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    Elk Neck State Park

    3.8 (60 reviews)

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    The beach area
    LaToya E.

    What a great park for an easy hike! I met some friends here to do a hike then have lunch at the beach and it was the perfect backdrop. The hike was moderate to easy and the beach area was clean and not crowded. It was a bit out of the way for me so it wont be a regular hiking location but I will be back.

    Linda O.

    Note: Review of Turkey Point Lighthouse only First rate spot for birding, specifically hawks. I saw so many that I almost fell on my keister from looking up and following all of them. In winter, hawks are a lot easier to see as there's no foliage on trees, so recommend it. It's cold here then, so if visiting, bundle up. Constructed in 1833, the lighthouse is a quaint, historic structure. The hiking trail from the parking lot to the lighthouse isn't long, although there's some bumpy spots. Unfortunately, the lighthouse hasn't been open to the public for some time. The bluff on which it stands makes it the 3rd highest lighthouse off the water in the Chesapeake Bay. The convergence of the Elk River and the Potomac River is fairly easy to see. Do be mindful of the cliffside, it's incredibly steep.

    Campsite 206 (Left to Campsite 207)
    Geyson A.

    Great spot, camping spaces are a bit close so be mindful of noise (roughly 12-18 feet apart). For our first time, we stayed next to a family camper who happened to have 8 kids -- remember this is a family park and be mindful of your actions and language. There are various other "loops" or areas where you can camp. We stayed at spot 207. Noise: occasionally you'll hear boats, sometimes airplanes, and children playing through the day at decent levels enough to wake you up from a nap. The campground's quiet time is at 10PM. Bathrooms: Men's bathroom were very clean and smelled clean. Showers with hot water are available. There two showers available in this loop. If you are not a seasoned-camper, remember to not bring firewood from other areas. Out of environment firewood contains bugs and other critters that could impact the state park. With that said, bundles of wood can be purchased at their Park Store (after the entrance to the park on your left) for $5 and they bring roughly about 6-9 small pieces about 24 inches in length. The trail variety is great. Anything from a brisk walk to a full endurance exercise (3.0 miles is their longes / 0.3 is their shortest). Smile and greet other hikers along the way to keep the energy up! Would I recommend it? - Depends. If you plan to bring your kids to their first camping night and don't plant to drive too far from Baltimore area or Delaware it's a great option with plenty of water activities and more. If you are an overlander this is a great option for when you travel from state to state and need to sleep. However, since most of us enjoy the quiet of the outdoors I would NOT recommend it since voices can be heard in the distance and noises at night from people are apparent. All in all, great spot with lots of interesting history and activities.

    John B.

    [Coronavirus review] I've used my coronavirus downtime in no small part to explore pretty much every park in the state of Maryland, and this has been my least favorite by a wide margin. The drive is a long way from pretty much anywhere, and I struck the dual misfortune of having someone incredibly slow in front of me on the straight highway, only to find someone obliterating the speed limit behind me when we hit twisty, pothole-filled park road. Strangely, the park ends and a small group of presumably expensive private houses overlooking the water awaits, followed by a lighthouse. I spent a fair amount of time just trying to figure out what was actually open, which turned out to be some trails, but not the presumably nicer beach areas. For trails I was unimpressed. The beaver trail runs so high above ground and through such thick undergrowth, that even though there clearly was a beaver lodge in the water below it was difficult to get a decent view of it. The whole area was lined by steep, muddy walls that looked like you wouldn't want to go down them. It really needs some infrastructure and a boardwalk to be worthwhile. The waterside area I did hit on my loop was tiny and unimpressive. Parts of the trail were waterlogged and there were quite a lot of downed trees for some reason (perhaps the exposed peninsula is vulnerable to wind damage). Having done that loop and a few other bits, I finished the majority of what's still open. But my bottom line is that there just wasn't anything interesting about the place in terms of wildlife or landscape to justify driving so far from Baltimore or DC (which I assume is where most people would be coming from). With no appreciable bay views or unique animals, I can think of (and have reviewed) many spots that are easier to get to and have more to offer. Maybe the closed sections are more impressive and the park deserves another star when the pandemic passes and things open up, but that just illustrates the absurdity of closing isolated wild areas in the name of social distancing to begin with. And for a park that charges fees (for some locations related to boating and beaches I think), I could expect clearer trails and flatter roads. If I were an elk, I'd live somewhere else.

