4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Washington DC / Capitol KOA offers dedicated exercise areas for dogs, allowing pets at all campsites and cabin accommodations. The campground maintains a dog-friendly environment with multiple accommodation options including tent sites, RV spaces with full hookups, and cabins that permit pets. Most sites are graveled, with tent sites featuring real grass pads. The staff is typically helpful with pet-related questions and maintains clean facilities. The fenced dog area provides space for dogs to run and exercise, which many campgrounds in the area lack.
Camp Meade RV Park and Cherry Hill Park both welcome pets with clearly defined pet policies. Patapsco Valley State Park permits dogs in its camping areas while providing access to hiking trails where leashed pets can accompany their owners. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside designated exercise areas. Pet waste stations are commonly available throughout these facilities. Sites are generally well-maintained, though some campers note that Washington DC / Capitol KOA can have uneven terrain at certain sites, making it important to select carefully when traveling with pets. Swimming restrictions apply for dogs at most location pools, but several nearby areas offer water access options for pets needing cooling off during warmer months. The central location between Annapolis, Baltimore and DC provides convenient access to urban pet-friendly attractions, making these pet-friendly campgrounds near Pasadena a practical base for four-legged family members.
"We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"Camp site(Tent camping)
The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :) It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD.""Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
from $20 - $51 / night
"Though you are close to highways I don’t recall hearing and noise. I love that they have shuttles to DC., walking trails and a large dog park."
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"Pet friendly. Very quiet. I only gave it 4 stars because the camp sites are too close together. Fire pits were well designed, bathrooms were relatively clean."
"It may be close to suburbia (a neighborhood right through the trees) and convenient to major highways (literal minutes to I95), but you will feel like you are truly secluded in the woods."
from $19 - $27 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"My wife and I were trying to find an RV location near the Annapolis city dock for a boat show and found Pine Tree Associates."
"Camping fees include access to a large outdoor pool, an indoor pool and a hot tub. There is room for tenting and campers."
from $30 - $55 / night
"Because we went in the middle of the week, we had a lot of space to our self and open areas for our dog to play."
"We spent a week at Bay Shore Campground to explore Rock Hall, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. What stands out about this campground? The view! "
from $42 - $82 / night
"If you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well."
from $20 - $40 / night
TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
GuideYou just can't beat a pennsylvania park. This one is not an exception. Nice clean restroom, plenty of room. Now, what cost a star. Yes, it rained like hell. When we broke camp and go dump. The dump station was overflowing with sewer. Go to the guard shack to tell them, and find another site. None there. Can I go to an unused full hookup to dump? No! I would have to pay for the site. Two hours later, we found a place to dump for $10.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
RangerWe stayed at Redemption Springs to get relatively close to Baltimore without bringing our 30ft travel trailer into the city. Seth and the other gentlemen I spoke with were all extremely accommodating. Enjoyed learning about their approach to restorative farming and purchasing a variety of treats at the farm store. Beef, pork, chicken, seasonings, baked goods, and more. We booked on Hipcamp and recommend following his driving instructions. Our rig fit fine by tuhe main barn and they kept an eye on us going in and out to make sure we didn't have issues making any of the turns. Lots of farm life!
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
ScoutThe park is very well maintained, and the campsites have clean fire pits and cooking grills. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and well maintained, and my campsite was large enough to comfortably fit a 6-person tent and a canopy.
However, there were a few concerns during our stay. Despite the campground’s quiet hours policy starting at 10:00 PM, many campers continued to make noise well past that time. I did not notice any campground staff or maintenance personnel making rounds to enforce the quiet hours.
I also felt concerned about security. One of my neighboring campers, who was visiting from South Carolina, told me that his generator had been stolen during the night. He reported the theft to the police, and an official report was filed. Incidents like this made me feel unsafe while camping.
I recommend increasing staff or security patrols, especially during the evening and overnight hours, to enforce quiet hours and improve the safety and security of campers and their belongings. With better enforcement and security, Burke Lake Campground would provide an even better camping experience.
