Martinak State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Opened in 1964, this 105-acre park on the Choptank River in Maryland began as a private farm. The park is actually named for the previous owner, George Martinak, who deeded the forested area to the state. Hot summers and cold winters attract a fantastic array of wildlife, birds in particular, and the park has a stunning array of diversity. Easy hiking trails, a boat ramp, and an outdoor amphitheater ensure there’s something for everyone to explore and enjoy.
Nearby Cities:
Denton, MD
Easton, MD
Cambridge, MD
Federalsburg, MD
Spring 34-56 F
Summer 70-88 F
Fall 57-81 F
Winter 27-43 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Martinak State Park
Campground Accommodations
Martinak State Park Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 30 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire ring, dump station, water station
Martinak State Park Campground
Martinak State Park features 63 sites suitable for RV camping divided into two loops. You can also use the sites for tent camping. Each campsite has a camping pad, picnic table, and a fire ring. About 30 of the sites have 30-amp electric hookups. However, sewer and water hookups are not available.
Tuckahoe State Park
Located just a few miles away from Martinak State Park, Tuckahoe presents a family camping opportunity with 54 fully equipped campgrounds and a central bathhouse. If you're a hiking enthusiast, the park has a 20-mile scenic hiking route to explore with your friends and family. You can also go for a boat ride or try your luck fishing at the 60-acre lake. Your children are also not left behind! They get to have fun at the recycled tire playground. Other activities include hunting, picnicking, canoeing, and biking.
Historic Blueberry Farm
The Historic Blueberry Farm offers an excellent camping site close to fantastic beaches. You can pitch your tent at the farm and pick your own blueberries in summer. With charcoal grills, picnic tables, fire pits, and a pavilion, this farm is a must-visit while at Martinak State Park. You can enjoy a hot shower at the outdoor cedar shower, located near the blueberry store. Some of the other amenities include picnic tables, bins, and potable water. Visitors can come with their pets too.
Killens Pond State Park
For wild animals and nature lovers, the Killens Pond State Park is a fun place to stay during your visit to the Martinak State Park. You'll have an opportunity to learn more about the creatures at the park's nature center. Tag along with your family and enjoy lunch together while viewing the beautiful outdoor deck at the Nature Center. This park offers kayaking, boat riding, and canoeing. It's also known for bird watching along the pond's edge. While there, take a walk to the river for some terrific paddles. You can also go pond fishing, biking, or attend a live concert at the theater.
What to Do at
Martinak State Park
With hiking trails, a boat launch, and plenty of wildlife, this park encourages slow exploration and nature watching. It has lots of opportunities for anglers and bird watchers in particular. Martinak also has a pavilion on Watts Creek where the park holds concerts, plays, and festivals, so be sure to check the park’s social media calendar before you visit. You may get to enjoy some live music.
Bring your boat, your binoculars, and your walking shoes to take part in all of the activities and sights that the park has to offer.
Inside Martinak State Park
The Watts Creek and the Choptank River offer a fantastic recreational opportunity for visitors touring the site with their RVs. If you love to go boat riding or angling, you'll enjoy the fishing and boating experience found here. Martinak State Park prides itself on fantastic hiking routes for sporty RV campers, and there is a nature center with stunning displays such as paintings of the site's flora and fauna. As hundreds of people flock to the Martinak State Park during the busy season, the park's management puts in place a massive array of colorful events to ensure the campers have fun. These activities include sunrise yoga, workshops, and junior rangers for kids.
Fishing
Martinak State Park sits at the junction of the Choptank River and Watts Creek, so there is plenty of shoreline to cast from. Fishers are also welcome to go out in kayaks, canoes, or powered boats to try their luck farther from shore. Perch, sunfish, bass, and catfish live in the river and creek. You will need a Maryland freshwater fishing license, and it’s a good idea to check current catch limits and seasonal restrictions as you plan your visit.
