Maryland boondocking is an excellent way to get outdoors and enjoy nature with your family. The Chesapeake Bay has a lot to offer, especially during the summer, and Ocean City is a popular vacation spot. If you’re looking for something different, you can also go inland and enjoy the Potomac River, Cunningham Falls, and Peaks of the Appalachian Mountains that can be found here.
Not sure where to go boondocking in Maryland? Here are our top spots.
Boondocking Sites in Maryland
E.A. Vaughn WMA
Located in Stockton, the E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area has a primitive camping section where you can park your RV for overnight stays. The area is unpaved, so it can get muddy after a rainstorm. The area is also near several marshes, and bottom fishing is permitted, assuming you have a license. You’ll be able to fish for trout, croaker, flounder, and bluefish. Despite being a WMA, you can also hunt here as long as you’re hunting in-season and aren’t killing endangered species like the local fox squirrels.
Deal Island WMA
The Deal Island State Wildlife Management Area is an expansive tidal marsh area that spans over 13,000 acres. You can enjoy some dispersed or primitive camping off of Riley Robert Road when you’re visiting this boondocking site. This is a non-hunting site, but visitors that wish to come and take in the wildlife experience are welcome. Insects are common at Deal Island, so to avoid numerous mosquito bites, you may want to bring repellant.
Potomac State Forest Wallman Laurel Run
Potomac State Forest can be found in Oakland, MD, and has 36 sites that you will find in five separate areas. This means that there’s a bit of a communal feel when you’re boondocking here. There’s even a group site available if you have buddies that want to join you when you’re dispersed camping. Still, this is a first-come, first-served site that can fill up quickly.
Fifteenmile Creek
Situated in Pratt, Fifteenmile Creek Campground is an unpaved, paid, primitive camping area that’s first come, first served. As a boondocking site, there are no hookups, but there are several large spaces with grills and even chemical toilets. This site is located at Mile 140 on the C&O Canal Towpath. There is a local canal that you can visit, and the creek has several types of fish.
Greenbelt Park Campground
Another campground that is run by the NPS, Greenbelt Park Campground does charge a small camping fee, but in exchange, you get to camp in a well developed park that is as green as they come. While there are no hookups at the sites, there are bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets available. Additionally, the park is just minutes from Washington DC.
Where to Boondock in Maryland
- Wildlife Management Areas are a great place to look for boondocking in Maryland. Call ahead to learn whether your rig will fit.
- State forests such as the aforementioned Potomac State Forest will sometimes offer dry camping as well.
- Free overnight parking can be found at some Walmart locations, Cracker Barrel restaurants, Cabela’s, etc.
- A couple of locations run by the NPS offer dry camping for a small fee.
Maryland is a great state for RVing, especially if you love coastal and marshy areas. Many of the places are nearly untouched, and you’ll experience some truly epic wildlife as you camp. Don’t have an RV of your own? Give Maryland boondocking a try with a rental rig from RVshare!
