Camping opportunities near Owings Mills, Maryland include several state and county parks within a 30-mile radius. The region features rolling Piedmont terrain with elevations between 300-500 feet and experiences humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F while winter camping often means freezing nights from December through February.
What to do
Hike to Turkey Point Lighthouse: At Elk Neck State Park, the lighthouse trail offers scenic Chesapeake Bay views. "The Turkey Point Lighthouse is nearby... There are views of the Elk River from many sites," notes Laure D., while Jalissa adds, "The lighthouse trail is a must. It is about a five minute drive to get to the trail though, but is worth it!"
Explore historic sites: Visit nearby Ellicott City from Patapsco Valley State Park-Hollofield Area. "You can also bike/drive to nearby Ellicott city which has a charming downtown area," recommends one camper. Another mentions, "This is part of a super large park that runs 32 miles along the Patapsco River. It has 8 recreation areas."
Fishing and boating: Codorus State Park offers water recreation options. "The lake is beautiful and the trail around the lake is nice," writes Dawn T. Another camper shares, "We drove to the public boat launch and rented a pontoon to take on the water. The lake is large and fun to explore in the boat."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Merry Meadows Recreation Farm offers well-separated camping areas. "Wooded sites, open sites, tent sites. All great!" notes Amy R., while another camper explains, "The campground is spacious, scattered throughout the woods. The RV sites are comfortable with all the amenities."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathhouses. At Little Bennett Campground, "Toilet/shower facility very clean," reports one reviewer. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," notes Ray & Terri F.
Convenient DC access: Camp near the nation's capital. "This is a great park for day-tripping with a very convenient location," shares one Hollofield Area visitor. At Greenbelt Park Campground, a camper explains, "The other great thing about it that you can spend entire days at the always-free Smithsonian museums and still fall asleep in the woods."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking. "You can only check in between 2 and 4!" notes a Ramblin' Pines visitor, while another mentions, "Cost is $20/night, must reserve on recreation.gov, and you can do that when you arrive and pick a site."
Tent site challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult terrain for tent stakes. At Elk Neck State Park, "The pad for pitching tents seemed to have poured concrete a few inches down, making it tough to stake anything down," reports Kate J.
Seasonal operations: Check operating dates before planning trips. Most state parks operate from April through October, while private campgrounds like Ramblin' Pines operate year-round. "We stayed here for 2 nights in July 2017. The site we originally picked was advertised as 'partially shaded' but when we got there we found one small tree per site in a grass field," reports a Codorus camper.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds offer specialized activities for children. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," shares Angel G.
Pet exercise areas: For pet-friendly camping near Owings Mills, Maryland, look for designated spaces. "We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time. 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," explains Stephanie H.
Swimming options: Check water access policies before booking. "There is no swimming allowed in the lake but there is a pool located at the park, there is no extra cost to use the pool if you are at the campground," notes Catherine H. about Codorus State Park.
Tips from RVers
Bridge clearance: Watch for low clearances when driving larger vehicles. "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)," warns a reviewer about Patapsco Valley.
Site leveling: Select sites carefully based on terrain. At Little Bennett, one RVer notes, "Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back."
Urban camping considerations: When staying near cities, expect different camping experiences. Cherry Hill Park visitor Beth R. explains, "You get what you pay for. This campground has so much to offer," listing amenities like "50 amp hook-up, water, sewer, playground, mini golf, swimming pool, hot tub."
