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Camping near Ridgely, MD
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Campgrounds near Ridgely, Maryland range from tent-only wooded sites to full-hookup RV camping and cabin rentals across Maryland's Eastern Shore region. Tuckahoe State Park Campground, located approximately 5 miles from Ridgely, serves as a central camping hub with accommodations for tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping options. The park features wooded sites with varying levels of privacy and access to Lake Tuckahoe. Nearby Martinak State Park Campground in Denton offers similar mixed-use camping experiences with waterfront access along the Choptank River. Most established campgrounds in the area maintain electric hookups, drinking water stations, and modern bathhouses while preserving the region's natural character. The Ridgely area camping options cater to different preferences, with both family-friendly campgrounds and more secluded campsites available throughout the Eastern Shore.
Seasonal considerations affect campground operations throughout the area, with most facilities operating from March through November. Tuckahoe and Martinak State Parks typically close during winter months, while some private campgrounds like Holiday Park in Greensboro remain open with limited services. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront locations fill quickly. The region's flat terrain makes most campgrounds accessible without specialized vehicles, though some sites may become muddy after rain. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the developed campgrounds. A visitor noted, "Tuckahoe is a hidden gem on Maryland's mid-Eastern Shore region. With many of your standard amenities and a quiet atmosphere, it was a great spot for my first time camping with my kids."
The Eastern Shore camping experience centers around water activities and wildlife viewing. Campers consistently mention kayaking opportunities on Tuckahoe Lake and Creek as highlights of their stay. "Tuckahoe State Park is tucked away onto the Eastern Shore of Maryland, close to the Chesapeake Bay. While I was only there for one chilly April night, my partner and I were looking forward to kayaking along the lake and creek," shared one reviewer. Fishing access receives positive mentions across multiple campgrounds, with Martinak State Park earning particular praise for its fishing opportunities. Birdwatching is frequently cited as an enjoyable activity, with several reviews noting the diverse bird species visible from campsites. Most developed campgrounds in the region feature playgrounds and hiking trails, though the terrain is generally flat rather than challenging. Proximity to small Eastern Shore towns provides convenient access to supplies while maintaining a rural camping atmosphere.
Best Campgrounds near Ridgely (78)
1. Tuckahoe State Park Campground
"Tuckahoe State Park is tucked away onto the Eastern Shore of Maryland, close to the Chesapeake Bay. It features every kind of camping you can imagine."
"Those can be found at the campground entrance. Each loop has a wood shed and clean, well-appointed bathhouse. There are water pumps along the road for refills."
from $21 - $70 / night
Check Availability2. Martinak State Park Campground
"Though I live in Texas now, Maryland will always be home for me. Whenever I get the chance to head back, I almost make sure to check out some of the local fishing spots."
"Park is that the Electric loop (B) has all of the sites on the outside of the drive loop so you are not looking across the road at other campers."
from $18 - $77 / night
Check Availability3. Killens Pond State Park Campground
"The trail around the lake was awesome with some slight inclines but mostly flat. There were short spurs to scenic spots of the pond. Total walked was 4 miles."
"I’d prefer to be further away from each other campsite, which was only like ten or fifteen feet. But otherwise, the primitive campsites were very wooded and nice!"
from $27 - $103 / night
Check Availability4. Holiday Park Campground
from $49 - $57 / night
Check Availability5. Elk Neck State Park Campground
"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability6. G & R Campground
"There is a smell due to being next to a chicken or animal farm; however, after a few minutes outside, the smell goes away."
7. Bay Shore Campground
"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! "
"We spent one morning walking the various trails at the Eastern Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, which is only 7 minutes away. Campground also close to the restaurants in Rock Hall for seafood. "
from $42 - $82 / night
Check Availability8. Adventures Await Retreat
"Was close to casino only like 7 min drive and shopping everywhere was a weekend full of busy even while it rained."
"We found this place by accident as us and several friends planned on attending the 45th Annual June Jam in Houston and wanted somewhere close to stay. "
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability9. Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area
"I would LOVE this area to be opened for public primitive camping, but I do not see this occurring in the near future."
from $12 / night
Check Availability10. Cape Henlopen State Park Campground
"My group was there, on two adjacent sites, from Sunday to Tuesday, in early June. The weather could not have been more ideal! We were on sites G12 and G13, which were both really large."
