Best Tent Camping near Gettysburg, PA
Several tent campgrounds are available within short driving distance of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, primarily spread across neighboring Maryland. Antietam Creek Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers walk-in tent sites along the Potomac River. Annapolis Rock Campground along the Appalachian Trail provides primitive tent camping with no vehicle access, requiring a 2+ mile moderate hike from Route 40 to reach the campground area.
Most tent sites in the region require some walking from parking areas. Antietam Creek requires campers to park on the road and carry equipment across a bridge and down a path to reach their sites, which can be a considerable distance. Each site typically includes a fire ring, picnic table, and grill, though amenities vary between locations. Vault toilets or pit toilets are available at most campgrounds but are minimally maintained. One camper noted that "the bathrooms were okay at first, but by the 3rd night they were really gross." Water sources are limited, with some areas like Dahlgren Backpacker Campground offering year-round water sources while others have no drinking water available.
The tent camping experience near Gettysburg offers varying levels of privacy and natural immersion. Annapolis Rock Campground provides backcountry tent sites with scenic overlooks at 1700 feet elevation. A visitor described it as having "about a dozen campsites to choose, and several group sites. Some fairly private." Sites at Antietam Creek Campground lack privacy between neighbors and the C&O towpath, with constant foot and bicycle traffic passing by. Campers appreciate the proximity to water features, with some campgrounds offering direct access to the Potomac River. These sites attract hikers and cyclists using the C&O Canal towpath, making them social gathering spots rather than isolated wilderness experiences. Most locations require adherence to Leave No Trace principles as trash facilities are typically not provided.