Elk Neck State Park Campground

Accessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff

We love Elk Neck State Park! It is pristine… The bathrooms are immaculate…The town of Northeast is a hidden Gem… We will always stop here on our way to and from the Keys during our snow bird journeys…

Elks Neck is a beautiful park located at the north end of the Chesapeake Bay.  Very clean like the other MD State Parks

What a park! We loved it here and will definitely be back. This was the quietest campground we have ever stayed at. There was so much to do being on the bay. We went on a hike to check out the lighthouse. We visited an overlook and found a winery on-site. We tried to rent kayaks but there were no doubles available. Next time we will have our own. Our site was directly in front of a small playground with a slide, swings and monkey bars. It was great so our daughter (5) could go when she wanted and we were right there to play and watch. Baltimore is close enough for a day trip so we will plan that on our next trip. The bath houses were clean but no doors on the showers only curtains. The overlook was beautiful and had a winery on-site which was wonderful because it was so hot that weekend. We relaxed and cooled off and refueled and then went to get some milkshakes. We were celebrating our sons and my birthdays while there and enjoyed our long weekend unplugging and being a family.

I grew up 5 minutes from this park, It’s a great scenic view for such a small town, Back woods park.

There is great walking and hiking trails throughout the park and even one that goes to an old lighthouse out on Turkey Point! It’s a gorgeous walk and an amazing view when you reach the lighthouse. In season you can even go inside of it!

There’s also great camping and fishing throughout the area, The Susquehanna river is full of every kind of fish imaginable! And scattered ponds are just waiting for you to discover them.

All around amazing area to visit!

This is a great spot, with water access and tree cover. The camp store is well stocked and the firewood is kept dry (a rarity in MD SPs!) and every staffer we spoke to was awesome. We stayed in the Miles loop and could hear the water lapping while we listened to the campfire crackle. We spent time at the North East Beach Area (unguarded, small, and lots of goose poop though!) and got ice cream from the camp store. A Walmart, Lowes, and Food Lion are a 20 minute drive away for any other last minute needs. In the first few days we saw numerous Bald Eagles and osprey, deer, a salamander, and a woodchuck. I’m the Miles loop it’s worth noting 160 is next to a dumpster and across from the bathhouse 💩

Campsites were a good size with plenty of space and not too close to other sites. The bathrooms were clean. It was very cozy and a peaceful stay overall. Our site was right next to the river and had a trail leading down to the water, it was so beautiful! I would definitely stay here again.

Admittedly, I was here mid-week in May.  I'm not entirely sure I'd want to be here on a weekend in the summer when the place is full of families, noise, and activity.  But my visit was very quiet and peaceful.  I stayed on the pet-friendly Miles loop.  There were only two other sites in use, aside from the camp host at #171.  The predominant sounds were birds and my own footsteps, although there is some unidentifiable hum that seems to come up off the water.  I didn't notice it when I was in my tent, but I did as I was walking around.

The campground is well-wooded, offering reasonable privacy given the space constraints.  Site 166, where I was, offered a wooded path directly back to the nearby  bathhouse, which was otherwise inconspicuous from my site.  Across the way, there was a partially tree-obscured view of the water.  You could see enough through the trees, at least this time of year, to get the benefit of a sunrise view.  A short walk provided a very impressive sunrise view.

Within a short walk were a small dumpster for trash, a potable-water pump, and the aforementioned bathhouse (with a slop sink for dishwashing outside, at the rear).  The site itself had a fire ring, a picnic table, a post with a hook on it, and a stonedust pad.  All tents have to be on this area and not drift into the adjacent, softer earth.  Although clean, dry firewood and bags of ice are available on an honor system outside the otherwise closed park store (near the entrance) there was plenty of dry, dead, downed wood to be found if one was inclined to gather one's own.

Park rangers were very pleasant and helpful.  They occasionally drove past but weren't overbearing in any way.  Similarly, the camp host offered a cheerful greeting and pleasant conversation as I walked by but was otherwise invisible.  Their efforts were obvious, however.  The bathhouse was immaculate, as were all of the unoccupied sites I walked past.  The grounds are clearly well maintained. 

The only hiccup in that regard was a damaged camper parked in the best site on the loop, #169.  The roof was badly dented, and apparently the occupants had escaped harm when a tree  fell on the camper as they slept.  This is a park, after all, and trees will sometimes break or fall.  Fortunately no one was injured - and honestly, that really IS the best site on the loop, as it offers the best view of the water. 

I didn't explore the entire park, as I was in the area for an event at Cecil County Fairgrounds.  That said, I did do a bit of exploring.  Although you can certainly drive to the parking lot that's only a mile or so from the lighthouse, you can easily walk there from the campground if you're so inclined.  The only downside to that is that approximately a mile of your walk (each way) will be on the paved road, and cars can be brisk (so I wouldn't recommend it with small children).   Trails through the park are extremely easy to navigate (the substrate isn't rugged at all) yet it's scenic in a gentle, understated way.  I enjoyed the Beaver Marsh loop which is easy to get to from the Miles campsites.

