Patapsco Valley State Park's dedicated pet loop welcomes campers with dogs, offering tent sites and cabins amid wooded surroundings. Hollofield Area Campground and Hilton Area both maintain pet-friendly policies, with the Hollofield location featuring electric hookups for RV campers with pets. Campgrounds include picnic tables and fire rings with grill grates at each site, where firewood can be purchased from camp hosts for $5 per milk crate. The bathhouses at these locations are clean but showing age, with renovation plans scheduled for future implementation. Sites in the pet loops are typically more removed from other camping areas, providing additional privacy for pet owners with active dogs.
Trails accessible directly from campsites lead down to the Patapsco River, offering excellent pet exercise opportunities with 70 miles of hiking and biking paths throughout the park system. Dogs must remain leashed on all trails and within campgrounds, with waste disposal stations available at main camping areas. Several pet-friendly RV parks, including Ramblin' Pines and Cherry Hill Park, provide full hookups year-round within 20 minutes of Windsor Mill. The Hilton Area's layout is less suitable for small children biking between campsites and playgrounds due to steep, rolling hills. Summer weekends see campgrounds fill quickly with families, while weekday camping offers more solitude and quieter environments for sensitive pets. Nearby Catonsville provides emergency veterinary services and pet supply options within a 5-minute drive from most camping locations.
$20 - $51 / night
"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."
$19 - $27 / night
"Pet friendly. Very quiet. I only gave it 4 stars because the camp sites are too close together. Fire pits were well designed, bathrooms were relatively clean."
"It may be close to suburbia (a neighborhood right through the trees) and convenient to major highways (literal minutes to I95), but you will feel like you are truly secluded in the woods."
$30 - $70 / night
"We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting."
"We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick."
$999 / night
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
"We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
$20 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"Our dog was welcomed. Will definitely be going back. This was our first trip with our camper ever and everyone was helpful"
"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."
$20 - $195 / night
"We got a spot for two nights in the pet area. We were shaded by trees, but the spots weren’t very private. Bathroom facilities are nice."
"The open field pet friendly sites are also large but provide no shade and it gets hot! You can feel the difference between these sites and the interior loop sites. "
"Quiet woods in Maryland about 30 or 40 miles north of DC. Tenting, and RV spots partial to full service. Just of hiway 270. pricey ($66/night) for a state park, but nice."
"PROS Very nice small Montgomery County Park
No reservation fee to make on-line reservations
Reserved 137 days prior to arriving
Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone"
GuideWe stayed for 10 days in a rustic cabin. Campground is well organized and clean. Tons of activities and even a hiking path. Pet friendly with small dog park. We had civil war soldiers drilling and staying the weekend we were there. Bathrooms are super clean.
GuideWe have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.
TravelerThe staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
ScoutOverall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them. Also the pool and dog park isn’t on site you have to leave to go to it.
TravelerOur first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.
You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.
RangerThis is a campers dream site. Everything you can think of is offered here. You have to check their website to see all. This is the closest site to Washington DC. Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. Pets are pampered here. Even dog walking service available.
ScoutSmaller campground, but big on amenities!
Staff was friendly, attentive and the Campground is extremely well-cared for. Sites vary in sizes and are well-defined. They have a great camp store and their mini-golf was just remodeled and a lot of fun to play. In addition to that, there is a bounce pad, shuffle board, horseshoes, chess, over-sized jenga, playground, dog park, gem mining, basketball, bikes, wood, propane, etc. and they pick up trash daily right at your site. All of this in a beautiful wooded spot near Gettysburg.
I highly recommend!
