Travel

How To Reserve Labor Day Campground, MD State Park Spots

If you're thinking about spending Labor Day 2021 in the great outdoors, make those last-minute camping reservations now in Maryland.

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MARYLAND — Labor Day weekend is here, in fact some Marylanders may have already started their long weekend. If camping is on your agenda and you’re like the many others who wait until the last minute, you need to make those reservations at your favorite state park or local campground now.

Labor Day is Sept. 6 this year. While it might be too late to snag the prime locations, you can check to see if spots are still available at Maryland parks and campgrounds.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a campsite reservations site you can search through, or call 888-432-2267 to speak to a reservation agent.

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The Maryland Park Service offers more than 2,000 campsites, 120 full-service and camper cabins, and 100 picnic shelters across the state. There are paddle-in campsites for kayakers at Janes Island and Newtowne Neck State Parks. And there are even a few yurts in the mountains at both Rocky Gap and Deep Creek Lake State Parks

Here are a few picturesque spots to check on:

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Gunpowder Falls State Park, Parkton
Reserve your spot

Janes Island State Park, Crisfield
Reserve your spot

Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area, Queenstown
Reserve your spot

The following facilities have campsites, cabins, and shelters, as listed, available for rent through the statewide reservation system, unless otherwise noted as available on a first-come, first-served basis, or through a specific park or forest office.

EASTERN REGION

Assateague State Park

  • Family campsites
  • Youth group campsites (reserved by calling the Reservation Service at 1-888-432-2267)

Pocomoke River State Park (Shad Landing)

Pocomoke River State Park (Milburn Landing)

Pocomoke State Forest

Janes Island State Park

Tuckahoe State Park

Martinak State Park

  • Cabin, camper cabins, family campsites, amphitheater and picnic shelters

Wye Island NRMA

CENTRAL REGION

Patapsco Valley State Park

  • Avalon Area - picnic shelters
  • Glen Artney - picnic shelters
  • Hilton Area - family campsites, camper cabins, picnic shelters
  • Hilton Area - youth group campsites (reserved through the Reservation Service)
  • Hollofield Area - family campsites and picnic shelters
  • McKeldin Area - picnic shelters
  • McKeldin Area - youth group campsites (reserved through the Reservation Service)
  • Orange Grove Area - picnic shelters
  • Pickall Area - picnic shelters

Seneca Creek State Park

  • Picnic shelters and open area picnic sites

Gunpowder Falls State Park

  • Camp Cone - Youth group campsites (reserved through the park office, call 410-592-2897)
  • Camp Wood - Youth group campsites (reserved through the park office, call 410-592-2897)
  • Hammerman Area - picnic shelters
  • Hereford Area - Mill Pond Cottage (reserved through the park office)

Hart-Miller Island

  • Family campsites (first-come, first-served basis, accessible by boat only)

North Point State Park

  • Picnic shelter

Rocks State Park

  • Picnic shelters

Susquehanna State Park

  • Family campsites, camper cabins and picnic shelters

Elk Neck State Park

SOUTHERN REGION

Sandy Point State Park

Smallwood State Park

Cedarville State Forest

Rosaryville

  • Picnic shelters

Point Lookout State Park

  • Family campsites and picnic shelters

Calvert Cliffs State Park

WESTERN REGION

Cunningham Falls State Park

Gambrill State Park

  • Family campsites, picnic shelters, camper cabins and Tea Room

Greenbrier State Park

Washington Monument State Park

Fort Frederick

Rocky Gap State Park

Green Ridge State Forest

  • Primitive campsites (first come, first served)
  • Group sites (parties with 20 or more may reserve through the forest office)

Dans Mountain State Park

  • Picnic shelters

New Germany State Park

  • Cabins, family campsites and picnic shelters

Big Run State Park

Savage River State Forest

  • Primitive campsites (first come, first served)

Deep Creek Lake State Park

  • Bear Den campsite, camper cabins, family campsites, yurt and picnic shelters

Herrington Manor State Park

  • Cabins and picnic shelter

Swallow Falls State Park

Once you’ve made your reservation, take a look at the DNR's suggested packing list. Two things to note: you will need to bring your own container for getting water to your campsite, and do not bring firewood from outside the park due to pest management efforts.

Not sure where to go? Check out CampgroundReviews.com to see photos, which spots earned the highest marks for amenities and tips from fellow campers.

If you’re among those who like to wait until the last minute, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1) Check out a smaller park.

If your favorite state park or campground is fully booked, try a regional or municipal park. These spots often fill up less quickly than their larger camping counterparts.

2) Rough it.

If you’re not afraid to spend the weekend without electricity or running water, head for the forest. Most national forests have campgrounds that don’t require advance reservations. The same goes for Bureau of Land Management parks.

3) Hope for a cancellation.

Have your heart set on a specific state park and campground? You can always head there, wait patiently and hope another camper doesn’t show up to claim their spot.

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