Rocky Gap State Park Campground

This is one of our favorite campground that we visit often. We love that the campground has their own beach so it’s not over crowded with the public. Near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch. I really like that there are trails from the camp loops to the beach. The bathhouses are always clean and well stocked. The camp sites are tucked into the woods with plenty of room for camping.

We visited here again in June and loved it just as much as past visits. Our site 27 was very tight and narrow, but pretty level as were most of the sites I saw. We had an RV and a tent on it. We could still use the fire pit though. Our relatives were in site 28 which was incredibly large with lots of extra space for corn hole. Our friends were in site 29 which had good space as well. Our favorite site is 15, a pull through, but that’s hard to get. This time we walked the trail around Lake Habib which was 5.3 miles. We stopped at the hotel/casino for a drink about half way around. The beach area there was not too crowded. The campground has their own swim beach with a great playground, nature center, and camp store. Locally, we went into Cumberland which is about a 10-15 min drive and tasted the wines at Charis winery. The Cumberland Railroad museum was open for its last day ever. It’s closing down. There is a brewery and the C&O canal towpath there as well. Weather was perfect with mild temps and a cool breeze.

I have stayed at this park many times over the years and it is always clean and well-maintained.  This park is suitable for winter camping as well with fully functional bathhouses throughout the wintertime.  The park has a lake and store along the beachfront area.  This property is also part of the Rocky Gap Resort which has golf and a casino.

We really like this state park campground. It’s right off I-70 (but you wouldn’t know it), it’s located in a big beautiful valley with a lake, and lots to do. The campground is nicer than average, with very large sites that feel very secluded. Some sites have 30amp electric. It was winter when we visited, but the campground has its own swimming beach, which is great because the main beach gets very crowded. It’s just minutes from Cumberland and there is plenty to do. Staff was great!

Lived in the Cumberland area from the mid 70’s through the 90’s. Back in the area and wanted to camp near downtown. Out of a total 278 sites there were less than 25 occupied. That resulted in wide open camping loops and lots of peace and quiet. Stayed in F loop, non-electric site. Plenty of leaves left on the trees so not much solar and we did need to crank up the generator once to top off the batteries.

Very nice,quiet and clean. Our site ( 150) had electricity and it was close to the bathroom , that are modern and clean. The sites are large, paved and with shade ( lots of trees). We had great phone and internet signal.Very short walk to the beach on a path between sites 167 and 168. They have a camp store , snack bar( open weekends) and park. The lakeside trail was longer then the trails we usually go on(5.3miles). I would not recommend to take a bike on that trail. The only thing that I didn’t liked was that the water in the beach area was too shallow ( only knee deep) and I couldn’t swim. I will definitely come back!

This is a nice, clean, gated state park in the mountains. We stayed in the ash loop and the sites were huge and private. Ours backed up to the lake and a trail along the lake so we could walk to the beach and playground. The picnic table was new. The pull through site went in and out of the woods and provided a lot of privacy. The water at the beach was very clear and the temperature was perfect. The only drawback to me was the knowledge that there is a casino on the lake and motorized boats, though you can't see the former and I only saw two of the latter. They had kayaks and paddleboards for rent. We enjoyed our stay.

Great location and nice sites. Sites are set apart which makes it really nice. Close to the GAP and C&O Trail and lots of other outdoor attractions

Love having this campground close to the casino. Also clean

For the park itself to be in such a beautiful and remote location, it's a shame they built a casino in it. Our campsite was clean and partially wooded, but we were very close to a parking lot. We had electric hookups but no water or sewer. There are some beautiful hiking trails in the gorge, and the lake is small but good for kayaking. The campground restroom was very clean.

This is a nice and large campground by Maryland State Park Standards. Sites are nice and not stacked right on top of one another. Some sites have electric, but the bathhouses are clean and decently well kept. The real draw here is the very large lake stocked with fish, and the casino. Botha are just a short walk from the campground. It is incredibly convenient from I68 but you do t get any highway noise. There are even yurts to rent.

