camping in MD (maybe beyond a state park) (Potomac, Catonsville: rent, house)

[elbows]

Looking for camping recommendations in MD.

State parks are fine, but in MD, a Friday night stay is required with a Saturday stay, and if I am camping in MD, I would really prefer to take it easy after work on Friday night and not being running out in DC traffic. So, I think this means I need something beyond a state park.

Any recommendations on a Saturday night camping site that is among trees (walk-in site would be great) and not RVs? Don't need a playground but would like a decent bathroom (bf is a little fussy about bathrooms).

Thanks!

[cmacf1]

All state parks in MD have the required friday/saturday rule? We haven't camped in any of the parks, but we live right up the road from Patapsco Valley State Park which is totally gorgeous (nice bathrooms for the bf,) quite close to DC, but very when you're there in the campground, it's like you're miles away. It's a huge park, but I know there are campgrounds near us in Catonsville (which isn't too far from DC at all, even on a Friday.) Have you checked out the website that lists all state parks? It's Season Beginning/Ending Dates and Service Charges for Maryland State Parks . I know you said beyond state parks. I personally don't know of others, but we LOVE hiking and biking in Patapsco Valley! One day we'll take the kids camping there.

The other thought is Virginia State Parks. Do you know if they have the same rules? We were just in Shenandoah National Park and the campgrounds there looked great! I just tried booking a tent site at Big Meadows campground and it allowed me to reserve one for one night (September 30th.) Of course, I didn't follow through with it, but it did allow it. The campgrounds at Shenandoah are mainly tent camping (from what we saw last week when we were there,) though there were some smaller Rv pop-ups. From what I read, there are a few places that can accomodate large RVs, but most are for much smaller scale camping. The campgrounds were truly gorgeous with deer meandering through them and on the edge of the forest. Here's a website: Shenandoah National Park - Campgrounds (U.S. National Park Service)

Good luck finding a place. There's nothing quite as cleansing as a few nights out in nature (though I agree with bf that I'd like a nice bathroom nearby .)

[tommy c]

Hi...What i do is.....Just pay for friday and show up saturday.I do think all the state parks have a two day min on weekends.Not sure if it has to be friday/sat or sat/sun? I think patapsco valley is like 15.00 per day.

Tom

[carey24]

Might be a little far, but Assateague on the State side is beautiful. You camp right on the dunes and the bathrooms are wonderful (my sis is high maintenance, never camped, and even she was fine). I know we only stayed for one night, but that was a while ago.

[rubytue]

Originally Posted by tommy c

Hi...What i do is.....Just pay for friday and show up saturday.I do think all the state parks have a two day min on weekends.Not sure if it has to be friday/sat or sat/sun? I think patapsco valley is like 15.00 per day.

Tom

Although it seems annoying to pay for two nights but only camp for one, there is an advantage to it. If you have a reservation for Friday night but don't show up, you can check in and take you campsite first thing Saturday morning. If you only have your reservation for Saturday night, you have to wait until 3pm to check-in. Found this out over 4th of July weekend where we could not get motivated enough to get packed up after work

[Lenagainster]

Originally Posted by elbows

Looking for camping recommendations in MD..

Thanks!

Does western Maryland interest you? We spend our weekends at Little Orleans Campground. Ten miles west of Hancock MD. Under two hours (abt 100 miles) from I-270 and I-495 via I-270 to I-70 to I-68 to Exit 68 then 6 miles to the campground. Open all year. Only on holiday weekend you would have a problem arriving on Saturday. Any other weekend during the year, tenting sites are available on Saturdays. And you could check in early (9 am) in the morning and stay all day Sat. and Sun. for one night's fee. While most of the tenting area is located about 1/4 mile from the main campground and the hike to the bath house is up a steep hill, there are tent sites within the main campground complex. Just specify the tenting area behind the "Pineview" RV sites. If you would prefer the convenience of electric and water at your site, you could rent an RV site (higher fee) closer yet to the bathhouse which would be available without worry in the Fall or Spring. The campground is less than 1/2 mile from the Potomac river and the C&O Canal towpath.