In western Maryland, the area surrounding McHenry offers diverse camping experiences across several state parks and forests. Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground serves as a popular destination with 112 sites accommodating tents, RVs, cabins, and yurts. Nearby Swallow Falls State Park provides camping within a heavily forested setting, while New Germany and Savage River State Forest offer additional options for overnight stays. These mixed-use campgrounds typically feature amenities ranging from primitive tent sites to full hookup RV spots, with many providing fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails.
Camping in the McHenry region operates seasonally, with most campgrounds open from April through December. Deep Creek Lake State Park's camping season runs April 15 to December 15, while Swallow Falls maintains similar dates. "The bathhouses are pretty good, not the best but are always clean. I like that the campground is dog friendly," noted one camper at Swallow Falls. Winter camping remains limited, though some areas like Savage River State Forest and New Germany State Park maintain year-round availability. Bear activity is common throughout the region, with most campgrounds providing bear-proof storage boxes at individual sites. Cell service varies by location and provider, with better coverage near developed areas and limited connectivity in more remote forest settings.
Campers consistently highlight the natural beauty of the area, particularly around Deep Creek Lake and the waterfalls at Swallow Falls. One visitor described Swallow Falls as "truly magical in the woods, virgin Woods. Definitely a little piece of heaven." The camping experience changes dramatically between weekdays and weekends, especially during summer months. Several reviewers mentioned the tranquility of weekday stays contrasted with weekend crowds. Deep Creek Lake attracts many visitors for water recreation, making lakeside campgrounds particularly busy during warm months. Most campgrounds in the region prohibit alcohol consumption, with the exception of Savage River State Forest and New Germany State Park. Camping areas near McHenry provide convenient access to outdoor recreation while remaining close to small towns for supplies and amenities.
$22 - $33 / night
"Thirdly, the campground was so close to the nature that we wanted to see. We went to see the falls and they were within walking distance from our campsite. Overall, it was an awesome place to camp."
"Camp ground was just a few minute drive away from the entrance to the trail. Trails were easy enough for kids. Camp site itself was nice and clean but felt a little too close to each other."
$21 - $65 / night
"Camp site(Tent camping) Camp site was pretty small and close to each other. The forest where the camp site was situated was beautiful."
"Lots of touristy things around the lake, then you drive by lots of vacation homes on the lakeshore and then you pull into the camp and you feel like you are miles away from all that stuff."
$24 - $72 / night
"Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters."
"Options to get there include the steep walking trail where bikes are allowed to be walked but not ridden, riding the 3.5 miles along the road, also very steep, or taking a shuttle from downtown Ohiopyle"
"This was a beautiful state forest, with two state parks sort of bordering it (Big Run & New Germany). The roads were all paved which was nice."
"Very remote western Maryland Appalachia. Sites are right off park road, are huge, rustic, and spaced very far apart from other sites. River runs along the sites."
$18 - $117 / night
"New Germany State Park is a pleasant location with a small lake for swimming and kayaking, as well as numerous trails in the wooded mountains of western Maryland."
"New Germany State Park is situated in Garrett County Maryland. The park has a small lake, a few trails, and two camping loops."
$29 - $62 / night
"Incredibly clean & close To everything. Located right beside Ohiopyle and Yough Lake dam. There is a beach in campground but found the drive to Yough lake perfect."
"Creekside sites felt smaller and more crowded than lakeside sites, which open onto the beach and lake. Guests were very friendly and considerate of quiet hours."
$155 / night
"It was an easy short walk to the parking lot. The campground has easy access to the bike trail. You can see bikers camping in a certain spot for the special rate of $14.00 per biker. "
"Great access to the Allegheny bike trail and all the small towns near. No shade over campsites."
$10 - $55 / night
"This is one of my favorite Western Maryland hideaways. The best spots are in the woods adjacent to the stream. You can set up your camp chair and enjoy the creek sounds."
"You have to know what you're getting here - there ARE campsites with amenities, near water and bathrooms, but not all of them have the amenities. "
$25 - $35 / night
"It's a popular hiking destination that's relatively close to Morgantown, so it gets pretty crowded in the summer and I would suggest arriving early if you're going to"
"There is a great access to the trails from the campsite and a short walk to the overlook. Depending upon your location the bathrooms can be a hike. Sites 3-7 are good locations."
