Best Campgrounds near Sharpsburg, MD

Camping areas around Sharpsburg, Maryland concentrate along the Potomac River and nearby historical sites, with options ranging from primitive tent camping to full-service RV parks. The Antietam Creek Campground within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park provides walk-in tent sites with basic amenities, while commercial facilities like Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Williamsport offer more developed accommodations including cabins and glamping options. Most campgrounds in this region maintain proximity to significant Civil War battlefields and historical landmarks.

Several campgrounds operate seasonally, typically from April through October, though some like the Harpers Ferry KOA remain open year-round. The C&O Canal towpath provides multiple access points to riverside camping, with sites requiring varying degrees of gear portage from parking areas. Primitive camping at Antietam Creek Campground requires visitors to park on nearby roads and carry equipment across pedestrian bridges. Limited facilities at national park sites contrast with the extensive amenities found at private campgrounds. A visitor commented on this distinction: "You have to park on the road and haul all of your stuff across the field and over the fence so it's not exactly easy to get all of your equipment at the campsite."

Riverside locations characterize many camping options in the area, with the Potomac River providing both scenic views and recreational opportunities. Many campers mention appreciating the waterfront locations despite occasional drawbacks. According to user feedback, "It's a nice little spot right along the Potomac River. All sites are walk-in only, which means you park on the street, cross the bridge over the C&O and towpath, and then down a little hill to your site." Family-oriented campgrounds like Jellystone Park feature water parks, pools, and organized activities, while more primitive sites along the C&O Canal appeal to hikers and cyclists seeking simpler accommodations. Tent and RV sites throughout the region vary significantly in privacy levels, with national park campgrounds offering more natural settings but fewer amenities than their commercial counterparts.

Best Camping Sites Near Sharpsburg, Maryland (141)

    1. Greenbrier State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    41 Reviews
    Boonsboro, MD
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    $23 - $29 / night

    "This park just is near enough to Baltimore and DC to allow for a quick getaway and offers a lot to do."

    "Maryland has some great state parks and this is one of them. Decent sized sites, clean bath houses. Swimming lake is excellent. Only basic amenities, but dump station."

    2. Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    39 Reviews
    Harpers Ferry, WV
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 535-6895

    $40 - $80 / night

    "We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "

    "It’s very close to Harper’s Ferry (almost worth the hike into town rather than the difficulty finding parking in a town with one parking lot)."

    3. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Williamsport MD

    23 Reviews
    Williamsport, MD
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 223-7117

    $99 - $471 / night

    "Also historic and very haunted Sharpsburg and Gettysburg are very close as well."

    "We recent went camping for the first time at Jellystone in Maryland. 5 of our 6 kids came with us, so we knew we needed to find a camping ground more geared kids."

    4. Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders

    24 Reviews
    Harpers Ferry, WV
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 535-2663

    "If you would like to do some exploring, then you can walk the trail right next to the campground into the historical town of Harper's Ferry (If you’re facing the river then the trail is to the right of"

    "Harper's Ferry is a little town in WV nestled right next to the Potomac River. It's also a convenient halfwayish point on the Appalachian Trail."

    5. Antietam Creek Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

    11 Reviews
    Sharpsburg, MD
    3 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "All the sites are very open and run along the multi-use trail. People are constantly walking, running, and biking by."

    "Pretty standard campground—the perks are it’s location to nearby attractions and the river/creek. It depends on what you’re looking for—easy camping and proximity to Antietam and Harper’s? Golden."

    6. Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA

    20 Reviews
    Williamsport, MD
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 223-7571

    "Set right next to the river and you fish if you want to. DO NOT follow your GPS. Follow the directions on the KOA Website."

    "Beautiful campgrounds situated near a creek. The campgrounds have a homey feel and were decorated nicely for fall & Halloween. The staff & hosts were incredibly nice & helpful."

    7. Gambrill State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Middletown, MD
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 432-2267

    $18 - $50 / night

    "The site was very level, nicely shaded, and positioned a short distance from the bath house. There was also a water spigot located right at the entrance of the site."

    "There was a walking path to the bathhouse between 13 and 14. Sites 8-11 were on a nice open field, with some smaller trees."

    8. Houck - Cunningham Falls State Park

    24 Reviews
    Thurmont, MD
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 271-7574

    $21 - $65 / night

    "Camp next to the president."

    "There are a few vineyards and breweries nearby. Gettysburg, PA is close as is Frederick, MD. Our site was level and had a good view of the woods. Family was staying in site next to us, site 12."

    9. Brunswick Family Campground

    12 Reviews
    Brunswick, MD
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 834-9950

    $10 - $90 / night

    "Picked this location because it is close to our home in Silver Spring, MD but far enough to make us feel like we were leaving town."