This place is awesome! Our site (15) was a spacious pull through with great view of the mountain through the fall foliage! Our friends were in the site next to us (17) which was also nice and there was a wide walking path between them. Family also stayed in one of the rental cabins (21). Sites are spaced far apart in the section we were in with lots of foliage for privacy. There is walking path behind the loop along the lake that goes to the beach area and camp store. Easy access to the bath house with several paths off the loop. I recommend the pull through sites for their size and privacy but most sites looked great. The cabin was cute. It had a queen bed, bunk beds, side table and front porch with a couple windows. Picnic tables are large and fire pits were placed perfectly for our site.

Very relaxing camping area. Dog friendly with clean bathrooms

This was my first time camping in over 10 years and my first solo trip. I felt really safe. The bath house was cleaned regularly. The lake was beautiful. It's easy to find off the highway, and far enough from the next town to be quiet but not so far if you have a reason to go into town (like say, you forgot food for your second of two nights), it's easy enough to get to. I accidentally booked a site close to the main road through the campground, I hiked during the day but it was busy when I was there, it was pretty quiet at night, enough trees for privacy.

Just spent a long weekend here, for the first time. Camped from Thursday to Mon. The park is a easy drive from Pittsburgh and DC. We stayed in the C Loop. Sites are nicely spaced with trees in between. Sites was level with a fire ring, picnic table and lantern post. Lake was very pretty. Looked clean although fish really weren’t biting this weekend. There are 2 beaches, one by the campground and a larger one by the casino. Campground is at the opposite side of the lake from the campground. The trail going around the lake (approx 5.3 miles around) is pretty flat and easy to hike. All in all a nice park. I would go back.

We booked 2 weeks before for Thurs-Saturday. We arrived Thursday evening, and there were a couple other people but by Friday every lot was filled. We weren’t camped near the lake, so the bugs weren’t too bad. Bathroom facilities were pretty clean (and I have HIGH standards for cleanliness) and there was an outdoor sink for dishwashing. RE the beach: it was nice and calm on Thursday, but pretty packed on Friday. You can find a spot on the beach, but it may not be shaded. Overall, this is a great place for families. There’s golfing, swimming, good hiking, boating, kayaking rentals, and a casino for adult fun. For hiking, I highly recommend the Lake Habeeb Lakeside Loop for wonderful views. The only downside is that it goes through the beach and that stretch is pretty hot.

Semi private & large tent sites. Medium size beach and dock to launch kayaks at. Fish weren’t biting for us this weekend!

We camped here with family two days in April. The tent sites are fine, maintained with hard gravel tent spots. Each site is a good size and spaced apart for privacy. The bathrooms were clean. Water spigots and even a dish clean out area made it lovely (the dishes sink was closed for the season though). The playground and beach were lovely. The downside, and it is big for us, is that instead of falling asleep to the sound of frogs, we laid awake all night listening to the noise from nearby 83. The traffic noise was so loud combined with the often interrupting scream of truck brakes. We will not return, as we go camping to be in nature and the road noise was a constant reminded we were not.

Have waited six months into our RV life to start reviews for fair comparisons. This quickly became our top stay “so far” of the trip. Spent 5 nights. Private wooded setting, hardly anyone there, amazing hiking (you can hike to the PA border!) and mountain biking right from the site. And the bathroom/showers were spotless. When the weather turned quite cold they were happy to let us switch sites to electric which was much appreciated. Great areas for dog walking. Loved loved LOVED it here. And enjoyed a socially distanced visit to 1812 Brewery near by.

I grew up camping with my family at Rocky Gap every summer. The best feature of Rocky Gap is the versatility of the campgrounds. There are options for RV camping with electric, tent spots, small cabins, and the resort if you would rather have a more comfortable resort experience. Pets are allowed in a select few loops.