"There is also a section of walk-in tent sites, each with 1 parking spot semi close by. (Bring a wagon if you stay at one of these)."
from $35 - $105 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 37 min from Dover, DE
- 57 min from Salisbury, MD
- 1 hr 5 min from Baltimore, MD
- 1 hr 52 min from Lexington Park, MD
Recent Camping Photos near Ridgely, MD
179 Photos of 78 Ridgely Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tuckahoe State Park Campground
Martinak State Park Campground
Killens Pond State Park Campground
G & R Campground
Adventures await retreatC
Adventures Await Retreat
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
Redden State Forest Campground
Huck and Buck FarmA
Blackbird State Forest Campground
Deep Branch Family Campground
Blackwater Snakehead CampsiteL
Recent Reviews near Ridgely, MD
592 Reviews of 78 Ridgely Campgrounds
christian G.
GuideDelaware Seashore State Park Campground
Fin beach trip
Pretty easy camping trip, plenty of room to set up camp. Level spots. We stayed on south inlet campground. They have small camp store multiple laundry and bath houses. Great stay if you enjoy fishing, as. You can fish the inlet at the campground. They have a very nice playground for kids as well! Only negative is no camp fires allowed, they do have a community area you can have a camp fires allowed. Also no wifi
- JasonGuide
Annapolis MWR Academy RV/Campground
Great spot for Retirees/Active
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. 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.
- HHenryScout
Cape Henlopen State Park Campground
Cape Henlopen DE
Great place. Close to beach. No septic hookup
- SSean D.
TravelerCampsites at Watkins Regional Park
Excellent choice for a Washington visit or local getaway
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. 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.
TaylorScoutYogi Bear's Jellystone Park At Delaware Beaches
Yearly goers
Love it every year . We g for mother's Day. And the schedule for the events they do during even just the weekend make for fun filled hassle free weekend
Mary S.ScoutLums Pond State Park Campground
Lums Pond campground
First time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
Patel D.TravelerBig Oaks Campground
⚠️ Think Twice Before Booking— Our Family Felt Targeted and Intimidated
I am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied consistently to every child, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background. Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground. If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
- Patel D.Traveler
Big Oaks Campground
⚠️ Think Twice Before Booking - Our Family Felt Targeted and Intimidated.
I am writing this review because I genuinely want to warn other families before they book this campground. What should have been a relaxing camping trip turned into an extremely upsetting experience for our family. From the beginning, we felt singled out and unwelcome. We arrived at our campsite and then went to the office. We did not know that the campground required every guest to go to the office before going to their site. This was an honest misunderstanding. Instead of simply explaining the rule and moving on, the situation became unnecessarily confrontational, and we felt like the staff was looking for reasons to have an issue with us. What was especially upsetting was how our children were treated. Our children were riding scooters and were stopped and told that scooters were not allowed. We were extremely confused because we could clearly see much younger children riding/driving around the campground. Our 14-year-old was not allowed to do so, while we observed significantly younger white children being allowed to ride. What made this even worse was**the way our children were spoken to. They came running back to us scared and intimidated by the interaction. As parents, that was extremely upsetting to see. There is a huge difference between calmly explaining a campground rule to a child and speaking to a child in a way that makes them feel frightened. If there is a rule that scooters are not allowed, then the rule should be applied**consistently to every child**, regardless of age or background. What we witnessed did not feel consistent. As the experience continued, we felt increasingly targeted. We were left with the strong impression that they did not want our family there. At one point, it honestly felt like they were trying to find reasons to get rid of us, which made us question whether the campground had overbooked and was looking for a way to push us out. We also had a very concerning experience regarding payment. We were forced to pay in cash and were not provided with a receipt. As paying guests, we found this extremely troubling and unprofessional. The entire experience left our family feeling uncomfortable, intimidated, and unwelcome. Camping with children should be about relaxing, enjoying the outdoors, and making good memories—not having your children come running back to you because they are scared of how an adult spoke to them. I cannot speak to anyone else's intentions, but**based on what we personally experienced and witnessed, we felt that our family was being treated differently because of our background.** Seeing younger white children being allowed to do something that our children were stopped from doing made the situation even more concerning.**I strongly recommend that families think twice before booking this campground.** If you do decide to stay, make sure you understand every rule before arriving, document your interactions, and keep proof of every payment. We are sharing this review because other families deserve to know what our experience was like before spending their money and vacation time here. No family should leave a campground feeling intimidated, targeted, or unwelcome.
Guide to Ridgely
Campgrounds near Ridgely, Maryland offer diverse outdoor experiences within a 30-mile radius of this Eastern Shore town. Most campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations from March through November, with limited winter availability. While the area doesn't feature dramatic elevation changes, campers find varied ecosystems from forested settings to waterfront locations along the Chesapeake Bay tributaries.
