91 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Upper Falls, Maryland offer tent and RV camping options ranging from primitive wooded sites to developed pads with electric hookups, all within a short drive of both Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay. Susquehanna State Park Campground offers secluded tent, RV, and cabin sites about 15 miles northeast of Upper Falls, featuring electric hookups and wooded surroundings. Elk Neck State Park Campground, approximately 20 miles east, provides year-round camping with full hookup options and waterfront views. Both state parks maintain developed campgrounds with fire rings, picnic tables, and access to hiking trails. Private options include Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina in Abingdon, which features 91 sites with modern amenities including laundry facilities and propane fill services.
Many state park campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during the peak season from April through October. Susquehanna State Park operates seasonally from late March to late October, while Elk Neck remains open year-round. "The campsites are separated more widely than many other parks in Maryland, and are quite secluded in comparison," noted one camper about Susquehanna State Park. Heavy rainfall can affect campsite conditions, particularly in low-lying areas of Patapsco Valley State Park where runoff creates muddy sites. Most campgrounds feature both primitive tent sites and developed RV pads with electric hookups, though not all offer full water and sewer connections. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, with stronger coverage near more developed areas.
Campers frequently mention the ability to combine outdoor recreation with urban proximity as a significant advantage. Several visitors highlighted the convenience of reaching Baltimore or Washington DC within a 30-40 minute drive while still enjoying natural surroundings. Patapsco Valley State Park receives particular attention for its extensive trail system and river access points. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "There is an electric loop with electric hookup, but no water or sewer. Those can be found at the campground entrance. Each loop has a wood shed and clean, well-appointed bathhouse." Shaded sites are highly valued during summer months when temperatures and humidity rise considerably. Wildlife sightings, particularly deer and various bird species, are commonly reported in campground reviews across multiple state parks in the region. Campers seeking more secluded experiences typically prefer the non-electric loops at state parks, which tend to have fewer neighbors and more natural buffer space between sites.
"I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.
The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints. ""Surrounding area
There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids."
from $21 - $55 / night
Check Availability"The campsites are separated more widely than many other parks in Maryland (Cunningham Falls, Ft. Frederick, Pt. Lookout), and are quite secluded in comparison."
"I was a walk-up with no reservation and since it was a weekday the ranger gave me a great rundown of the best spots in the camp and let me drive through to check them out before going back with my decision"
from $21 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Had our kayaks with us and the water wasn’t but a few steps away. Some sites you are right on the waters edge."
"This is close to us so it was an easy trip. Full hookup but we’re told to turn off and unhook water the night it dropped below freezing."
from $75 - $115 / night
Check Availability"Camp site(Tent camping)
The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :) It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD.""Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
from $20 - $51 / night
Check Availability"It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April- one of our first experiences in a Maryland State Park. Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking /multi use trails."
"This campground is pleasant, but the sites are situated quite close to one another."
from $19 - $27 / night
Check Availability"It was a VERY dark walk to get to the bathhouse for showers. And the fire pit had no grill, so we ended up having to use the stoves of some RV camping friends for meals."
"Large campground with some good trails. Will definitely return!"
"Centrally located laundry facilities and airconditioned bath house. Playground, boat launch, beach volleyball court, disk golf, basketball court, and outdoor pool all within walking distance."
"Near an Ape Adventure park, hike around lake, and any shopping or restaurants you might want are close by. It rained heavy so we didn’t get out much but walk around camp loop is nice and flat."
"The camp loop is a nice walk but there are also trails. They were pretty muddy when we were there. Site 35 was quite spacious as were many of them."
from $29 - $51 / night
Check Availability"This campground isn't too far from our home in Maryland, so if they have room and we want to go spur of the moment, this one is a good choice. "
"The trails from Campground are ok for a short walk, not much of a lake view but mostly shaded trail. The pool is conveniently located maybe even walking distance for some. "
from $20 - $249 / night
Check Availability"They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased 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. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
ScoutFirst time at this campground really like it a lot will be returning. The bathrooms are always clean. The grounds are always kept up. Just a really nice place to stay. Most of the sites have some kind of shade.
TravelerThis campground is a great place to bring kids. The spots are a little tight but we were able to get our 46’ toy hauler in the spot with very little effort. Because the sites are back-in, we can’t use our rear patio but that is ok. The pool is very nice and the farm atmosphere makes it very fun for kids.
GuideMary & her crew run a great campground. Full hookup. Slow schedule during the week-camp store & pool mainly. Saturdays always have activities planned from bingo to quarter auctions, picnics & music. Each Saturday is different. Clean grounds. Nice playgrounds. Kiddie pool & nice size pool from 3-5’ deep. 2 cabins also available.
TravelerThe owner is kind and knowledgeable a lot of live in / snowbirds . Some are very kind but some of the live in’s are crude .
