Greenbrier State Park Campground

I camp here in the summer as often as I can.  It stays booked because it is such a well maintained campground, kudos to the MD State Park Service.  There is a pretty lake there and very close to the AT.  Great hiking to Annapolis Rocks or the Washington Monument right from the park, no need to drive!

Greenbrier is a wonderful campground that is heavily used for its day-use at the lake.  The park includes excellent amenities for the picnic and day-use person as well as the camper.  There is one dog-friendly loop.  All of the bathrooms are well maintained and water is available.  There are also easy trails from the camping loops to the lake.

Maryland has some great state parks and this is one of them. Decent sized sites, clean bath houses. Swimming lake is excellent. Only basic amenities, but dump station.

Last minute camping trip and site B61 within Birch Loop was the only site available. There was nice space between us and the next sites, but this is only 30 feet from the main camp road. Surprising after dark very little traffic. The campsites are very clean and flat with fine gravel. All sites have alot of tree cover and opportunity for hammocks. The bath house was a short walk away, clean, hot shower, but a little dated. My son and I spent an entire day kayak fishing on the small lake and clear clean water. We didn't do any hiking but love to come back check out the trails. The kids loved the man made beach and park. We will definitely will be back.

Checked in late and left early, so didn’t explore around the park much. Nice folks, near to plenty of places, quiet and pretty setting.

Sites: wooded, semi-private, okay spacing and semi private.

Vibe: family camping. Not crowded when we were there.

Good camp for hopping over to Antietam.

Check in was very easy and quick, the site was clean as well as the bathrooms. I stayed 2 nights and both nights the campground was full of families with kids running around but as it got dark it quieted right down. I did some hiking while I was here and signage and directions to the trails were easy to follow. I am looking forward to visiting again.

I stayed here with just me & one of my girlfriends. Normally I try to camp in a bigger group, and I was slightly worried camping alone with two young females, but it turned out awesome! There was a lovely family who camped next to us & we actually shared breakfast together. Some of the trails in the park were closed, but the ones we hiked were beautiful. There is security for camping and a camp host at every loop. The park was super clean & well maintained. I was very impressed by the bathhouses as well! Loved Greenbrier, another MD State Park checked off! Also hiking Annapolis Rocks is a MUST.

Sites are meticulously manicured, level, and clean. Due to scheduling issues I stayed in 3 sites in 5 days. Not a negative to either. My favorite was Cedar 74 over 69 and 79 but all 3 were great.

Men's bathroom stools were discolored and not inviting. The middle stall during a #2 had a water leak upon seating you dont notice until your shorts are soaked with what I hope was fresh water but not sure.

Access to the Appellation trail offers a strenuous climb and I recommend the trek to Annapolis rock.

We had to head out a day early after thunderstorms rolled in but we really enjoyed our time. Camphost was super kind and the trek to lake was nice. The lakeside was also inviting but for weather and we'd try again next time. 

It's a quick drive to Mt. Washington State Park and a portion of the AT that comes through MD. The kiddos really enjoyed the view from the monument.

Weekends the park gets really busy so we had to ask permission to come ahead of the folks waiting to for day access but staff was kind and accommodating so if you book on weekend be prepared for long lines on the side of highway. 

Saw more good doggos here too.

We hiked from Harper's Ferry to Pen Mar on the AT and used this fabulous campground as a base station the entire 5 days.  The level and semi-private sites were excellent, although there were no water hook ups at each site.  We were allowed to fill the camper with water before we set up, which worked out fine.

There is a swim area and some trails, but our focus was on the AT so we did not use them much.  The hosts were wonderful, bathroom facilities were older but well maintained, and the overall campground atmosphere was great!

The campsite was well maintained and spacious enough for two tents if you need them. I got a site in the electric loop (Cedar) and the outlet was right on the other side of our tent (directly across the lot from the picnic table). 

This loop does have some elevation, which I didn't know when initially booking the site, so you will have to walk up or down the loop road to get to the bathroom. The bathroom was clean and stocked, no issues there.

The loop I was in seemed to be full, but once night hit, other than a few kids, it was pretty quiet. There is a camp host, their site is right next to the bathroom, but we never spoke to them. They drove by and waved and that was the limit of our interaction. 

Other notes: You don't have to pay the park entrance fee if you reserved a campsite. When you get to the park you pull into the parking lot on the right side, and you check-in there, as well as purchase firewood. Bundles were $5.50 or 3 for $15. You get a tag for your car, which has a code to put in the gate inside the park to get to your campsite.

Well groomed sites split into three main sections. Several hammock friendly (we were in 121 in the dogwood loop). Flat motorcycle parking, but bring a puck for your kick stand. Firewood and ice for sale at the check-in point. Quiet with modern bathrooms. Drinking water available. Fire pits have built-in grills. Critter free over night.

