Welcome summer with plans to go camping or glamping. The outdoors holds so much rejuvenative power (is that a word?) that you don’t want to miss any opportunity to get outside.
Here, we’ve got a list of destinations in an area we love – the Mid-Atlantic region of the US that we think would make for perfect summer getaway destinations. We’ve been to most of them, and the rest are on our bucket list. So, here, compliments of the MId-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance, are a select list of ideas for that special getaway.
CAMPING IN DELAWARE
Delaware’s Quaint Villages
Delaware’s Quaint Villages is home to some of the best year-round “off-the-beaten path” camping locations in Kent County. Camp under the stars at Smyrna’s Blackbird State Forest or at Felton’s Killens Pond State Park. Both offer birding, outdoor activities, and more. Or head to family-owned G&R Campground located in Houston. Delaware’s Quaint Villages, Danielle Jonigan, VisitDelawareVillages.com
CAMPING IN MARYLAND
Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Capital KOA Holiday and Duncan’s Family Campground offer rural peace and solitude just minutes from downtown Annapolis! NSA Annapolis Campground is open to active duty, retired, and reserved military personnel. Park your RV at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and walk into town for waterfront dining, tours, cruises, and historic attractions! Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, Susan Seifried, VisitAnnapolis.org
Frederick County
Looking for a way to camp without losing access to the comforts of home? Ole Mink Farm Recreation Resort is the spot for you! The site offers one to four-bedroom luxury cabins. They may be in the woods, but all are equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi! Visit Frederick, Melissa Joseph Muntz, VisitFrederick.org
Hagerstown – Washington County
The Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree Campground has 20 wooded acres backing up to the Appalachian Trail on South Mountain, providing a peaceful escape and relaxing atmosphere for your next outdoor adventure. Enjoy a unique camping experience at rustic tent sites, tree houses, tree cottages or the new Hobbit House. Visit Hagerstown, Betsy DeVore, VisitHagerstown.com
Harford County
Come see beautiful, preserved open space where nature, untouched, can be enjoyed by all. Go RV-camping on the Bush River at Bar Harbor RV Park where amenities include a swimming pool, a gift/grocery store, and a playground. For a more primitive adventure, rent a camper cabin at Susquehanna State Park. Visit Harford, Mindy Schneider, VisitHarford.com
Kent County
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and return to a place of simplicity at Bayshore Campground in Kent County. Surrounded by farmland, this exclusive property cozies up to the wide-open expanse of the Chesapeake Bay and promises a beautiful and serene getaway you won’t soon forget. Kent County Tourism, Bernadette Bowman, KentCounty.com
Wicomico County
Camp by the water in Wicomico County. Bring your tent or RV to Roaring Point Waterfront Campground in Nanticoke or Sandy Hill Family Camp in Quantico, which are both along the Nanticoke River. Woodlawn Campground in Delmar is another local place to camp. Wicomico County, Vanessa Junkin, WicomicoTourism.org
PENNSYLVANIA
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
When in the pursuit of luxury camping, look no further than the Keystone State. Whether it’s a tent on a private island on the Delaware River at Shawnee Inn, or a fully-furnished farm retreat at Whispering Pines Farm, you’ll enjoy the outdoors with the modern amenities you crave in Pennsylvania! Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Natalie Buyny, VisitPA.com
Butler County
From canvas-sided yurts and full-service cabins to traditional tents and RV sites, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest Kampground makes your camping experience a unique and enjoyable one. This award-winning park offers a variety of campsites, recreational activities, and family fun with Yogi Bear and friends. Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, Tiffany Hernandez, VisitButlerCounty.com
Central Pennsylvania
The Bellefonte/State College KOA has received the KOA Founder’s Award for world-class service and the KOA President’s Award for exceptional quality standards. The campground has a pool, playground, pavilion with programs, a stocked fishing pond, and a mining sluice for kids wanting to pan for gems. Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau, Andy Rupert, VisitPennState.org
Clearfield County
