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Best Tent Camping near Little Orleans, MD

826 Reviews

Tent campsites near Little Orleans, Maryland primarily cluster along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, offering primitive camping experiences along the Potomac River. Paw Paw Tunnel Campground provides tent-only sites with access to the historic canal tunnel, while Antietam Creek Campground offers walk-in tent sites with river access. Both locations serve as popular stops for hikers and cyclists traversing the C&O Canal towpath, with most sites situated within walking distance of the trail.

Most tent camping areas feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. The Paw Paw Tunnel area provides chemical toilets and hand pump water access, while many of the hiker-biker overnight campsites along the C&O Canal offer only pit toilets with no potable water. A visitor commented, "The well pump was working when we arrived and the port-o-potty was very clean." Campers should pack in all supplies and be prepared to pack out trash, as collection services are not available at most primitive tent sites in the region.

Walk-in tent sites predominate in this area, with parking typically located a short distance from actual campsites. At Antietam Creek Campground, tent campers must park on the road and carry equipment across a field to reach their sites. The proximity to the Potomac River provides opportunities for paddling, fishing, and cooling off during summer months. Train noise affects several campgrounds, particularly those closest to active rail lines. One camper noted, "Town Creek marked the first of the campsites that strayed from the railroad line, so nighttime disruptions became a less frequent experience than in other campsites along the path." Fall and spring typically offer the most comfortable camping conditions, with summer bringing higher humidity and insect activity throughout the region's tent camping areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Little Orleans, Maryland (33)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Little Orleans, MD

30 Photos of 33 Little Orleans Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Little Orleans, MD

826 Reviews of 33 Little Orleans Campgrounds

  • RL
    Apr. 13, 2021

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Great views, primitive camping

    We hiked the one mile into the campground and stayed for a night. It was a pretty flat walk from the overnight parking area to the campground. In the campground there is one bathroom facility with two vault toilets (although one of the doors was locked while we were there, which was unpleasant with a full campground). No running water or showers in the bathhouses. Non-potable water pump is near the restroom. Boil water at least three minutes before consuming. There are two areas with firewood (purchase when you check in or pay $6 cash at the kiosk - honor system). Each site has a bear box, fire ring, picnic table, tent pad with pea gravel, and a lantern pole. Definitely will be back!

    The park has wide open rolling hills and mountain views. Lots of families picnicking and flying kites 🪁💙

  • Lucas B.
    Jul. 2, 2017

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Awesome foray into backpacking

    Came here for the first time in February 2017 to do a shakedown on some new backpacking and camping gear. Super friendly staff and easy check in process. Parking is in a locked lot steps away from trail head which leads to campsites about a mile away. Campsites are in a wooded area of park well away from other park attractions so it's very quiet. Sites are spaced far apart and come with tent pad, picnic table, fire pit and lantern pole. Non potable water is available via hand pump near rest rooms. Rest rooms are very nice and clean. No showers. This was one of my favorite camping experiences ever and I will definitely be back!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Greenbrier State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    Nice hiking opportunities!

    Ranger Review: Firebiner and Fiber Light Fire Starter at Greenbrier State Park

    **Campground Review: **

    We were here one week before this campground closed for the season (open April through October) and it was so quiet that it was hard to imagine what it is like in the summer when the beach is open and the campground is likely full. There are four loops; two with no hookups and no pets allowed, one with no hookups that allow pets and one with electric sites that allow pets. Each site is clearly defined, and the sites all appeared level with gravel pads. The bathrooms were reasonable. There are several trails in the campground plus it is close to several AT day hikes.

    There is a large day-use area and beach with lots of picnic tables. While the beach was closed for swimming, we saw a kayaker and two people fishing from a boat. Many hiking trails and this is an excellent place to camp if you’d like to do AT day hikes.

    ------------------------- 

    Product Review: 

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the opportunity to test products. At this campground, we tested the Firebiner and Fiber Light Fire Starter by Outdoor Elements. I’m reviewing both products since they can be used together, and we had much more luck with one than the other. 

