beautiful views ! a great park for a nice walk. with or without pets. you get the greens from the beautiful park and the blues from the water. nice trail and pretty easy. quiet and not too busy. i love the lighthouse! also beautiful bird sounds and other animal encounters. read more

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Summer time is in full swing and that means it's time to go camping. Now I'm no camping pro but I recently had the opportunity to camp with my family at Elk Neck State Park and we had a great time. The camp ground provides a few different options for your camping needs. Whether you're in the mood for the full camping experience with no electricity or if you would prefer an electrical site to plug in all your goods. The sites offer a decent amount of space for you to spread out with all of your gear. Each site has a fire pit to do some grilling and roast marshmallows and a table with benches, to hang out and enjoy your meals. A bath house with showers are also in each loop, and they're actually pretty well kept, aside from the bugs running around, which is expected. You'll occasionally see the park rangers riding around throughout the day to keep an eye on things, and they're all really friendly. If you're looking to get outside and rough it for a few days or take a much needed break from the stress of the world at trip to Elk Neck for a beautiful camping trip is the way to do it. read more

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I went camping at Elk Neck State Park with my RV. I had a full hook up with electric, water, and sewage. There were pull through spots and back ins which were great options. The bathhouses were beautifully taken care of. They were so clean, spacious and well taken care of. The staff at check in and throughout the park were helpful and so friendly. I hiked the White Banks Trail and Beaver Marsh Loop. The trails were beautiful and well marked. Finding the trail heads was a little tricky. I wish they were better marked on the map. Ice and firewood were available for cash or could be charged to a card. It was very easy and convient! Such a great stay! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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[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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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We tried the newest set of mini cabins and stayed in the Turkey cabin. We really enjoyed our stay here. Pros: - newer construction, clean and spacious - first room had a queen bed and two outlets - second room 2 sets of bunk beds, AC/heater & 4 outlets with plenty of room in the middle - close proximity to bathroom which is modern & clean - door in between the rooms had slats for air flow - spacious porch and view of water between trees Cons: Very close to other cabins. Great if you're renting another cabin with friends. Not so great with loud strangers and rowdy kids because you hear everything including bad musical choices and their FaceTime conversations with the dog. Our picnic table was 15 feet from the other cabin and 5 feet from the fire ring. We still enjoyed our get away and would return here again with hopes to have more considerate neighbors. read more

