1 campground with availability this weekend
Tent campsites around Fallston, Maryland offer a mix of established state park sites and primitive camping options within a short driving distance. Patapsco Valley State Park, located approximately 20 miles west in Catonsville, features a dedicated tent camping area in its Hilton Area section with 12 basic tent sites plus walk-in options. Susquehannock State Park Campground, situated about 35 miles north in Pennsylvania, provides additional tent camping with scenic views overlooking the Susquehanna River.
The tent sites at Patapsco Valley State Park include crushed stone tent pads that may require extra padding for comfort, as noted by several visitors. Each site comes with a fire ring with cooking grate and picnic table, with centrally located bathhouses providing hot showers and toilets. Sites in the lower section of the campground can experience drainage issues during heavy rain. A camp host is available for assistance and sells firewood on-site. Most tent campgrounds in the region prohibit bringing outside firewood due to invasive species concerns. Seasonal availability typically runs from April through October.
Many tent campgrounds near Fallston provide easy access to hiking trails and natural attractions. Patapsco Valley State Park features numerous trails directly accessible from the campground, including the Forest Glen Trail which follows Saw Mill Branch Stream down to the Patapsco River. The park also includes large playgrounds that make it particularly suitable for families with children. For those seeking more secluded tent camping, Susquehannock State Park offers scenic hiking trails with river views. A camper noted, "There are some excellent views of the Susquehanna River and lots of long scenic hiking trails down to Deer Creek." Tent campers should note that most sites require reservations, particularly during peak summer weekends when availability becomes limited.
"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."
"There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side."
from $20 - $51 / night
"Potable water is available in several places on each loop. The bathhouses are rebuilt recently and are very nice. Some walk in tent sites."
"This is Organized Group Tenting Only."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
from $40 - $45 / night
"There are two main beaches and there are picnic tables all over the park. There’s a popular boat launch amd small marina/bait store.
Get there early on weekends and holidays.""There are wonderful views of the water and swimming at the beach, pavilions for social gatherings, showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean, and room for backpacking, hiking, picnicking,"
from $6 / night
"This is a good free state forest with maybe 10 (or less) designated tent-camping sites, and designated areas for deer hunting."
"Spent a weekend in BO1, spacious campsite, grill, picnic table, firepit, parking for 2-3 cars plus overflow parking. Firewood was easy to get and was plenty of it."
from $25 / night
"Campgrounds are spaced out large spaces for multiple tents, camping cost $25 a night flat rate, for up to 6 days. Campground will refund you if rain prevents your stay or allow you to rebook."
from $23 / night
"Inexpensive $15 a night, but you only get picnic table and fire ring. No hook ups. Great children's pond for 12 and under. Brandywine creek and Chambers Lake are there too. Great playground."
"We loved the lake campground. My kids are age 3-12. There’s running water available, porta potties are very clean and don’t smell and are lit with a street lamp. Very quiet at night."
from $15 - $50 / night
from $22 - $100 / night
TravelerCountry Acres is a lovely, well maintained campground. Sites are level and bath house facilities clean and modern. Friendly staff in the office. Dog friendly. Local to all the Lancaster attractions. A complimentary farmland tour is offered by bus and it was great. They take you out into an area of Amish farms and shops and make a stop at 2 of these. The fresh Amish pretzels are amazing!
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
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.
GuideWe booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
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.
ScoutThe advertisements for Olde Mill Campground were disingenuous. The campsite was 20 yards from a roller coaster. The NOISE of the roller coaster and children on it screaming was as relentless and unnerving as any train we have ever slept near. There was no quiet until almost midnight. The “pull-through” site left my truck almost in the road and our 25’ Airstream slightly over the road on the backside. The site was not level. The sites were close enough to hear a neighbor’s snoring.
GuideWe stayed here to go to the Hershey RV show—about 55 min drive. Right in the center of Amish country. Campground is adults only. It was very clean. The bathrooms were very clean with great water pressure. The roads are tight for getting into sites. Site 5 was not level side to side. We met great people there.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
Tent campsites near Fallston, Maryland include primitive and established options within Maryland and neighboring Pennsylvania. The region features mixed hardwood forests with elevations between 300-600 feet and mild mid-Atlantic weather patterns. Summer camping temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with higher humidity levels from June through August making waterproof tent gear essential.
Hiking accessible trails: Forest Glen Trail at Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area connects directly to additional trail networks. A camper notes, "There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park. The nature center was closed when we visited, but the kids still enjoyed the sensory trail and playground."
Kayaking on nearby waters: Roland Lake provides paddling opportunities close to camping areas. One visitor shared, "Roland Lake in Baltimore County is a great place to kayak on the Patapsco River. Tons of wildlife, facilities, and amenities for you and your family."
Wildlife observation: Multiple camping locations offer bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities. At Hibernia County Park, visitors appreciate the natural setting: "Quiet. Occasional planned activities. Rented pavilions for reunions, birthdays, seasonal gatherings, etc."
Spacious, private sites: Tent sites at Blackbird State Forest Campground receive positive reviews for their layout. "Only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room, very much enjoyed our stay and will return! No running water - only port a potties but they were clean."
Cabin alternatives: Beyond standard tent camping, some parks offer cabin options. A camper at Patapsco Valley State Park mentions, "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely 'rough it.'"
Water features: Camping locations with creeks, lakes, or river access rank highly with visitors. At Mill Creek Camping Area, a reviewer appreciated the waterside setting: "Campsite for where we stayed is down by the creek making for a cooler camping experience and love the sound of water flowing at night."
Weekend-only operations: Some campgrounds have limited operational schedules. Hibernia County Park has specific timing restrictions: "This campground is only open on the weekends, in season. Sites can be reserved online, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration."
Weather considerations: Rain can significantly impact the camping experience at certain sites. At Patapsco Valley, a camper observed: "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. 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."
Check-in timing: Parks maintain specific entry policies. As one camper mentioned about Patapsco Valley, "This was also the first time we have ever had to wait till exactly 3pm to check in. So if you arrive early expect to wait until 3."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature child-friendly recreation areas. A visitor to Patapsco Valley State Park shared: "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. It's the perfect little getaway from the city for camping, fishing and hiking."
Stroller-friendly assessment: Not all trails accommodate strollers or wheeled equipment. A parent warned: "Be aware that neither the hiking trails or playground are stroller friendly."
Kid-friendly fishing: Hibernia County Park offers specialized fishing opportunities for younger anglers. A family camper noted, "The children's pond is a short ways away for well stocked fishing," and another mentioned it's "Great for children's pond for 12 and under."
Hookup limitations: Most tent-focused campgrounds have minimal RV amenities. At Susquehannock State Park Campground, "Two loops. One has a few sites with electric and some cabins. Potable water is available in several places on each loop."
Creative parking: Despite appearances, some tent-focused areas can accommodate smaller RVs with planning. A camper at Hibernia County Park explained: "Though at first glance the sites don't look big enough to house an RV, there are a few sites that will, including #3, #17 & #18 and plenty of sites will fit a small RV or pop up camper."
Water management: Limited water access requires preparation. An RV camper at Hibernia advised: "There are NO HOOKUPS, and water is not easy to come by if you are in an RV. If you are coming in an RV, you should come with a full water tank."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fallston, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fallston, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Fallston, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Fallston, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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