    "Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it. Lots of different activities for kids and plenty of space at each site to make your home away from home."

    10. Owens Creek Campground — Catoctin Mountain Park

    28 Reviews
    Sabillasville, MD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 663-9388

    $30 / night

    "Our campsite was quiet with the creek right behind us and had lots of privacy. This place is a great campground to go during summer as it's tucked in the mountains with lots of tree coverage."

    "My only complaint is that the fire ring is a little too close to the main road. This is true for most of the sites. However the tent pad was set back in the woods and it was very peaceful."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 141 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Sharpsburg, MD

1006 Reviews of 141 Sharpsburg Campgrounds


  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park

    Hot showers! But no dump station

    Campsite We stayed at M17 after staying at M26 for a night. 17 wasn’t as level and so we had to scrunch to one side of the site to get level. It was closer to the bath house. Overall cozy. Bath house It’s in need of some repairs but don’t let that scare you- these showers are hot and the shower wands are a really nice convenience after using cold push button showers. Lantern flies! Invasive Spotted Lantern Flies are everywhere. I squished as many as I could but keep an eye out and check your gear before leaving! Dump station This campsite doesn’t have a dump station so we went to the Cunningham falls site to dump after leaving and they let us dump no problem. Road noise Since you’re near the highway, there is constant road noise and it’s even worse on the trails but it’s quiet otherwise. Deducted one star for no dump station.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park

    Great non-electric site, no dumstation

    This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill. Surprised there’s no place for someone to park next to the bathhouse - only trails to it- so if you have accessibility needs, consider choosing a site that’s lower in the loop. The site is level and was raked by the hosts before we got there. Really clean and quiet except for some road noise. Showers are SO nice compared to other campsite. Hot water is hot, no push buttons, and there is a shower wand in both stalls. No dump station though!! Dump before you get here. Also if you work remote and depend on service, it’s spotty. Very wooded so Starlink can’t help much. OH- Don’t bother visiting the winery down the road. Ew. Just don’t.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA

    Dense and chaotic, but great breakfast

    We got here late on a Friday and boy was it packed. It was a pretty tight fit and at a perpendicular. Not sure why campsites do that. We didn’t use the bathroom or showers because it was so late and honestly because they only had one bathroom location for all those people and it was on the opposite side of the campsite. They have SO many activities going on for kids and families including crafts and a magic show. They also had a diner and general store. Didn’t go into the store but did get breakfast from the diner and the breakfast was honestly delicious. It was about a 20 min wait at 8:15 but the quality of the food totally makes up for that. I recommend the sausage gravy and biscuits. Overall, great spot if you’ve got kids. Pretty packed if you’re just traveling or looking for some outdoor time.

  • E
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Camp Cacapon

    Great camping in a perfect spot

    We stayed at this campground Sep 26-28 and had a fantastic time. The campsite is in a perfect spot on the Cacapon river, and the facilities are excellent. Nice campsites, clean bathrooms and a charming little pavilion that you can rent and hang out with your group.

    Highly recommend

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Watermelon Park Campground

    Beautiful setting!

    This camping ground is for RVs only. It's right on the Shenandoah River so it's a quiet peaceful setting. However it's a long way from any town, has terrible wifi, (the mobile data was slightly better) & doesn't hav a laundry room. The road in is very narrow so our moterhome had a little difficulty getting in, but we made it! There is only a dumping station. This is just info, not a bad review :) they have showers & firewood & the staff is very friendly & helpful! Tubing on the river was closed for the season but that wud have been a great pass time!

  • Brian C.
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Cowans Gap State Park Campground

    Solid State Park Camping

    Stayed in a walk-in tent site. Much better spacing than typical sites, though sites 2 & 3 were basically connected. The non-walk in sites in Loop B are typical to smaller than average and mostly suited for campers/RVs.

    Pros : Site spacing/privacy was good Bathrooms and showers were clean. Firewood available at the park ($5 for 6 pieces self-serve). Location near the dam and lake trail is nice. Cell service was limited, but had reliable (but low) signal with T-Mobile at my site. Easy access (on foot) to all of the hiking trails.

    Cons: The tent pads could use some leveling and there was some trash around the site. The major negative was generator noise coming from the facility just beyond the dam. Droning generator noise was on/off at all hours of the day and went on until 10pm in the evening. Not sure how far up in Loop B this was heard, but it was pretty loud in the walk-in site area.

  • Marcandpatti B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2025

    Gettysburg Campground

    Good spot for Gettysburg, a bit spendy.

    We stayed here mid-week in September so it was very quiet. There was a bit of road noise as our site was close to the entrance. Host was super friendly. They have a bunch of things going on with groups that stay here; next group is quilters with vintage trailers, sorry to miss that. All of the utilities worked just fine. Sites re a bit close to each other, not a lot of foliage between sites.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Artillery Ridge Campground

    Great location and friendly staff

    We have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.


