Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Sharpsburg, Maryland sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level with a humid continental climate that brings hot summers and cool winters. The nearby Potomac River creates a natural boundary between Maryland and West Virginia, providing water recreation options for campers. RV parks near Sharpsburg remain open from early spring through late fall, with most closing from December through February due to potential snow and freezing temperatures.
What to do
Historic exploration: 1.5 miles to Harpers Ferry from Harpers Ferry Campground, where you can walk trails into town. "If you're facing the river then the trail is to the right of the campground with a sign reading that you have entered Harper's Ferry National Park. The trail is about 1.5 miles one way," notes a reviewer who found multiple activities available.
River activities: Tubing and fishing directly from campsites at Brunswick Family Campground. The campground sits alongside the Potomac River with easy water access. "The Shanandoah river parallels the campground. The river is beautifully clean clear and cool," reports one camper who appreciated the water quality.
Battlefield tours: 10 minutes from Round Top Campground to Gettysburg National Military Park. Campers can explore the battlefields and town square with shops and restaurants. "The drive into town was short and had enough road side visuals to keep you from dwelling on the drive. Again the drive into town was short and had enough road side visuals to keep you from dwelling on the drive," noted one visitor.
What campers like
Direct river access: Campsites at Harpers Ferry Campground sit along the Potomac River. "My family stayed here for two nights during the middle of the week, about half the campground was occupied. Our campsite was right along the water (all spots are along the water)," shared one camper who enjoyed the proximity to water.
Private sites with trees: Gettysburg Campground offers tent sites with natural separation. "We were in tent sites which felt bigger than most and were right by river. not far to go anywhere walking," noted one tent camper. Another mentioned, "The tenting area is calm and has a creek right next to it to listen to in the evening and morning."
Clean facilities: The bathhouses at Bull Run Regional Park receive consistent praise. "Bath houses are clean and well maintained," reported one reviewer. Another camper was even more enthusiastic: "The best review I can give is of the bathrooms. They're worth staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had."
What you should know
Train noise: Multiple campgrounds in the Sharpsburg area sit near active rail lines. At Brunswick Family Campground, "The CNO railroad runs pretty close it's not super loud just wanted to make you aware," mentions one reviewer. Similarly, at Harpers Ferry Campground, trains pass frequently: "The train which was 12 feet up a hill across the road from the site. Only had a couple come through the night our 1 yr old slept perfectly through it so it isn't too bothersome."
Water issues: Some campgrounds experience drainage problems during rain. At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, one camper noted, "When we arrived on our first day of 4, put on our swimsuits, and play in the splash park for several hours. My 3 year old loved it. It closed early, maybe 3, and I overheard something about it being shut down for the year."
Site levelness: RV sites at some parks require extra work to level. At Round Top Campground, one camper shared: "Sites have reasonable spacing with gravel pads, mostly level. Trees between sites with sloping hills, not just a big open field." Another noted, "Site was unlevel and poorly maintained."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers multiple water features. "Great campground, close to Gettysburg but far enough to escape. 2 pools which is a bonus," explains one family. Another mentioned, "Multiple pools and a great little water park. Store was well stocked, they also had a ice-cream/quick food store attached to the pool area."
Playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature play areas, but with varying quality. At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, they have "a playground and bounce pad feature." However, one family noted at Jellystone Park, "In my opinion as a mom of small kids maybe the worst part was that there was only 1 playground, it was all the way at the front of the campground (we had to drive to it) and it was very junky and run down."
Recreation programs: Organized activities keep children entertained throughout the day. At Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA, "They had themed weekend events, live music, bingo, golf cart parades, and potluck." Another family shared, "The amenities for kids were incredible, with arts/crafts, a movie theatre, an arcade, nice playground, and jumping pillow."
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement: At several rv parks near Sharpsburg, Maryland, hookup locations can be challenging. One RVer at Harpers Ferry Campground noted: "Between the tent sites being close together and the campground being part of zip lining/rafting courses there's not a ton of privacy (especially during the weekend)."
Site spacing: Many RV parks have limited separation between sites. At Gettysburg Campground, "The two drawbacks are that the sites are quite packed together and the noise of traffic– at least in the frontmost sites– can get rather loud at night." Similarly, at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA: "Get cozy, the sites are quite small and tightly packed together."
Pull-through accessibility: For larger RVs, selecting specific sites is crucial. At Nahkeeta Campsite, a camper reported, "Communication was easy since everything was through text. Good hookups. No bathrooms or showers. You hear the traffic on route 9 but not bad." At Bull Run Regional Park, sites are designed specifically for easy access: "The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone."