Oak Mountain Hideaway is “the ‘Ultimate Restination’ in the Heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds.” You can kayak down the West Branch of the Susquehanna, view some of the largest elk in the Northeastern United States, or dance and stay for an Irish house concert. Visit Clearfield County, Josiah Jones, VisitClearfieldCounty.org
Endless Mountains
Spend time in the woods surrounded by the beauty of Pennsylvania’s eastern mountains. Shore Forest Campground is set on a 5-acre lake and offers a wide variety of camping options from tents and RVs to cozy cabins. Hayrides drawn with a 1946 Massey Harris tractor are a kid-friendly highlight! Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, Morgan Christopher, EndlessMountains.org
Franklin County
Enjoy peace and relaxation at the Twin Bridge Campground in Chambersburg. With the beautiful backdrop of the Tuscarora Mountains, bring a tent or RV and enjoy shaded and field sites year-round. Check out Saunderosa Park in Mercersburg, a 320-acre site in Little Cove Valley for primitive or more modern camping. Franklin County Visitors Bureau, Lauren Cappuccio, ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com
Huntingdon County
Lake Raystown Resort’s yurts are not “roughing it” – you’ll find comfortable beds with fresh linens, climate controls and skylights to gaze into the night sky. The resort features 400 acres of waterfront property, a Marina Café overlooking docks, a wedding gazebo, conference center, Proud Mary showboat tours, and WildRiver Waterpark. Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau, Edward Stoddard, Raystown.org
Lancaster County
Among Lancaster’s many overnight options, a visitor favorite is the open-air fun of our many campgrounds. There’s nothing more natural than a restful stay in a tent, RV, or cabin at one of these well-maintained properties like Lake-in-Wood Camping Resort in Narvon or Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Quarryville. Discover Lancaster, Joel Cliff, DiscoverLancaster.com
Laurel Highlands
Prepare yourself for a night of luxury under the stars, with everything you need within reach, even Wi-Fi. Escape to Campbell Farm for a glamping experience! Relax in the queen-sized bed, and take a rejuvenating bath in the open-air, claw-foot tub with a view of the Laurel Highlands. Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Anna Weltz, LaurelHighlands.org
Pocono Mountains
The Pocono Mountains has campgrounds galore with unique aspects. Some focus on RV camping, many offer cabins rentals, some are in the forest or in open fields, and are even along lakes and rivers. The Shawnee Inn offers riverside and island glamping; a truly unique experience for any visitor. Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Kelly Shannon, PoconoMountains.com
Potter County – Tioga County
Camp under the darkest skies on the East Coast at Allegheny River Campground in untamed, untouched, and unspoiled Potter County. The river offers great fishing and tubing opportunities. Drive Historic Route 6 for a visit to “Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon.” You just might catch a glimpse of a wild elk herd! Visit Potter-Tioga, Morgan Christopher, VisitPotterTioga.com
VIRGINIA
Charlottesville and Albemarle County
Located a short and scenic drive from downtown Charlottesville, Shenandoah Crossing offers up some of the most glamorous camping options around in luxurious yurts. The yurts are large, round canvas tents with central heat and air, flat-screen TVs, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, for the ultimate Central Virginia glamping experience! Charlottesville & Albemarle County CVB, Bri Warner, VisitCharlottesville.org
Fairfax County
Escape to a peaceful camping getaway without losing the proximity to major U.S. attractions and American history in and around the nation’s capital. Camp by the water at Burke Lake and Lake Fairfax; alternatively, rent deluxe or rustic cabins at Bull Run and Pohick Bay Regional Parks. Visit Fairfax, Ali Morris, FXVA.com
Hampton
At Hampton’s The Colonies RV and Travel Park, guests vacation just steps away from a private beach. The park features 13 full hookup RV sites and open space for tent camping, all close to Fort Monroe National Monument and Paradise Ocean Club. A country store and game rooms are on-site. Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau, Elizabeth Severs, VisitHampton.com
WEST VIRGINIA
Pocahontas County
Pitch a tent, bring a camper, or settle into a cabin – no matter how you do camping, paradise awaits in Nature’s Mountain Playground! There are endless options, from RV parks along Greenbrier River to campgrounds near Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Escape to the starry-filled sky of the mountains! Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chelsea Walker, NaturesMountainPlayground.com