Kevin M.
Traveler
TravelerDogwood Acres Campground
Well run
The staff here are amazing. Quiet time is respected, clean campground. Will come again.
Tent Camping near Union Bridge, MD
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Union Bridge, Maryland provides tent camping options along the Appalachian Trail and near the Potomac River with established sites at Annapolis Rock Campground and Patapsco Valley State Park. These tent-focused campgrounds offer varying levels of amenities, from primitive walk-in sites to more developed areas with basic facilities within reasonable driving distance of town.
Most tent sites near Union Bridge feature compacted dirt or crushed stone surfaces, which can create drainage challenges during rainfall. Many campsites, particularly along the C&O Canal, require walk-in access from nearby parking areas, with distances ranging from 75 feet to over a mile. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most locations, though campers should note that some areas like Annapolis Rock prohibit fires. A review mentioned, "This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two in the massive Patapsco Valley State Park." Potable water availability varies significantly, with many sites offering seasonal pumps treated with iodine, which affects taste.
The tent camping experience in this region benefits from proximity to multiple trail systems, including the Appalachian Trail and C&O Canal Towpath. Riverside campsites along the Potomac offer scenic views but come with specific challenges. One camper noted, "The sites are flat and dispersed with most located adjacent to the river." Morning fog rising off the water creates memorable experiences at riverside locations. Tent campers should prepare for variable privacy levels, as many sites along popular trails see regular foot and bicycle traffic during daylight hours. Some areas experience train noise at night, particularly those near railroad corridors. Shaded sites under mature trees are common throughout the region, providing natural cooling during summer months but requiring careful tent placement to avoid root systems.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Union Bridge (26)
1. Annapolis Rock Campground — Appalachian National Scenic Trail
"Annapolis Rock Campground is right off the Appalachian Trail just about 1/5 of a mile before Annapolis Rock overlook."
"great primitive campsite that has undergone major restorations and preventative measures to reverse the damage from huge camping crowds of the past. no fires, but there are two privies and a really nice"
2. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $51 / night
3. Dahlgren Backpacker Campground in Greenbrier State Park Campground
"This is a stop on the AT open only to multi-day backpackers. I’ve heard it is sometimes enforced."
"Backpacker campground with bathrooms and showers. Close to the South Mountain Inn, a hiker friendly restaurant. Big field."
4. Antietam Creek Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
"All sites are walk-in only, which means you park on the street, cross the bridge over the C&O and towpath, and then down a little hill to your site."
"Small campground with a pit toilet right on the Potomac river picnic table and fire ring with a few nice trees throughout the camp area. Easy to get to and not far from the towns."
15 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $20 / night
5. Finksburg Forest
Check Availabilityfrom $22 - $100 / night
6. Picnic Key Beach Campground — Everglades National Park
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $175 / night
7. Gathland State Park Campground
8. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring
Check Availabilityfrom $150 - $200 / night
9. Horseshoe Bend Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
"There is a porta potty, water pump, and picnic table. Wonderful spot on the river."
10. Washington Monument State Park Campground
Check Availabilityfrom $12 / night
Drive Time
- 30 min from Gettysburg, PA
- 48 min from Baltimore, MD
- 53 min from Hagerstown, MD
- 1 hr from Chambersburg, PA
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Union Bridge, MD
35 Photos of 26 Union Bridge Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Starry Pond
Crampton Gap Shelter Parking Lot - on the AT
Gathland State Park Campgroundc
Calico Rocks Hiker-biker Overnight (hbo) CampsiteN
Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
Marble Quarry Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Antietam Creek Campground — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
MulehallaJ
Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Horsepen Branch Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
C&O Camping ClubS
Swains Lock Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Tent Camping Reviews near Union Bridge, MD
1036 Reviews of 26 Union Bridge Campgrounds
- kken
GuideArtillery Ridge Campground
Great 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.
- Senona C.Traveler
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Close 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.
Pam R.GuideGifford Pinchot State Park Campground
We booked two nights mid October not realizing that it's duck hunting season and that hunting is allowed RIGHT by the campground - with kids everywhere. We were jolted out of sleep at 5 am by gun fire right near our site. It kept up for the next hour. In addition, the bathrooms, although clean are in poor condition. Peeling paint everywhere with bare concrete in the showers. For such a pretty site, we had a miserable stay. We left after one night.
- jjohn L.Guide
Artillery Ridge Campground
Got us out of a jam.
Where 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.
- jjohn L.Guide
Codorus State Park Campground
Hurricane camping
You 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.
- nnancy H.Guide
Hosack Run
Quiet & Dog friendly - 20minutes from Gettysburg Battfields
This 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)
David B.
ScoutCamp Meade RV Park
Camp Meade
Simple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
Michael H.GuideLake Fairfax Campground
Decent campground in the middle of a urban area
Spent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
Guide to Union Bridge
Tent camping options around Union Bridge, Maryland include several established campgrounds along the Appalachian Trail corridor and within nearby state parks. Patapsco Valley State Park's Hilton Area provides dedicated tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings approximately 20 miles southeast of Union Bridge. Appalachian Trail campers can access primitive tent sites at Annapolis Rock Campground and Dahlgren Backpacker Campground, both requiring short hikes to reach designated camping areas.
Sites generally feature crushed stone or natural ground surfaces, with most tent pads requiring campers to use alternative staking methods rather than traditional tent stakes. Many Appalachian Trail camping areas prohibit campfires due to restoration efforts, though Patapsco Valley allows fires with purchased firewood. A recent review noted, "About a dozen campsites to choose from, and several group sites. Some fairly private. No camp fires allowed." Water access varies significantly between locations, with some sites offering year-round springs or pumps while others require carrying all water. Bathroom facilities range from clean shower houses at established state parks to basic composting outhouses at backcountry locations.
Tent campers at Annapolis Rock enjoy elevation advantages with sites situated approximately 1,700 feet above sea level providing cooler summer temperatures. The surrounding mixed hardwood forests offer partial shade at most tent sites, though some exposed areas receive full sun. One camper shared that the AT campsites have "undergone major restorations and preventative measures to reverse the damage from huge camping crowds of the past." Walk-in tent sites tend to offer more seclusion than drive-in options, particularly during weekdays when visitation drops significantly. Most tent campgrounds in the region remain open seasonally from April through October, with limited winter access depending on weather conditions and park closures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Union Bridge, MD?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Union Bridge, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Union Bridge, MD is Annapolis Rock Campground — Appalachian National Scenic Trail with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Union Bridge, MD?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Union Bridge, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Union Bridge, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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