1 campground with availability this weekend
Tent campers seeking outdoor experiences near Perry Hall, Maryland have several options within a 30-minute drive. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers tent sites in a wooded setting with hiking trails and river access, while Sandy Point State Park provides youth group camping with Chesapeake Bay views. Both parks maintain designated tent areas with varying levels of amenities and seasonal availability.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature crushed stone or natural surface tent pads with fire rings and picnic tables. Patapsco Valley State Park's tent sites are set on stone pads that can make tent staking challenging, requiring campers to bring alternative anchoring methods. The bathhouses are clean and well-maintained with hot showers. A camper noted that "when it rains it really flushes through the grounds," especially at sites located in the lower portions of the camping loop. Firewood must be purchased on-site due to invasive species regulations, and alcohol is prohibited in most state park campgrounds.
Walk-in tent sites provide a more secluded experience compared to drive-in options. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring offers five walk-in tent sites with basic amenities including fire rings and access to toilets. A review mentioned that Patapsco Valley State Park has "plenty of downed trees and limbs for firewood" and is "not too far from DC," making it a convenient backcountry tent camping option close to urban areas. The park's extensive trail network connects directly to the campground, allowing tent campers to explore the forest and river valley. Weather conditions can significantly impact the camping experience, with lower elevation sites becoming soggy after rainfall. For the best tent camping experience, consider booking sites on higher ground and visiting during spring or fall when temperatures are mild and insect activity is reduced.
"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
"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,"
from $6 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $28 - $72 / night
from $40 - $45 / night
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"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
from $22 - $100 / night
from $150 - $200 / night
"Based on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit."
from $12 - $45 / night
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!
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.
TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
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.
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.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
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.
Tent camping opportunities within driving distance of Perry Hall, Maryland include established sites at Patapsco Valley State Park, approximately 15 miles southwest in Catonsville. This state park offers tent-specific camping areas in the Hilton Area section, with 12 basic non-electric tent sites arranged in a loop configuration. Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis also provides youth group tent camping experiences, though these are reserved exclusively for organized youth groups rather than individual campers.
The tent sites at Patapsco Valley State Park feature crushed stone tent pads where campers must pitch their tents, as setting up directly on the ground is not permitted according to park regulations. A review mentioned that "the crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent." Each campsite includes a fire ring with cooking grate and picnic table. The campground provides centrally located restrooms with hot showers, though facilities are described as clean but dated. Campers must purchase firewood on-site as outside firewood is prohibited due to invasive species concerns.
Walk-in tent areas in the Hilton Area of Patapsco Valley offer some of the more secluded camping experiences near Perry Hall. The campground loop features varying elevations, with sites positioned throughout the hillside. A camper noted that "when it rains it really flushes through the grounds" and recommended avoiding "a site on the lower end of the loop" as these areas become very wet after storms. The surrounding forest provides moderate shade coverage for most tent sites. Tent campers have direct access to multiple hiking trails from the campground, including the Campground Connector Trail which links to broader trail networks. Sites typically open from April through October, with reservations required and a 3 pm check-in time strictly enforced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Perry Hall, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Perry Hall, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.1-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Perry Hall, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Perry Hall, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
