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Camping near Hardesty, Maryland ranges from full-hookup RV parks to primitive tent sites, with options serving the Washington DC and Annapolis regions. The area features diverse camping styles from traditional tent sites to full RV hookups at locations like Greenbelt Park Campground and Cherry Hill Park. Within 30 miles, campers find numerous developed campgrounds offering both primitive and amenity-rich experiences. Several campgrounds provide cabin accommodations, particularly at Adventure Bound Washington DC in Lothian and Washington DC Capitol KOA in Millersville, which also offer tent and RV camping options with water and electrical connections.
Most developed campgrounds in the region operate seasonally with peak availability from April through October, though some remain open year-round. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when Washington DC tourism reaches its peak. Sites with full hookups typically fill fastest, particularly at the more developed facilities like Cherry Hill Park. Weather considerations include humid summers and occasional spring rainfall that can affect camping comfort. Road access to most campgrounds is suitable for standard vehicles, with several offering big-rig friendly sites. One camper noted, "The location is great to see things in the area, both Washington DC and many areas along the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis, Chesapeake Beach, Solomon's, etc."
Campers frequently mention the convenient proximity to major attractions as a primary benefit of staying in the region. The Washington DC Capitol KOA receives positive reviews for its family-friendly amenities including a pool, jumping pillow, and playground facilities. Several visitors have highlighted that Adventure Bound Washington DC has many long-term residents, creating a different atmosphere than typical vacation campgrounds. Water access represents another popular feature, with Sandy Point State Park offering tent camping near the Chesapeake Bay — making it one of the top campgrounds near Hardesty for those seeking waterfront sites. Reviews indicate varying levels of privacy between campgrounds, with sites at Cedarville State Forest providing more natural surroundings compared to the more developed commercial campgrounds. As one reviewer summarized about the Capitol KOA: "This is not a site for nature lovers but is perfect for kids. We had a site near the pool, outdoor chess set, jumping pillow and gaga ball pit."
"Metrorail is about 6 miles from campground, near University of Maryland."
"Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."
from $999 / night
Check Availability"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"The campsite is superb with walking trails, wildlife and the occasional overflying US Presidential Helicopter. Easily accessible from close by freeways, and charmingly peaceful"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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 a place for the dog to really exercise."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"We had a fantastic time our 1st time at #AdventureBoundCampingResort in Lothian, Maryland."
"This place is a good place to stay, the laundry room & showers are handy, the pool is large, & it's a 40 minute drive to the capital & the Smithsonian Mall or a 25 minute drive to the closest"
"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Based 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."
from $12 - $45 / night
Check Availability"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"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
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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.
GuideWhat a gem! We found this place as an alternative to staying in DC during 4th of July festivities. Nice spacious sites, cabins were super clean and smelled great! Did I mention they were air conditioned during the hotest week of the summer!
Bathrooms and showers were spotless.
Many things to see and do there. Historic property, big lake (no swimming), boating, fishing, hiking. There is an Art Center with juried displays for sale.
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.
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
TravelerFor $90 per night the WiFi should work better. Didn’t connect at all. Had to use the antenna pointed East to get local Baltimore news.
ScoutThis camp ground is like a resort with 2 pools mini golf splash pad and many other amenities
GuideThis park is top notch. The grounds are immaculate. The staff is friendly and helpful. They have a lovely gift shop. We were in the 400 sites and it was nice and shady. 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. This is my all time favorite park so far and I need to go back.
GuideBASE ACCESS REQUIRED!
Electric/Water/Sewer hookup sites for $56 a night! (2 night minimum) Which is a great full hookup price, even though it's gone up $6 since last year. Weekly and monthly pricing available as well.
The sites are neat, well maintained, level, and sunny with concrete pads and paved campground roads. Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance. Other base amenities include: commissary, gas station, bowling, BBQ, Dunkin', and Greek restaurants, and golf. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)
Note: in July it is very buggy - the biting flies are the worst. So bring bug spray or a screened in tent to eat in.
The downside: the reservation system is a major PITA. You have to download a PDF packet, fill it out, and EMAIL it in. When you get your confirmation, it doesn't include a specific site number. You get assigned one when they call you the week of your scheduled check-in for payment completion.