They have a range of activities available including a large lake to swim, fish or paddle. There are a few trails for hiking, at least 2 small “beach” areas off the lake with play grounds and a camp store. You can also go over to the casino resort for entertainment and food.

Alcohol is not permitted outside of the resort which is partly why I say this camping experience is better for families. Rangers routinely monitor the site loops and there is a quiet hours period, I believe starting at 10pm and you will have a ranger pull up on you if you do not adhere.

CAMPSITES BREAKDOWN:

Type: Gravel Vehicle Accessible: Yes Size: ~ 1 large tent or 2 compact tents. Most are the same size, fairly small spots. Bathroom: Communal bathhouses in the middle of each loop with toilets, sinks and showers. Fire pit: Yes, with grill grate. Firewood: Must buy firewood at camp store. Water access: Some, depending which part of the loop your site is located on. Electric: No unless RV camping. Alcohol Policy: Not permitted unless drinking in the Resort or a motor home. Other Features: Picnic table, small wood post counter / hook to hang a lantern on and place a camp stove on.

Cost for our campsite was very reasonable. Sites are large and flat. Each has their own fire ring with grill setup. Bathrooms were clean and even had an outside sink to wash dishes in. We really enjoyed our time! The views were fantastic and we had a good time kayaking on the lake.

Just took our 1st trip to Rocky Gap. Very happy with the site, the bath house, and the park itself. Looking forward to going back soon.

We chose this campground for its proximity to home with the chance to swim in the lake.

The camping did not disappoint. We always try to book “outside” loop sites so we don’t have “back neighbors” but none near the lake were available, so we took our chances on an “inside” site in E loop. It was great, smallish, but plenty of vegetation to make it feel private. (Some poison ivy around the edges, though.) The pull-in sites in general seem a bit small (space for our two 4-person tents and that’s it), but are well shaded and separated from neighbors by small patches of woods or bushes. The pull-through sites in our loop were more exposed to the road, but had a bit more space.

There was some noise from the interstate. There were surprisingly few mosquitoes. The bathhouse was clean, but showers were not very warm.

The swimming was unfortunately disappointing. The roped-off swimming area was 3 feet deep at the most. Warm water in August, nice for kids to splash around, but not really good for actual swimming. Bonus for dog people: pets allowed on the beach and in the lake.

During COVID-19, the bathrooms/bathhouses at the beach area are closed; porta-johns only.

We rented paddle boards and a canoe one afternoon and paddled around to one of the lake inlets, which was actually deep and had a good swim. But this is technically not allowed.

If you feel okay about rule-breaking and have water-safe family members (and no pets), I would absolutely choose a site in I loop close to the lake. The sites in E loop closest to the lake are actually up a fairly steep hill from the lake path.

Hiking trails were nice. My kids especially liked the rock scramble-ish up and down the stream gorge on Evitt’s Mountain trail.

Rocky Gap has a large number of water activities available (boating, fishing, swimming) and two beaches. There are approximately 35 miles of mountain biking/hiking trails around the lake and on the surrounding hills.

If camping is not to the liking of everyone in your party there is a golf course and casino on one side of the lake. Something for a lot of tastes.

Only down side is that even on a Tuesday the camp and beaches were quite busy, so a little on the noisy side.

It's about an hour from my house just of I-68. Has a big lake with swimming, fishing, hiking, canoes and kayaks for rent. It is pet friendly and quite even though it's 5 minutes from the interstate. We love taking long weekend trips there.

