Free Camping in Maryland

200 sites across 10 federal and state land agencies. 1 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

Bureau of Land Management sites

2 sites. Bureau of Land Management camping rules →

US Navy sites

4 sites. US Navy camping rules →

  • Naval Airstation (NAS) Patuxent River
    Developed· Indexing
  • Navy Recreation Center Solomons
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pax River Paradise Grove Campgrounds
    Developed· Indexing

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sites

2 sites. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration camping rules →

  • Chesapeake Bay Maryland National Estuarine Research Reserve
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary
    Developed· Indexing

National Park Service sites

51 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Antietam National Battlefield
    Developed· Indexing
  • Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Assateague Island National Seashore
    Developed· Indexing
  • Back Country Camping - State Line
    Developed· Indexing
  • Back Country Camping - Tingles Island
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baltimore National Heritage Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baltimore-Washington Parkway
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • CAMP MISTY MOUNT
    Developed· Indexing
  • CAMP ROUND MEADOW
    Developed· Indexing
  • Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion
    Developed· Indexing
  • Catoctin Mountain Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chesapeake Bay
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chisel Branch
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cumberland Valley Hiker-Biker Overnight (HBO) Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fifteen Mile Creek Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Foote Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Washington Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Washington Park Day Use Facilities
    Developed· Indexing
  • Georgetown Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
27 more National Park Service sites in Maryland.

PRIVATE sites

131 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Adirondack Shelters Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Adventure Bound Washington DC
    Developed· Indexing
  • Annapolis Rock AT Camping Area
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Antietam Creek Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Apache Bluff
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arrowhead
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baden Powell
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bald Eagle Island
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Bannaker
    Developed· Indexing
  • Barney
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bay Shore Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bayside Assateague Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Run State Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Breezy Point Beach and Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brunswick Family Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bumble Bee RV Park and Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buttonwood Beach
    Developed· Indexing
  • Calico Rocks
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Calvert Cliffs Youth Group Camping
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Camp Airy for Boys
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Cone
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Conowingo - Shadow Brook
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp ESPA
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Fairlee Manor
    Developed· Indexing
107 more PRIVATE sites in Maryland.

State Agency Program sites

1 site. State Agency Program camping rules →

  • Annmarie Garden on St. John
    Developed· Indexing

State Parks sites

3 sites. State Parks camping rules →

  • Green Ridge State Forest
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Henson Scout Reservation
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hollofield Area Camping
    Developed· Indexing

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

1 site. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • IWW Delaware River to Chesapeake Bay
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

1 site. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • Camp Whippoorwill
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

4 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Glenn Martin National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Patuxent Research Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Maryland

How long can you camp on public land in Maryland?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Maryland is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Maryland have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Maryland right now?
Fire restrictions in Maryland change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Maryland state office page and the USFS Maryland forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Maryland?
Dispersed camping in Maryland means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. BLM land in Maryland carries most of the dispersed sites. USFS national forests in Maryland allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Maryland?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Maryland with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Maryland prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Maryland?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Maryland when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Maryland are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Maryland in winter?
Winter access in Maryland depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Maryland often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Maryland?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Maryland do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Maryland?
Coverage in Maryland varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Maryland sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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