106 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The northeastern Maryland region surrounding Newark features a mix of state parks and private campgrounds within a short drive. Elk Neck State Park, approximately 15 miles southeast of Newark, offers well-maintained campsites with water and electric hookups in a wooded setting along the Chesapeake Bay. Lums Pond State Park in neighboring Delaware provides spacious sites with full hookups around a central field, making it popular for families seeking water recreation. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, just north of Newark, offers more primitive camping experiences with basic amenities. These established campgrounds accommodate various camping styles from tent camping to RVs, with some locations featuring yurts and cabins for those seeking alternative accommodations.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability in the Newark area. Most state parks maintain year-round operations, though facilities like showers may close during winter months. One camper at Elk Neck State Park noted, "I stayed mid-week in May when it was very quiet and peaceful, but I'm not entirely sure I'd want to be here on a summer weekend when the place is full of families and activity." Spring brings muddy conditions on trails, particularly at Lums Pond, while summer weekends often require reservations weeks in advance. Cell service varies throughout the region, with most campgrounds reporting adequate coverage for basic needs. Campgrounds within 30 minutes of Newark typically require advance reservations, especially for weekend stays during peak season.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Newark area. At Elk Neck State Park, sites near the water receive consistently positive reviews, with one visitor highlighting "a partially tree-obscured view of the water with impressive sunrise views just a short walk away." Campsites at Lums Pond feature spacious layouts with good separation between neighbors, though some visitors note flooding issues during heavy rain. Bathhouse quality varies considerably across facilities, with some campers reporting immaculately maintained facilities while others mention needed updates. The region's proximity to both natural areas and urban amenities allows for diverse experiences, with several campgrounds positioned to provide easy access to hiking trails, water recreation, and cultural attractions in nearby towns.
"Near an Ape Adventure park, hike around lake, and any shopping or restaurants you might want are close by. It rained heavy so we didn’t get out much but walk around camp loop is nice and flat."
"The camp loop is a nice walk but there are also trails. They were pretty muddy when we were there. Site 35 was quite spacious as were many of them."
from $29 - $51 / night
Check Availability"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."
from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability"The campground is located in a beautiful part of the Pennsylvania countryside with rolling hills which meant the roads getting there are narrow and windy."
"Everything was within close walking distance and the staff were extremely helpful. Pool and bathrooms were very clean."
from $59 - $86 / night
Check Availability"The campsites are separated more widely than many other parks in Maryland (Cunningham Falls, Ft. Frederick, Pt. Lookout), and are quite secluded in comparison."
"I was a walk-up with no reservation and since it was a weekday the ranger gave me a great rundown of the best spots in the camp and let me drive through to check them out before going back with my decision"
from $21 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here in November with beautiful weather which meant the large farm behind the campground was spraying manure over their fields. We could smell it."
"The site was covered and it was cool around 4:30pm when the sun went behind the trees. It didn’t look like all sites had that much cover so be careful."
"It’s a clean, well kept space, completely surrounded by state forest, very close to shore access along the rivers/bay, hiking/biking trails right out of the campground."
"We were looking for someplace close to the city but away from the hustle and bustle of our city life, this was the perfect little steal-away; relatively close by, great car camping spots, nice easy hikes"
"If you want starlink, stay toward the entrance of the loop for a good view of the sky. If you want to be away from everyone and don't need a site that has good accessibility, stay in C27."
from $24 - $135 / night
Check Availability"Has outhouse, fire pit, running water on side of house near outhouse. An is a wonderful person. Good reception with T-Mobile!"
from $10 - $16 / night
Check Availability
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
TravelerThe owner is kind and knowledgeable a lot of live in / snowbirds . Some are very kind but some of the live in’s are crude .
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
ScoutThis campsite was amazing for our first tent camping experience. The park was a godsend for keeping our toddler occupied and we felt very safe overall. While the beach is pretty, be careful about the water condition. We were warned before entering and informed of the risks. They were very clear on the condition of the water that day which was a yellow, slight risk. But normally it should be okay. We would definitely camp here again.
GuideBASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
ScoutWe stayed only one night in primitive tent site which was massive with a turnaround. It was great. There are fire pits and picnic tables and level ground. Very serene. We walked down to the river, breathtaking. Not sure of other amenities as we didn’t use them.
ScoutGreat campsite, plenty of space. It rained a lot and our campsite was a little muddy (not bad) but nearby campsites had large puddles
LegendWe spent a weekend at French Creek State Park as our home base for the Chester County Balloon Festival. We stayed for 2 nights at a full-hookup paved site, which ran us $55.25 per night.
WHAT I LIKED:
Peace& Quiet: The state park itself was lovely, serene, and felt nice and spacious.
Prime Location: At just 30 minutes away from the balloon festival, this is the closest campground.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
The"Leveling" Challenge: We were at site#C-241, which had a pretty significant slope. It took a few boards under the rear wheels and fully extended jacks just to get us anywhere near level.