    The Lighthouse
    Jen J.

    Beautiful! Random road trip with the family. We showed up at the trail head for the Turkey Point Lighthouse at 8:40 AM and goodness it was a chilly morning at 39 degrees! I had read it was about a mile to the lighthouse, but it seemed longer with two whining, chilly kids in tow. It would normally be a beautiful, peaceful trek through pristine woods and fields with gorgeous peeks of the bay through the trees, but instead I felt like Clark Griswald and insisted we press on despite the grumbles (shrieks? wails?) to the lighthouse. So worth the walk, and even the kids conceded the beauty was worth it. Our one disappointment was that there is no way to get to the beach from the lighthouse cliffs. It is way too steep and dangerous, and we did not see another safe path. (For those curious, the walk back was much more pleasant.) We also went to the Northeast Beach in the park. What a beautiful little find! We had the place virtually to ourselves for most of the hour we spent there. The kids dug in the sand, ran around, and played on the playground. There is lots of parking and picnic tables. The restrooms are closed due to COVID, but they at least have a porta potty. (Since it was only about 50 degrees at that point, tied in the water were not even attempted. We will be back when it warms up in the spring!

    Rogues Harbor
    Omar S.

    A cute park occupying the tip of the peninsula with multiple activities and areas. I checked out all of the areas: * Southern Tip: Light hiking, natural areas, a historic lighthouse, low cliffs, and water views. There may be a path down to the water, and the cliffs would be interesting to boat around. * West Side: Northeast Beach provides a cute Bay-side sand beach. There's also a large camp of some kind. * East Side: Campground, hiking, nature center, other facilities. * Rogues Harbor: A quiet marina with a small amount of waterfront decking and places to sit. All pretty nice, the kind of outdoor-centric multi-activity, natural area that is a treasure for the surrounding community. The only staff I spoke to were very nice. Some areas are gated, some are honor-system admission. For a day trip, this is a one-and-done for me. For camping, it would be worth longer. And if I were a local, I'd be here all the time. Remember to get a meal in nearby Northeast, MD's quaint little downtown.

    Sparrow cabin
    Allie A.

    We rented 3 out of the 4 mini cabins in the Tred Avon loop - Bluebird, Sparrow and Warbler. Great location, very close to bathrooms. All cabins came with a full (possibly queen?) bed and bunkbeds. There was an AC/heating unit, at least 2 electrical outlets (bring an extension cord), and a ceiling fan. Bluebird - had no concrete walkway, so the early morning dew and rain was a problem because of wet shoes. It was also the mustiest of the 3 cabins. Sparrow - best location right in front of parking spots and bathroom and had a concrete walkway. Warbler - concrete walkway, private as it was the farthest to the right. Nearby bathrooms were very clean and modern. Plenty of hot water for FREE (gasp!) showers, full private toilet stalls. Staff came by daily to clean and stock up TP. Fire rings were double stacked and had a movable grate that swung away if you didn't need to cook and just wanted a nice fire. Not the most scenic park in the world. Frankly, it's not even anything more than just pretty (my caveat is that I moved here a year ago from beautiful Lake Tahoe / Sierra Nevada, so I'm jaded). But for a nice, inexpensive getaway, it was lovely.

    My son at the potable water pump, with the bathhouse in the background.
    Sarah F.

    We love it here! We stay in the cabins with ac, outlets, and heat, but there are also cabins without those, plus RV spots and tent pads. Beach is very close, town of North East is about 7 miles away, I think. Park and bathhouses are spotless. Lots of relentless mosquitoes so bring a bug spray with a decent amount of DEET. We're planning to go again as soon as we can!

    Simon chillaxing at the park
    Kim B.

    What a great day!! Walked up to the lighthouse first. What a view! Then we headed to the beach area and set up camp for a few hours overlooking the water. Our puppy dog had a great time too! Go early so you get a good spot like we did! Beautiful afternoon....Kim & Ed and Simon woof!