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
GuideA beautiful, well maintained park with lots to do, great bathroom facilities and extremely nice people. The electric sites aren't all together, so you don't have RV's lined up but maybe annoying for folks who are tent camping. Avoid the locations in the mid-30's by the dumpster, both staff and campers start shaking the lid around 6:30. Between 5 AM and noon staff were driving big trucks and ATV's around with loud reverse horns, and slamming the fire pit grills, which they store sideways. Overall I had a really wonderful time, but that's largely down to good sound reduction inside the van. Almost zero cell service. I was able to get a couple of text messages in and out, but seemed to be a fluke.
ScoutThis campsite was amazing for our first tent camping experience. The park was a godsend for keeping our toddler occupied and we felt very safe overall. While the beach is pretty, be careful about the water condition. We were warned before entering and informed of the risks. They were very clear on the condition of the water that day which was a yellow, slight risk. But normally it should be okay. We would definitely camp here again.
Camping near Upper Falls, Maryland offers access to both freshwater and saltwater environments within the northern Chesapeake region. The area sits at the convergence of several watersheds, creating diverse fishing opportunities throughout spring and fall when average temperatures range from 55-75°F. Late summer camping often brings humidity above 80%, particularly in low-elevation sites near water.
Hiking at Turkey Point Lighthouse: Take the 1.6-mile lighthouse trail at Elk Neck State Park Campground for panoramic Chesapeake Bay views. "The lighthouse and the view are definitely worth it," notes David G., who recommends allowing 45 minutes for the round-trip hike.
Fishing from your campsite: Several waterfront sites at Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina allow fishing directly from your camp chair. "Catch them and steam them in my camper (a MD thing :-) Only bait at the camp store or with 25 miles is night crawlers. Bring your own if you're a fishing person," advises Lisa T.
Biking to local markets: Road cycling opportunities extend beyond parklands. "We really loved road biking to the nearby H Mart to have fun shopping and browsing their unique selection," reports Travyl Couple from Hollofield Area Campground, mentioning it's about a 20-minute ride to this large Korean grocery store.
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer regular wildlife encounters in natural settings. "Lots of wildlife. Have camped here twice now. Nice playground for the kids and plenty of park events to keep you busy. Took a nice hike out to the susquehanna and spent a few hours fishing in the pond," writes Gabrielle E. about Susquehanna State Park Campground.
Site privacy: The spacing between campsites varies significantly between campgrounds. At Codorus State Park, "There is a wide variety of sites so finding one that you like should not be difficult, there are some in wide-open park-like settings, and some that are treed. For the most part we didn't notice any that really seem to be right on top of each other," according to J K.
Swimming options: While not all water bodies permit swimming, many campgrounds offer alternative water recreation. "There is no swimming allowed in the lake but there is a pool located at the park, there is no extra cost to use the pool if you are at the campground," explains Catherine H. at Codorus State Park Campground.
Seasonal site conditions: Rain affects campsite usability differently across the region. "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. 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," reports Alexandra T. at Patapsco Valley State Park.
Reservation timing: Competition for sites intensifies during summer weekends. "Book early because it fills up fast!" warns Ellen B. about Lums Pond State Park Campground, one of the more popular options within driving distance of Upper Falls.
Tent pad limitations: Not all sites accommodate tents equally. "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 to the ground," advises Sean M. regarding Patapsco Valley State Park.
Playground access: Consider site proximity to play areas when booking with children. "We stayed in site 2 of the Beechnut Loop. I had chosen this site, based on two factors: 1. It was available and 2. It was close to the playground. Unfortunately, it was most likely available because it was overrun with roots and rocks (no pad for the tent)- and you also couldn't see the playground from the site," shares Jennifer S. about Susquehanna State Park Campground.
Nature play spaces: Some campgrounds offer innovative play options beyond standard equipment. Patapsco Valley State Park "seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center," notes Sean M.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with structured events for children. "We stayed here this past Easter and they had plenty of activities for kids and adults. Easter egg hunts for kids, adult scavenger hunts for alcohol. Wonderful experience for the whole family," writes Melissa E. about Merry Meadows Recreation Farm.
Approach routes: Some campgrounds have height restrictions on access roads. "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park.)," warns Travyl Couple about Hollofield Area.
Hookup positioning: Check utility layout before selecting sites. At some campgrounds "the electric loop with electric hookup, but no water or sewer. Those can be found at the campground entrance," requires planning for water fill-up timing.
Seasonal water access: Winter camping requires attention to freezing conditions. At Bar Harbor RV Park, campers "are told to turn off and unhook water the night it dropped below freezing," according to Laure D., who noted propane is available on-site if needed during cold weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Upper Falls, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Upper Falls, MD is Elk Neck State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 62 reviews.
What parks are near Upper Falls, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Upper Falls, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.
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