Campgrounds near Pasadena, Maryland offer varied terrain with elevations ranging from sea level along the Chesapeake Bay to slightly rolling inland areas. Most sites are within a 30-mile radius of downtown Pasadena, creating convenient access to both urban amenities and natural settings. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
Hiking adventures: Patapsco Valley State Park features over 70 miles of multi-use trails with varying difficulty levels. Take the Forest Glen Trail to access the Patapsco River. "You can also gain access to the Patapsco River by traveling down into the river valley along the Forest Glen Trail. This trail follows the Saw Mill Branch Stream and can connect with several trails to make for very interesting hiking adventures," notes Rachel S. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Eastern Neck Wildlife Sanctuary offers excellent bird watching opportunities just minutes from Bay Shore Campground. "We spent one morning walking the various trails at the Eastern Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, which is only 7 minutes away," shares Helen O. about her stay at Bay Shore Campground. The sanctuary is particularly known for winter waterfowl and bald eagle sightings.
Urban exploration: The central location makes day trips to Washington DC attractions simple. "This worked very well for us. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments. Our uber rides ranged from 20-45$ for a family of 5," explains Jennifer H. about her stay at Cherry Hill Park. Many campers use public transportation to avoid downtown parking challenges.
Natural playground areas: Many campgrounds incorporate natural elements into play spaces for children. "There is a 'natural' playground in the loop, and then if you drive down further to the park entrance, there is a large playground for the kids. I've attached photos from the 'natural playground' aka, large rocks and overturned trees. The kids loved it," shares Jennifer S. about Hollofield Area Campground.
Swimming options: Summer visitors appreciate water access for cooling off. "The water is warm though, but the sand is brown and rough," notes Shanna W. about Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping. While not ideal for all visitors, the park provides Chesapeake Bay access within a short drive from Pasadena.
Secure camping environments: Several campgrounds offer gated or monitored access. "You get what you pay for. This campground has so much to offer. We loved it... Gated, on-site camp store, on-site bus shuttle," describes Beth R. about Cherry Hill Park. Safety measures are particularly appreciated by family campers and those with valuable equipment.
Seasonal popularity impacts: Summer crowds can drastically change the camping experience. "Extremely overcrowded in the summer. The park closes daily very early as it hits capacity. The best times to go are winter, spring, and fall," advises Tony P. about Sandy Point State Park. Similar patterns affect most area campgrounds.
Tent site considerations: Many campgrounds have varied terrain that affects tent comfort. "The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground," explains Sean M. about his stay at Patapsco Valley State Park.
Bathroom facilities: Restroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds and can change seasonally. "Bath house was immaculate; by far the cleanest I have ever seen in a campground. Must have been recently renovated," mentions Jen V. about her experience at Susquehanna State Park Campground. Always bring backup toilet paper as supply issues occasionally occur.
Activity planning: Focus on campgrounds with multiple recreation options. "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," recommends Angel G. about Patapsco Valley State Park.
Site selection strategy: Request sites at the end of loops for more privacy. "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side," suggests Scott C. about Cherry Hill Park. End sites typically offer better buffer zones for active children.
Weather preparedness: Maryland's humid climate creates challenging conditions during summer. "Site was very shaded, and probably the most secluded feel of anywhere we've camped," notes Jen V. about Susquehanna State Park. Prioritize shaded sites and campgrounds with water access during hot months.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require careful setup due to uneven terrain. "We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down," explains Alexandra T. about her stay at Patapsco Valley State Park. Bring additional leveling blocks for Maryland's often sloped sites.
Hookup limitations: Water and electric availability varies widely between campgrounds. "We had electric and water, there were several dump stations at the campground. They are still waiting for approval from the state for the septic," reports Helen O. about Bay Shore Campground. Many dog friendly campgrounds near Pasadena have water and electric but limited full-hookup options.
Navigational awareness: Some campgrounds have access restrictions. "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 Travyl Couple about Hollofield Area Campground. Always research approach routes when driving larger RVs to avoid clearance issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Pasadena, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Pasadena, MD is Washington DC / Capitol KOA with a 3.9-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Pasadena, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 61 dog-friendly camping locations near Pasadena, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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