Best Tent Camping near North Potomac, MD
Tent campsites near North Potomac, Maryland include several options along the Potomac River and within nearby state parks. Marsden Tract Group Campsite in the George Washington Memorial Parkway offers tent-only camping with hike-in and walk-in access. Sky Meadows State Park Campground, though slightly farther away in Virginia, provides backcountry tent camping with established sites about a mile from the parking area.
Most primitive tent campgrounds in the region require campers to pack in their own water or use non-potable sources that need treatment. The C&O Canal National Historical Park offers multiple hiker-biker campsites with basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets or portable facilities. Tent pads vary from crushed stone at Patapsco Valley State Park to pea gravel at Sky Meadows. Many sites along the Potomac River feature flat terrain but limited privacy from the C&O towpath, which sees regular bicycle and pedestrian traffic. A review mentioned, "There aren't many sites and no 'park' or ranger station. You have to park on the road and walk about 75 feet to your site."
Tent campers at Antietam Creek Campground enjoy direct access to the Potomac River with each site featuring a fire ring, grill, and picnic table. The walk-in nature of these sites creates a more secluded experience despite proximity to trails. At Sky Meadows, the backcountry tent camping area offers greater separation between sites, with one camper noting that "the hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis." Seasonal considerations include potential mud during rainy periods, especially at lower elevation sites. Swains Lock provides tent camping with river views, though its accessibility means it can become crowded on weekends. Most tent-only areas require campers to pack out all trash, as collection facilities are limited or non-existent.