RangerWhen we pulled the rangers where blocking traffic to the park. They said that the park was full. OMG they were right. No wonder Maryland is a hot spot for covid 19. After about an hour we were able to get to a camp site. Not the one I reserved. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. After setting up we ventured out to the camp store that is located at the concessions near the packed beach of the lake. We didn't find anything that resembled camping items. So we decided to go mushroom 🍄 hunting. Wow we hit the jackpot. The showers were fairly close and clean. There were a lot of signs that pet prohibited 🚫 in the park. But the cedar loop did have 🐕 dogs. They are just not allowed in the rest of the park. We had good cell service and no reception on the tv
LegendCherry Hill Park was easy to find and get to basically right off I-95. This was our first time RVing into the WA DC area and we were concerned about traffic getting to the campground(CG). As we arrived, traffic was heavy on I-95 but manageable. Cherry Hill’s and our RV GPS directions were spot on getting us to the park. We were very impressed with this CG from the moment we entered. We picked up our package outside the office(no contact check-in) and went to premium site 93 with FHUs. Back-in was easy. The wifi was very good but the CG was only about a 1/4 full. Cherry Hill has many different ways to stay; cottages, cabins, yurts, glamping pods, premium and regular tent sites in addition to the RV sites. As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same. There are a few sites in the CG on the end that will give you a little more yard space like 97(need to be a competent backer), 402, and 1723. We got 2 bars each on Verizon and AT&T. The CG’s cable provided a large selection of channels and worked well. We were impressed with the main laundry facility due to the amount of large washers and dryers, very fair pricing and very clean. The two off leash dog parks(in the same area) were nice plus there’s a well maintained walking trail that goes around this very large CG’s perimeter. We really liked how there are trash receptacles and dog poopy bag dispensers nicely placed all over the CG. Though we didn’t use it, they even have a dog walker service so you can spend a lot of time exploring the DC area without worrying about your pups. About the only draw back was the road noise from the interstate and highway pretty much 24/7, but considering the area that is to be expected. Sites 13-38 and 1500 sites near the premium tent area are the farthest away from the road noise. We would definitely stay here again.
Patapsco Valley State Park offers year-round camping access within 15 minutes of Windsor Mill, Maryland, with the Hollofield Area Campground open from April 1 to October 30. The park extends through 32 miles of the Patapsco River valley with 70 miles of multi-use trails connecting various camping areas. Winter temperatures in the area average 30-45°F while summer camping months typically see 75-90°F with moderate humidity.
Fishing opportunities: The Patapsco River provides accessible fishing spots within walking distance of most campsites. At Patapsco Valley State Park, "Tabolt island state park... The small crabs were skittering around the campsite and birds perched in the marsh. The beach was nice and clean," according to Caleb S.
Hiking trail variety: Explore woodland settings on trails rated from easy to moderate difficulty. At Greenbelt Park Campground, "There is plenty of space between camp site clusters. The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods," notes one camper.
Kayaking options: Multiple access points for watercraft along the Patapsco River allow for day trips. "Roland Lake in Baltimore County is a great place to kayak on the Patapsco River. Tons of wildlife, facilities, and amenities for you and your family," reports Anthony S.
Clean facilities: The bathhouses receive regular maintenance despite their age. "The bathhouse is nothing special, but it's well maintained and clean," according to Sean M. at Hollofield Area Campground.
Natural play spaces: Several parks feature nature-inspired playgrounds beyond standard equipment. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," reports Angel G.
Site privacy: The wooded nature of many campsites creates natural separation. At Little Bennett Campground, "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," notes Ray & Terri F., while another camper mentions "Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors."
Site reservation timing: Most campgrounds fill quickly on weekends, especially in summer. "You can only check in between 2 and 4! This might be off season though," warns Sean M. at Ramblin' Pines.
Weather considerations: The area experiences occasional severe weather events. "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," notes Alexandra T.
Tent pad conditions: Some sites have specific restrictions for tent setup. "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 one camper.
Youth-focused areas: Multiple campgrounds offer dedicated children's facilities. At Cherry Hill Park, "They have so much going on! Plan and reserve you DC tours right at the campground. No need to drive anywhere, the tour buses pick you up at the park! Pool, playgrounds, game room, camp store, pavilions, everything!" shares Jason E.
Pet-friendly trail access: Most trails accommodate dogs with leash requirements. "You can gain access to the Patapsco River by traveling down into the river valley along the Forest Glen Trail. This trail follows the Saw Mill Branch Stream and can connect with several trails," explains Rachel S.
Rainy day options: Consider indoor alternatives for inclement weather. "There's a market nearby and emergency services within a 10-minute drive of most camping areas, providing peace of mind for families traveling with children or pets," notes one regular camper.
Site selection strategy: Look for end-of-loop sites for more privacy. One camper at Cherry Hill Park recommends: "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side."
Bridge height restrictions: Pay attention to approach routes if driving a tall vehicle. "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 a visitor to Hollofield Area Campground.
Local services: Fill tanks before arrival as some sites lack hookups. "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer—although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank," notes one RVer visiting the Hollofield Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Windsor Mill, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Windsor Mill, MD is Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area with a 4.2-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Windsor Mill, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 87 dog-friendly camping locations near Windsor Mill, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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