Don't miss out on: the water! My advice would be to reserve one of their boats at the same time you reserve your campsite. The water in this area is great - no jellyfish, low waves. You can SUP, kayak, pontoon boat. Whatever your preference. There are large flats of grasses - which you'd want to avoid with a motor but are so much fun to paddle over. Also check out the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge island. You can't go inland, but you can anchor off shore, jump in and wade around the shallows.
Also very driveable to an off-base movie theater, Baltimore, and Havre de Grace.
Campground options within 30 miles of Hardesty, Maryland range from rustic tent sites to full-amenity RV parks. The region sits in Maryland's coastal plain where summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with high humidity levels. Fall camping offers more comfortable conditions with average daytime temperatures of 65-75°F and reduced humidity. Sites can be muddy after rainfall, particularly in spring when the area averages 3-4 inches of precipitation monthly.
Hiking through forest habitat: Cedarville State Forest offers multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels. One visitor noted, "We hiked the brown trail and it was a nice walk. We have AT&T and had two bars pretty consistently." The forest contains several abandoned camp loops that make for interesting exploration opportunities.
Water activities on Chesapeake Bay: While primarily a day-use facility, Sandy Point State Park provides youth group camping facilities near its beaches. "My family and I have been coming to Sandy Point my entire life. It is a great little spot on the Chesapeake river. Our favorite thing to do is to fossil hunt for sharks teeth," shared one regular visitor who recommends avoiding August when "jellyfish take over with a vengeance."
Explore urban green spaces: Just 10 minutes from the Metro, Greenbelt Park Campground offers woodland hiking while providing easy access to Washington DC. As one camper explained, "The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods... 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."
Convenient DC access without city prices: Many campgrounds serve as affordable bases for exploring Washington DC. A camper at Washington DC Capitol KOA reported, "Sites were pretty close together but enough space to do your thing and lots of woods around for shade and hammocks. Showers were decent. You can hear some traffic noise. Over all very nice and convenient."
Family-oriented recreation: Campgrounds feature numerous activities for children. One visitor to Pohick Bay Campground noted, "They informed us that they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Despite proximity to urban areas, many campgrounds offer wildlife encounters. At Cedarville State Forest, one camper observed, "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates." Similarly, at Greenbelt Park Campground, a visitor mentioned, "While cooking dinner noticed a family of deer grazing close by, a great way to settle in for the evening."
Seasonal availability limitations: While some campgrounds operate year-round, many have restricted seasons. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area operates April 1 to October 30, with one camper noting, "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, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads."
Reservation requirements vary: Most campgrounds require advance booking through recreation.gov or their own reservation systems. At Greenbelt Park, "This is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online."
Long-term residents at some facilities: Adventure Bound Washington DC has numerous extended-stay campers. As one visitor observed, "It appears that most of the people here live full-time. Sites were very close. The site was part Gravel and mostly mud/grass. There was trash on site." Another camper noted, "60% were long term residents of the campground. Our sight was one of the few semi-isolated."
Kid-friendly amenities: Cherry Hill Park offers extensive recreation options. "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," explained one visitor.
Nature exploration programs: Several parks run educational activities for children. At Patapsco Valley State Park, "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."
Weather preparation: Summer heat and humidity can be challenging with children. Pack extra water, insect repellent and sun protection. At Cedarville State Forest, be prepared for "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers."
Site selection considerations: Many campgrounds have variable site conditions. At Pohick Bay Campground, "Sites are spacious and decently level (depends on the site I'm sure)." Check campground maps carefully before booking.
Utility connections: Several campgrounds offer partial or full hookups. When staying at Greenbelt Park Campground, note that "Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft. No hookups at any of the sites."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult entrances, particularly for larger rigs. At Adventure Bound Washington DC, "Do not try and come in after dark. Very tight and very dark." Similarly, at Cherry Hill Park, "We had a premium site for seven nights. The site was perfectly level with a fire ring, grill, picnic table and table with three chairs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Hardesty, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hardesty, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What parks are near Hardesty, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Hardesty, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Fort Dupont Park.
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