Dispersed camping near Oldtown, Maryland offers options beyond the developed state parks and national historical areas. The region sits at elevations between 500-1,500 feet in the eastern foothills of the Appalachians, creating varied terrain for camping. Late fall brings temperature swings from the 30s at night to the 60s during day, while summer can see sustained periods above 80°F with high humidity.
What to do
Hike through the Paw Paw Tunnel: Located at Paw Paw Tunnel Campground, this historic canal tunnel stretches nearly a mile. "Nice view of the Potomac and mountains. Close to the Paw Paw Tunnel towpath... Bring a rake- I've never seen so many black walnuts on the ground!" notes Robin at Paw Paw Tunnel Campground.
Paddle the Cacapon River: Camp Cacapon offers direct river access. One camper mentioned, "We brought our kayaks and got them on the river for some time. The scenery will take your breath away. I just fell in love with the place and will be back," according to Saskia H. at Camp Cacapon.
Fish at Middle Ridge Campground: The campground maintains stocked ponds a short drive from campsites. "Short drive down the mountain to get to the ponds but my husband and oldest son had a blast catching fish in their ponds!" reports Kayla M.
Explore the C&O Canal Trail: The historic towpath offers miles of flat terrain for walking or biking. "This is a 1 3/4 mile walk along the C&O Canal Trail to the outskirts of Cumberland. A fantastic museum is near that 1 3/4 mile point," says Roger W. at Spring Gap Campground.
What campers like
Wooded solitude at Green Ridge: Campers consistently praise the isolation of sites in this forest. "The forest is beautiful, the campsites are large and very spaced out, firewood is bountiful, the area feels very remote. From our campsite, we could not see or hear the next closest campsite," writes Benjamin L. at Green Ridge State Forest.
The simplicity of canal-side camping: Fifteen Mile Campground offers minimalist sites with basic amenities. "Open space in a pine forest, nothing but a picnic table and space. If you need it you better bring it," notes Britt at Fifteen Mile Campground.
Views from higher elevations: Several campgrounds sit on ridges overlooking valleys. At CUMBERLAND MD. CAMPGROUNDS, one camper mentioned: "Ended up staying 2 nights as the views were great. Flat spots with very little work to set up a class c... a great view of valley below."
Seasonal activities and programs: Some private campgrounds run regular events. Melissa C. at Little Orleans Campground noted, "Lots of weekend events and bingo at the camp store, friendly helpful staff! Great sites!"
What you should know
Cell service varies dramatically by location: Signal strength depends on elevation and proximity to towns. "Starlink was sketchy at best, Verizon had one bar and slightly usable, ATT was best with a couple of bars and ok speeds," reports Stephen H. at Middle Ridge Campground.
Road access limitations: Many forest roads require high-clearance vehicles. At Green Ridge State Forest, a camper warns, "All of the sites are primitive sites, and some require high clearance and 4 wheel drive in order to get to the site."
Reservation systems differ: State parks require advance booking while forest sites are often first-come. "You can't make a reservation in advance, you have to take a chance that there will be a site available," explains Benjamin L. about Green Ridge.
Seasonal closures affect facilities: Many campgrounds reduce services after October. "Bathrooms were likely removed for the season," noted a Roger W. during a November visit to Spring Gap.
Highway noise affects some sites: Despite rural settings, several campgrounds sit near highways. At Paw Paw Campground, a visitor reported "Close and loud" road noise.
Tips for camping with families
Easy access swimming: Rocky Gap State Park remains popular for its beach. "The beach area here is, by far, my favorite in the area," notes one reviewer, while another camper, Katie H., mentioned, "We love that the campground has their own beach so it's not over crowded with the public. Near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch."
Animal viewing opportunities: Some campgrounds feature farm animals. At Hidden Springs Campground, Jordan B. notes, "Swimming pool available and pond for fishing. Nice little store. Lots of pavilions for large family outings."
Tent camping field sites: For larger family gatherings, some campgrounds offer open field camping. "Field tent spaces have little cover, but have all the essentials as well as porta potties nearby," reports Gagandeep A. about Little Orleans Campground.
Glamping options: For families wanting more comfort, Camp Cacapon offers furnished tents. A visitor shared, "We stayed in two brand new, enormous glamping tents. Each tent had two comfy queen-size beds, a heater, a fan, and two lamps with USB ports."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Several campgrounds feature uneven terrain. One RVer at CUMBERLAND MD. CAMPGROUNDS reported, "Our site P1 is a full hook up pull through but it's really unlevel. We ran out of blocks trying to level on this site and were still off a bit."
Water pressure considerations: Some campgrounds have inconsistent utilities. Stephen H. at Middle Ridge Campground noted, "Water pressure was just a bit weak and used our water tank and pump during our stay. Best we could get for water pressure out of the hose was 25-20 psi."
Road navigation: The region's mountain roads create challenges for larger rigs. "The campground itself is gravel roads that were pretty tight gettin in and out of and fairly steep with trees on all sides. Made it in and out no issue taking it slow, but not sure I would try anything longer than about 36' fifth wheel or 34' travel trailer," cautions Stephen H.
Electric hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited at public campgrounds. Only private campgrounds like Hidden Springs and Middle Ridge reliably offer full hookups for RVs.
