1 campground with availability next weekend
Tent camping options around Lusby, Maryland concentrate along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, with several state parks and established campgrounds offering tent-specific sites. Calvert Cliffs State Park features youth group camping areas with access to the park's fossil-rich beaches and wooded trails. Tent campers can also find sites at Endeavor Point, which provides water access and basic amenities for primitive camping experiences within 10 miles of Lusby.
Most tent sites in the Lusby area offer basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and access to toilet facilities. Calvert Cliffs provides drinking water and reservable tent pads with fires allowed, while maintaining a prohibition on alcohol. Many campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with Calvert Cliffs open from late March through October. Tent campers should note that several sites require walk-in or hike-in access, particularly at Calvert Cliffs and nearby Caledon State Park across the Potomac in Virginia, where a 2.5-mile hike on groomed gravel trails leads to designated tent pads.
The tent camping experience near Lusby often includes water views and natural exploration opportunities. At Endeavor Point, campsites are positioned on maintained lawns with access to a fishing pier and crabbing opportunities. The beach areas provide sunrise views over the Chesapeake, though spaces are limited. Caledon State Park offers a more secluded experience with its tent pads positioned near the Potomac River after a moderate hike in. According to one visitor, "Caledon was an amazing adventure that's so close to Fredericksburg. The beach is beautiful and we saw the most gorgeous sunset." For fossil enthusiasts, Calvert Cliffs State Park combines tent camping with renowned shark tooth hunting along its shoreline, making it a unique destination for tent campers interested in both outdoor recreation and natural history.
"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."
"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 $55 - $95 / night
from $20 - $30 / 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
"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
"There are two main beaches and there are picnic tables all over the park. There’s a popular boat launch amd small marina/bait store.
Get there early on weekends and holidays.""There are wonderful views of the water and swimming at the beach, pavilions for social gatherings, showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean, and room for backpacking, hiking, picnicking,"
"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
"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.
ScoutManager is very friendly and helpful. Lovely, peaceful place to spend a few nights. Plus it's reasonably priced and convenient to dining and shopping.
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.
LegendThis is a great little state park tucked away in the woods. Campsites are pretty spacious and have nice shade. The campground has two loops, each with a bathhouse located in the middle. Our site (Butterfly Loop #3) was long enough for our motorhome and tow car. The roads are paved, as was our camping pad. The only utility at our site was 30-amp electric. There are water spigots located throughout each loop and we were close enough to fill our water tank. For the most part, the park is big-rig friendly but we did brush against some trees on our way around the loop. Campsites do vary in length so make sure you include your length when booking. We reserved online and were instructed to just go to our site which was nice and convenient. They sell firewood onsite and have a self-pay station which we loved. There is a nice boat launch and the kayak launch has a platform to assist you getting in and out and there are plenty of places to fish from the bank. There is a nature center (which was not open during our stay), playground, picnic pavilions, amphitheater, The bathrooms could use some more attention. The shower curtains were pink meaning they have not been properly cleaned in a while. Needless to say, we did not shower there. The dump station was closed while we were there but we were told we could use the dump station at Tuckahoe State Park (about 10 miles away). We really enjoyed the short hiking trails and paved trail which allowed us to log about 3 miles without having to leave the park. The campground is a really relaxing place to be. We did drive (about 40 minutes south) to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, both of which we recommend. It is also worth a drive to St. Michaels to see the quaint seaside town and visit the maritime museum (plan on spending half a day at the museum). The only downside is that the park is not gated and open for day use so a lot of people just drive through the campground looking around.
Tent camping near Lusby, Maryland provides access to the Chesapeake Bay's western shore where campers encounter a mix of coastal plain forests and tidal marshlands. The region sits at elevations below 100 feet, with humid summers averaging 85°F in July and August. Primitive tent camping options exist within a 30-mile radius of Lusby, though most require either reservations or specific military/organizational affiliations.
Fossil hunting: Calvert Cliffs State Park offers a unique activity along its shoreline. The 1.8-mile trail leads to a beach area known for prehistoric shark teeth and fossils. "This park is awesome! I have been going here for years... The trial is marked very clearly through the woods, across some bridges, and next to a marsh," notes Anthony S., who adds that park staff are "very informative on the many fossils you may find on your visit."
Fishing and crabbing: Endeavor Point provides pier access for anglers seeking Chesapeake Bay species. The campground maintains a fishing pier where tent campers can try their luck. One visitor mentioned, "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise." However, be aware that catch limits may apply according to Maryland regulations.
Beach exploration: Matoaka Beach Cottages provides tent sites with direct beach access. The campground sits on cliffs overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. A camper named Michael reports, "I just showed up and got a perfect camp spot with a view of the sunrise and access to the private beach." This location offers more seclusion than public beaches in the area.
Sunrise views: Multiple campsites in the Lusby area face east over the Chesapeake Bay, providing optimal sunrise viewing. At Endeavor Point, Ally S. noted, "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise." Similarly, at Matoaka Beach Cottages, campers report hearing waves and seeing the bay from their tent sites.
Natural serenity: Lacy Oasis Campground offers a peaceful retreat for tent campers seeking quiet natural surroundings. One visitor described it as "serenity, serenity, serenity!" noting that "this space is about healing and being grounded with yourself." The campground has only six sites, contributing to its tranquil atmosphere.
Primitive camping experience: Many tent campers appreciate the basic, no-frills camping available at sites like Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds, where visitors bring all necessary supplies. Despite some drawbacks, the campgrounds provide an authentic outdoor experience without excessive amenities. This appeals to campers who want a more rustic experience near Lusby.
Insect activity: Seasonal biting insects can be problematic at specific campgrounds. At Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds, one camper left early, stating "When we saw a review of this campground on Rec.gov complaining about the amount of bugs we thought they were being ridiculous, they were not." Bug spray is essential during summer months at all Lusby area campgrounds.
Walk-in requirements: Several tent sites require walking from parking areas. At Calvert Cliffs, youth group camping areas involve a moderate hike from the main parking lot. Similarly, Matoaka Beach Cottages may require walking to reach tent sites with the best views.
Ownership attitudes: Management styles vary between campgrounds and can significantly affect the camping experience. At Endeavor Point, recent ownership changes have resulted in stricter rules. Patricia S. noted, "The past owner allowed his paying customers/guest(s) to fish and crab at will (of course all within legal limits). The present owners try to restrict and intimidate their customers."
Playground access: Families with children can benefit from on-site play facilities at select campgrounds. Calvert Cliffs offers playground equipment near its main parking area. Anthony S. mentions, "The park has a great play ground right off the main parking lot for kids to play on as well as a few bathrooms."
Group-friendly sites: For family reunions or larger gatherings, Leesylvania State Park across the Potomac River offers suitable spaces. Sarah F. observed, "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."
Educational opportunities: Children can participate in fossil hunting and nature programs at several sites. At Lacy Oasis, a visitor reported taking 25 children there, noting, "They did not want to leave, neither did I. The rates are very economical for what is being provided on the space."
Limited hookup availability: RV campers face significant restrictions near Lusby, as most tent-focused campgrounds lack electrical or water hookups. At Sandy Point State Park, there are no hookups available. One visitor noted, "This is a hugely popular waterfront park on the Chesapeake Bay. Great for work picnics, family reunions and family fun... There is no camping."
Site size constraints: Most campgrounds that accept both tents and RVs have limited space for larger vehicles. Allison W. noted about Endeavor Point, "The camping areas were all on the lawn, and the owners were a bit uptight about which site we could choose." Small trailers and pop-up campers fare better than larger motorhomes in the Lusby area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lusby, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lusby, 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 Lusby, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Lusby, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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