Geocaching
The park participates in geocaching, and you’ll find traditional caches as well as special events. Maryland organizes occasional state-wide treasure hunts, and Martinak has participated in past challenges. If you like puzzles and treasure hunting, be sure to check online for special hunts and new caches.
Nature Watching
This is a great area for nature watching, particularly birdwatching. Benches along the paved path by the water make fantastic birdwatching perches, and the park is a stop for migrating waterfowl, songbirds, and other species. Several types of raptors build nests in the area during the spring, as well. The lively riverbank is a wonderful place for watching small animals like turtles.
Stargazing
Although there are towns nearby, the park has good stargazing opportunities for the area. You’ll need to set up your blanket and telescope, if you brought one, in one of the park’s cleared areas. There are a few small clearings near the camping loops, and there are a few suitable spaces near the boat ramp on Watts Creek. Cooler weather offers clearer skies with less haze, so if you want the best views, it’s best to visit as early in the spring or late in the fall as possible.
Flora and Fauna
Most of the park is covered in hardwood and pine forest, and at the river’s edge you’ll find some wetlands with various aquatic grasses and picturesque lily pads. The woods are full of furry locals like deer, opossums, groundhogs, and even the occasional skunk. Fish such as bass, catfish, and perch swim in the river and creek along with plenty of turtles, frogs, toads, and snakes. The birds, however, draw the biggest crowds, and the area is a favorite of birders out to spot nesting bald eagles and ospreys. The park also sees killdeer, woodcock, sandpipers, wood ducks, cormorants, herons, egrets, owls, and hawks.
Hiking
The park offers four easy trails to explore the woods and riverside. The paved, 1-mile Activity Trail is a wonderful option for families traveling with small children, particularly those who use strollers. It leads through the park’s inland woods. Other trails lead along the water with trailheads near the boat launch. Point Trail showcases the wetlands at the meeting of Watts Creek and the Choptank River, and the Mardela Trail leads further up the creek.
Boating
Guests are welcome to bring their own watercraft to the park. A boat ramp by the mouth of Watts Creek leads into both the creek and river. Both paddleboats and motored vehicles are permitted.
How to Get to
Martinak State Park
From Baltimore, take Interstate 97 South for roughly 26 miles. Merge onto US-50 East, then continue for another 25 miles. Turn left onto MD-404, heading east. After roughly 16 miles, turn right onto Deep Shore Road, and then turn left on Martinak State Park Road. The main office is just to the right. There are several parking areas, including a big one by the boat ramp. Simply follow Martinak State Park Road a few hundred yards, and you’ll find the parking lot on your right.
Entering Martinak State Park
Entry to the park and parking are both free.
You'll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Martinak State Park. If you don't have an RV of your own, rent one with RVshare! If you share your trip photos on social media, be sure to tag us, or send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on our blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Martinak State Park
The best time to visit the park depends in part on your preferred activities, especially if you’re hoping to spot a particular migratory species while birding, or if you plan on fishing for something seasonal. Generally, spring and autumn are the best times to visit. The weather isn’t too hot, the campsites are open, and you’ll have either local wildflowers in bloom or autumn colors in the trees.
The park is very popular with birders for its array of year-long and migratory species, including nesting bald eagles. There are catfish and bass in the river and creek, and the woods have plenty of deer, opossums, and raccoons. If you keep an eye on the river banks, you’ll find turtles, frogs, and other small reptiles and amphibians.
The park offers RV-friendly sites, 30 with electric hookups. The campsites close, however, from November through the second to last weekend in March.
While you may claim a site as a walk-in upon arrival, not all campsites have electricity. Reserving in advance also helps ensure you can get a site during the busy peak season. A campsite with electricity costs $24.50 per night plus transaction fees.
Pets are welcome in outdoor areas of the park, including rented campsites, though cabins and shelters are off-limits. Owners must keep animals on a leash no longer than six feet long and also pick up and properly dispose of all waste.