Tent Camping (Baltimore, Ellicott City, Frederick: gated, live, beaches)

[cyntg]

Any recommendations for Maryland sites for tent camping? We are amateurs and have been to Shenandoah once and Assateague once. I like Shenandoah better and my husband wants to try Old Rag, but I figure there must be some other beautiful sites closer than VA that we can try. Wish list would be that the site have some nice attractions as well, like a waterfall, or hiking trail, awesome views, least amount of mosquitoes (Assateague was awful) lol. We have a 6 year old too.

Thanks in advance.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by cyntg

Any recommendations for Maryland sites for tent camping? We are amateurs and have been to Shenandoah once and Assateague once. I like Shenandoah better and my husband wants to try Old Rag, but I figure there must be some other beautiful sites closer than VA that we can try. Wish list would be that the site have some nice attractions as well, like a waterfall, or hiking trail, awesome views, least amount of mosquitoes (Assateague was awful) lol. We have a 6 year old too.

Thanks in advance.

Lots of great places within a short drive. Try Cunningham Falls State/National Park, Gambrills State Park, Washington Monument State Park, and the others in Frederick. Susquehanna State Park is really nice too, some hills for nice hikes and views and also a few swimming beaches. Nowhere you go will have mosquitos as bad as Assateague.

[carroll4628]

Rocky Gap SP (kinda far, but nice swimming lake)
Greenbrier SP (nice swmming lake and trails)
Cunningham Falls (nice trails, waterfall)
Elk Neck SP (trails along the bay)

We lived in Ellicott City and had neighbors who loved going to Patapsco Valley SP (in case it rained, they'd just come home). We love the hiking trails, but never spent the night.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

I meant to say elk neck, not susquehanna

[rudy_d]

Elk Neck is nice and offers some decent amenities (i.e., toilets and showers) for people who aren't hardcore campers.

[remstone]

Originally Posted by rudy_d

Elk Neck is nice and offers some decent amenities (i.e., toilets and showers) for people who aren't hardcore campers.

Ditto for Cunningham Falls - the facilities are pretty nice. But your campsites are pretty well on top of each other, so if you were looking more for quiet or isolation you should probably look elsewhere.

[cyntg]

Wow these places are fabulous. Glad I asked. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by carroll4628

We lived in Ellicott City and had neighbors who loved going to Patapsco Valley SP (in case it rained, they'd just come home). We love the hiking trails, but never spent the night.

Years ago when I lived 3 hours away, if I was visiting Baltimore and had no good friend/family options to stay with, I'd just camp in Patapsco and drive into town. It is a pretty nice park and feels secluded for being where it is. It's gated with a passcode so you can come and go as you please with some element of security. There is some good hiking too - but I wouldn't go in the water.

The McKeldin area of Patapsco has the best hikes but no camping.

[cyntg]

Elk Neck it is! Any suggestions for the best loop?

[carroll4628]

We stayed at the "Elk Loop" because we have dogs.