Guide to Sharpsburg

Camping near Sharpsburg, Maryland, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful parks and campgrounds nearby, it’s a perfect spot for families, friends, and solo adventurers alike.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails in the area. Many campers enjoy the hiking opportunities right from their campsites. One visitor at Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground mentioned, "Hiking, fishing, breathtaking views, tons to do in the area!"
  • Fishing: The rivers and lakes around Sharpsburg are great for fishing. A camper at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground noted, "We love this park… the lake is very nice and it's a very family park!"
  • Exploring History: Visit nearby historical sites like Gettysburg. A camper at Codorus State Park Campground shared, "This campground isn't too far from our home in Maryland… it’s just a nice place to get away to."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained bathhouses and campsites. A review from Rocky Gap State Park Campground said, "The bathhouses are always clean and well stocked."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peaceful surroundings. A visitor at Mathews Arm Campground remarked, "Good spot to camp while exploring a beautiful national park."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. One camper at Cherry Hill Park noted, "Staff very helpful and really explained the Metro system very well."

What you should know:

  • Site Size: Some campgrounds have smaller sites. A camper at Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA said, "The sites were so unlevel, close together, and the whole infrastructure in need of repair."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for potential noise from nearby roads or other campers. One visitor at Bull Run Regional Park complained, "This place is absolutely the most horrific noisy place… absolutely annoying sound 24/7."
  • Booking Ahead: It’s wise to reserve your spot, especially during peak seasons. A camper at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground mentioned, "It stays booked because it is such a well-maintained campground."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds for kids. A camper at Rocky Gap State Park Campground highlighted, "Near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Choose parks that offer various activities. A visitor at Greenbrier State Park Campground said, "There are also easy trails from the camping loops to the lake."
  • Safety: Always keep an eye on kids, especially near water. A camper at Codorus State Park Campground noted, "The sites are fairly large and they do have some full hook-up sites which is nice."

Tips from RVers:

  • Level Sites: Look for campgrounds with level sites. A camper at Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA mentioned, "Our site was so unlevel that I was not able to get the RV leveled the entire weekend."
  • Hookups: Ensure your campground has the necessary hookups. A visitor at Cherry Hill Park said, "The campground is well run. The bathrooms/showers are very clean and modern."
  • Plan for Crowds: Be ready for busy weekends. A camper at Rocky Gap State Park Campground noted, "We visited here again in June and loved it just as much as past visits."

Camping near Sharpsburg, Maryland, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a fun family adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best RV campgrounds in Sharpsburg with full hookups?

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Williamsport is the premier family-friendly RV park near Sharpsburg with full hookups. It features exceptional amenities including an impressive pool area that's particularly popular with children. For RVers seeking a more history-focused stay, Greenbrier State Park Campground provides a convenient base with adequate amenities including a dump station. While not directly in Sharpsburg, these nearby options offer the full hookups RV campers need while providing easy access to Antietam National Battlefield and other historical sites in the region.

Where are the best camping spots near Sharpsburg, Maryland?

The Sharpsburg area offers excellent camping options within a short drive. Owens Creek Campground in Catoctin Mountain Park is highly rated for its peaceful atmosphere, shaded sites, and the creek running through the grounds. It's notably less crowded than nearby parks. For history buffs, Brunswick Family Campground provides a riverside camping experience close to historic sites. Located between railroad tracks and the river, it offers mesmerizing water views and welcoming staff. Other noteworthy options include Cunningham Falls State Park, Gambrill State Park, and Button Farm for a more private farm camping experience.

What's the best time of year to camp near Sharpsburg, Maryland?

Late spring through early fall offers the best camping conditions near Sharpsburg. Summer provides full access to water activities, with Cunningham Falls State Park Manor Area offering family-friendly facilities and water recreation. However, for those who prefer milder temperatures and fewer crowds, September-October is ideal as you'll experience comfortable days, cool nights, and spectacular fall foliage throughout the region. Gambrill State Park Campground is particularly beautiful during autumn with its elevated mountain views. The historical significance of Antietam makes fall an especially meaningful time to visit, as the Battle of Antietam occurred in September 1862, with many commemorative events happening during this season.

Can you camp at Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg?

There is no camping directly on Antietam National Battlefield grounds. However, several excellent options are available nearby. The Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA is specifically designed for visitors exploring the historic battlefield and provides convenient accommodations. For a unique historical experience, Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA serves as an excellent launchpad for visiting multiple Civil War sites including Antietam. Located just across the state line, it offers good access to both Harpers Ferry and the Antietam battlefield area with full amenities, though it runs on the pricier side.