16 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent camping near Conowingo, Maryland provides access to several wooded campgrounds within a short drive. Susquehannock State Park Campground, located just across the Pennsylvania border in Drumore, offers walk-in tent sites with scenic views of the Susquehanna River. Mill Creek Camping Area in Lancaster County features tent-only sites situated along a creek, providing a cooler camping experience with the soothing sounds of flowing water. These primitive tent camping options serve as convenient bases for exploring the Conowingo Dam area, known for eagle watching and outdoor recreation.
Most tent campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and access to potable water. Susquehannock State Park features recently renovated bathhouses and several potable water stations throughout its camping loops. At Mill Creek, tent sites cost $25 per night with a flat rate for up to six days. The camping season typically runs from spring through fall, with most facilities closing for winter. Campers should note that lower elevation sites near water can become soggy after rainfall, particularly at Patapsco Valley State Park's Hilton Area, where the lower loop sites experience drainage issues during storms.
The tent camping experience around Conowingo offers varied terrain and natural features. Susquehannock State Park provides access to scenic hiking trails leading to the Susquehanna River and Deer Creek, with opportunities to spot eagles near Conowingo Dam. According to reviews, the park offers "lots of long scenic hiking trails" and "a great bike trail to the Conowingo dam which is a nice place to visit, and a great place to see lots of eagles." Mill Creek campsites are positioned along the water, with one camper noting they "love the sound of water flowing at night." Backcountry tent camping options are limited, but the established campgrounds provide sufficient wooded settings for those seeking a natural experience without venturing too far from civilization.
"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."
from $28 - $72 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Terrific space for exploring"
"well marked trails great for hiking. pet friendly! we love walking here with our dog. there are even a few great spots to get a small creek swim in! It also has a greag picnic area with grills."
from $57 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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,"
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!
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.
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.
ScoutThe campground is in excellent condition. The facilities are top notch. The excellence and care of the campground is evident. The 4 stars is only due to the road noise and many of the sites are on top of each other. You feel like your neighbor is at your camp fire.
TravelerThere was no hot water in the showers. There are no dog poo stations. There is a dumpster marked “STAFF ONLY”. It’s nice they have a place to stuff the staff!
TravelerOMG! Next to busy interstate, railroad tracks and shooting range. Way to much for me!
ScoutFirst 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.
Tent camping near Conowingo, Maryland offers primitive sites within an hour's drive of the Susquehanna River. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from April through October, with closure during winter months when temperatures drop below freezing. The area features both wooded campsites and waterfront options at elevations ranging from 300-800 feet above sea level.
Eagle watching at Conowingo Dam: Visit Blackbird State Forest Campground where campers report the area is "super pretty" with "plenty of hiking trails in the state forest, complete with mushrooms, and deer-hunting-stands." The campground features spacious sites that are "very spaced apart" providing good privacy.
Waterfront activities: Hibernia County Park offers a lake for fishing and recreation. One visitor notes that "the lake is about a 3 minute hike down the clearly marked trails" and the park includes "a short ways away for well stocked fishing" at the children's pond.
Hiking trail exploration: Ridley Creek State Park features "well marked trails great for hiking" with "a few great spots to get a small creek swim in." Multiple reviewers mention the varied terrain with one noting they "had the best time here hiking up and down the mini mountains. The water was clear and beautiful."
Private, spacious campsites: Campers at Blackbird State Forest appreciate that "only 8 sites in the campground, very spaced apart. Each site has lots of room." Another mentions "each site has a fire pit, a grill, and two tables with a decent amount of space for tents."
Water features: Mill Creek Camping Area receives praise for its creek-side camping: "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." The flat rate of $25 per night for up to 6 days makes it budget-friendly.
Family-friendly facilities: Hibernia County Park campers appreciate the "fantastic weekend with family" atmosphere and the "super peaceful" lake. One reviewer mentioned "my kids are age 3-12" and found the "running water available, porta potties are very clean and don't smell and are lit with a street lamp."
Seasonal restrictions: Most campgrounds operate from April through October. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area is open "April 1 to October 30" according to their information.
Weather considerations: Lower elevation sites can flood during heavy rain. One camper at Patapsco noted "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."
Trail traffic: At Mill Creek, "hikers take any trail instead of marked trails regardless of families camping in a private areas." Another camper mentioned "there are lots of hikes, joggers, and people expecting you not to be camping. I was woke up every morning by people walking through the site."
Reservation policies: Some parks require advance booking while others offer first-come, first-served options. At Hibernia County Park, "sites can be reserved on line, by phone, or by 'first come, first served' self-registration."
Playground access: Sandy Point State Park offers youth group camping with family-friendly beaches. A visitor notes it has "pavilions for social gatherings, showers and bathrooms that are kept pretty very clean."
Kid-friendly activities: Patapsco Valley State Park is "possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center."
Cabin options: For families wanting more comfort, Patapsco Valley offers "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.'"
Fishing opportunities: Hibernia County Park features a children's pond that is "well stocked" and easily accessible, making it ideal for young anglers.
Site limitations: Most primitive camping areas have size restrictions. At Susquehannock State Park Campground, "one loop has a few sites with electric and some cabins" but many sites are walk-in tent areas.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at several campgrounds. One RVer at Hibernia County Park noted the sites "aren't level, but nothing a little creative positioning can't fix."
Water and hookup access: Susquehannock State Park Campground provides "potable water is available in several places on each loop" according to campers, though most sites lack full hookups.
Limited dump stations: Plan your waste management carefully as most campgrounds in the area lack dump stations. For Hibernia County Park, a reviewer warns "there is NO DUMP STATION. There are a few nearby campgrounds that will let you dump for a fee."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Conowingo, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Conowingo, MD is Susquehannock State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Conowingo, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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