110 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The region surrounding Windsor Mill, Maryland features several established campgrounds with varying amenities and outdoor experiences. Patapsco Valley State Park offers two distinct camping areas - the Hollofield Area and Hilton Area - both providing access to over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails along the Patapsco River. Tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and cabin accommodations can be found within a 30-minute drive of Windsor Mill. The region balances suburban convenience with natural settings, as most developed campgrounds are situated in wooded environments despite their proximity to Baltimore and surrounding communities.
Camping seasons at most developed sites typically run from April through October, with Patapsco Valley State Park's campgrounds operating from April 1st to October 30th. Road access is generally good with paved entrances, though some campgrounds have specific approach restrictions. A reviewer noted, "Approach this park only from the west if your vehicle is over 11 feet high as there is an 11-foot bridge coming eastbound into this park." The terrain varies from level to moderately sloped sites, with some campers reporting drainage issues during heavy rainfall. Electrical hookups are available at many sites, particularly in the inner loops of campgrounds, while more secluded non-electric tent sites are typically found in outer loops. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend camping.
Campers consistently mention the surprising seclusion found despite proximity to urban areas. "It may be close to suburbia and convenient to major highways, but you will feel like you are truly secluded in the woods," one visitor wrote about Hollofield Area Campground. Sites are generally well-maintained with fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathhouses, though some facilities are described as dated. Mixed-use campgrounds in the area accommodate various camping styles, from primitive tent camping to RV sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups. Family-friendly amenities include playgrounds and nature centers at some locations. The balance of woodland setting with metropolitan convenience makes these campgrounds popular for both weekend getaways and longer stays when visiting Baltimore.
"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"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"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"This campground isn't too far from our home in Maryland, so if they have room and we want to go spur of the moment, this one is a good choice. "
"The trails from Campground are ok for a short walk, not much of a lake view but mostly shaded trail. The pool is conveniently located maybe even walking distance for some. "
from $20 - $249 / night
Check Availability"It was a VERY dark walk to get to the bathhouse for showers. And the fire pit had no grill, so we ended up having to use the stoves of some RV camping friends for meals."
"Large campground with some good trails. Will definitely return!"
"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"
TravelerIf 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.
TravelerThis campground is a great place to bring kids. The spots are a little tight but we were able to get our 46’ toy hauler in the spot with very little effort. Because the sites are back-in, we can’t use our rear patio but that is ok. The pool is very nice and the farm atmosphere makes it very fun for kids.
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.
TravelerOne 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.
GuideA 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.
ScoutThis 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.
ScoutStaff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
ScoutFor $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 spots near Windsor Mill, Maryland offer a balance of natural settings within a 45-minute drive of Baltimore's city center. The region sits in the Piedmont Plateau with elevations ranging from 300-500 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds experience seasonal closures from November through March due to freezing overnight temperatures, with summer highs averaging 87°F and moderate humidity levels.
Fishing opportunities: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers excellent river access for anglers. "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," notes Anthony S.
Trail exploration: Family-friendly trails vary in difficulty across the Windsor Mill area. "Patapsco Valley offers 6 different entrances. Each one provides several different trail heads and experiences... The trails we have been on are all pretty moderate to hard but offer beautiful waterfalls and river views," writes Angel G.
Swimming options: Seasonal pools at several campgrounds provide swimming alternatives when river access is restricted. At Ramblin' Pines, campers enjoy "a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds," according to Sean M.
Wooded seclusion: Campsites with natural buffers create privacy despite proximity to urban areas. "Nice wooded sites set far apart from each other in two concentric circles. The inner circle has electric but no water or sewer. The outer circle is primitive," notes Rebecca C. about Hollofield Area Campground.
Year-round options: Some campgrounds operate beyond typical seasonal closures. Ramblin' Pines stays "open all year" according to Jeff B., providing camping options during winter months when most state park campgrounds close.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature large play areas for children. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, "there is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," according to Angel G., making it ideal for families with young children.
Elevation challenges: Some sites require significant leveling equipment. At Little Bennett Campground, one camper noted their "Site #D69 was level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back."
Height restrictions: Vehicle clearance limitations exist at some parks. When approaching certain campgrounds, consider bridge height restrictions. Codorus State Park contains paved sites with modern facilities, but access requires planning.
Cash requirements: Several campgrounds operate on cash-only policies for certain services. At Ramblin' Pines, a reviewer mentioned the "keycard entry system is pretty inconvenient ($40 cash only deposit!)" and check-in hours are limited to "between 2 and 4" during off-season periods.
Child-friendly amenities: Greenbelt Park Campground offers urban camping with easy city access. "Beautiful campground, fairly large with 4 separate loops. Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft," notes Laura M.
Sensory activities: Nature-based play areas provide alternatives to traditional playgrounds. In Patapsco Valley State Park, "there is a 'natural' playground in the loop... aka, large rocks and overturned trees. The kids loved it," shares Jennifer S.
DC exploration: Using campgrounds as bases for Washington DC trips saves significantly on accommodations. At Cherry Hill Park, "there's a bus stop for metro service to the city" and "they have a nice looking pool area" according to Joe R., making it possible to combine urban exploration with natural camping experiences.
Site selection strategy: End sites provide more space and privacy at crowded campgrounds. As Scott C. advises, "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side."
Loop location importance: Electric hookup sites are typically closer together than primitive sites. At Hollofield Area Campground, "if you don't mind the proximity to other campers and multiple scouting groups, or if you can make use of the more private tent sites, this might be a good option," according to Jen V.
Drainage considerations: Heavy rain can impact site usability at some campgrounds. At Patapsco Valley, one camper noted that "when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Windsor Mill, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Windsor Mill, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What parks are near Windsor Mill, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Windsor Mill, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.
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