What to do
Kayaking and water sports: At Martinak State Park Campground, waterfront access provides excellent kayaking opportunities. "Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports. No real hiking trails. Overall small quiet campground," notes Laura M. The park's river access supports various paddle craft without the crowds found at larger facilities.
Nature programs and education: Educational activities for children are available at several parks. Trap Pond State Park Campground offers structured environmental programs. "There is a small camper store/office that closed shortly after our arrival... If you have kiddos, try and get a site in Loop A – there is a nice and educational play area (plus a game I'd never heard of– Gaga ball). There is an additional playground in the day-use area, plus a volleyball net. There is also a nature center," shares Lee D.
Hiking and biking: Trails vary from short loops to more extensive systems. "Nice spread out camp sites with power hookup," mentions Perry A. about Tuckahoe State Park. At Trap Pond, one camper appreciated "Bike rentals are free (donations accepted), there are several hiking/biking/horse trails, disc golf, and canoe/kayak/peddle boat rentals (in season)."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area offers excellent wildlife observation. "This is beautiful NRMA and has thick serene woods. Oftentimes people are found taking engagement, wedding, and graduation pictures in this beautiful landscape," reports Maya S. Bird watching opportunities are abundant throughout the region's waterways.
Quiet atmosphere: Campers consistently mention the peaceful environment at most area campgrounds. "Despite being booked for the Memorial Day weekend, this campground was quaint and very quiet. There was a creek behind our site, playgrounds, hiking trails, and boat rentals available within a short walk," shares Regina C. about her experience.
Spacious sites: Bay Shore Campground (formerly Ellendale) provides well-spaced sites with scenic views. "If you enjoy beautiful sunsets, seeing bald eagles every day, having a nice breeze, not too buggy, well kept campground this is the place to go," according to Lisa V. The campground's waterfront location creates natural separation between camping areas.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during summer months. For holiday weekends, plan even further ahead. "Tuckahoe offers two loops: a tent/cabin site, and an electric site for RVs. The sites are well maintained... Despite being booked for the Memorial Day weekend, this campground was quaint and very quiet," notes Regina C.
Bathhouse conditions: Facility quality varies considerably between parks. G & R Campground offers basic amenities. "The bathhouse had the same dirt on the floor for 3 days. There are many gorgeous lots available. Please ask to not be near the monthly campers. We did not use the pool but it was beautiful looking," advises Mary B. Other campers mention clean facilities at state parks.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies throughout the region. "Quiet state park with limited cell reception. Truly off the map camping," observes Regina C. Many campgrounds recommend downloading maps or information before arrival as service can be unreliable.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Consider site location relative to play areas. "The campground has a small store on site that sells general campground supplies. If you're looking for activities, there are 8 camper cabins, 4 on each loop. There are beds for 4 or 6 people, and the cabins have air conditioning, a ceiling fan and electricity," notes a visitor to Tuckahoe.
Water activities for children: Killens Pond State Park Campground includes additional water features. "My son absolutely loved this place. There's anything and everything you could think of available to keep everyone busy. A water park, volley ball field, playgrounds, amphitheater, nature center, nature trails, and boat rentals at the lake," shares Fransheska A.
Safety considerations: Most campgrounds feature regular ranger patrols. "Cell service (T-Mobile) was spotty at times, bathhouses were fine, and the ranger was on patrol regularly. We felt very safe!" notes Shanna S. about Martinak State Park. Parents appreciate the security at state-managed facilities.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric services are standard at most area campgrounds, but full hookups are limited. "Campsites and bathrooms are clean. Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports. No real hiking trails. Overall small quiet campground," explains Laura M. about Martinak State Park.
Pad and site considerations: RVers should confirm site dimensions before booking. "We took out 1st trip to Tuckahoe over the 4th of July weekend. We really liked the park, but beware, the sites can be small! I watched people with 25+ footers struggle to back into the sites," cautions Buck P.
Seasonal limitations: Water access points may close periodically for maintenance. "August 1, 2021, the boat ramp will close for a year; that will likely diminish the appeal of this park for those who want to get out on the river for fishing or boating," advises Jean C. about Martinak State Park. Many facilities undergo periodic renovations affecting specific amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ridgely, MD?
What camping is available near Ridgely, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ridgely, MD offers a wide range of camping options, with 78 campgrounds and RV parks near Ridgely, MD and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Ridgely, MD?
Which is the most popular campground near Ridgely, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ridgely, MD is Tuckahoe State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ridgely, MD?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ridgely, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Ridgely, MD.
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