Bay Shore Campground
Fred’s bay shore
One 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.
78 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Linthicum, Maryland include several established state parks and private campgrounds within a short drive of the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Patapsco Valley State Park offers both tent and RV sites with electric hookups across multiple camping areas, including the Hilton Area and Hollofield Area campgrounds. Cherry Hill Park in College Park provides full-service camping with water, sewer, and electric hookups for RVs alongside tent sites and cabin rentals. Most developed campgrounds in the region are situated within forested settings that provide natural buffers from urban areas while maintaining proximity to major highways and attractions.
Seasonal considerations for camping near Linthicum primarily revolve around the mid-Atlantic climate and campground availability. Many state park campgrounds, including Patapsco Valley, operate from April through October, closing during winter months. Year-round options exist at private campgrounds like Cherry Hill Park and Ramblin' Pines. Bathhouse facilities vary significantly between locations, with state parks offering basic amenities while private campgrounds provide more extensive services. Several campgrounds experience periodic flooding after heavy rainfall, particularly those situated along the Patapsco River. According to one visitor, "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. Our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down."
The camping experience near Linthicum balances natural settings with proximity to urban amenities and attractions. Patapsco Valley State Park features extensive trail systems and river access, making it popular for hiking and kayaking. Greenbelt Park Campground provides a forested retreat with basic amenities that serves as an affordable base for Washington DC exploration. Many campgrounds in the region report high utilization on weekends during summer months. A review from Greenbelt Park noted, "This is a fairly nice, bare bones NPS campground. If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it. But it is a pretty nice campground if you just want someplace close by for a short camping trip." Overhead air traffic is commonly mentioned in reviews due to the proximity of military installations and BWI Airport.
"Camp site(Tent camping)
The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :) It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD.""Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
from $20 - $51 / night
Check Availability"It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April- one of our first experiences in a Maryland State Park. Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking /multi use trails."
"This campground is pleasant, but the sites are situated quite close to one another."
from $19 - $27 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"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 Availability"We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick."
"We love this home away from home ❤️"
from $30 - $70 / night
Check Availability"My wife and I were trying to find an RV location near the Annapolis city dock for a boat show and found Pine Tree Associates."
"Camping fees include access to a large outdoor pool, an indoor pool and a hot tub. There is room for tenting and campers."
from $30 - $55 / night
Check Availability"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."
from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability










One 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.
A beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
This campsite was amazing for our first tent camping experience. The park was a godsend for keeping our toddler occupied and we felt very safe overall. While the beach is pretty, be careful about the water condition. We were warned before entering and informed of the risks. They were very clear on the condition of the water that day which was a yellow, slight risk. But normally it should be okay. We would definitely camp here again.
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.
This camp ground is like a resort with 2 pools mini golf splash pad and many other amenities
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.
BASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
We stayed only one night in primitive tent site which was massive with a turnaround. It was great. There are fire pits and picnic tables and level ground. Very serene. We walked down to the river, breathtaking. Not sure of other amenities as we didn’t use them.
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.
Camping options near Linthicum, Maryland cluster along major highways connecting Baltimore and Washington DC, with most sites situated at elevations below 300 feet within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Summer humidity levels frequently exceed 80% during camping season, creating conditions where proper ventilation and moisture management are essential at campsites near Linthicum. The region's flat to gently rolling terrain offers camping options within 30 minutes of downtown Baltimore and 45 minutes from the National Mall.
Hiking with children: Look for the nature playground at Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, which features unique play spaces beyond standard camping activities. A visitor noted: "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park."
Fishing in calm waters: Roland Lake in Baltimore County provides a peaceful spot for kayaking and fishing about 20 minutes from Linthicum. According to one visitor: "Roland Lake in Baltimore County is a great place to kayak on the Patapsco River. Tons of wildlife, facilities, and amenities for you and your family."
Urban wildlife viewing: Look for deer and small mammals even at campgrounds close to the city. At Greenbelt Park Campground, campers regularly spot wildlife despite the urban location: "Every morning birds and squirrels" create a natural atmosphere, and some visitors report seeing "a family of deer grazing close by" during evening meals.
Swimming options beyond beaches: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools as alternatives to natural swimming areas. At Ramblin' Pines, campers can enjoy "a pool for swimming and a little general store for all your needs, the kids loved the bounce pillow."
Privacy levels vary significantly: Some campgrounds offer better separation between sites than others. One camper at Hollofield Area Campground noted: "Being just barely off the beaten path, I wasn't expecting all too much from the one night stay over planned heading from New Jersey to Shenandoah in Virginia. I was surprised at the quiet, understated beauty of the forestry around the perfectly level campsite."
Honor system firewood: Some state parks maintain convenient firewood access even outside store hours. At Susquehanna State Park, "They also sell ice and firewood at the campstore AND there is an honor system with it available to you after the campstore hours."
Washington DC access: Many campers appreciate the public transportation options from certain campgrounds. At Greenbelt Park: "There's normally a walking path from the campground to the metro station that takes you into DC (the green line takes you to the National Mall), but as of Oct 2023 the bridge is out due to a storm."
Concrete pads at select sites: Some campsites offer more stable tent platforms than others. At Susquehanna State Park, site #3 had "a nice huge concrete pad and fire ring. We set-up our new tree tent behind the actual campsite and it worked perfectly."
Seasonal flooding impacts: Heavy rainfall can create challenging camping conditions at several parks in the region. One camper at Hollofield Area noted: "Many of the sites were at the bottom of a hill though, so I'm not sure how that would do in a decent rain."
Aircraft noise: The proximity to BWI airport means plane noise affects most campgrounds in the area. A camper staying at Cherry Hill Park mentioned: "Be weary of decent highway noise, but easily drowned out with the AC."
Strict check-in times: Many campgrounds enforce specific check-in windows. At Ramblin' Pines, "You can only check in between 2 and 4! This might be off season though."
Tree policies vary: Some parks have restrictions on using trees for hammocks or tarps. At Greenbelt Park: "Park service forbade tying lines or straps to the trees at the time of our visit (Autumn 2024), so if you favor hammock camping or deploying tarps/ridgelines, plan accordingly."
Site selection matters: Choose sites based on bathroom proximity and playground access. At Patapsco Valley State Park, "The site was 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."
Consider mini cabins: For families wanting to ease into camping, several parks offer cabin options. At Patapsco Valley: "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.'"
Pack extra padding: Many campsites have rocky or uneven surfaces that can make tent sleeping uncomfortable. One camper advised: "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."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: State park bathrooms tend to have more limited facilities than private campgrounds. At Washington DC / Capitol KOA, campers appreciate the "clean place and very quiet" atmosphere with modern bathroom facilities compared to more rustic options at state parks.
Water and hookup access: Many campgrounds have limited water access points that require planning. At Hollofield Area, "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank."
Bridge height restrictions: Access to some parks may be limited by low bridges. For Hollofield Area Campground, "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park.)"
Premium sites offer better amenities: At Cherry Hill Park, premium sites include "a fire ring, grill, picnic table and table with three chairs" according to a camper who noted "The site was perfectly level" despite the price being "a little steep."
Campsite surfaces vary: Many RV sites have gravel rather than concrete pads. One visitor at Cherry Hill Park mentioned the "Gravel pad" as one of the few drawbacks at an otherwise excellent campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Linthicum, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Linthicum, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What parks are near Linthicum, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Linthicum, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.
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