"But other than the falls, this park has everything the other does, and even a lake. Most come here for the cabins."
"This lake (the main attraction of the state park) is one of my husband’s favorite fishing spots, especially on the kayaks. "
TravelerWe came up here in our Roadtrek campervan. Quiet woodsy forestland. Went for a walk in the morning, lots of birdsong. A bit of road noise from the nearby highways but didn’t hear anything at night.
TravelerI’m a new car camper and my mom and I took a day trip out to check out the sites. When I tell you this is the most beautiful, secluded, peaceful camping site I truly couldn’t have asked for a better find!! I did however (like an idiot) end up going waaay too far down the trail (aka the whole 18 miles) and THANK GOD I drive a 4 runner!! That road gets pretty sketchy in most spots the further you go down but I somehow (by the grace of God) made it through the whole thing IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE!! ugh may never do that again but the camping is fantastic!! If you wanna check out more of the off-roading aspect I recommend checking out nolimitbmore on youtube! Will be spending most of my summer & fall here!!
TravelerI want to preface by saying that I believe this is a fairly nice and accommodating campground, it just missed the mark on some of my personal preferences this time around.
I had a two night trip the opening weekend at the Elm Loop, site 118. I actually came to this campground amidst a wind advisory, will definitely not make that mistake again because it was a beast. The grounds were easy to navigate even during the night. Putting up the tent was a bit frustrating as the tent pad was very rocky and it was difficult to get the pegs into the ground.
One of my biggest qualms was that I arrived expecting to be able to buy firewood from the camp store, especially since the provided flyers and maps listed the store being open until 9pm. I got to the store only to find out that it had been shut down last year. A bit disappointing as we couldn’t have a fire that night, would’ve been nice to know ahead of time. Thankfully firewood was available the next day but at the registration office at the entrance of the park. Not sure if they plan on opening the store again, but just be aware if you do plan to go and are expecting it to be open.
Other than that, it’s a well versed site. Plenty for any group to do. I went fishing towards the dam while the other half of my group hiked the lake trail. Bathrooms were available and in usable condition. Sites are a good distance apart, the ones along the lake are pretty. Not sure if I’d return again but it was a nice to try.
GuideTLDR: this is a horrible campsite in a horrible campground. You should reserve somewhere else and leave it open for me. ;-)
My family has a wide variety of preferences. My husband is a water guy. I'm a mountain girl. My kids want a paved campground road so they can scooter and a nearby playground. This place is all of those things - a mountain lake with paved roads and heavy on amenities.
We stayed in site 11, which has a direct path to the lake-loop trail, which is also a straight shot to the beach/playground. We were there in March, so we weren't swimming/boating, but in the summer this would be a prime spot for those reasons too. It's a liiittle far from the bath house. But we RV, so it's not a huge deal. It had a great view of lake and mountains (though once the leaves come in, probably less so).
Sites are nice and private, well spaced. The fire pit was nice and deep, which was slightly inconvenient, but is probably intended to combat the mountain winds. The campground store and other peak season amenities were closed, so I can't speak to those, but it looked like they had very nice facilities. The playground was really nice. (We didn't go onto resort/casino property)
GuideGreat private campground right on the river! The camper spots are across the road from the river and next time we will reserve a camper spot and a tent spot right on the water!
TravelerFun beginner trail, nice dispersed camping spots. Went there when it was dry so it was an easy drive. Very close to Blackwater Falls so you have all the trails there also have trails down the road with nice lookout points
TravelerWe came in late Friday & could tell from the 7+" snow covered road in that no one else was going to be here (unless they'd been parked for two days of snowfall). We parked on a site be the creek on a big loop near a vault toilet (nothing better than a 20° toilet seat to wake you up in the morning). These sites were easy to recognize as safe driving spots under the blanket of snow. The road was well marked. The hairpin turn at entrance was wide enough that it was not a problem to navigate in the snow / icy road. Main roads had been plowed thoroughly. Anyway, great stay. Could not see stars but the moonrise was beautiful.