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

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. read more

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Been coming here camping and fishing for over 10 years. Always a great experience. My family and I drive from NYC, so it's quite a trek, but so far it's been worth the hassle. There are several camping options. Group camping, which is great for youth groups such as boy/girl scouts or big families looking for a camping place to fit tons of people. For non-groups, there are two options: log cabins or campsites for tents. Some campsites are equipped with electricity. All have private bathrooms. If you're camping in a tent, the space is broken out into loops. Every loop has around 10 campsites and a bathroom, equipped with heat, outlets, toilets, sinks, and showers with hot water. Very civilized and convenient. Very clean too. The staff do an amazing job of keeping those bathrooms very clean and in top shape. Especially considering that we are in the woods. You can book all of the above online, which is super convenient and very simple. Or just arrive to the park and ask a ranger at the check-in point for available spots. During long weekends and holidays, the place gets packed, all the reservations are done online months in advance, so do recommend planning ahead of time. Upon entering the park, you check in with a ranger at a check-in point. You receive a card with your campsite number to put on your car. You also receive a pamphlet with that week's activities. Every week, the staff plan a variety of events for kids and families. The activities range from bug hunting to arts and crafts using materials found on park premises. All the activities engage with the nature, providing a great opportunity to learn about the park's rich ecosystem. A great way to entertain and educate the kids and promote family bonding. There is a variety of things you can do during your stay. We always fish, hike, and swim. There are multiple places where you can fish. We usually catch catfish, small silvery fish, the name of which I'm not familiar with, and eel. You can enjoy several hiking trails--some very extensive ones and some light ones. We once got lost on one trail, spending the entire day trekking around the entire park! It was super fun. There is also historic lighthouse on the premise that you can visit. Don't forget to swim in lagoons (free, anywhere you see water) or go to the official designated beach area, where you pay $4 per person to enter. That beach is pretty shallow and the water doesn't differ from the one in lagoons in an way. Recommend swimming for free. The lagoons are gorgeous--red sand with abundance of greenery. The water here warms up really quickly, so you can swim during early May through late September. The park is beautiful and spacious--during your stay you can spot an abundance of deer, foxes, possums, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels, badgers and innumerable variety of marine, fowl life and insects. Raccoons stole our provisions numerous times during the night and daylight, so always pack away all your food before leaving your campsite/going to sleep, if you don't want to share your meal with some forest friends. A great respite for nature enthusiasts craving to get away from the hustle and bustle. Be aware, that you won't have cell phone or wi-fi connection in many areas of the park. T-Mobile is the worst when it comes to signal issues, so we never have any connection when we camp here. A good incentive to disconnect and appreciate some time without technology. Be aware of ticks during peak season--always spray yourself and check your body to spot those tiny pests. Sometimes we visit and leave without a single tick, other times we spot as much as five ticks on each other. Depends on seasonality, so always be aware and prepared. Also, be aware that you can encounter snakes if you go closer to the water. They like to catch the sun rays on the sun by the waterline, so watch out when exploring during the day. Overall, visiting this park has become our family tradition and I greatly recommend giving this experience a try. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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*This is only a review of the beach area* Not what I remembered. I brought my kids here a few years ago because it's the closest "beach" to us. 1.5 drive makes for a nice day trip and we can walk the town of North East on our way home. I would have given this place 4 stars before. This time was not so memorable. We only ended up staying for about two hours. First, the stench was so bad I found myself holding my breath or turning away from the water to lessen the putrid-ness of the smell. We've had a lot of rain lately, so I'm assuming that's why there were dead fish carcasses everywhere? Those carcasses definitely added to the horrendous smell. Branches and twigs everywhere, it was difficult to even find a clear spot to lay. I totally understand that we can't predict weather and those things are out of our control, but as a state park with admission fees, you'd think they could at least have an employee pick up the carcasses. read more

We came to Elk Neck off-season (Late Sept/ Early Oct and it was cool and comfortable weather. There is a camp ground here (tents or a few cabins for a fee). Well patrolled by rangers. Great scenery and nature. read more

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

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. read more

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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. read more

Elk Neck State Park - Beautiful clay beach - Parks Near Me - North East, Maryland

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I tent camped in the Choptank loop with my dog and had an incredible time. This was the first time I tented camped here and really enjoy the bath house, fire pit, and overall layout of the camping area. I think a weekend here is plenty since there aren't tons of trails and things to do. We bought firewood from the camp shop (honor system when the shop is closed). We probably spent $20 on wood (a bundle for each morning and night). The beaver loop trail was tough but I enjoyed it (and so did my dog). I thought the bathroom was clean and was nice to have while camping. They did run out of soap one day so make sure to bring your own as back up. I already booked my next camping trip to Elk Neck State Park! read more

This is a beautiful park, but despite it's beauty I wish there were some things I knew before my trip. My biggest complaint is how disjointed the park is. All I had really wanted to see originally was the lighthouse, but of course the lot was full when I wound up there. The park ranger told us that between 2 pm and 5 pm it's basically impossible to get a spot there. Oddly enough parking at the lighthouse is free; parking at the campground, Rogues Harbor and the North beach entrance costs a fee. The fee was small, but since I was lacking cash, I decided to go to a free parking lot. (Side note: apparently the park fee is on the honor system, but I wouldn't drive right through and not pay, since there are video cameras on the gate houses). I ended up parking near the hilltop shelter on Mauldin Mountain Road. Yes, parking is free, but you will have to hike to see anything else. For me this is no problem, for those who dislike hiking you will have a problem. It became clear I was not seeing the lighthouse on the day I was there. Getting there would've included walking through the private residential neighborhood that disconnects the two sides of the park. I also could not walk to the campground sides or anything on the Elk River side because it would be just too far. This left walking over to North East Beach, which was bay side. At least the trails through the woods here are relatively well worn and easy to follow, not to mention it is beautiful hiking through the hills with sights of the Chesapeake Bay through the trees. I will bet this park is a lot better for camping than day tripping. If you are taking a day trip here, my advice is to get there early enough that you will be able to actually see everything, and definitely start with the lighthouse! I might come back and try to do this park the right way some day, but I'm not in a huge hurry to. An A-OK place in the end. read more