    Pic of our site before we set up camp #227 Chester Loop
    Patty B.

    We tent camped here 7 nights in a row 6/19-6/26 monday - sunday night. When I booked, I wasn't aware they mix tent and rv's in the same loop probably d/t the loop i chose equipped with electric. When we arrived we were amongst 2 rv's so it started off very quiet & peaceful during daytime, enjoying the sights & sounds of nature. All of the staff we interacted with were always very nice and helpful. Unfortunately the campground host in Chester loop wasn't so nice. He got upset throwing his hands up at me when he watched me park on the shoulder to the bath house to run in to pee before leaving the campground for the day. The first 3 nights, we encountered horrific wind gusts hitting our tent and tarp covers all night long (not forecasted) so we had some very noisy sleepless nights the first couple days including one night spent in the car. As the week progressed the winds stopped but then got 7 additional neighbors, all rv's and one tent so their generators & ac units running 24/7 blocked out the peaceful nature sights & sounds I had been enjoying. The bath house in Chester Loop is well lit and TP well stocked w/4 sinks and 2 showers. Keep in mind you will encounter dead or crawling bugs and hair in the shower & sink area as I have encountered in the 3 times I've camped here. Between rain and thunderstorms all week long, we visited Rogues Harbor, Elk Neck beach, Nature Center, and the camp store plus a Chevelle show in Northeast park. I always appreciate the fact the honor system firewood and ice are always well stocked which we used quite often sometimes twice/day. Keep in mind the campground is about 8 miles from the nearest grocery store so make sure you've stocked up on food before settling in. If you want to go for ice cream cones or crabs, there is one snack bar and crab house w/outdoor seating between the campground and grocery store but is open only Wednesday - Sunday otherwise you'll have to drive 8 miles to Northeast where you'll find an ice cream shop next to Woodys restaurant. Plenty of shopping and restaurants on route 40. We visited the laundromat in Northeast twice which was very clean, $3.25 wash and $0.25/ 5 minute dryer. Thrift shops is one of my favorite things to do so one of the best places we visited was Goodwill Outlet in New Castle Delaware which is 40 min from the campground but so worth the drive.

    Beautiful clay beach
    Nicole P.

    This part is extremely underrated. I only live an hour and a half away and no one I know has ever heard of it. The town before the park is so beautiful and filled with restaurants, shops, coffee, deli, etc. Plenty of places that sell crab along the way in. We stayed for one night in the campground. If you stay at the campground, you get in to the campground and beach across the street for free. The sights were spacious and some are dog friendly. Plenty of parks for children and a security check point at the front gate.

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    Awesome camping, full hookup to tent to Rustic Cabins, Lots of water activities including boat launch, Historic Light House.

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    A fantastic park. Great shady campsite, hikes to the lighthouse and around the marsh. Close to great ice cream and food.

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    Review Highlights - Elk Neck State Park

    Note: Review of Turkey Point Lighthouse only First rate spot for birding, specifically hawks.

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    Kilgore Falls - The waterfall!

    Kilgore Falls

    4.0(41 reviews)
    27.7 mi

    Kilgore is a lovely place for an easy to moderate hiking trail. It's open daily but you need a…read morepermit on the weekends from Memorial day to Labor Day I believe. To get to the waterfall you have to walk a path that's about 10-15 minutes. You will have to climb over some rocks in the water in your travels, but once you get to the waterfall you will absolutely love it. *Please note* Wear comfortable shoes because there are some areas that could be potentially dangerous if you don't take your time.

    [Coronavirus review] This is a small site auxiliary to Rocks…read moreState Park. Notably, the parking lot requires an advance reservation on peak dates, and this policy has been expanded to cover more dates due to the pandemic lockdown pushing people to spend their days outdoors. The trail is a short loop to the falls. Great Falls this isn't, but it's significant enough to generate a nice spray. A rather upset-looking fish flopped down shallow water as I approached. Upstream of the falls was a challenge. Few fords were viable, perhaps owing to heavy rain, and signs suggesting the area was blocked off were ignored by expeditions looking for better crossings. I made it across the stream and back, but I did get a little wet. The scenery isn't worth a long drive on its own, but paired with the other local park sites, it makes for good viewing, and in particular this space with its parking limitations can't get too crowded.

