunningham Falls State Park, who appreciated the well-kept trails and natural scenery.
Historical exploration: The area offers significant Civil War history sites and heritage trails. "Harpers Ferry is a cute little historic town and the hiking is amazing, being right on the Appalachian Trail," according to a camper at Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA.
Water recreation: The Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers provide excellent fishing, tubing and paddling opportunities. A guest at Brunswick Family Campground described the Shenandoah as "beautifully clean, clear and cool" and noted the campground is "only an hour and 10 minutes" from Baltimore, making it convenient for weekend trips.
Waterfront sites: Riverside camping creates popular experiences along the Potomac. At Antietam Creek Campground, "Each site has a grill, fire pit, and picnic table. I stayed at Site 11 which had its own path down to the Potomac River," shared one visitor who enjoyed direct water access.
Mountain views: The Catoctin Mountain area provides scenic vistas and forest settings. "This is a beautiful park with a lake, beach, and swimming area. Fishing is allowed. There are lots of hiking trails," explained a camper at Greenbrier State Park, who valued the natural amenities.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer well-separated camping areas. According to a Little Bennett camper: "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup. D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C & E are tents only."
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close from November through March. "We stayed in early April 2021. The first weekend open of the season," noted a visitor at Gambrill State Park, who found the park well-prepared despite being early in the camping season.
Train noise: Several riverside campgrounds are near active railroad lines. One camper explained, "Brunswick train station and depot is just a few hundred feet away and you can hear trains at all times of the night."
Reservation requirements: Weekend bookings from May through September often fill 2-3 months in advance. According to a Harpers Ferry KOA visitor: "We had to drive down and park their cars in the parking lot by the lake EARLY or you won't get a spot."
Alcohol restrictions: Maryland state parks prohibit alcohol, while private campgrounds typically allow it. A camper at Greenbrier noted: "Be aware: no alcohol in Maryland parks."
Water parks and activities: Some campgrounds feature dedicated children's facilities. A visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park described it as "amazing in every way possible. The kids were never bored and had so much fun. Us, as adults, were also never bored."
Swimming beaches: Lake access provides popular summer recreation. "The beach area at the lake was fantastic! My kids loved it plenty of areas to grill and dogs are allowed," shared a Cunningham Falls camper, although they noted "poison ivy everywhere" around certain campsites.
Educational programs: Many parks offer ranger-led activities. "During peak season, there are nature programs going on," mentioned a camper at Cunningham Falls State Park.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds include play equipment. According to a Brunswick camper, the site has "an amazing playground for the kids" along with basic amenities in their "little store."
Site selection: Choose locations based on rig size and hookup needs. "Heads up, big rig owners! Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air," warned a Harpers Ferry KOA visitor.
Utility availability: Water and electric hookups vary significantly by campground. A Little Bennett camper detailed: "There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy. OTA TV was descent using an external omni antenna. There is no WiFi."
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have narrow or poorly maintained access roads. At Brunswick Family Campground, a visitor noted "the road into the campground was badly in need of repair."
Cell coverage: Service varies widely throughout the region. A camper at Little Bennett reported, "AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster (1 bar), 8 MB/s with it (2 bars)," providing useful connectivity information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Knoxville, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, Knoxville, MD offers a wide range of camping options, with 153 campgrounds and RV parks near Knoxville, MD and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Knoxville, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Knoxville, MD is Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA with a 3.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Knoxville, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Knoxville, MD.
What parks are near Knoxville, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Knoxville, MD that allow camping, notably Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
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