RangerOne of the advantages of this particular campground is that it's not far from the town of Elkins, so you can go back into town if you don't feel like campsite cooking— lots of good restaurants and entertainment opportunities in Elkins.
While this is truly primitive camping, you are not so primitive that you need to dig a hole to go to the bathroom— they do have porta-potty's. It's also noteworthy that this is likely not available year-round. The road becomes impassable in winter when there is a lot of snow, and they start maintaining it, often even blocking the road with gates during the winter. Understandable but unfortunate, since it is beautiful added is not always snowing even in winter, right?
The campground is not free but also not very expensive. I think the senior citizens price is under five dollars, or at least it was when I camped there a couple years ago(2023). The sites themselves are first-come first-served, the kind of camping ground where you simply go back up to the entranceway to fill out a form and state where you are and make the payment in a box. While the campground is at a fairly high altitude, most of the sites don't have expansive views, and I think only a couple of the sites even have an expansive view down below. But that's okay if you are into wooded views, because there's plenty of that all around, and even a small rock climbing area for you and your kids to scramble on the rocks.
RangerThis swath of land, sandwiched between two state parks(Canaan Valley State Park to the south& Blackwater Falls State Park to the north) is managed by the US Forest Service. The nearest town is Davis, WV.
There is just one dirt road running through it, the first few miles of which are fairly tame: navigable by most standard cars and medium or smaller sized RVs. The further back in you go, the rougher the road gets until it is truly just a jeeps-only type of road. But the good news is that all of the camping sites take place before you get to that rough part.
And this is TRULY dispersed camping, with most of the camp spots being a good half-mile from each other! The one downside, if you are into privacy, is that all of the sites are RIGHT NEXT to that dirt road, so others will be driving past your site. The good news is that it is not a heavily trafficked road, used primarily just by the other campers in the 10 available spots, by the occasional hunter, and by the even-less-frequent off-roader, hoping to challenge their vehicle on the rough stuff several miles in.
This is all free camping, and all primitive. There are no restroom facilities, no showers, no electrical, no water supply.
The campsites themselves are mostly surrounded by forest, making even the smallest of them quite beautiful. They vary in size from being little more than a 20 foot driveway to back an RV up to those sites that are significantly larger with room enough for more than one vehicle and perhaps a couple or three tents.
While this loop road region has very few activities itself, you are just a few miles from the two state parks and from private facilities offering horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, and more.
The loop road region itself has MANY trails for hiking or mountain biking (possibly horseback riding— I saw no signage either for or against it), and one trail that is specifically marked as a cross country ski route. Although, from what I can see, several of the trails could work for cross-country skiing, as even the road itself could right after a storm.
While the area is at a fairly high altitude, around 3000 feet, it seems to be built on a kind of high altitude plateau, so the road itself is not that hilly, nor are the camping sites. I don't know for sure if it's a year-round site, but I can tell you that I was camping there in December, no problem. I do understand that the road is minimally maintained, so it might be impossible or difficult to access during very snowy weather.
Camping near McHenry, Maryland offers a diverse experience across the mountainous terrain of western Maryland, with elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet that provide cooler summer temperatures than the eastern part of the state. The Appalachian ridges create microclimates that can drop temperatures by 10-15 degrees compared to nearby cities, making summer camping more comfortable with average highs in the upper 70s. Winter camping options remain available at several locations despite seasonal closures at the more popular destinations.
Hiking at Swallow Falls State Park: The park features over 5 miles of trails through hemlock forests, with routes to Maryland's highest waterfall. "Swallow falls is awesome year round. In the winter the snow and ice is beautiful, fall is lovely and summer is fun," reports Marcandpatti B., who also notes the historical significance of the area where "Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs camped on the site in 1918, and 1921."
Boating at Savage River State Forest: The reservoir offers excellent kayaking opportunities with multiple boat ramps. "From one end of the reservoir to the other on a kayak is about 2 hours," according to one camper who appreciates the "beautiful location and landscapes."
Cross-country skiing at New Germany State Park Campground: Winter activities are well-supported with trails specifically maintained for skiing. "The park has about 15 or so miles of trails. The trails are easy to medium and are open to cross country skiing in the winter months," explains Bill G., who visits the area regularly.
