Where to go camping in or around Maryland?

Where someone could go camping in Maryland not more than a couple of hours from DC ? Thanks?

• Answer:

  It depends on whether you want to backpack in or car camp. The Appalachian trail has many camp sites on it. If you go up Route 40 towards Frederick you can park and hike in a couple miles to a small camping area near Annapolis Rocks which has a great overlook. There is also a number of state parks towards Hagerstown with nice camping and you can visit the Civil War sites while you are there. (From DC this drive might take you around 1.5 hours-- NOT during rush hour). Shenandoah National Park is also very nice, like the other comment says, but it is a little farther of a drive, but beautiful and has both camp sites and back country camping (you'll probably need a permit for that). For either of these it will cost you a bit more than the Appalachian trail, but I think it is a more beautiful area, and depending on how you camp, possibly less populated. If you don't mind going just a little farther than 2 hours you can camp near Ocean City at Assateague State Park (car camping), but plan ahead and reserve a site first. Another AMAZING place is Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia. I dont think we ever had to get a permit so it was free to camp. In the fall it is gorgeous..... And the last time I was there I also made a trip to Vermont that same year and the colors were better at Dolly Sods than in the mountains of Vermont. While you are there also check out Seneca Rocks.