If I had any criticisms, they'd probably be more along the lines of cautions.  Not all campsites are equal.  Sites 159 & 160 are across from and adjacent to the dumpster, respectively, for example.  Maybe that wouldn't be an issue if you were in an RV, but I would think that the aesthetics (and summer aroma?) would be a deal-breaker if you were pitching a tent.  Site 157 has a nearly unobstructed view of the bathhouse as its "backyard".  On the other hand, Site 155 is directly across from the potable water pump, and that might be a convenience.  Site 152 on Miles loop is nearest to the playground, and within eyesight of it, which could either be wonderful or nightmarish depending on whether or not you have (or want to hear) small children.

Arguably, the best sites are probably 167, 169 (which I would say is THE best one on this loop), and 176.  The latter has the most direct access to a path that leads gently down to a sandy shoreline, and it seems to have a little more privacy than some of the other sites.  This is just my casual impression while walking around.

All in all, this is a clean, beautifully maintained, pleasantly staffed, and well equipped campground.  It isn't far from "civilization" (you know, if you need to pick up something from a store), but the campground itself is quiet and has enjoyable trails to wander.

Elk Neck is one of the largest campgrounds I’ve been to so even when I planned this trip last minute there were a couple spots available. Once you check in there’s a park store to your left in case you forget anything (as of May 2022 the park store is closed & the nature center is undergoing renovations. Ice & wood is still being sold outside the park store). We stayed in the Choptank Loop which was lovely, and in the distance, we could see Elk Neck River but there are no trails from this loop. The Wye and Susquehanna Loop are right near trails that lead to Rogues Harbor Area for a fishing pier & boat launch (Beaver Marsh Loop 2 miles). You can also take the Beaver Marsh Loop, connect with the White Banks trail and you have about a four-mile hike to the North East Beach Area for swimming & fishing. You can also drive to both areas. The Turkey Point Lighthouse is definitely a must see. The parking lot is small so if you’re there on the weekend try to get there early as possible. The trail to the lighthouse is about .8 miles and family friendly. Great area for bird watching and the perfect spot to have a picnic with the cliff side views over the water. To reach the top of the lighthouse you must be able to climb a ladder so your little one might not be able to go.

*Playground right next to Choptank Loop

Camp site / Amenities

Camp sites were spacious and the bathroom was clean.

Surrounding area

There are lots of tails for hiking in walking distance and also a playground for kids.

To get the lighthouse, you would need to drive for a few minutes which is definitely worth it. The view from the lighthouse is stunning. Parking lot is pretty small so there is a good chance you'll need to wait for a parking spot. The trail itself is very family-friendly.

Very clean facilities, some sites are sort of close but plenty of more private sites

Great location, quiet this time of year.

This is a very quiet and peaceful campground-- caveat, though, that I was there during the week. There is a variety of types of sites, from tents to small rig to larger pull-throughs with some being more secluded than others. The North East Loop as full hookups and the electric was clean and the water pressure very good. The park store is closed Mon- Wed(while I was there) but they sell firewood and ice on an honor-system basis. My site was relatively level and it seems most of them are that way. They also have a Nature Center but that was closed as well for renovations.

I booked a tent site as my first introduction to the park. Setting up a reservation was incredibly user friendly, park staff was fantastic at getting us checked in, and the camp store was well stocked and priced. 

Our site, however, left something to be desired. The sites were all very close together, and the tent pad areas were fairly small. You can drive right up to your site and park there, which is incredibly convenient in terms of unpacking and set up. Around our site was pretty loud with neighbors at all hours, regardless of quiet hours, and balls being kicked into our tent pad area from surrounding visitors. There were some bottle caps and garbage on our tent pad upon arrival.

I think if you had kids and were looking for a "not so quiet" get away into nature, this would be a fantastic spot. There were larger and more private sites on our loop, and if I returned I would prioritize getting one of those. There are also more loops than the one we were on. 

The firepit had an adjustable height grill grate, and there was a picnic table at each site. Firewood ran $5 a bundle at the camp store.  Ice and potable water was also available. 

There was a nearby dumpster that was easy to use. Disappointed that there did not seem to be a recycling receptacle. Bathrooms were nice, the handicapped shower was very spacious. No shortage of hot water. 

We hiked all available trails from the trail map, though it seems there were more than listed, and a portion of the park is closed following previous tornado damage. We saw an abundance of herps, gorged ourselves on pawpaws, and generally foraged and tracked a ton of interesting wildlife. The trails themselves were pretty, but the rankings somewhat misleading. The "hard" trails would be hard in comparison to a flat gravel path, but in terms of general hiking, were comfortable with only a couple mildly steep or narrow points. I am unsure if the ranking system is for general hiking or in terms of ADA accessibility, however. If accessibility, it makes a lot of sense. For hiking? Less so; I'd rank the trails as a normal difficulty for their 'hard' trails. 

