Gambrill State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Surrounded by the rustic beauty and peace of nature, Gambrill State Park lays just outside of Frederick, Maryland. Covering 1,207 acres of Catoctin Mountain, visitors flock to Gambrill State Park for its views and solitude. Fall brings the most visitors, who come for the colors that lay fire to the hills before the deciduous trees lose their leaves. You can visit the local towns of Frederick or Middletown, Maryland, or venture 50 miles to the closest metropolitan area of Washington, D.C.
Spring 33-75 F
Summer 62-87 F
Fall 37-79 F
Winter 25-46 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Gambrill State Park
Many campers at Gambrill State Park report that the best way to camp here is in an RV. Visitors who travel by RV toss everything they need inside, drive to their destination, and camp protected from the weather. If you don't own an RV, check out RVshare to find an RV to rent near Gambrill State Park.
Gambrill State Park Campground
The campground at Gambrill State Park offers 16 RV campsites that are spacious and secluded, each one coming with a fire ring, a lantern post, and a picnic table. A dump station with potable water access is available. The bathhouse offers warm showers, and restrooms equipped with flush toilets are found throughout the park. A camp store is open during the camping season but closes during the winter.
Water Hookup: No
Electric Hookup: 30 amp
Sewer Hookup: No
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Fee: $18 to $25 per night
Artillery Ridge Campground
Artillery Ridge Campground lies 35 miles north of Gambrill State Park near the Civil War Battlefield in Gettysburg, PA. There are 197 RV sites, all of which are 40 feet in width. Of those sites, 87 are pull-thru and are capable of handling RVs 60 feet in length. The 110 back-in sites can accommodate 50-foot RVs. Each campsite has one fire ring and a large picnic table that can seat eight people comfortably. Artillery Ridge further serves guests by providing bathhouses with hot showers, restrooms with flush toilets, and coin-operated laundry facilities. The campground supplies a heated pool, a fishing pond, a recreation hall with an arcade, a horseshoe pit, and a large playground for kids.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Fee: $69 to $76 per night
Little Bennet Regional Park Campground
Little Bennet Regional Park Campground sits 17 miles northwest of Gambrill State Park, just outside Clarksville, Maryland. The campground lies inside 3,700-acre Little Bennet Regional Park. There are 91 RV campsites available in the campground. Fire rings and picnic tables populate each site. Hot showers and clean restrooms with flush toilets are found throughout the campground and park. More than a dozen historic sites also sit inside the park, such as homes, gardens, barns, mines, and corrals. Hiking is one of the favorite activities of visitors to Little Bennett Regional Park Campground. Over 25 miles of trails that lead to historical sites or the crest of hills are available for hiking, horseback riding, or bicycling. An 18-hole golf course, managed by the county, sits within the park.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Fee: $26 to $51 per night
What to Do at
Gambrill State Park
Inside Gambrill State Park
Gambrill State Park provides a well-stocked pond for anglers and access to the Fredrick City Watershed for hunters. The main attraction of the park is the stunning visuals that appear around every corner. Over 16 miles of trails inside the park connect with paths that lead to other parks. The trails are open for hiking, biking, and equestrian travel. Of the six routes, five are challenging while one, the White Oak Trail, is easy enough for families with children to hike comfortably.
Outside Gambrill State Park
You do not need to go far outside Gambrill State Park to discover its mix of old and new attractions. Wandering through the town of Frederick, visitors encounter unexpected restaurants with exotic cuisines. Shops that sit quietly alongside the busy streets offer an incredible array of products, so you're sure to find something fun to do during your stay.
Restaurants
Jerk N Jive Bar and Kitchen
One of the unusual restaurants found in Frederick is the Jerk N Jive Bar and Kitchen. The Caribbean cuisine pleases the palate with an infusion of exotic condiments and toppings. Try the red snapper escovitch for a memorable taste experience.