Stayed here with a group of friends this past weekend and absolutely loved it. The check in process was incredibly easy and informative. The camp store was closed since it was before memorial day but they had wood and ice available for purchase through the honor system. We got 2 sites next to each other and it was more then enough space for all our setup. The bathrooms were clean and working perfectly. Loved that there was a little path behind our site that lead right down to the water where we had beautiful views and could watch the sun set over the bay. Tons of hikes within walking distance but we decided to ride up to the lighthouse and hike there. Honestly a can't miss experience if you go to this park. I cant really think of anything negative to say about this campground. I will absolutely be back!! read more

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What a great weekend to go camping! The Boy Scouts have a large summer camp (Camp Rodney) as part of Elk Neck State Park on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Off season, the campgrounds empty out, and troops from other states are welcome to use the facilities for a very small fee. We lucked into a site right on the edge of a bluff overlooking the Bay, about 80 feet below. A thick carpet of fallen leaves cushioned our tents and bodies at night, although a cabin was nearby had the weather been less hospitable. Nightly lows in the upper 40's were fine for comfortable sleep. While the boys worked on rank advancement and merit badges, we dads helped out where we could with Boards of Review, fire keeping and a wee bit of cooking, but also had time off to explore the beautiful surroundings. Once the kids found the safest path down to the small beach below, some of us climbed down to see what we could find. The beach was narrow and littered with fallen trees from the aggressive erosion. Some of the trees had fallen so recently that they still had living leaves on them. The undercutting of the bluff was extreme, and it was dangerous for us to walk too near the edge. Yet, the scour and collapsing action exposed the geology of the area for a period of tens of thousands of years, and while almost everything was sandstone, there was one layer of a much heavier slate-like stone evident along the entire exposed cliff that indicated another significant event had dominated the history of the region for a period of several years to decades. Likely from an igneous event elsewhere. Fascinating. Autumn was not completely finished with its colorful displays, and even with the overcast skies we had Friday and Saturday, the forest was a pastel of earth tones and golden red hues. The carpet of leaves on the ground gave off the familiar aroma of decay and changing cycles. Poetry or meditation merit badges to encourage the boys to stop and appreciate what was going on around them would have been beneficial. But, I was ecstatic that my son had brought me along on another great adventure. read more

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Just returned from camping in the Choptank loop and I think I managed to camp during the hottest summers on record. While temps outside the park were in the mid-90s, Choptank had a great amount of trees to help reduce the temps making it enjoyable. Upon arriving, the staff at the front gate was very helpful as was all of their employees at the park. Our sites were amazing and spacious. I have a 9-person tent and a canopy that I was able to fit on my site. I had a second site and could maybe fit their tent on the site as well. Rangers passing through the area were very polite and didn't bother us. The bath house in the loop was very clean (as clean as you can keep those with the bugs and what not). read more

We were having a great time until nine cars with about 25 campers with a dog showed up at 9:00 at night, radios blaring, ready to get set up. They were up laughing and yelling to each other till 3:00 am. They started again at 5:30 the next morning. When we complained to the office they said they'd have a ranger drive by the next night to assess the situation. We were long gone by then. read more

