Eastern Shore camping offers year-round options for RV and tent campers near Trappe, Maryland. Located on relatively flat terrain between the Chesapeake Bay and Choptank River, this region sits at elevations under 50 feet. Campgrounds often feature sandy soils that drain quickly after rain, though some waterfront locations have muddier conditions during wet weather.
What to do
Paddle the waterways: Several campgrounds offer water access for kayaking and canoeing. At Martinak State Park Campground, campers appreciate the river access. One visitor noted, "Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports. No real hiking trails. Overall small quiet campground."
Explore wildlife areas: Eastern Neck Wildlife Sanctuary sits just 7 minutes from Bay Shore Campground in Rock Hall. A camper shared, "We spent one morning walking the various trails at the Eastern Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, which is only 7 minutes away. Campground also close to the restaurants in Rock Hall for seafood."
Try disc golf: Tuckahoe State Park Campground offers disc golf, fishing, and archery. A review mentions, "Canoe/kayak launch between sites 46 and 48. The walk to Tuckahoe Creek from the parking area is very short, and the creek leads to Tuckahoe Lake (no gasoline motors) with more of the creek on the other side of the lake."
What campers like
Spacious, shaded sites: Campers at Eastern Shore parks value the privacy between sites. At Tuckahoe State Park Campground, a visitor explained, "Lots of shade and trees on large sites and space between sites make this a pleasant campground. Parking pads on the electric loop are asphalt."
Waterfront views: Many campers choose Roaring Point Waterfront Campground for its bay views. According to one review, "Nothing fancy but beautiful setting. Great people to work with." Another camper highlighted, "The water was warm and you can rent kayaks which is so fun."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses at Martinak State Park Campground get positive mentions. As one camper noted, "Campsites and bathrooms are clean. Beautiful waterfront great for kayaking and water sports." At Bay Shore, visitors appreciate the well-maintained grounds: "The campground is clean and nicely landscaped."
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Most Eastern Shore campgrounds operate from March through November. According to one camper at Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway, "This campground is about 20 minutes to Ocean City boardwalk and about 25 minutes to Assateague Island, where the wild horses roam."
Campsite differences: Some sites have limitations. At Tuckahoe, a camper warned, "We booked site 21, blind. The web site does not say site 21 is extremely small. We have a 25' camper, and it barely fit, length and with were an issue. The firepit was about 3-4 feet from our door."
Boat ramp closures: Besides the Martinak boat ramp closure mentioned in the existing description, campers should check about other water access points. Tuckahoe Creek offers "Canoe/kayak launch between sites 46 and 48. The walk to Tuckahoe Creek from the parking area is very short."
Tips for camping with families
Free activities: Some campgrounds include no-cost recreation. At Sun Outdoors Ocean City Gateway, "They have a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to assateaque island, frontier town, and ocean city. Campers here are eligible for discounts at frontier town as well!"
Playground options: Several parks have multiple play areas for different age groups. One visitor to Sun Outdoors noted, "There are multiple playgrounds, minigolf, plenty for the kids to do. You can rent a golf cart, shoot pool, or play table tennis."
Wildlife viewing: Kids enjoy spotting local wildlife at Camp Meade RV Park. A visitor mentioned, "Was great not to have to really worry about anything because you are securely on post. I forgot all about revielle 🤣. They reminded me."
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: RV sites have different utility options across campgrounds. At Bay Shore Campground, "We had electric and water, there were several dump stations at the campground. They are still waiting for approval from the state for the septic."
Cell service considerations: Plan for variable connectivity. At Bay Shore, "Before purchasing Wifi, check your coverage. We have AT&T and had plenty of service." This differs from Verizon service mentioned in the existing description.
Site leveling requirements: Some campgrounds require extra work for RV leveling. About Trap Pond State Park, one camper noted, "Sites are fairly spacious and have an interesting semi-circle pull through layout so backing in not required. They are not level and have a sandy base so it took a bit of work to finally get the rig level, even with auto-levelers."
