10 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Antietam Creek Campground permits pets at all 11 walk-in sites along the Potomac River. Located on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, this pet-friendly camping area features fire rings, picnic tables, and pit toilets while maintaining primitive camping conditions. Campers must park on the street and carry equipment across a bridge to reach their sites. The open layout offers minimal privacy between neighbors, with all sites situated along the C&O Canal towpath where hikers, runners, and cyclists frequently pass by. Each site provides direct river access, though some paths down to the water are quite steep. Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA and Hagerstown/Antietam Battlefield KOA both welcome pets at their tent sites, RV hookups, and select cabins. Bathrooms at Antietam Creek can become unsanitary during busy periods, with no trash receptacles available requiring all waste to be packed out.
Nearby Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Williamsport offers extensive pet-friendly accommodations with full hookup RV sites and designated pet-friendly cabins. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the campground, including on the network of hiking trails that connect to the larger park system. The campground's gravel roads provide convenient walking routes for pet exercise. Gathland State Park Campground serves as another pet-friendly option for trail-oriented campers, particularly those hiking with dogs along the Appalachian Trail segment that passes through the area. Dahlgren Backpacker Campground specifically caters to AT through-hikers with pets, providing shower facilities and year-round water sources. Pet owners should note that summer temperatures can reach uncomfortable highs for dogs, particularly on exposed sites with limited shade. Wildlife encounters are common in the area, requiring careful management of pet food and waste.
"There are four loops; two with no hookups and no pets allowed, one with no hookups that allow pets and one with electric sites that allow pets."
"My partner and our two dogs loved this campground! We were in the dogwood loop. Positives
* Big, immaculately groomed tent pads
* Mostly tent campers!"
from $23 - $29 / night
"This place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September."
"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. "
from $40 - $80 / night
"Playgrounds, dog park, canteen, mini golf, jumping pillow, laser tag, pedal cars, gem mining are just some of the amenities. Very pricey during peak season."
"They also have a playground, petting farm, pedal cars, and sunflower fields."
from $99 - $471 / night
"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."
"Pets are allowed. The fireflies at night along the creek were so relaxing"
"This KOA has a few 'petting zoo' animals and a quaint little diner! The folks here are very kind and we do wish we could have stayed a little longer to explore the beautiful surroundings."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"It is located in Frederick, about an hour outside of Baltimore and Washington D.C. Though the campground is small, each site looks pretty unique. It offers tent sites, electric sites, and 4 cabins."
"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."
from $18 - $50 / night
"Overall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them."
"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."
from $10 - $90 / 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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"Not a fan of kids running around through sites. The Elderberry and Deer Spring loops are no pets, but I’d like to see a no kids policy too. Kidding!"
"Nestled away in the Catoctin Mountains, it lands further away from Camp David, so the likelihood of it being negatively affected during dignitary or presidential visits is slim."
from $21 - $65 / night
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
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.
TravelerRoad in was without any major wash outs so I drove in pulling my overlanding trailer in 2WD. Plenty of campsites which allowed everyone here to space out easily. Lots of cut up fallen trees around which made collecting firewood simple.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
GuideThis pet friendly campground in Caledonia State Park is .8 miles from the larger Chinquapin campground (no pets), ranger station and swimming pool. Our site #171 was level, paved, full hook ups and next to modern clean bathrooms with flush toilets, warm showers and outside dish washing sinks. Many available sites with and without services on a Sunday in October. There were a good number of friendly, tidy, long term campers with large wall tents. (They allow 21 day stays after Labor Day)
Scout15 free relatively level sites for smaller rigs and tent camping. Fire rings , picnic tables and some have lantern posts. There are 2 somewhat clean pit toilets.
ScoutBeautiful area. Very primitive, which is great. Roads were fairly decent to the campsite. Didn't stay near the water and no mountain view but still nice. Had a nice trail into the woods.
Camping opportunities near Sharpsburg, Maryland center around the historic Civil War sites and the Potomac River valley at 400-500 feet elevation. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F with high humidity levels, while spring and fall offer milder conditions with temperatures between 50-75°F. Camping areas in this region feature a mix of hardwood forests and open riverside settings, with both wooded and exposed sites available.
Hiking to Cunningham Falls: 78-foot cascading waterfall access from Houck - Cunningham Falls State Park offers multiple trail options. "Great easy loop hikes around campsite with a decent waterfall depending on when it last rained," notes Tom C., adding that some trails are more challenging than others.
Fishing in Hunting Creek Lake: 43-acre man-made lake provides stocked fishing opportunities. "Great (and busy weekend) fishing. Trolling motors are permitted, but ideal for paddling," according to Dave V. The lake is accessible via multiple access points from nearby camping areas.