    Upon unpacking my box from Outdoor Elements, my first experience was that it took a sharp knife to free the Firebiner from its cardboard backing, which was not an auspicious start. Once at our campground, we were able to use the safety blade to easily open the plastic packaging on our firewood. Unfortunately, it took several tries by two men trying the Firebiner to get a spark; they had to really crank on it, and it was not enough to light a fire. I’m guessing that with more patience and practice, it would have worked. Admittedly, we are car campers and not backpackers (and have the luxury of being able to carry/use a butane lighter), but I was looking forward to trying a new method. 

    We did use the Fiber Light Fire Starter and using our tried and true fire-starting methods, we got a roaring fire started very quickly. So, we had a 50% success! Packed in a small tin, you only need a pinch to easily get a fire started so we will use this in the future. 

    We also used the cutting tool on the Firebiner a few days later to remove the wristband from an activity we participated in and also used it to hang our lantern on a hook; this little tool is very strong (did not test but appreciate the 100-pound weight limit). I appreciate that it can also be used as a screwdriver, so the Firebiner is truly a multi-use tool!

  • Michelle N.
    Aug. 13, 2020

    Antietam Creek Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

    Great Site Along the Potomac River

    Stayed one night on 8/9.

    This is such a nice little spot right along the Potomac River. All sites are walk-in only, which means you park on the street, cross the bridge over the C&O and towpath, and then down a little hill to your site. When my dog and I arrived, someone was still there, but after letting them know I had this spot reserved, they promptly packed out. There were no camp hosts on-site and nowhere to check in. 

    There isn't much privacy between you and your neighbors (or the C&O towpath so be prepared to see bikers, walkers, and runners). 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. It was quite steep for my bum knees and ankles, but I saw kids easily run up and down it. The Potomac is mostly flat with some "swirlies" for experienced paddlers. I also saw some people tubing. 

    There's one bathroom area- 2 pit toilets and 2 portapotties. There is nowhere to leave trash, so be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles and pack everything out with you. The sites are fully or mostly shaded. Be prepared to make friends with bugs, but they shouldn't bother you. Also great news- no mosquitoes! 

    I have Verizon and had better service by my car on the road than at the actual campsite. At the site I could make calls but couldn't check the internet. Other than a few check-in calls to family, I was looking to unplug for the night. 

    I ended up not sleeping overnight due to a personal health issue, but I am looking forward to coming back when it's a little cooler.

  • Reba H.
    May. 2, 2023

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Please don't treat this like car camping

    I understand why people are lugging wheeled carts a mile into this campground, but it is technically not allowed. This is a backcountry/backpacking experience. Most of the hike-in is on Hadow Trail, which is dirt, not gravel. It is technically an equestrian trail too, but there's no way a horse could make it without breaking an ankle right now; the trail is so worn down by wheeled cart usage that the park has created a service project on the American Hiking Society's website calling for volunteers to do restoration work on Hadow Trail on this year's upcoming National Trails Day.

    I hiked in while it was raining, and the mud wasn't as bad as I'd feared. However, the worn down parts of the trail attracted rainwater drainage, and the runoff narrowed the trail significantly. When I got to Boston Mill Rd Trail, which is gravel, the hike was easy, until the spur turning into the campground, when the trek goes uphill. If your site is further back, you will be hiking up and down many hills throughout the campground. The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, I think most of the sites would still feel shaded and private because of how they're dispersed throughout the hills. 

    My site bordered the buddy site and scout group sites at the beginning of the campground, so there was noise from loud kids but not as bad as I thought it might be. I was still able to enjoy peace and quiet, as the group respected quiet hours and was busy hiking the rest of the state park during the daytime, so don't shy away from this site if it's the only one available. The group sites also have their own latrine at the beginning of the campground, which pleasantly surprised me because this meant there were two latrines fairly close to each other, just to accommodate projected usage. There are many thoughtful details like this throughout the design of the campground facilities. 