Came here about a month ago and it was a little underwhelming. We drove from Baltimore, which was easy enough. I was a little shocked at the cost....because my car has a non-MD license plate, it was $5 per person. I guess I'm just used to parks being free in my homestate.... Either way, we were excited for hiking, the lighthouse, crabbing, and the beach. We were hoping to camp, but weren't able to since there is a 2 night requirement (boo...). The hiking was very easy, the lighthouse was tiny, we tried to crab but caught nothing (the shore seems a bit too rocky for that), and the beach was also tiny and got very crowded very quickly! While it was a nice day trip in the sense that we got out of Baltimore, one day was MORE than enough! read more

It's a smaller trail but my parents and I love visiting it and going for a stroll. We've seen a variety of wildlife including tons of butterflies and birds. When I was a kid, I remember coming across a bunch of box turtles and once a larger snake. We used to go down to the beach area but now, it's just the trail leading up the lighthouse and then back. It's also dog friendly and we enjoy seeing other people bring their dogs. read more

Last Friday afternoon, we visited the beach area ($3 per vehicle -- which jumps to $3/person on weekends) and did the hike to the Turkey Point lighthouse (which was free). The beach is small, but also clean and quiet. The water was surprisingly warm for early June, and there were about a dozen people swimming or floating, with another dozen on the beach. The first ~30 feet from the shore into the bay is rocky, so it's a good idea to bring water shoes if you plan to go swimming, else you'll have to walk across the rocks (which is do-able, but a little uncomfortable). The Turkey Point hike was an easy walk down a gravel road, and the climb is gradual, with only a few noticeable hills along the way. It's a little under two miles (round trip), and took us about an hour. The lighthouse itself was a little underwhelming; it isn't especially 'pretty' or tall, nor is there much signage that explains its history. However, the view of the bay from the cliffs was nice. I don't think I'd do the hike again, but it's worth doing once. read more

We have been visiting Elk Neck State Park beach for years. This year may have been our last. $5 a person for admission to the park. The restrooms/bathhouse were closed. Had to use Jiffy Johns that were very dirty, no hand cleaner, didn't look like they had been cleaned in weeks! The beach was dirty with grass growing up in it. Also there was sewage running into the water from the bath house. Was told by the young man at the main gate that the water was unsafe for swimming. Won't be going back!!!!!! read more

Elk Neck is great! It take about an hour to get there from my home just south of Philadelphia, right now 95. Elk Neck State Park is on the peninsula where the North East River and Elk River meet to create the Chesapeake Bay. The North East loop is open all year round, but during the spring through fall is when the whole park is available. I highly recommend the Miles loop. Its on the Elk River and has paths to get you down to the small cove beach ( which is different then the day beach). The North East loop has electric, and water hookups but the rest of the loops do not. Real campers don't need electric! There are plenty of trails and areas within the campground to have fun, along with a camp store and laundry mat. Outside of the campground you have to drive across the road to the day beach area on the North East River or down the road to the boat launch area or Turkey Point Lighthouse. Elk Neck used to let alcohol in, but as of November 2009 its prohibited, but I'm sure if you were low key at your site it wouldn't be an issue. The rangers basically drive in their trucks around the loops several times of day but unless they see an problem they don't get out. The sites themselves are pads with a picnic table and fire ring. 2 cars per site, which parking for excess cars at the camp store or you could park in an empty site. The campground also has mini and regular sized cabins to rent, which I've never been in but look nice. This park is highly recommended if you like camping. read more

