1 campground with availability next weekend
Several tent campgrounds are accessible within 30 minutes of Forest Hill, Maryland, with most concentrated in nearby state parks. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers tent sites with established fire pits and picnic tables, while Susquehannock State Park provides tent camping with scenic river views. Most tent sites in the region feature forest cover and established pathways connecting to hiking trails, with seasonal availability typically running from spring through late fall.
Tent campsites at Patapsco Valley State Park are set on terrain that may be sloped in certain areas, which can make setting up tents challenging during wet weather. The campground has crushed stone pads at many sites, requiring campers to bring alternative ways to secure their tents. Bathroom facilities are clean and well-maintained with hot showers available, though they are described as somewhat dated. One camper noted, "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. Our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet." Fire rings with grill gates are provided at most tent sites, and firewood can be purchased from camp hosts, as outside wood is prohibited due to invasive insects.
The tent camping experience around Forest Hill provides good access to trail networks and natural features. At Patapsco Valley, tent sites offer a surprising level of seclusion despite their proximity to urban areas, with minimal highway noise reported. A visitor commented that it's "peaceful amid the chaos" with "just a hint of traffic noise" despite surrounding roadways. The Hilton Area features a large playground near the entrance and a smaller one within the camping loop, making it family-friendly. Primitive tent sites at Susquehannock State Park connect to hiking trails with views of the Susquehanna River. Tent campers should be aware that while some sites allow reservations, others operate on a first-come basis, and seasonal closures apply to most campgrounds in the region from late fall through early spring.
"Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."
"This is Organized Group Tenting Only."
Available next weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
"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 $40 - $45 / night
"Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents, camping cost $25 a night flat rate, for up to 6 days. Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook."
from $23 / 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,"
"Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
"We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."
from $15 - $50 / night
"This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting."
"Spent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it."
from $25 / night
from $6 / night
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
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.
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
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.
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
Tent camping near Forest Hill, Maryland centers around several state and county parks within a 30-minute drive radius. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly reaching 85-95°F and moderate rainfall that can create muddy conditions at some sites. Winter camping options are limited as most facilities close from November through March, with Hibernia County Park and Patapsco Valley both operating restricted weekend-only schedules during cold months.
Hiking with river views: At Susquehannock State Park, trails connect to scenic overlooks. One visitor noted, "There are some excellent views of the Susquehanna River," while another camper shared there are "lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer creek and to the Susquehanna River."
Biking opportunities: Several parks offer cycling paths with varying difficulty levels. At Susquehannock State Park, "There's a great bike trail to the Conowingo dam which is a nice place to visit, and a great place to see lots of eagles. There are amazing wildflowers on that trail. You can bike to the trail from the campground. All downhill. So be ready for the climb back up."
Fishing access: Multiple water bodies permit fishing with proper Maryland licenses. Hibernia County Park features a "Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too," making it ideal for families teaching kids to fish.
Seclusion level: Despite being near urban centers, many sites maintain a natural feel. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, campers appreciate that "This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park. It's a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood, but the Hilton area is great."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse animal populations. At Susquehannock, one reviewer mentioned the lookout "puts you up with the birds," while another noted the Conowingo dam is "a great place to see lots of eagles."
Water features: Streams and small lakes enhance many camping areas. At Mill Creek Camping Area, "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."
Terrain challenges: Many sites have uneven ground that affects tent setup. At Hibernia County Park, "They aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix," according to experienced campers.
Bathroom facilities: Amenities vary widely between parks. At Patapsco Valley, "The bathhouse is nothing special, but it's well maintained and clean," while Blackbird State Forest has "No running water- only port a potties but they were clean."
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds have restricted operating schedules. Hibernia County Park is "only open on the weekends, in season" and operates from May to October, requiring planning ahead.
Reservation systems: Booking methods differ by location. At Hibernia, "Sites can be reserved on line, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration," though specific weekends have special requirements.
Playground access: Multiple parks offer play equipment for children. Patapsco Valley "is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center."
Educational opportunities: Nature centers and trails designed for kids exist at several parks. Patapsco Valley features a "sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," though one camper noted, "The nature center was closed when we visited, but the kids still enjoyed the sensory trail and playground."
Special fishing areas: Lancaster County Mill Creek and Hibernia County Park maintain children's fishing ponds. Hibernia has an "Inexpensive $15 a night" rate and a "Great children's pond for 12 and under."
Limited hookup options: Most tent camping areas near Forest Hill offer minimal RV services. At Hibernia County Park, "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank."
Site size considerations: Larger vehicles may struggle at some locations. At Hibernia, "though at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper."
Dump station access: Plan for waste disposal before arrival. Hibernia has "NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee, otherwise, you'll have to look for a truck stop on the way home."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Forest Hill, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Forest Hill, MD is Susquehannock State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Forest Hill, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Forest Hill, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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