Swimming at Herrington Manor State Park: The lake features a designated swimming beach with rental equipment available. A visitor notes, "There is a really great beach area for the kids (or adults!) to play at, and a general over-abundance of creatures in and around the lake."
Privacy between sites at Swallow Falls State Park Campground: Sites are well-separated with natural barriers. "The camping loop in general was beautiful, quiet and heavily forested. I don't think there was a bad site in the whole loop," writes Jen V., who stayed in the Garrett Loop.
Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation provides relief from summer heat. One camper at New Germany State Park observed, "Summer temps usually do not get as nice 85max most of the summer," making the area ideal for those seeking to escape hotter regions.
Wildlife viewing: The forests surrounding McHenry offer abundant opportunities to observe native animals. "We spotted a raccoon, a bunny, a chipmunk, and (along the nearby roads) lots of deer— don't drive too fast!" advises Meredith P. who camped at Savage River State Forest.
Firefly displays: Several campgrounds in the area are known for impressive evening light shows. A visitor to Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "We were lucky enough to witness a spectacular light show put up by thousands of fireflies at night."
Primitive camping considerations at Savage River: Many sites lack facilities. "There are no amenities here besides a picnic table and a fire ring, but the sites are so spread out that it's basically like dispersed camping but on a paved road," reports Veronica S., highlighting that this arrangement provides excellent privacy despite the lack of hookups.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across the McHenry area. A camper at Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park noted, "Our Sprint hotspot didn't work well (unboosted), but our Verizon did," which matches the variable coverage pattern throughout the region.
Water quality concerns: Lakes and swimming areas may face temporary closures. One camper mentioned finding "a notice about Ecoli after we had gone swimming" at Herrington Manor, demonstrating the importance of checking current conditions.
Bear-proof storage requirements: Wildlife management is taken seriously at campgrounds. "Bears are common so they emplaced a big old bear box at every site. It's enough room to hold your food for a month of camping!" observed Jonathan F. at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
Level tent sites for easier setup: Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run offers well-designed areas for tents. "My wife and I tent camped here for a weekend to go rafting. Our tent sites were very nice sitting on raised mounds so you would stay fairly dry if it rained," shares Kevin C.
Child-friendly trails: The area offers numerous short hiking options suitable for younger visitors. Dale O. notes that at Swallow Falls, "The falls are beautiful and the trails are well kept. My kids love the swings and playground also."
Swimming options for children: Several parks offer designated beach areas with gradual entry points. Mike B. found New Germany State Park ideal for family camping, noting "The grounds had paths everywhere and were well kept. I didn't feel like I was walking in the dirt or through someone's campsite to get to the bathroom or the playground for the kids."
Salamander spotting adventures: Lakes and streams around McHenry provide educational wildlife viewing. A visitor to Herrington Manor observed, "There are TONS of salamanders along the shore, literally clouds of tadpoles near the launch docks (if you time it during the right part of the year of course)," creating natural science lessons for young campers.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Campground loops vary in accessibility. At Outflow Camping, Adam and Suzanne B. note, "The sites are gravel and level. Most only have 30 amp electric hookup but water can be filled at the 'gatehouse'... There are 3-4 full hookup and a few 50 amp."
Hookup limitations: Many campgrounds offer limited electrical connections. Gary P. found at Swallow Falls that "the campground map I saw, I believe, said 84 campsites in the park and only 6 electric (& water)," which represents the typical ratio in the area.
Road conditions to campgrounds: Access roads can be challenging for larger rigs. A visitor to Deep Creek Lake State Park noted, "One loop (the Meshach Browning Loop) has electric hookups; the other loops do not," highlighting the importance of researching specific loop amenities before arrival.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer on-site dumping. Josh W. mentioned that at Coopers Rock State Forest there's a "Dump station on the way out," which is typical of many campgrounds in the region that offer this service only at central locations rather than at individual sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mchenry, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mchenry, MD offers a wide range of camping options, with 140 campgrounds and RV parks near Mchenry, MD and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mchenry, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mchenry, MD is Swallow Falls State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mchenry, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Mchenry, MD.
What parks are near Mchenry, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Mchenry, MD that allow camping, notably Jennings Randolph Lake and Youghiogheny River Lake.
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