Top-Rated Camping near Fulton, Maryland

The area surrounding Fulton, Maryland features a mix of established campgrounds and natural areas within an hour's drive, making it a convenient base for exploring the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Patapsco Valley State Park, located about 20 minutes northwest, offers tent and RV camping with electric hookups in its Hilton and Hollofield areas. Cherry Hill Park in nearby College Park provides full-service amenities including water and sewer hookups, along with glamping options and yurts. Greenbelt Park Campground, managed by the National Park Service, offers a more rustic experience with tent and RV sites but limited hookups. Most campgrounds in this region maintain well-developed facilities while providing access to hiking trails and water recreation.

Reservations are essential for most campgrounds in the Fulton area, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The primary camping season runs from April through October, with some facilities like Ramblin' Pines and Cherry Hill Park remaining open year-round. Many Maryland state parks prohibit alcohol consumption, a regulation worth noting when planning trips. As one camper at Greenbelt Park noted, "If you're in the DC area and just want someplace close by for a short camping trip, this probably fits the bill. As soon as you leave the park you are in College Park with Metro access close by." Urban noise is common at campgrounds closer to the metropolitan areas, with aircraft and traffic sounds frequently mentioned in reviews.

Campers frequently highlight the convenience of these locations for accessing Washington DC attractions. Several campgrounds, including Cherry Hill Park, offer orientation sessions about navigating the metro system and visiting monuments. The proximity to urban amenities doesn't completely sacrifice natural experiences. Patapsco Valley State Park receives praise for its extensive trail network, with one visitor noting, "This is where this campground shines. It has access to many trails and the Patapsco River." Summer heat and humidity can be challenging, with shaded sites being particularly valuable. Sites at most campgrounds tend to be relatively close together, with privacy varying significantly between locations and specific site numbers.

Best Camping Sites Near Fulton, Maryland (105)

    1. Cherry Hill Park

    42 Reviews
    Beltsville, MD
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 937-7116

    $999 / night

    "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."

    2. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    32 Reviews
    Greenbelt, MD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 344-3948

    $20 / night

    "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"

    3. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    20 Reviews
    Catonsville, MD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 461-5005

    $20 - $51 / night

    "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."

    4. Hollofield Area Campground

    18 Reviews
    Windsor Mill, MD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 461-5005

    $19 - $27 / night

    "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."

    5. Ramblin' Pines

    17 Reviews
    Woodbine, MD
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 795-5161

    $30 - $70 / night

    "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 ❤️"

    6. Washington DC / Capitol KOA

    16 Reviews
    Millersville, MD
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 923-2771

    "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."

    7. Little Bennett Campground

    23 Reviews
    Clarksburg, MD
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 528-3430

    "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"

    8. Lake Fairfax Campground

    25 Reviews
    Reston, VA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 471-5414

    $30 - $70 / night

    "We set up our tent in the far side of the campground close to the lake ( site 27). It is slightly slant but still comfortable in the tent. Bathrooms are close by and kept clean."

    "For tent camping I would suggests sites 30,33 or 35 these are tucked along the tree line. The bathroom facilities were the cleanest I have seen in a campground."

    9. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring

    1 Review
    Sandy Spring, MD
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (240) 389-4386

    $150 - $200 / night

    10. Camp Meade RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Odenton, MD
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 722-4237
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Recent Reviews near Fulton, MD

849 Reviews of 105 Fulton Campgrounds


  • MsTrailBlazer 🏔.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 6, 2026

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Top Tier

    I love this place. The tent sites are super, rustic but superior. Showers are a walk. Tent Sites are very private huge and I love that.

  • M
    Jun. 4, 2026

    Codorus State Park Campground

    Excellent campground!

    The sites offer plenty of space and privacy, making it easy to relax and enjoy nature. The campground is conveniently located near the lake, with beautiful views and easy access to the water. There is also a nice swimming pool, which is a great bonus. We enjoyed kayaking on the lake and spending time outdoors. Overall, it's a wonderful place to unwind, relax, and enjoy a peaceful getaway. We would definitely come back!

  • Matt S.
    Jun. 1, 2026

    Bay Shore Campground

    What stands out about this campground? The view!

    We spent a week at Bay Shore Campground to explore Rock Hall, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What stands out about this campground? The view! 

    For me, this is a 4-star campground because of the view and nice staff, but not 5-stars because of the sloped site packed in with the neighbors and no sewer connection. 