Mountain biking at Frederick watershed: located just outside Gambrill State Park Campground, the watershed area offers technical trails for experienced riders. "Right outside the park is the Frederick watershed where many locals take advantage of the trails for mountain biking," notes Melissa C., who recommends bringing plenty of water as the trails can be strenuous.
Tubing on the Potomac River: accessible from various riverfront campgrounds with rental options available. "The Shanandoah is just as beautiful. The showers could use a good cleaning but they are typical Campground showers perfect for the campground life," shares Brian S. about the river access from Brunswick Family Campground.
Riverside camping with water access: Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders offers direct water views. "Great place! Lots to do on-site. Tent camped and really had a great time. Harper's Ferry is a beautiful place to hike, camp and visit," shares Annie S. The campground provides options for water activities directly from campsites.
Secluded forest settings: found at Owens Creek Campground with well-maintained tent pads. "All sites are terraced up or down from the site parking pad," explains Dave V., noting that "each site has a very nice synthetic picnic table, a lantern/trash bag pole, a fire ring and separate tent pad."
Proximity to historic sites: locations near Antietam Battlefield and Harpers Ferry provide convenient bases for exploring history. "We used this as our home base for exploring Harpers Ferry and Antietam," reports Ashleigh M., who found the wooded sites provided good relief after camping in more exposed areas.
Family-oriented activities: many campgrounds offer structured activities for children. "This campground is a wonderful place to stay. Everyone is very friendly and they have a lot to keep the kids busy," writes Melissa S. about Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA, which offers programmed events throughout peak season.
Train noise affects several campgrounds: particularly those along the Potomac. "The campground cannot do anything about their location along the tracks, but they can control their response time to issues and the cleanliness of their bathrooms," notes Sherri C., pointing out that trains "come through here almost hourly" at Brunswick Family Campground.
Weekend crowding at water features: lakes and swimming areas become extremely busy during summer weekends. "It rained most of the weekend, but we still had a blast! The trail to the lake is accessible but far enough that you avoid the high day use traffic," explains Marianne H., suggesting weekday visits when possible.
Uneven site quality within campgrounds: research specific site numbers before booking. "When we pulled the rangers where blocking traffic to the park. They said that the park was full. OMG they were right," reports Jim L., adding that they couldn't get their reserved site at Greenbrier State Park during peak season.
Wildlife encounters require proper food storage: especially in more remote campgrounds. "The plentiful warning signage gives one the idea that bears are a potential problem," observes Dave V., recommending hanging food or using hard-sided containers at night.
Water activities for children: swimming beaches at Jellystone Park™ Williamsport provide supervised water play. "What is amazing is that 100 yards from here campsite may be a little more for further out but the Shanandoah river parallels the campground. The river is beautifully clean clear and cool," Brian S. writes, noting the campground's family-friendly atmosphere.
Playground equipment: dedicated play areas offer options when not exploring natural features. "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," Chelsea B. comments about the family amenities at Hagerstown/Antietam Battlefield KOA.
Educational opportunities: historic sites within walking distance provide learning experiences. "This is a beautiful park with a lake, beach, and swimming area. Fishing is allowed. There are lots of hiking trails," Beth C. explains, adding that the trails connect to larger park systems for exploration.
Reserved sites: book well in advance for summer weekends and holidays to avoid disappointment. "It depends on what you're looking for—easy camping and proximity to Antietam and Harper's? Golden. Especially if you want to camp but also do site seeing and/or paddling in the area," advises Andrew M.
Limited hookup availability: electric sites are concentrated in specific loops at most parks. "This campground features four camp loops (1 with electric hookups for RVs, and one that accepts dogs). Each loop winds its way up a hillside, in a woodsy setting," Jonathan B. explains about Greenbrier State Park.
Road access challenges: narrow access roads require careful navigation. "The roads are very windy and narrow, and I can't imagine trying to maneuver a large RV in there," notes Jen V. about the conditions at some of the older campgrounds in the region.
Dump station conditions: variable quality across facilities requires planning. "The septic system is the quest I've seen at any campground, basically just a hole flush to the ground with a loose cap on it," Thomas B. warns about one location, suggesting emptying tanks before arrival.
Site leveling requirements: bring blocks for uneven terrain. "Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air," reports Matt S., recommending requesting specific sites known to be level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Sharpsburg, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sharpsburg, MD is Greenbrier State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Sharpsburg, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 99 dog-friendly camping locations near Sharpsburg, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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