    For a backcountry campground, I was SO impressed with how stocked and clean everything was. Firewood is $8 (honor system), but there was some leftover at my site already. My firepit had a quality grill gate too. There are LOTS of bear trash cans available, and having a bear box at my campsite to store my food/trash/toiletries was so much easier than hanging a bear bag. If it hadn't rained, I also would've been able to use the hammock posts at my site (you could use these to hang a clothesline too if you wanted). When I talked over the phone with a ranger, she told me that only a few campsites didn't have hammock stands. If you think a lantern is worth its weight to carry in, there's a lantern post on the tent pad. I loved how level the tent pad was even on a hill. I couldn't figure out how to use the potable water pump, but there are plentiful creeks you can filter water from.

    Overall, this is a fantastic campground for a beginner backpacking experience in the real backcountry. Use the Avenza Maps app that the park has its map uploaded into, and you won't get lost finding the overnight parking/self check-in station like I did. Know the gate code of this area before you go. The gate takes a hard push and pull. If you're prepared for all this, you'll arrive at camp before dusk when the wild animals come out. At night I saw white-tailed deer and heard owls and cattle! During the day I saw/heard SOOO many birds on the South Ridge Trail and found a bear track after the Cpt. Morgan Trail on the creek side of Hadow Trail!! If all this sounds awful rather than exciting to you, just drive in for the day and stick to the historic areas rather than venture into the park's backcountry areas.

  • Amy S.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Great hike in campground

    It's about a mile hike in to the campground, which sits in the woods in the park. Firewood is available for sale and there are fire rings with grates and a picnic table. Sites are large enough for three one person tents. Pit toilets, no showers, cell service. Make sure you bring a bear bag or box with you.

  • Nick C.
    Jun. 19, 2022

    Owens Creek Campground — Catoctin Mountain Park

    Cozy and Clean - Lots of Firewood

    The sites are very clean but close to each Other. You can hear the kids and families and all that. The sites have a nice mulched tent pad, fire ring / grill grate, lantern pole and picnic table. There is a firewood hut at the entrance and you can take what you need - just leAve a donation. The bathrooms are very clean and there’s some trails around the creek (dry creek/ nothing impressive)

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake

    Great Tenting, Little Busy

    8/14/2025

    USACE-managed campground with hosts who are on-site all season. Nice sites (easy staking) with picnic tables and fire pits, plus a camp store for firewood and other supplies (got there too late to check it out though). A little crowded with what seemed like folks who stay there for a hefty chunk of the season, and the sites are pretty close together, but there weren't any issues with rowdy folks - it seems like the hosts keep things in order/enforce quiet hours if necessary. 

    Drinking water right next to the site (37) as well as a trail to a restroom - I think there's a shower on the other loop/section. 

    $22 for a basic (non-electric) tent site.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2023

    Owens Creek Campground — Catoctin Mountain Park

    Peaceful w filtered sun

    Owens Creek Campground : (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4.5 Price: $15/night w senior pass Usage during visit: very low including Fri night Site Privacy: understory trees, filter l e of site in many sites. Site Spacing: most very nicely spaced Site surface: blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Very quiet Road Noise: Only a bit in first few campsites Through Traffic: no problem Electricity: No Water: Spigots at bathhouses Sewer: No Dump: No Generators: 6 AM to 10 PM Bathroom: Old but very clean.
    Showers: Yes. Double curtains Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (Verizon): Very good Setting: A thick deciduous forest Weather: nice. Cooler because of shade Bugs: A few. Will probably increase as month moves on Solar: Too much shade for fixed solar panels Host: Yes Rig size: Not all sites will accommodate a 22’ trailing. Sites: Pictures are of some of the best sites. My favs: 14 nice woods view , (28 & 29 hear creek,)37. 45, 46

Guide to Little Orleans

Tent camping near Little Orleans, Maryland largely centers around hiker-biker campsites along the C&O Canal towpath, with sites situated at varying distances from railroad tracks and major roads. Seasonal variations significantly impact the camping experience, with early fall offering reduced humidity and fewer insects compared to summer months. Most sites require campers to carry equipment from parking areas, with walk distances ranging from 75 feet to several hundred yards depending on site location.