    THINGS I LIKED:

    — Great view from our site of the Chesapeake Bay— especially for sunset each evening

    — Friendly staff

    — Nearby Rock Hall, Chestertown, and Eastern Neck Island Wildlife Refuge

    — They offered a promo to pay for 6 nights, and the 7th was free 

    THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:

    — Our site(Site B) had an amazing view of Chesapeake Bay, but the slope made it difficult to get even close to level— even with my front jacks fully extended. I had to buy additional leveling blocks from the camp store(at twice the price of Amazon) just so we didn’t feel like walking uphill to walk around our motorhome. I admit, I am spoiled but really appreciate the campgrounds that level their sites. I think it could be done in a few hours with a rented front loader at a couple nights’ cost.

    — Our site(Site B) was tight. The neighbor’s awning was just inches from our motorhome. I understand the need for any business to maximize revenue, but this was unpleasantly close.

    — There are no sewer hookups at the sites. They do have a couple of dump stations for your way out and provide a pump-out service once per week at$40 a pop. They were nice enough to pump me out a second time since I stayed 7 nights. Again, I know I’m spoiled, but a sewer connection is a necessity when you’re staying 8 days. 

    WOULD WE COME BACK? 

    Sure thing, but we’d stay at a different site.

  • Phillip H.
    May. 10, 2026

    Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    Harper’s Ferry KOA

    The sites are close together. The park was not full Mother’s Day weekend. It is a very nice park. The bathhouses were clean. The amenities were good although we didn’t utilize them. The national historic site was very close and we walked over day 1 rode our bikes day 2. The C&O canal is accessible but you must walk your bike across the lower town bridge and carry it down the stairs. This section of the trail was very good and we completed 38 miles.

  • c
    May. 9, 2026

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Hilton area

    Thought the campsites were extremely close together. There were A LOT of kids and no quiet hours. Good for families. Not good for a camping camping experience.

  • D
    Apr. 28, 2026

    Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    Not as advertised on website. Loose dogs. Sites not as advertised.

    Less amenities than advertised. We usually camp in more rustic locations and planned this trip simply for the fun of the amenities. Their website claims that the pool is seasonal but doesn't list anything else as seasonal. There was supposed to be mini golf, a giant bounce pillow, indoor basketball, an arcade with air hockey and a pool table. Mini golf was fine. The bounce pillow was deflated and full of water. The arcade/pool table/air hockey building was locked and the maintenance guy(who locks it up) was outside smoking before leaving early for the day. The employee at the camp store said it was supposed to be open until the store closed but that he probably just closed it early.

     The rules state that dogs need to be on a leash at all times and, in the two hours we actually stayed, we saw four that weren't. One was staying near us and started chasing us when we rode our bikes by. One was wandering about 4 campsites down from it's owner. We mentioned it to the person at the camp store before we were chased and she just shrugged it off. 

    The map is incorrect. It lists site numbers that don't exist and doesn't list some sites that supposedly do. We spent a fifteen minutes trying to find a non-existent site before going back to the camp office and getting assigned a new site. They acted like it was a new thing caused by maintenance but we just looked and saw a review from ten months ago saying the map was messed up then. 

    The description of the site we paid for was non electric tent with a sand tent pad. The site we got was on a hill(no actual flat spot) overgrown with weeds, no tent pad, a slanted picnic table, and no actual parking spot. You had to drive over a drainage ditch and park on the hill. If our car didn't have high clearance we wouldn't have made it. There was also a hole in the middle of the site. And the map showed that number site on the corner where another unmarked site was. Our originally assigned site was supposedly in the same group of sites, so it would've been similar. Also don't believe the claim that they're"large sites." Most of them are crammed together. There are a few that look decent sized and flat, but they want you to pay an extra$30 to pick your own site. 

    We didn't even look in the bathrooms. 

    We left after two hours. Definitely a waste of$60+ dollars. 

    Next time we'll go over to the Brunswick Family campground. Their owners are lovely people who care about their customers.

  • Adam and Suzanne B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Greenbrier State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    Beautiful setting

    It is NOT closed for 2026! Spent the weekend here as it is only an hour from home. There are 4 large camping loops. Only loop C- cedar has electric. None of the loops have water hookups but all have spigots to fill your rig. There are also 3 fill stations at check in (which we missed). The campground is on a hill and the loop roads are narrow, hilly, and winding. We had no trouble with our 23 ft TT and saw some bigger rigs. There are some tight angles to get into a few sites. But, once you are in, the sites are spacious and mostly private. It is wooded without feeling overgrown. Loop D has some sites that are good buddy campsites. There are many hiking trails and a lovely lake. The only bad thing are the dated bathhouses. Mostly clean but there are only 2 showers for each fenced for each loop and they were yucky enough that we showered at our rig. It was busy but pretty quiet. It’s close to I-70

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 12, 2026

    Prince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park

    Nice clean Campground

    Stayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door. Even with busy road nearby, park was quiet and felt private. Sites were level and paved making setup easy. Sites had 1/2 site extra paved for vehicle with extra parking nearby. There was no litter in park, we observed a staff member daily making the rounds to keep everything clean. There was walking access into the park on wide private roads without traffic. With park access you are able to walk into national forest park from RV camp. National Forest visitor center close by, 1 exit away going south I95. Amenities in RV park included swimming pool, chess board with extra large pieces, playground and clean bath house. Firewood and ice on site.


