Camping near Barnesville, Maryland offers excellent access to the Appalachian Trail and Potomac River recreation opportunities. The region sits at the foothills of Sugarloaf Mountain with elevations ranging from 340 to 1,282 feet, creating varied terrain for camping experiences. Most tent sites in this area feature gravel pads, with many campgrounds maintaining heavily wooded settings for natural shade during the hot summer months.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Little Bennett Campground has an extensive trail network with varying difficulty levels. "There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly," notes one camper who appreciated the accessible outdoor recreation right from their campsite.
Water activities: Brunswick Family Campground provides direct Potomac River access for swimming, fishing, and paddling. "The Shenandoah river parallels the campground. The river is beautifully clean clear and cool," according to a camper who enjoyed the riverside location.
Historical exploration: Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA serves as an excellent base for history enthusiasts. "Location, Location, Location! Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door," explains a camper who used the site for regional exploration.
Farm animal interaction: Ramblin' Pines offers a unique animal experience not found at other nearby campgrounds. "The campground offers a lot for the money. There's a pond for fishing, a pool for swimming... the kids loved the bounce pillow," shares a visitor who particularly enjoyed the barnyard area with goats.
What campers like
Privacy and separation: Little Bennett Campground earns high marks for spacious sites. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," reports one RVer who appreciated the natural buffers between camping spots.
River access: Campers consistently highlight the easy water entry at Brunswick Family Campground. "Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it," mentions a visitor who enjoyed the shoreline access.
Cool microclimate: Gambrill State Park Campground provides relief during hot weather. "We stayed at site #2. It was a perfect site, you can't see the facilities but it was a short walk across the creek. We were able to set up our tent maybe five feet from the creek so we could hear it babble when we went to sleep," describes a camper who enjoyed the natural cooling effect.
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain good bathroom standards, but Greenbrier State Park receives particular praise. "The facilities were clean. The sites on Dogwood are quite close together, but it still felt like camping. The nearby trails are great and the lake is a good place to swim," notes a visitor who appreciated the attentive maintenance.
What you should know
Weekend crowding: Greenbrier State Park Campground experiences significant visitor traffic. "The only downsides are how crowded it can get peak season, and they don't allow dogs in the lake at all. That's annoying when you camp in summer heat with your dog," warns a camper about the popularity of the swimming area.
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Barnesville have railroad tracks nearby. "You are directly next to train tracks... The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains," explains a visitor at Harpers Ferry Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "You can only check in between 2 and 4! This might be off season though," notes a visitor at Ramblin' Pines, highlighting the importance of confirming check-in procedures.
Cell service variability: Despite proximity to urban areas, connectivity varies. "AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy," reports an RVer at Little Bennett Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Water park access: Lake Fairfax Campground offers excellent family amenities. "A lot to do: mountain bike trails (horses and walking, too); wooded hikes with water along the trails, skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing, & canoeing," lists a family who found plenty to keep children engaged.
Kid-friendly activities: Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA provides structured programming. "The amenities for kids were incredible, with arts/crafts, a movie theatre, an arcade, nice playground, and jumping pillow," mentions a family who appreciated the organized entertainment.
Shady playgrounds: Little Bennett Regional Park maintains well-shaded play areas. "My family loves this camp ground. It's conveniently located, it's quite, it's beautiful and there is plenty to do to keep the kids busy," shares a parent who found the natural setting perfect for family time.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing without special permits. "Fishing in the pond-no license required. Creek is cool- swings for kids plus a field," notes a camper at Gambrill State Park who enjoyed the easy access to fishing with children.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Harpers Ferry Campground requires careful setup for larger rigs. "Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site(#199) had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air," warns an RVer who needed to change sites.
Hookup quality: Little Bennett Campground provides reliable services for RVs. "Site#D69 gravel parking pad...Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," notes a camper who found the utility connections well-maintained despite some leveling issues.
RV storage options: Cherry Hill Park offers unique services for visitors to Washington DC. "They even allowed us to store the camper while we took a cruise out of Baltimore!" shares an RVer who appreciated the flexibility for multi-destination trips.
Road access considerations: Brunswick Family Campground requires careful navigation. "The road into the campground was badly in need of repair. Site was not level and infested with black flies," cautions an RVer in a travel trailer who found the approach challenging.