Rocky Gap is our go-to place for quick family camping. We tend to stay in either the F or C loops, as we have pets. We take a large family tent with us and all the trims. Most of the sites are large enough for big family tents and many are made for RV’s in mind. Each loop has a centralized bathroom with showers (and warm water!) There are dish washing stations as well. The beach at the lake is not far away for any loop. Prior to COVID, there was a camp store with basic amenities as well as ice cream, but that has not happened as of yet due to regulations still in place. There is a small cafe type place near the camp store that is run by volunteers that is open on the weekends. When COVID doesn’t rule, the nature center is open and ranger programs abound. (They are quite popular as well) the is an aviary near the campground entrance and is one of two in Western Maryland that houses birds that cannot be released due to injury. (The other is at Deep Creek Lake.) Nearby there is the resort and casino attached to the park on the public side. Close by are many restaurants that have remained opened during COVID. The park itself offers miles of trails, many of which are rated for mountain biking as well as hiking. Every campsite has a fire ring. There is waste bins at the campground entrance. Remember Western Maryland is bear country, but also deer, eagle, hawk, and plenty of fish. The one improvement I’ve heard, but don’t really care for is that some campers wish for a shuttle to the casino. I say let’em walk. As of this writing, no lifeguards patrol the beach. The bathrooms and playgrounds are open. You’re going to have to get your groceries in town. I’ve noticed weekend’s fill up quick and getting a holiday site is best if you plan MONTHS ahead.

Very nice park, lots of activities and things to do.  Will definitely be going back.

We really thought this is one of the more enjoyable park we've camped at. Sites we more private than most parks, well laid out with a firering, pad and table. Bathrooms were very clean. And the beach was a huge hit for the kids and adults in the group

This park is a lot of fun in warm weather with kids. The facilities are also top-notch. I couldn't get over how nice the bathrooms were! We rented mini cabins which each have electricity but no bathroom or running water. Ours had a futon, folding table, double bed and bunk beds. The office will lend you a box fan at check-in and the cabins do get stuffy.

The swimming beach and playground are absolutely beautiful! We had a great time at the nature center reptile feeding program. We also walked around the aviary, where you can see many of the birds from the outside even if it isn't open for a program. We hiked the loop around the lake, not realizing that it was over 5 miles! It also takes you right through the casino parking lot and crowded day use area at one point. If there's a drawback to this park, it's that it really doesn't feel very remote. You're basically across the lake from a big hotel and casino. But it's convenient to DC and a great place for kids and new campers!

Campground Review: This state park in MD is very popular in the fall for leaf peepers and this weekend was no exception. We were there the last weekend in Sept. The areas of the park that were available were pretty full. All electric sites were full. Our site 16 was spacious and private except for the pathway to the bath house but I only saw a half dozen people walking by. There are many paths from the 30 sites in the A or Ash loop to get to the bath house which was decent and clean. My sister-in-law and her husband stayed in a pull through site #15. It was extremely spacious and very private and backed up to the woods. We checked in at 8:05 on a Friday and there were 2 rangers in the office. The campground has a gate. There are loops A-I with A being all electric and pet friendly. B, C, D, and E were pet friendly with a couple electric sites but seemed to be used by hosts. Loops F through I were no dogs and no electric. There is a beach and a dog beach area which is a huge plus! The camp store was open but the Aviary and Nature center were closed for the season.  There appeared to be boat rentals but I didn't inquire. We hiked throughout and around the lake at the campground and then drove to the other end of the lake (there is a 5 mile trail around the lake) and hiked to Canyon Overlook and the dam which was very pretty. There was a scavenger hunt paper we could've used to search for objects in nature. Great for kids! There are 278 sites total with just 30 having electric hook-up. I would definitely camp there again! Hope it's a bit cooler next time. It was nearly 90!

______________________________

Product Review: 

I used the Eclipse sun protection clothing for a little bit on Saturday. It was so hot I couldn't keep it on even with the side vents. I had the shawl cover up as well. I found the one size fits all poncho to be too big for me. I am small stature (5'4" and 110 lbs) so one size fits all doesn't usually fit me. I emailed a review to the company and they responded quickly that they were going to offer sized clothing in the very near future! The material was light weight and I think is as good as or better than any other sun protection clothing I've owned. I would recommend it!