What to do

River access: At Antietam Creek Campground, the Potomac River provides recreational opportunities directly from camp. One visitor noted, "I stayed at Site 11 which had its own path down to the Potomac River. It was quite steep for my bum knees and ankles, but I saw kids easily run up and down it. The Potomac is mostly flat with some 'swirlies' for experienced paddlers."

Historical exploration: The Paw Paw Tunnel trail connects directly to camping areas. A camper mentioned, "Only a mile from the historic paw paw tunnel. Tunnel is very fun to travel through. Kids and adults alike enjoy the tunnel. Tunnel is always nice and cool refreshing during a long bike ride or hike on a hot day."

Cross-state travel: The proximity to Shepherdstown, WV creates opportunities for additional activities. As one reviewer explained, "One can walk to Shepherdstown, WV for some fun. Antietam creek is very close by and is perfect for tubing or just enjoy the river & nature from your campsite!"

What campers like

Riverside camping: Opequon Junction offers immediate water access, with one camper noting it's a "Gorgeous spot just off the trail and 50 meters from the Potomac."

Simplicity of facilities: Basic amenities satisfy most campers' needs at Jordan Junction. A visitor remarked, "Good site, has the necessities. Water, Porta p, fire pit. What else do you really need? Want to rinse off? Jump into the Potomac for a swim."

Social atmosphere: The open layout at some campgrounds creates opportunities for interaction. One Antietam Creek camper shared, "It is nice if you're a social camper, we got to talk to many people and also got to enjoy a nearby camper playing his violin as the sun was setting."

What you should know

Privacy considerations: Many sites lack separation between neighbors. A reviewer at Antietam Creek observed, "The main problem here is that the campground itself is just one big field along the canal towpath, so you have no privacy from other campers."

Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely across campgrounds. At Paw Paw Tunnel Campground, a visitor reported, "The Portapotties were in bad shape, but it was winter so hopefully they get serviced more often in season."

Noise factors: Highway traffic affects some camping areas. A Paw Paw visitor noted in their rating breakdown, "Highway noise... Overall Rating: 2... Road Noise: Close and loud."

Parking logistics: Most sites require equipment to be carried in. A camper explained, "It's also a weird setup with respect to parking—as you have to park on the opposite side of the canal and walk to your campsite. If you got one close to the bridge over the canal then you're 100ft from the car, but if not then it could be a little bit of a walk."

Tips for camping with families

Group accommodations: Stoney Creek Campground offers designated family/group sites. A visitor described, "The two large sites can accommodate up to 40 people each with plenty of parking. Two sides are separated by a dense forest, piles of drift wood and noise from the river running through boulders."

Trail traffic awareness: Children need supervision near busy paths. An Antietam Creek camper mentioned, "There isn't much privacy between you and your neighbors (or the C&O towpath so be prepared to see bikers, walkers, and runners)."

Water safety planning: River access points vary in steepness and current conditions. One visitor shared, "The river is beautiful and it's nice being so close to cool historical stuff."

Tips from RVers

Tent-only restrictions: Many campsites along the C&O Canal are specifically designated for tent camping only. At Cacapon Junction, limited facilities make it unsuitable for RVs, with one reviewer simply noting, "Train close by," indicating the proximity to railroad tracks that affects this hiker-biker site.

Site surface considerations: Ground conditions impact tent setup. A Paw Paw visitor detailed, "Site surface: Grass... Sites: # 10 is best as it is the last site. # 6 is the closest to the parking area of the non-group sites."

Seasonal planning: Weather patterns affect accessibility. A camper recommended, "Make sure to bring some flashlights for inside the tunnel as it is a mile long and gets very dark!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Little Orleans, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Little Orleans, MD is Paw Paw Tunnel Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park with a 3.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Little Orleans, MD?

TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Little Orleans, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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