Type: Caribbean
Location: 490 Prospect Boulevard, Frederick, MD 21701
Hooch and Banter
Hooch and Banter provides a fine-dining experience that emphasizes American cuisine with a French influence. You must try the pork chops and apple sauce dinner to understand the combined cuisines.
Type: American
Location: 49 South Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Kittiwat Thai Kitchen
You'll find another unexpected pleasure when you visit the Kittiwat Thai Kitchen. Try the lychee duck or the ginger-garlic salmon to experience the quality food.
Type: Thai
Location: 2505 Presidents Court, Frederick, MD 21703
Shopping
Retro Metro
One of the unique gift shops near Gambrill State Park is Retro Metro. This shop searches for the coolest items for customers on a budget. Stop in to find gifts as varied as socks, magnets, puzzles, and cool board games.
Location: 213 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Francis Scott Key Mall
The Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick houses 62 shops under one roof. When it comes time for you to shop for multiple items, this is the place to stop. Here, you'll find national brand shops like Barnes and Noble, JC Penny, and Torrid.
Location: 5500 Buckeys Town Pike, Frederick, MD 21703
Wonder Book and Video
When you need an activity for a quiet evening, visit Wonder Book and Video to find videos and books of every type. Whether you are looking for history, fiction, or biographical books, you will find them here.
Location: 1306 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21703
Sightseeing
National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Stop at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for a glimpse of the reality of armed conflict during the Civil War. Be a witness to the real sacrifices made by the soldiers.
Location: 48 East Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Moncacy National Battlefield
After visiting the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, take the family to the Moncacy National Battlefield. Though the name is not familiar, the battle is one of the most significant fought in 1864.
Location: 4801 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704
Weinberg Center for the Arts
While you and your family are in Frederick, take an evening to visit the Weinberg Center for the Arts. The center hosts film festivals, live performances of Broadway plays, and famous speakers. Check out what is happening that night and attend for a memorable evening.
Location: 20 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701
How to Get to
Gambrill State Park
Most travelers to Gambrill State Park approach the park through Frederick, Maryland. To get to the park from Frederick, head west on Maryland Highway 144, also known as West Patrick Street. Follow the highway for 5.5 miles. Turn right onto Gambrill Park Road and drive the final four miles to the park entrance.
To get to Frederick from Washington, D.C., take Interstate 395 South for one mile. Turn onto Exit 10C and take the ramp right for George Washington Memorial Parkway North toward the Memorial Bridge. Drive for 10.5 miles and take the ramp right for Interstate 495 North toward Maryland. Drive for four miles and then keep left to access the Interstate 270 Spur. Following the spur will take you two miles onto I-270 N/Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway North. Stay on I-270 N for 28 miles and then keep straight to access United States Highway 40 West. At Exit 13B, take the right ramp into Frederick.
Entering Gambrill State Park
Gambrill State Park is a day-use area that is open from 8 AM to sunset from April through October and 10 AM to dusk from November through March.
Gambrill State Park Per vehicle (Maryland residents) : $3.0
Gambrill State Park Per vehicle (non-Maryland residents) : $5.0
You'll make memories that last a lifetime when you take an RV adventure to Gambrill 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 Gambrill State Park
If you want to enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding, your best bet is to visit Gambrill State Park between June and September. Those months offer lots of warm, sunny weather.
The winters at Gambrill State Park are quite cold, featuring regular snowfall and temperatures between 21 and 42 degrees. During summer, the temperatures at the park range from 58 to 85 degrees.
The on-site campground at Gambrill State Park contains 16 designated RV campsites. The RV sites are spacious and secluded and feature 30-amp electrical hookups. The campground also boasts an RV dump station and camp store.
Gambrill State Park is home to a diverse population of wildlife. Some of the species you might spot include eagles, turkey vultures, snakes, turtles, raccoons, bears, and many other birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Gambrill State Park is an extremely pet-friendly park. You're welcome to bring your pets on the trails, in the day-use areas, and in the campgrounds. All pets must be leashed and cleaned up after in the park.