99 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near North East, Maryland range from full-service RV parks with water and electrical hookups to primitive tent sites in state-managed natural areas. Elk Neck State Park Campground serves as a primary destination with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations situated along the Chesapeake Bay. Nearby options include Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area and Woodlands Camping Resort, both within 15 miles of North East. The region offers excellent camping destinations with access to the Chesapeake Bay waterfront, with multiple campgrounds providing water and electrical connections for various camping styles from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks.
Most campgrounds in the area require reservations, particularly during peak summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. While some facilities like Elk Neck State Park operate year-round, others such as Susquehanna State Park maintain seasonal operations from late March through October. Access to most campgrounds involves paved roads suitable for passenger vehicles, though some sites within the parks may have limited clearance for larger RVs. Weather conditions remain moderate with humid summers and mild winters, making spring and fall particularly pleasant for camping. "The bathrooms and showers were nice, clean, and always stocked with toilet paper. We did not have an outdoor sink for washing dishes, so I used the spigot that many people used to fill up their water jugs," noted one visitor at Elk Neck.
Campers frequently highlight the water-based recreational opportunities throughout the region. Elk Neck State Park provides access to swimming beaches, hiking trails, and scenic views of the Chesapeake Bay, while other nearby campgrounds offer fishing, boating, and riverside activities. Site privacy varies considerably across campgrounds, with some locations featuring closely spaced sites and others offering more secluded options. A recent review noted, "Sites were a decent distance apart but most other sites were closer. Good bathrooms and showers and plenty of hiking trails." Many campgrounds provide amenities such as camp stores, playgrounds, and picnic facilities, though primitive camping with fewer services is also available at select locations. Mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV camping predominate in the area, with only a few specializing exclusively in one camping style.
"Stayed on the full hook-up North East loop (incline or decline into some of the sites, well spaced). Cleanest state park bathroom in all of MD!"
"Near the state forest with a rifle, archery, and handgun ranges including skeet shooting. In summer there is a beach on the North East River for swimming and the Turkey Point Lighthouse is nearby."
from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability"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 $24 - $46 / 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"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 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."
"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"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"Had our kayaks with us and the water wasn’t but a few steps away. Some sites you are right on the waters edge."
"This is close to us so it was an easy trip. Full hookup but we’re told to turn off and unhook water the night it dropped below freezing."
from $75 - $115 / night
Check Availability"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 $20 - $84 / night
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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 spots near North East, Maryland cluster around the Upper Chesapeake Bay where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems converge. The region maintains moderate temperatures with summer highs averaging 87°F and winter lows rarely dropping below 25°F, making camping viable nearly year-round. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 50-300 feet above sea level, offering varied terrain for different camping experiences.
Water recreation at Susquehanna State Park: Located 20 minutes from North East, this park offers multiple access points to both Deer Creek and the Susquehanna River. "We hiked over a bridge and stream which was full of fish I could see! Turned around after I got to the Susquehanna itself. The river was running pretty high and fast, pretty cool to see," notes a visitor to Susquehanna State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds provide fishing access directly from campsites. At Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina, "You can fish from your chair. Kayak rentals, boat slips. Close to all types of stores, civilization, 7-11, a nice seafood store to get crabs or fish if you didn't catch any."
Historical exploration: The region features several historical sites within short driving distance of campgrounds. "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," comments a camper at Susquehanna State Park.
Mountain biking and hiking trails: The area's varied terrain provides multiple trail options. French Creek State Park offers "lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There's an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp."
Waterfront camping options: Several campgrounds offer direct water views or water access. At Elk Neck State Park Campground, "There are views of the Elk River from many sites. Stayed in the North East loop and there are mini cabins available as well," reports one camper.
Wooded, secluded sites: Many campsites in the region provide natural buffers between neighbors. "Site was very shaded, and probably the most secluded feel of anywhere we've camped. Camping pad was nice and level, although the driveway was slightly sloped," writes a camper about Susquehanna State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Chesapeake Bay region supports diverse wildlife visible from campgrounds. At Elk Neck State Park, visitors noted, "We saw bald eagles and great blue heron," making wildlife spotting a popular activity.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently comment on well-maintained amenities. At Lums Pond State Park Campground, "The bath house was absolutely immaculate, and the design made even my public-bathroom-phobic sister-in-law comfortable and at ease."