Nice campground with great hosts. Fun lake, especially for kids. It can get pretty packed on the weekenders or holidays but mid week is great. Fee to get into the park if not camping.

This campground is perfect for a weekend getaway from Washington or Baltimore.  The facilities are excellent, the lake is wonderful for swimming and kayaking, and there are amazing mountain bike trails.

This is our local go-to campground. Anytime we want to get away easily we visit Greenbrier. It has 4 loops near a small lake with swimming and boat launch. Great for kayaking& fishing with kids. There is a dog loop and an RV loop. Sits right off the Appalachian Trail. I think that they have a hiker pick up service.. as I've seen the rangers drop off backpackers into campgrounds. The lake& picnic area is crazy busy during the weekends. I do not camp on weekends here. Which is what gives it a 3 star. I find that the people ruin camping with lack of campground etiquette. But the campground hosts are quick to clean sites. and the park staff are wonderful. Fall time is gorgeous& quiet as well.

A good, comfortable place with a lot to offer. We’d go again.

We stayed two nights in Dogwood. The site was well looked after with camp hosts that seemed very attentive and thoughtful. Good rangers who showed up to help when needed. Everyone was (mostly) well behaved in the site, and we had a terrific time.

The facilities were clean. The sites on Dogwood are quite close together, but it still felt like camping. The nearby trails are great and the lake is a good place to swim or laze on a warm day.

We really enjoyed camping at Greenbrier state park, and was pleasantly surprised how nice the park was given its convenient location to us! The grounds were clean and organized, the bathrooms were clean (albeit a bit outdated), and the camp ground hosts and rangers were very friendly. There’s quite a few great hiking and biking trails, and a small lake if you feel like taking a dip in the warmer months. We live near Frederick MD so this camp ground is practically in our backyard, which makes it super convenient for quick weekend camping with the family. We will definitely be camping here again!

We were very pleased with the facilities at this campground. Arrived a little early and found the site ready and spotless. Decent sized sites included picnic table, fire ring, and 2 poles for hanging lanterns, garbage, whatever. Decent space between sites, with trees, though could easily see the neighbors. Very friendly camp host who came through every evening to make sure everything was ok. Bathroom facilities were close enough and had hot and cold water, showers, flush toilets, and showers. All were spotless. Close to good hiking and could walk right out of the tent and meet up with the AT. Was excited about the lake until we got there ... was very crowded and noisy with happy screaming children. But for that, nice lawn and sand areas for sitting and enjoying the lake view.

My partner and our two dogs loved this campground! We were in the dogwood loop.

Positives

* Big, immaculately groomed tent pads

* Mostly tent campers!

* Almost all sites were nice and shaded 

* Clean bathrooms with free showers were close by

* Fellow campers were friendly and respectful

* Water spigots were close by 

* Ice and firewood were easily accessible

Negatives

* The beach by the lake is PACKED every weekend with day trippers - we avoided it since we are careful due to COVID

When we pulled the rangers where blocking traffic to the park. They said that the park was full. OMG they were right. No wonder Maryland is a hot spot for covid 19. After about an hour we were able to get to a camp site. Not the one I reserved. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. After setting up we ventured out to the camp store that is located at the concessions near the packed beach of the lake. We didn't find anything that resembled camping items. So we decided to go mushroom 🍄 hunting. Wow we hit the jackpot. The showers were fairly close and clean. There were a lot of signs that pet prohibited 🚫 in the park. But the cedar loop did have 🐕 dogs. They are just not allowed in the rest of the park. We had good cell service and no reception on the tv

It was a really beautiful park with plenty of hiking trails. The sites are nice and level. It’s very wooded and sites are spread out so you get plenty of privacy. Can’t wait to come back.

Very nice campground not far from DC area and Frederick.  We are going back for second time this month (June 2020).  Sites are forested with good spacing between them so easy to social distance in times of Covid 19.  We drive and camp in our class B camper van so self-contained but we did use the restroom in the campground and it was clean.  Electric hookups, flat (level) campsite with clean picnic table and a fire pit.  Camp hosts were welcoming and provided good info.  Good spot for a local getaway.

This was our 2nd trip and it was just as wonderful this time too! They renumbered the sites but once we figured that out, we were able to get a site we remembered as being a nice one. It faced a empty field so it was private. It overlooked another site which is where our relatives were camping. The weather was beautiful! Lake/beach was open but we had our dog so that was a no. We hiked up to the Washington Monument and were disappointed to find the monument itself was closed to visitors. The view is great from the base but better from the top. Then we went to the Antietam Creek Winery for live outdoor music and delicious wine! Our second time there. It was wonderful getting away again!