The beaches were lovely! We did not get the opportunity to kayak, swim, or fish, but are hoping to do that sometime in the future. Was still relaxing to sit out with a book and watch the water.

I do feel like we explored most of what the park had to offer, so while I would be happy to return it feels less urgent to do so. I think I would be better equipped to pick a site (or explore a cabin!) the next time which would resolve my minimal issues. Given the relaxed atmosphere of the trails, close amenities, etc. I think this would be a good choice to bring friends who are new to the camping scene, or for families.

This was nice because you could see the water from the site.

It was a short jaunt to toilets/showers/potable water and everything was surprisingly clean.

Nearby was a beach that was small but cute and a cool lighthouse you could go up.

There is a camp store that had all the basics and ice and firewood was available 24/7 outside of store hours.

I will say the first night was quiet but once the weekend hit it was very busy and the site next to us had 6 collage age jawing it up until 2am and you can hear everything very clearly.

I went with a friend for two nights, and we camped and had a blast. (It rained for one of the days and it was pretty thick tree cover - so it wasn't too bad.) Hiked around the lighthouse, climbed on the rocks, tried crabbing (and failed) and went kayaking around the campground in the bay. 

The trails by the water around the campsites are fun to wander around on. :)

We got a basic camp site with no power hookup. It was a bit loud on one of the evenings - no one was reinforcing quiet hours in the middle of the night (which happens, but it was a little bit of a nuisance.) 

Overall, a nice experience.

My son and I stayed on a quick overnight while traveling South. The reservation was easy to make, the staff super helpful, the area beautiful. I wish we had been able to stay more to explore.

I cant speak for all of the loops cuz we only traveled on ours, but the Bohemia loop is amazing. Our site has a perfect view of the river so we went to sleep and woke up every day to that gorgeous view. Would stay here again a thousand times more!!

My husband and I have stayed at Elk Neck twice. It’s a great campground with lots of different loops to choose sites from. The bath houses are very clean, and the folks responsible for their upkeep are great. There are sinks for washing dishes outside the bathhouses, making cooking cleanup very convenient (especially if your site is close by, like ours). I can’t speak for the camper/RV sites, as we tent camp. But overall our experiences at Elk Neck have been consistently great.

Quiet and clean always  been this way since 1980 for us. Larger sites and quiet areas near the beach,

I stayed here for two nights with a friend, and it was serene and beautiful.  There were nice, easy hikes in or near the campsite, and the location about halfway between Philadelphia and Washington, DC, was perfect.

Stayed on the full hook-up North East loop (incline or decline into some of the sites, well spaced). Cleanest state park bathroom in all of MD! Activities included: the town of North East (15min away), loop hike to the Turkey Point Lighthouse at sunset, and hanging out on the Elk river (fishing/kayaking). At least four play grounds throughout the camp loops. The North East River, where the park’s main beach area is located had failed it’s latest bacteria level test. Check out theswimguide.org for the latest water quality tests. Only 1hr away from Baltimore and you don’t have to cross the Bay Bridge.

Our go to State Park for camping as it is pretty close to home. Standard State Park with all the amenities you need. We are tent campers/ non electric (no pets/ no kids). So we don’t need much other than some privacy. Some sites are closer together than others though. Decent bathhouses. Town of North East is about 10mins drive away which is nice when it rains when you want to grab a bite to eat.

The days were beautiful and relaxing!

This campground/park was nice, clean and beautiful. Friends stayed in a super cute cabin & we stayed at RV site.  Both great.

I can't say enough about Elk Neck for Camping. A few main points are, large scaled, full amenities, family, safe, and clean. They have laundry services and a working payphone. OMG

I camp there multiple times a year! It's dog and family friendly, close to resources, but far enough that it's quiet and feels remote! No cell signal in the campground so the family is forced to disconnect. I absolutely love it!

There’s a ton of camping at Elk Neck, including a loop with full hook ups. In the full hook up loop pay close attention to the lengths specified. The actual pads are fairly level but some of the driveways to them are very sloped. Long rigs will have issues in a few of the sites.
There’s a camp store, boat ramp, swimming, fishing and lots,of great hiking. Definitely drive to, and then hike to the light house (open most weekends) the light house and the view are definitely worth it.

Overall, we enjoyed our August 2020 stay at Elk Neck State Park. We stayed in the North East Loop as we needed both pet-friendly and electrical hook ups. During our hikes, we discovered that the tent sites have some truly amazing water views (particularly Miles Loop sites 169 and 173).
The bathrooms were immaculate in our loop, although the hot water heater was not working. Staff was friendly and kept their distance. The lighthouse was a nice flat hike and made for pretty pictures. We were disappointed to discover that there was a do not enter advisory for the beaches, as there was high bacteria content at the time. We did take a walk down to look at the beach, and to be honest, we probably would have passed on it anyways. Loud music and lots of litter. We don’t travel to the same site more than once, but the kids have both asked to come back to this one!

Beautiful park, well kept. Plenty to do with lots of access to water and hiking