Reservation requirements vary by season: While summer requires advance planning, shoulder seasons offer more flexibility. A Philadelphia-West Chester KOA visitor noted, "This was a last minute trip to end the season. Only stayed one night and most of the activities were closed due to it being November."
Site terrain conditions: Many campgrounds in the area have varied site conditions even within the same loop. "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," reported a camper at Woodlands Camping Resort.
Camp store availability: Not all campgrounds provide on-site supplies. At Susquehanna State Park, a camper advised, "The campstore is small (like literally the size of a closet) but had some main essentials. They also sell ice and firewood at the campstore AND there is an honor system with it available to you after the campstore hours."
Cell service varies: Connectivity differs significantly across the region. At Cecil County Permaculture, a visitor reported, "Good reception with T-Mobile!" while at Elk Neck State Park, another camper noted, "No cell signal in the campground so the family is forced to disconnect."
Look for campgrounds with dedicated activities: Some locations offer scheduled programming for children. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Quarryville, "Our first year we did a birthday package where they brought a cake to the camp with Booboo for my daughter. They have the pools and playgrounds and fishing."
Check playground proximity when booking: Site selection matters for families with small children. Regarding Susquehanna State Park, one camper advised, "The playground was fantastic, though, it was not shaded. It is also in the middle of the Acorn and Beechnut loop. This is great if you want to be away from the playground, as you can book one of the sites further off and not have kids running about."
Consider bath facility locations: Some campgrounds place facilities inconveniently for tent campers. A visitor to Lums Pond observed, "Some engineering genius put the bath houses furthest from the people that need them most. Tent campers...keep your shoes handy, it's a hike."
Assess site terrain for tent placement: Rocky ground can create challenges for tent camping. A Susquehanna State Park camper noted, "We had to move the heavy picnic table so we weren't putting up our tent on top of the fire ring. We also 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."
Check site angles for big rigs: Some campgrounds have challenging site approaches. At Philadelphia-West Chester KOA, an RVer warned, "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."
Winter camping preparedness: Several campgrounds remain open year-round but with limitations. "In February, about 1/4 of the sites were occupied. It was very quiet. The sites are large and well spaced. Many are in full sun," reported an RVer at Lums Pond State Park.
Hook-up positions: Position of utilities can affect setup. At Bar Harbor RV Park, a camper mentioned, "Sites are on top of each other. Water hookup access was on the ground. It was raining and the area was saturated with no where to drain."
Local services: Some campgrounds offer convenient proximity to supplies. A Bar Harbor RV camper noted, "It's 5 min. from Interstate 95. There is a grocery store, beer store, Walgreens, and a couple restaurants just 5-10 min. away and a 7-11 at the neighborhood entrance."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tent camping available near North East, Maryland?
Yes, tent camping is readily available near North East, Maryland. Elk Neck State Park Campground offers excellent tent camping options, particularly in the Miles Loop which features some sites with beautiful water views. Tent campers particularly appreciate sites 169 and 173 for their scenic vistas. The park provides clean bathhouses with hot water and well-maintained facilities for a comfortable camping experience. For those seeking a different tent camping experience, Tuckahoe State Park Campground is another great option with a more secluded feel and access to fishing and water trails perfect for kayaking adventures.
How far are North East, MD campgrounds from major cities?
North East, MD campgrounds offer a convenient escape from nearby major cities. Elk Neck State Park Campground is approximately 1 hour from Baltimore, 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, and about 2 hours from Washington DC. This makes it perfect for weekend getaways without extensive travel time. For those coming from northern cities, Susquehanna State Park Campground is similarly situated with easy access from urban centers. The town of North East itself is just about 15 minutes from Elk Neck State Park, offering convenient access to supplies and local attractions while maintaining a peaceful distance from big-city environments.
What campgrounds are available in North East, MD?
North East, Maryland and the surrounding area offer several quality campground options. Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area provides camping with basic amenities including water access and toilets in a natural setting. Woodlands Camping Resort near Elkton offers drive-in sites suitable for various camping styles including big rigs. Other nearby options include Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina, which features waterfront sites with boat access, and Cecil County Permaculture for a more rustic experience. The region has campgrounds to accommodate everything from tent camping to large RVs with full hookups.
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