1 campground with availability this weekend
Tent campsites in the Laurel, Maryland area are concentrated within several accessible state parks and managed areas, with options like Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offering tent camping approximately 10 miles west of Laurel. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring provides walk-in tent sites about 7 miles northwest of Laurel, while the Marsden Tract Group Campsite along the Potomac River offers more secluded group tent camping opportunities within a 30-minute drive.
Tent sites at Patapsco Valley State Park feature crushed stone pads that may present challenges for tent setup. A review noted that "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." Most locations provide fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathroom facilities with varying levels of development. The Hilton Area offers tent-specific sites in a wooded setting with no electric hookups, differentiating it from other areas that permit RVs. Reservations are typically required for tent sites, and most parks prohibit bringing outside firewood due to invasive species concerns.
Areas farther from urban centers provide more authentic backcountry tent camping experiences. Marsden Tract offers primitive tent camping without facilities, requiring hikers to pack in all supplies. A recent review described it as "beautiful, secluded, quiet, wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors with no civilization." For tent campers seeking a mix of natural setting with some amenities, Patapsco Valley provides access to hiking trails directly from campsites. During spring and fall, tent campers find mild temperatures ideal for exploring the network of trails throughout the parks. The terrain in most tent camping areas features moderate hills and wooded settings, offering shade during summer months when temperatures frequently exceed 85 degrees.
"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 and it was very wet even after the rain died down."
"There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side."
from $20 - $51 / night
from $150 - $200 / 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
"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,"
"Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 / night
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"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
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.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
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.
Tent campsites near Laurel, Maryland are situated in the rolling Piedmont region where forest meets suburban development. The area sits at elevations between 200-500 feet with a humid subtropical climate that brings hot summers and mild winters. Most tent camping locations offer shaded sites with moderate tree cover, providing protection during summer months when temperatures consistently reach the upper 80s.
Hiking trail access: The trail system at Patapsco Valley State Park Campground connects directly to campgrounds with varying difficulty levels. "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," notes Angel G.
Family recreation: The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring combines tent camping with adventure courses. "Very convenient for before or after your time in the largest aerial challenge course in North America. Groups only- no individual campsites," explains Elizabeth R. This site stands apart as a specialty destination for active visitors.
River access: Multiple tent sites provide water access with different experiences. At Patapsco Valley, campers have found "a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park." The combination of water features and hiking makes for versatile outdoor experiences during warmer months.
Cabin alternatives: Beyond basic tent sites, some parks offer hybrid options. "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,'" writes Sean M. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Group camping: Marsden Tract Group Campsite provides primitive camping for larger parties. Chrystal P. explains, "The camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water no bathrooms or electricity but all in all it's beautiful."
Affordable options: Lacy Oasis Campground offers economical tent sites and glamping options south of Laurel. "The rates are very economical for what is being provided on the space. There is not enough I can say about this place. It was definitely more than I expected," reports Terrance D.
Arrival timing: Plan your check-in according to park rules. At Patapsco Valley, "This was also the first time we have ever had to wait till exactly 3pm to check in. So if you arrive early expect to wait until 3," cautions Gabrielle E.
Site conditions: Tent pad surfaces vary significantly between parks. At Patapsco Valley, some sites feature crushed stone surfaces that present challenges. After storms, drainage can be an issue as Alexandra T. noted: "One negative was 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."
Firewood restrictions: Leesylvania State Park Campground and other regional parks have strict firewood policies. Many prohibit outside firewood due to invasive insects, requiring purchase on-site. While farther from Laurel, Leesylvania offers a "price and location near DC [that] cannot be beat. It is directly on Potomac River," according to Anne K.
Playground access: Multiple tent camping areas have designated play areas. "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," shares Angel G. These features provide activities during downtime.
Weather planning: Summer tent camping with children requires extra planning. Weekday visits during spring and fall typically mean fewer crowds and milder temperatures. During summer, morning activities work best before afternoon heat and potential thunderstorms.
Family-friendly amenities: Watkins Regional Park Campsites offers tent sites with shower facilities, drinking water, and trash disposal. Located in Upper Marlboro, this regional park provides basic amenities within 15 miles of Laurel, making it suitable for families trying tent camping for the first time.
Limited hookup options: Most tent campsites near Laurel that allow RVs have minimal hookups. At Patapsco Valley State Park, RV sites feature electric hookups but lack water and sewer connections at individual sites. Tent-only areas often provide more privacy and natural settings than mixed-use camping sections.
Size restrictions: Larger RVs face significant limitations in the Laurel area. None of the nearby campgrounds accommodate big rigs over 30 feet. For RV camping with tent options, smaller trailers and pop-ups work best at Patapsco Valley State Park, where "getting in to the park was a little difficult. We missed the entrance and had to turn around," according to Gayle B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Laurel, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Laurel, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Laurel, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Laurel, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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