Best Tent Camping near St. Michaels, MD
St. Michaels, Maryland offers several tent camping options in the surrounding Chesapeake Bay region. Sandy Point State Park Youth Group Camping, located approximately 26 miles northwest near Annapolis, provides tent-only sites with beach access to the Chesapeake Bay. Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping, situated about 50 miles south, offers primitive tent camping opportunities with multiple access types including hike-in, walk-in, and drive-in options. Both parks operate seasonally, typically from March through October.
Most tent campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities suited for primitive tent camping. Sandy Point features drinking water, picnic tables, showers, and toilets, while sites at Calvert Cliffs include drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets but no showers. Fire rings are available at both locations, though campers should verify current fire regulations before arrival. The terrain typically consists of flat, grassy areas with some tree cover for shade. Many sites require reservations, particularly during peak summer months when the region experiences high humidity and occasional thunderstorms.
The tent camping experience near St. Michaels provides unique access to the Chesapeake Bay's natural environment. Tent campers at Sandy Point can enjoy swimming beaches, fishing opportunities, and hiking trails. At Calvert Cliffs, the mile-long trail leading to the beach offers excellent fossil hunting, especially for shark teeth. The proximity to water provides cooling breezes during summer months but also brings mosquitoes and biting flies. A reviewer on The Dyrt noted about Calvert Cliffs: "It is a very nice walk about 2 miles to the beach where you can hunt for fossils. The beach has gotten smaller over the years however the trail has gotten much better." Weekdays typically offer more solitude than weekends, when sites can fill quickly, particularly at Sandy Point which tends to become "extremely overcrowded in the summer."