Tight Fit for Big Rigs: Even though there was plenty of open space behind our site, the actual driveway pad was too short to comfortably fit our motorhome and Jeep together. Compared to other state parks we’ve visited, the interior roads and layouts felt a bit on the tight side.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
Camping options near Newark, Maryland span across state lines into Delaware and Pennsylvania, creating a diverse three-state camping region with varying terrain and water access. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 200-500 feet above sea level, with the Chesapeake watershed influencing both the landscape and camping conditions. Winter camping remains available at several locations, though water systems may be winterized.
Kayaking at Lums Pond: The 200-acre pond offers electric-motor boating and paddling opportunities with rentals available. "We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations... Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking," notes Ellen B. from Lums Pond State Park Campground.
Frisbee golf through wooded terrain: French Creek State Park offers a challenging disc golf course where trees add natural obstacles. "There is a frisbee golf course in the woods to make it even more interesting and competitive. The trees definitely make it harder!" writes a reviewer at French Creek State Park Campground.
Fishing in stocked waters: Multiple species await anglers at Elk Neck State Park. "There are several warm water fish in the lakes including northern pike, chain pickerel, bass, walleye, muskellunge and several types of panfish. Ice fishing is also allowed at both lakes and the ice thickness is monitored," reports Jen R.
Visit historic sites: The area combines camping with historical exploration. "There is a historic area in the park, with a working grist mill, mansion and other little buildings to view. Not really my thing, but was pretty neat," shares Jen V. at Susquehanna State Park Campground.
Secluded, shaded sites: The privacy between campsites at some parks provides a more natural experience. "Site was very shaded, and probably the most secluded feel of anywhere we've camped... Nice amount of space in between sites," reports Jen V. about Susquehanna State Park.
Well-maintained bathhouses: Clean facilities receive consistent praise at several parks. "Bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease," notes Mark at Lums Pond State Park.
Water-view camping options: Riverside sites offer scenic advantages for those who book early. "The river sites are great but can get muddy and there is a big hill to get up and out," warns Jim N. at Philadelphia-West Chester KOA.
Winter camping availability: Off-season camping provides quieter experiences. "Finished the season at this state park in MD with full hook up (20, 30, and 50 amp, water and sewer) and the water was still on in November. Bathhouses were open with hot water," reports Laure D. at Elk Neck State Park Campground.
Reservation challenges: Popular parks book quickly, especially during peak season. "Book early because it fills up fast!" advises Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park.
Tent pad availability varies: Not all sites accommodate tent camping equally. "I docked a star because I'd say about half—maybe more—don't have pads," mentions Jennifer S. about Susquehanna State Park.
Site terrain considerations: Rocky and uneven sites can create setup challenges. "We had to use a paper plate to rake as many rocks and gravel from the site so we could put up our tent without ripping it," shares E K. at Susquehanna State Park.
Cell service variations: Connectivity depends on specific campground location. "Good cell service and lots of foliage between sites keeps them pretty private," notes Dan X. at French Creek State Park.
Playground access: When booking, check proximity to play areas for convenience. "We took up site 2 of the Beechnut Loop. I had chosen this site, based on two factors: 1. It was available and 2. It was close to the playground. Unfortunately... you also couldn't see the playground from the site," warns Jennifer S. about Susquehanna State Park.
Kid-friendly water features: Some parks offer multiple water activities that appeal to children. "The water park is super fun for adults and kids. The entire campground is clean and very well maintained," shares Ashley S. at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Educational opportunities: Historical features provide learning experiences alongside outdoor recreation. "There is Hopewell National Furnace and St. Peter's Village with shops and restaurants and hiking trails as well," recommends Jen R. about French Creek State Park.
Loop selection for bike safety: Consider campground topography for young cyclists. "The camp road was minimally hilly and would be safe and easy for little kids to ride their bikes, unlike some of the campgrounds that have pretty decent hills," notes Jennifer S.
Site angle challenges: Backing larger RVs requires careful site selection at some campgrounds. "I did have major trouble backing in because the road is too narrow for a 45' motorhome to back in on a nearly 90-degree angle. So difficult, that I cracked the bottom of my front cap catching the grass and gravel beside the grave road," warns Matt S. at Philadelphia-West Chester KOA.
Winter hookup availability: Cold-season camping offers full services at select locations. "Stayed over for one night in early December. Showers and bathrooms were great!" reports Galit P. at French Creek State Park.
Site surface quality: Pad materials vary between campgrounds. "All sites have a paved level area which made set up a breeze," shares Jen R. about French Creek State Park.
Utility placement issues: RVers may encounter hookup positioning challenges. "The site offered electric and water but they were on 2 different sides. This made it difficult to set up. Had to park the camper crooked to use both," cautions Amanda H.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Newark, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, Newark, MD offers a wide range of camping options, with 106 campgrounds and RV parks near Newark, MD and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Newark, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Newark, MD is Lums Pond State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 52 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Newark, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Newark, MD.
Keep Exploring
