2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
State parks and public lands surrounding Leonardtown, Maryland offer several tent camping options with waterfront views and natural settings. Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping provides tent-only sites from March 31 to October 29, with designated tent pads and basic amenities. Matoaka Beach Cottages offers tent camping spots with views of the Chesapeake Bay and beach access. Caledon State Park Campground, located across the Potomac River in Virginia, features walk-in tent sites accessible via hiking trails, though visitors should verify current availability as some reviews indicate changes in camping status.
Tent sites throughout the region vary in surface type and accessibility. At Calvert Cliffs, campers should prepare for a 2-mile hike on well-marked trails to reach the camping area. Porta-potties are available at most primitive tent campgrounds, but potable water is limited or unavailable at many locations. One camper noted, "No water on site and no reasonable source to filter water from, so be prepared." Most tent-only sites permit fires in designated rings, with firewood available for purchase at some locations through honor system payment. Seasonal restrictions apply, with most tent campgrounds operating from spring through fall.
In early fall, many backcountry tent camping areas offer fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures. Tent campers at Matoaka Beach Cottages report private sites with views of sunrise over the water. According to reviews, "We tent camped at Matoaka Cabins and it was a beautiful camping trip. Our spot was very private and you could see the bay and hear the waves." Sites at Caledon State Park provide access to the Potomac River shoreline after a moderate hike. The walk-in nature of many tent sites in the region creates a more secluded experience compared to drive-in campgrounds. Endeavor Point offers additional tent camping options with pier access for fishing, though sites are described as "not dispersed and pretty small" by visitors.
"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 $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."
from $20 - $30 / night
"7 or 8 tent pads. Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile. You’re not supposed to setup anything outside of the “tent pads”."
"It was my first hike in primitive camping experience. We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 / night
from $50 - $80 / 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
"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
"Good spot to get away and pitch a tent. Never anyone else there too!"
from $4 / 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
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.
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.
TravelerGood spot to get away and pitch a tent. Never anyone else there too! Make sure to get a daily ($4) or annual (~$22 I forget) Access Permit on Virginia DWR, as well as special WMA camping license (free)
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.
TravelerThere 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.
GuideMagical 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.
Tent camping around Leonardtown, Maryland offers riverside and bay access in the Chesapeake region of Southern Maryland. The area sits at elevations typically under 100 feet above sea level with humid summers and mild winters. Fall camping season extends later than in more northern regions, with comfortable temperatures often lasting through October when water temperatures remain relatively warm in the Chesapeake Bay.
Fossil hunting at shorelines: Calvert Cliffs State Park provides opportunities to search for prehistoric shark teeth and fossils along the beach. "This park is awesome! I have been going here for years... Finally the beach is very beautiful even though every year it gets smaller and smaller. The park staff are very friendly, and are very informative on the many fossils you may find on your visit down there," reports Anthony S.
Fishing and crabbing from piers: Endeavor Point offers dedicated pier access for anglers. "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise," notes Ally S. Maryland fishing licenses are required, with limits varying by species and season.
Potomac River hiking: Caledon State Park Campground features trails leading to waterfront camping. "A few friends and myself went camping here. It was my first hike in primitive camping experience. We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River," shares Katie T.
Private waterfront sites: Matoaka Beach Cottages receives praise for secluded tent sites with water views. "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," writes Courtney K.
Well-maintained trails: Several campers note the quality of hiking paths to tent sites. "The trail now is very well marked, clean, and there are facilities down by the beach to use," explains Anthony S. about Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping. Most trails to primitive sites are under 3 miles and considered moderate difficulty.
Group facilities: Prince William Forest Park's cabin camps accommodate large groups. "PWFP has a number of large group cabin campgrounds available to rent, with capacities of 75 to 200... These camps were made by the CCC and even used by the then-CIA during WWII," explains Dan N. about Goodwill Cabin.
Water availability challenges: Many primitive tent sites require carrying in your own water supply. "No water on site and no reasonable source to filter water from, so be prepared," warns Todd B. about Caledon State Park.
Limited tent pad locations: Some campgrounds restrict where tents can be placed. "You're not supposed to setup anything outside of the 'tent pads.' I had a hammock hung and three rangers saw but didn't say anything," notes Todd B.
Seasonal operation: Most tent camping options in the Leonardtown area operate from spring through fall, typically closing by late October. Calvert Cliffs specifically runs from March 31 to October 29, with other sites following similar schedules.
Honor system firewood: Several primitive sites use honor payment systems for firewood. "Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile," explains a camper at Caledon State Park.
Accessible activities: Leesylvania State Park Campground provides family-friendly amenities. "This park is ALWAYS full of family's having picnics and enjoying time together! There's playground and a beach area for kids and family to all enjoy," writes Sarah F.
Educational opportunities: Fossil hunting engages children in natural history. "Such an amazing expieriance and brings right into the eyes of child with both adult and children searching for shark teeth," reports Sarah F. about Calvert Cliffs.
Plan for hiking: When camping with children at walk-in sites, prepare for trail distances. Most primitive sites require hikes between 1-3 miles on well-marked but sometimes challenging terrain. Pack light and bring only essential gear when children must help carry equipment.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "The park has a great play ground right off the main parking lot for kids to play on as well as a few bathrooms," notes Anthony S. about facilities at Calvert Cliffs.
Site size limitations: Lacy Oasis Campground and similar small campgrounds may not accommodate larger rigs. "The rates are very economical for what is being provided on the space," notes Terrance D., though their 6 sites are better suited for smaller setups.
Limited hookup availability: Most tent camping areas near Leonardtown offer minimal or no hookups. When available, electric service is typically 30-amp maximum with no sewer connections at most primitive sites.
Seasonal access considerations: Secondary roads to primitive camping areas may become difficult to navigate in wet conditions. Many campgrounds near Leonardtown close completely during winter months, with limited RV options available year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Leonardtown, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Leonardtown, MD is Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Leonardtown, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Leonardtown, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
