Camping sites near Little Orleans, Maryland offer varied terrain within the Appalachian Mountain region, where elevations range from 500 to 1,500 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically reaching 80-90°F and winter lows often dropping below freezing. Water access points along the Potomac River provide recreational opportunities for campers at several locations within 30 miles of Little Orleans.
What to do
Riverside activities: Near Harpers Ferry Campground, the Potomac River offers multiple water recreation options. "Gorgeous spot on the river. Small campground with not a lot of amenities BUT THAT RIVER IS GORGEOUS. Lots of activities - tubing, zip lining, fishing," notes Darcy S. about the riverside location.
Hiking trails: The 5-mile trail around Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park provides views from all sides of the lake. According to Jeff H., "The 5 mile hike around Lake Habeeb is enjoyable. Great way to see all sides of the park. Across the lake from the campground is a casino and resort."
Water sports: Multiple rental options exist for paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing at Rocky Gap State Park. "You can rent kayaks, canoes, and SUPs, or bring your own for no launch fee," reports Sue J., who visited the park recently.
Mini golf and fishing: Friendship Village Campground offers family-friendly recreation options on-site. "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing," shares Tasha M. about their off-season visit to the Bedford, Pennsylvania location.
What campers like
Private riverside campsites: At Harpers Ferry Campground, many visitors appreciate the water proximity. "Our campsite was right along the water (all spots are along the water). We love walking and having a nice walk right from our campsite is a big bonus," explains Mikala S., who stayed for two nights mid-week.
Spacious, wooded sites: Rocky Gap State Park Campground provides well-separated sites. "Can't believe how much space is between each site. You're close enough to see other campers but far enough away to feel you have you own sections of woods," notes Jeff H. about site 262 in the Ironwood loop.
Camp stores with necessities: Little Orleans campgrounds typically maintain well-stocked stores. Sammii D. observed at Little Orleans Campground that "The RV side has all the cool stuff; store, pavilion, basketball courts, playground, etc." while Jennifer K. noted the camp store has "campground merch, blankets, snacks, toiletries, a lot of rv parts, refrigerated food necessities, pantry items, alcohol, cigarettes, games, fishing gear."
Weekend entertainment: Friendship Village Campground schedules regular activities. Christopher R. reports, "The property had a movie showing in their barn on Saturday night (Despicable Me) and they also seem to schedule a lot of live entertainment, mostly Bluegrass."
What you should know
Road conditions: Several campgrounds have challenging access roads. One visitor at Little Orleans Campground mentioned, "The roads are full of potholes going back to the sites," while at Nature's Getaway RV Park, Paul B. noted, "The site wasn't so level, but we made it work."
Noise factors: Train tracks near Harpers Ferry Campground affect some campers. Sherri C. explained, "The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains. The proximity to the tracks means that if the sound doesn't wake you up, the rumbling ground will. Every hour through the night."
Site selection importance: Campsite locations vary significantly within the same campground. At Little Orleans Campground, Jennifer K. observed, "Sites and roads are gravel, nice newer fire pit and picnic table at each. There is a pool, basketball hoops, and a fully stocked camp store... Really a nice campground with great hosts. Only complaint is the closeness of other sites."
Bathroom facilities: Maintenance of facilities varies by campground and timing. Sue J. at Rocky Gap noted, "The bathroom trailer near the campsites was extremely smelly, with many of the 4 toilets clogged. The water from the sink sprayed everywhere, and for the first day and a half of our trip, there was NO SOAP."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Rocky Gap State Park offers a dedicated swimming area. Katie H. appreciates 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."
Playground options: Multiple play areas exist at most area campgrounds. At Friendship Village Campground, Steve K. observed, "There is 3 play grounds all different and all well kept."
Activity variety: For families seeking scheduled entertainment, several campgrounds provide organized events. Tasha M. shared about Friendship Village Campground: "Went camping here for the first time this weekend. Although it was the off season there was still tons to do. The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing."
Fire safety and supplies: Most campgrounds sell firewood on-site. Mikala S. recommends at Harpers Ferry Campground: "Dont buy the $25 firewood itll be gone in one night they have wood throughout the campground go forage!"
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Grading varies significantly between RV sites. At Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA, Jonathan F. noted, "The only drawback was that the sites were tight and not the most level but we made do." Similarly at Pioneer Lakes RV Park, Whistle P. experienced, "The spot was so unlevel there were 19 inches between my bottom step and the ground."
Seasonal options: Year-round camping availability exists at several RV campgrounds near Little Orleans, Maryland. Doug J. states about Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA, "If you're looking for a quiet, smaller friendly spot to spend a few day camping or in a cabin, you're doing yourself an injustice if you don't choose Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA!"
Utilities reliability: Power outages can occur in mountain locations. Ursula at Rocky Gap State Park Campground reported, "We are in Ash loop lot 22. Unfortunately yesterday a storm knocked out the power supply for the campground but otherwise great service."
Site spacing: RV sites vary in proximity to neighbors. At Gary's Family Campground, Paul O. found, "Very nice, peaceful country campground. Nicely maintained except for some rutting in the roads on hills. Staff was friendly and helpful. We stayed on a Monday and Tuesday in June and basically had most of the campground to ourselves."