My wife has camped here for the last 26 years. It is a yearly tradition. The lake is beautiful, bathrooms are always clean, the campsites are so beautifully wooded. She says loop B is her favorite, but loop A is very convenient if you have little ones. The path to the lake is a great adventure. You can jump on the Appalachian Trail for a hike. Some of the family is still going every year. They also have fishing, paddle boats, and a snack bar at the lake.

Ranger Review: Firebiner and Fiber Light Fire Starter at Greenbrier State Park

**Campground Review: **

We were here one week before this campground closed for the season (open April through October) and it was so quiet that it was hard to imagine what it is like in the summer when the beach is open and the campground is likely full. There are four loops; two with no hookups and no pets allowed, one with no hookups that allow pets and one with electric sites that allow pets. Each site is clearly defined, and the sites all appeared level with gravel pads. The bathrooms were reasonable. There are several trails in the campground plus it is close to several AT day hikes.

There is a large day-use area and beach with lots of picnic tables. While the beach was closed for swimming, we saw a kayaker and two people fishing from a boat. Many hiking trails and this is an excellent place to camp if you’d like to do AT day hikes.

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Product Review: 

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I have the opportunity to test products. At this campground, we tested the Firebiner and Fiber Light Fire Starter by Outdoor Elements. I’m reviewing both products since they can be used together, and we had much more luck with one than the other. 

Upon unpacking my box from Outdoor Elements, my first experience was that it took a sharp knife to free the Firebiner from its cardboard backing, which was not an auspicious start. Once at our campground, we were able to use the safety blade to easily open the plastic packaging on our firewood. Unfortunately, it took several tries by two men trying the Firebiner to get a spark; they had to really crank on it, and it was not enough to light a fire. I’m guessing that with more patience and practice, it would have worked. Admittedly, we are car campers and not backpackers (and have the luxury of being able to carry/use a butane lighter), but I was looking forward to trying a new method. 

We did use the Fiber Light Fire Starter and using our tried and true fire-starting methods, we got a roaring fire started very quickly. So, we had a 50% success! Packed in a small tin, you only need a pinch to easily get a fire started so we will use this in the future. 

We also used the cutting tool on the Firebiner a few days later to remove the wristband from an activity we participated in and also used it to hang our lantern on a hook; this little tool is very strong (did not test but appreciate the 100-pound weight limit). I appreciate that it can also be used as a screwdriver, so the Firebiner is truly a multi-use tool!

#18 was a very private spot with a trail leaving from the back of the spot. Has a pretty lake with trails around it. In season has concession stand and paddle boat rentals. We went off season, but saw the potential. People were fishing and we saw a swim/run competition. Bathrooms were weren’t the cleanest, but had good pressure and hot water. Campground sells firewood at the entrance, which is too far to walk, so buy it on the way in. Sprint and Verizon cell service. Pack your broom because the sites have very small gravel and it gets EVERYWHERE. We stayed in May and actually had to turn on the heater. Lots of trees for dog run or hammocks. Will definitely be returning

Went to this state park early July for 3 nights. We had a terrible storm going on when we were to arrive so I called and the office was very friendly and helpful. He put my mind at ease about arriving too late. Our site was relatively easy to get into but many sites were angled, sloped, and looked like they'd be best for a tent. Our site was private and kind of faced away from most other sites. There was a hiking trail behind us that led to the lake. The park has a lake with a swimming area roped off and guarded and camp store and marina where you can rent kayaks and canoes. While hilly, it would be a great bike riding area if you want a work out. Bathhouse was adequate, Not particularly dirty but not super clean. Only 2 showers in the ladies room. Campground hosts were around every day and super helpful. t was close to Antietam Battlefield and Antietam Creek Winery which had live music and allowed our dog to come in. There were some live reenactors at the battlefield and a great car audio tour you can get from the visitor center. I would go again!

This park just is near enough to Baltimore and DC to allow for a quick getaway and offers a lot to do. There are trails in the park you can hike, run and bike; the lake is small but you can paddle and fish; and, nearby you'll find some great sections of the Appalachian Trail.

The camping spots accommodate large tents if needed and the showers are hot.

Be aware: no alcohol in Maryland parks.

Lake area can be crowded on weekends, I tend to avoid.

Hike from visitor center to AT is steep and rocky

Good campground but there don't seem to be a ton of private spots. We lucked out and go a spot on Dogwood loop, site 20, with nobody on one side and some space between our site and the other site on the other side. There was water and bathrooms right across the road. Campground had showers but we didn't use them so I'm not sure how clean they are. We also didn't make it down to the lake. Easy check in and out and they sold us wood at check in. Close to the AT and only about an hour from Harper's Ferry where we spent the day.