Camping cabins near Parkville, Maryland offer convenient access to nearby fishing spots, hiking trails and recreation areas. Most locations sit within 45 minutes of downtown Baltimore, with elevations ranging from 300-500 feet above sea level in the surrounding Piedmont region. Winter cabin camping options are more limited than summer availability, with temperatures typically ranging from 25-45°F between December and February.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer on-site fishing ponds or lake access where anglers can catch species like bass and bluegill. At Codorus State Park Campground, "There is a little fishing pond there, which my husband and daughter enjoyed. We hiked back to the campground from here, which was a nice easy-to-moderate trail."
Hiking trails: From short family walks to longer forest explorations, trail networks connect many campgrounds to scenic areas. The Lakeside Trail at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground provides excellent lake views. One visitor shared: "I took an early morning hike on the 8.5 mile Lakeside Trail that goes around the lake and it was really awesome to see the lake from all different angles."
Nature observation: Wildlife viewing opportunities abound at many cabin camping locations. At Elk Neck State Park Campground, campers frequently spot native wildlife. One visitor noted: "We saw bald eagles and great blue heron."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many cabin campers appreciate well-maintained amenities, particularly bathhouses. At Susquehanna State Park Campground, "Bath house was immaculate; by far the cleanest I have ever seen in a campground. Must have been recently renovated."
Children's amenities: Family-focused features rank high on camper satisfaction lists. Merry Meadows Recreation Farm gets particular praise for its child-friendly facilities. According to one camper: "This campground has lots to offer they have upgraded any of the activities such as miniature golf and the pool area looks great."
Proximity to attractions: The convenience of nearby towns and attractions appeals to many cabin campers. For those wanting to explore Washington DC, Cherry Hill Park offers excellent access. As one visitor explained: "This is a great stop to take the kids to visit the city. Easy access and well laid out sites. They have a bus stop for metro service to the city, but we took the 20 minute drive."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin rentals require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. For full-hookup sites, specific details matter. At Elk Neck State Park Campground, "In the full hook up loop pay close attention to the lengths specified. The actual pads are fairly level but some of the driveways to them are very sloped. Long rigs will have issues in a few of the sites."
Site variations: Cabin sites vary significantly in privacy, amenities and proximity to facilities. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area, "The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table. The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents."
Payment options: Some locations require cash payment for certain services. One visitor to Merry Meadows Recreation Farm noted: "One of the complaints was they work on cash. Yeah, I knows it's not popular because most of us live in a plastic dominated world. I read it in advance and I just made sure we had some with us."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose cabins near play facilities if traveling with young children. At Susquehanna State Park Campground, "Short walk to bathhouse, through the woods behind us. There were also several, very private, 'walk-up' type sites for tents. Deer Creek day-use area was nice; had a big playground and a few pavilions."
Swimming options: Not all water features allow swimming, so verify before promising water play to children. One visitor to Ramblin' Pines shared: "The camground offers a lot for the money. There's a pond for fishing, a pool for swimming and a little general store for all your needs, the kids loved the bounce pillow."
Multiple activities: Look for cabins at campgrounds with varied recreation options. At Washington DC/Capitol KOA, "They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc). If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Many cabin locations also accommodate RVs with varying levels of services. Cherry Hill Park receives praise for its setup: "Our site was a level pull-thru site with picnic table on a paver patio, iron table and chairs, clean gravel surface, grill, and fire pit."
Access considerations: Entry roads can present challenges for larger rigs. Patapsco Valley State Park requires careful navigation: "We missed the entrance and had to turn around (only reason I took off 1 star). Friends who were camping with us had the same problem."
Winter operations: Some locations offer year-round camping with winter utilities. At Elk Neck State Park Campground, one visitor noted: "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."