Guide to Fulton

The Fulton, Maryland area offers numerous campground options within 30-40 minutes of the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Most campgrounds in this region operate from April through October, though several remain open year-round. Summer temperatures typically range from 75°F to 90°F with high humidity, making shaded sites particularly valuable.

What to do

Hiking trails with varied difficulty: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers extensive trail networks accessible directly from campsites. "The trails we have been on are all pretty moderate to hard but offer beautiful waterfalls and river views. This definitely is a park that takes a while to explore all of it," notes one visitor who appreciates that the park's multiple entrances can't be fully explored in a single day.

Fishing opportunities: Ramblin' Pines features a fishing pond on premises. "There's a pond for fishing, a pool for swimming and a little general store for all your needs," according to one camper, making it convenient for anglers who don't want to travel far from their site.

Nature exploration for children: The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring combines camping with outdoor adventures. "Groups only- no individual campsites," mentions one reviewer, noting it's "very convenient for before or after your time in the largest aerial challenge course in North America."

Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature pools, but Lake Fairfax Campground offers multiple water recreation options. "There's a water park, paddle boats, playgrounds, trails, skate park, sports fields, and the bathrooms are the nicest I've ever seen," reports one enthusiastic visitor who gave the facilities five stars.

What campers like

Convenient DC access: Cherry Hill Park provides exceptional transportation options to Washington DC attractions. "Proximity to DC and surrounding areas can't be beat. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments. Our uber rides ranged from 20-45$ for a family of 5," explains one visitor who found this approach more convenient than driving.

Privacy between sites: Little Bennett Campground offers well-separated sites for those seeking more seclusion. "Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors," notes one camper who appreciated the natural buffers. Another mentioned, "This place is quiet, the spaces are big. They can accommodate large campers, ours is 35 ft."

Urban escape atmosphere: Greenbelt Park Campground creates a surprising wilderness feel despite its urban location. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," writes one regular visitor who appreciates the convenient "getaway" feeling without traveling far from home.

Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms, with Lake Fairfax earning particular praise. "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained," reports one camper, though noting the trade-off is that "this place gets crowded."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, with some implementing strict check-in policies. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, "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," warns one camper.

Site conditions vary significantly: Ground surfaces differ between campgrounds, affecting tent camping comfort. "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 to the ground," advises a Patapsco Valley visitor.

Weather impacts: Summer storms can create challenging conditions. One camper at Patapsco Valley noted, "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."

Alcohol policies: Rules regarding alcohol consumption vary between parks. Many Maryland state parks prohibit bringing alcohol, while private campgrounds often permit it. Patapsco Valley reminds visitors: "No alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Patapsco Valley State Park Hollofield Area offers natural play spaces for children. "There is a 'natural' playground in the loop, and then if you drive down further to the park entrance, there is a large playground for the kids," shares one parent, adding details about "large rocks and overturned trees" that their children enjoyed.

Swimming restrictions: Some campgrounds have specific pool policies regarding children. One camper noted at Ramblin' Pines: "I didnt like that non potty trained kids are not allowed to swim in their pool. Luckily we only have a 9 month old currently that isn't potty trained."

Educational activities: Several parks offer ranger-led programs. At Greenbelt Park, a regular visitor mentions, "There are monthly programs at the campfire circle that I sometimes attend even when not camping here," providing enrichment opportunities for children.

Activity variety: Washington DC Capitol KOA provides multiple entertainment options. "We had a site near the pool, outdoor chess set, jumping pillow and gaga ball pit. Our kids (9, 10 and 14) all had fun and made friends," reports one parent who found it "perfect for kids" though "not a site for nature lovers."

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup limitations: Not all campgrounds offer full RV services. Hollofield Area Campground has "only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank," according to one RVer who noted the absence of laundry facilities.

Leveling requirements: Site grading varies considerably between campgrounds. At Little Bennett, one camper reports, "Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back."

Access considerations: Some campgrounds have specific approach requirements. For Hollofield Area, RVers should note: "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park.)"

Site selection strategy: At Cherry Hill Park, a reviewer 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."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Fulton, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fulton, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 42 reviews.

What parks are near Fulton, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Fulton, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.