Cabin rentals near Riderwood, Maryland offer convenient woodland accommodations in an area that experiences humid, subtropical summers and moderate winters with average annual rainfall of 44 inches. Located at elevations ranging from 500-700 feet, the region's diverse terrain supports deciduous forests that provide natural shade for most rustic cabin sites. Maryland state park cabins typically become available for reservation 11 months in advance with peak booking periods occurring January through March.
What to do
Turkey Point Lighthouse hike: 1.5-mile trail at Elk Neck State Park Campground provides scenic views of the Chesapeake Bay. "We hiked the Turkey Point Lighthouse trail a few miles outside of town, and it was a ton of fun with some cool rock scrambles. It hooks up with the AT going through the area if you want to extend the hike," reports one visitor.
Disc golf courses: Two 18-hole layouts at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground offer different terrain challenges. "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge."
Lakeside Trail: 8.5-mile loop surrounds Pinchot Lake with minimal elevation gain. "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."
Fishing access: Stocked ponds and river spots offer varied fishing environments within 30 minutes of Riderwood. "We caught a handful of bass and an absurd amount of bluegill from shore" at Gifford Pinchot, while another visitor notes Patapsco Valley offers "tons of wildlife, facilities, and amenities for you and your family" for river kayaking.
What campers like
Dark skies for stargazing: Cabins at Little Bennett Campground provide excellent night sky viewing. "Great night sky viewing as no lights whatsoever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings," explains one reviewer who appreciated the lack of light pollution.
Privacy between sites: Vegetation buffers create woodland separation at most cabin areas. "Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors" at Little Bennett, while Susquehanna State Park sites are described as having "a very secluded feel of anywhere we've camped."
Camp store honor system: After-hours access to essentials at Susquehanna State Park Campground provides convenience. "They also sell ice and firewood at the campstore AND there is an honor system with it available to you after the campstore hours. This is great so that you don't have to time things around when the campstore is open."
Recently renovated bathhouses: Several parks have updated shower facilities within walking distance of cabins. "The bathrooms have clearly been recently renovated and were up-to-date, clean and about as great as you can expect for a campsite," notes one Susquehanna visitor.
What you should know
Reservation timing requirements: Many cabin locations enforce strict check-in windows. "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," explains a Patapsco Valley State Park visitor.
Tent pad limitations: Sites without designated pads can challenge setup. "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," advises one camper.
Varied cabin amenities: Comfort levels differ significantly between properties. Washington DC/Capitol KOA cabins include basic furnishings while Merry Meadows offers more equipped units.
Firewood restrictions: Outside wood prohibited at most Maryland state parks. "Remember: no alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects. But the money goes toward the parks volunteer program."
Tips for camping with families
Adventure playgrounds: Multiple locations at Cherry Hill Park provide various play environments. "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."
Nature programs: Schedule-based activities for children at several locations. "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," reports a family camper.
Accessible fishing spots: Child-friendly water access points at many properties. "There is a little fishing pond there, which my husband and daughter enjoyed" at Susquehanna State Park, while Merry Meadows Recreation Farm offers "amazing playground" facilities near their cabin areas.
Weather preparation: Spring cabin stays often include significant rainfall. "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."
Tips from RVers
Power variability: Prepare for occasional outages in rustic cabin areas. "Trees falling on Park power lines caused power outage for hours" at Little Bennett, making backup lighting essential for cabin stays without generator access.
Seasonal water access: Some cabins have limited water service in colder months. "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," notes an Elk Neck visitor, highlighting the importance of checking seasonal utility status.
Camp store limitations: Stock basic supplies before arrival. "Not a garbage can to be found park wide! Dumpster at either end that's it. Camp sink says to not leave food in sink, where exactly are you supposed to throw it away?!?!" explains one frustrated camper at Gifford Pinchot.
Cellular connectivity: Signal strength varies significantly between cabin locations. "AT&T 5 MB/s without booster (1 bar), 8 MB/s with it (2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy" at Little Bennett, while other areas report better connectivity.