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    Kilgore Falls
    Kilgore Falls
    Kilgore Falls

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    Rocky Point Beach

    Rocky Point Beach

    3.4(13 reviews)
    27.7 mi

    Had a grand time at Rocky Point yesterday with my boyfriend and our friend, Justin. It's off…read moreseason, so there's no one manning the entrance. But that also means there aren't any lifeguards or the services that you would find here during the summer months. Swim at your own risk. We weren't there for swimming, though it was 80 degrees and there were several people splashing around and having a good time. There was also a church baptism going on, which made my heart smile. There seemed to be many family and church members there to witness and celebrate, and I love seeing that kind of support and community. I also like the idea of feeling that close to God that you would take that step, to hopefully strengthen that bond. Ariel, the little mermaid, was also there, randomly, having a photo shoot. We wandered a bit, for about an hour. In the back of the park there's a crumbling path that we all decided was some Indiana Jones sh!t. There's some caution tape there, but it's just flapping in the shrubbery, not doing much good. Most of the park is quite wheelchair accessible, though several of the paved paths are so steep that I didn't venture down them. I could have, if I had been determined. I like that option. The playground is looking a little worse for wear. I didn't get close enough to take any pictures because the gnats are serious right now. But there were also some lovely butterflies. Those are always nice to see, especially with their populations dwindling. We've been checking out a lot of local parks these days, and this one is pretty decent. Gunpowder Park: Hammerman Area off Ebenezer Road is still our top rated park, though. I'd put Rocky Point third, after North Point State Park in Dundalk (that jetty!). Would recommend

    I actually enjoyed it at this beach .... Easy to get in and park .... $6 a person. Small beach area…read morenot too much walking bathrooms clean and park rangers emptied the garbage cans regularly. Very cute if u just wanna sit on the beach for a couple hours. They also have boats and paddle boats to rent .

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    Rocky Point Beach - A trail that may lead to the bottom of the Indiana Jones path of Peril

    A trail that may lead to the bottom of the Indiana Jones path of Peril

    Rocky Point Beach - There are several boat ramps

    There are several boat ramps

    Rocky Point Beach - Kids swimming

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    Kids swimming

    Kids Dream Playground - Kid's Dream Playground

    Kids Dream Playground

    4.2(14 reviews)
    36.3 mi

    This playground was recommended by my son's chiro's office. Just as a place to go, nothing chiro…read morespecial about it. There is a lot of large equipment, but not a whole lot of variety or imagination in the different interactive functions. Reeves Park's playground (Phoenixville), Smith Memorial Playground (Fairmount Park), Freedom Playground (Haverford), and Aston Twp's new playground all have really imaginitive stuff, and just as large of an expanse (if not larger). I also have to give props to the Reeves Park and Freedom playgrounds for being fenced in (Smith is, but it's so big, the fence is not as containing as it could be). Kids Dream is not fenced, unfortunately, because it is a layer of safety I always appreciate, for young kids who run, and also just to keep out wandering dogs (the ones on a long leash whose caretakers aren't paying attention) or to dissuade sketchy people from hanging around (sorry but they're everywhere). There is a nearby walking trail, and it's also adjacent to township offices (shared parking lot). I do have to comment that there was a bit of litter generally around, which is never okay for a kids' playground. Also, this playground is pretty crowded. Parents seemed adequately considerate, but honestly, all the abovementioned playgrounds had a better vibe to me. Maybe because this place was built up by my recommendation and the reviews, but it wasn't as great as my expectations (and comparative experiences).

    Fantastic playground!! Huge plenty of options of what to play on. Love it! Will be back for sure…read more Not far from the shopping areas. Conveniently located.

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    Kids Dream Playground - Kid's Dream Playground -- entrance

    Kid's Dream Playground -- entrance

    Kids Dream Playground - Kid's Dream Playground -- entrance

    Kid's Dream Playground -- entrance

    Kids Dream Playground - Kid's Dream Playground

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    Kid's Dream Playground

    Elk Neck State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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