This is an awesome campground if you are a twenty something looking to party your heart out with no interference from rangers. Make sure you use red plastic cups (wink wink) because the rangers just think you're drinking juice. Also, keep your cans and bottles hidden until after 10PM since the rangers may make a casual drive around 8PM reviewing a clipboard that says which sites are occupied and which are vacant. You don't want to get busted inadvertently. But don't sweat it, that is the only time the rangers come by until morning. Feel free to make as much noise as you want and smoke all the dope you desire, there is no way for any of those sleeping families around you to reach the rangers to report you. Wander through the neighboring campsites, all those silly families that were fooled into thinking this was a safe campground won't say anything. Spread the word, tap the kegs and bring your hookahs, Elk Neck State Park is open for party central this summer! Now, if you are looking for a family outing, here are a few ways to minimize the impact from the party animals that descend on the park. We were on the Bohemia loop. You definitely want 199, 200 or 202. Other than that, pick another loop. There is a huge mound of logs, sticks and branches down the short connector trail across from 206. No need to buy any fire wood at all. When you use the showers, turn the water on full hot and wait a little while. It won't get past a lukewarm (and pressure is influenced by others in the showers, toilet flushers, etc...). The pond behind the park store is a decent size. We caught several nice bass in there (and some massive bluegills). Someone said there were catfish in there, but we didn't catch any. The North East beach looks nice for bathing (but make sure you don't have any cuts or other wounds before stepping foot into the Chesapeake Bay). Rouges Harbor looked OK for fishing from the docks (but you can only do that after the store is closed). The hike to the lighthouse was pleasant, the trail is super easy to follow. The lighthouse is small, only 4 people at a time can go to the top (really should be just two). The guy with the pony tail who was checking folks in was a descendant of the people who manned the lighthouse back in the day. The park store has more than you'd expect. They have a little cafe attached to it (and a laundromat). They also have free wifi, but it is slooooooooooow. Lots of rabbits, deer, hawks, eagles, etc... A raccoon got into our garbage one night, which was OK, since that is what they are wired to do. The rangers pretty much check people into the park, then that is it. No night time patrols. Kinda like the prisons in Brazil where the inmates provide the rules enforcement. The woman at the campsite next to us had to yell at some women having a shouting fight at 3:23AM! It was one of the weirdest things I had to listen to. I guess drugs and alcohol distort your sense of your surroundings. The rangers here could learn a lot from the PA state campgrounds which are so much better in terms of campground management. Sure, the staff/rangers here were nice, but come on now, keep the peace (literally)! All and all, I will not be back to this place. We only came here because there were no sites open at the PA campgrounds we like and surprise, Elk Neck had many. That should have clued us in. Live and learn. read more

Ohh the great outdoors! Nature's beauty at it's best! This was a very special hike (not to strenuous) that my best gal pal, Val took me on. Highlights including checking out an old lighthouse and getting to skip stones on the ocean. Our time there was quiet and uninterrupted. She lives in Delaware and frequents the place quite a bit. There are some benches scattered through the park featuring the virtues of the boys scout code. read more

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We came to see the Turkey Point Lighthouse and discovered a gem. You have to come early or during the weekdays as the parking lot for the lighthouse is very small, no more than maybe 20 cars. You have to walk a little (mostly paved) from the parking lot to the lighthouse (round trip is 1.6 miles). Fantastic view from the lighthouse but remember if you visit during weekdays, the gift shop is not open. While walking to the lighthouse there is an opening for bird watching so bring your camera. We heard that there are local bald eagles but we didn't see any but will return to try next season. People are friendly on the trail, everyone says hello. Kind of odd but you have to drive through a local community which sits between parts of the national park. Very strange but heck, I could live here :). It is a small lighthouse but the view is what you want. read more

So far, this is our go-to camping spot this season. We just got a camper, and of course want to take it out on the regular for a few long weekends, at least once per month. Elk Neck's full hookup sites are inexpensive, large, well manicured, clean and I have had no issues whatsoever at this park. There are plenty of trails, a "beach" which is more or less brackish water full of seaweed and some sand, but what can you ask for? It's not on a coast! If we need supplies there is a store, or you're a few minutes outside of Northeast where there's plenty of shopping. I'd like to check out Main St in Northeast, it looks like there are a lot of cool places to eat and cute little shops. The phone reception is abysmal, so don't even try. I'm mostly ok with that because I go camping to turn off everything but my book, camp chair and family. This is only an hour outside of Baltimore, so it's a great place for a quick trip without the hassle. read more

I explored the park on the hiking trails and then camped out. The trails were nice because they were all over and tons of connecting trails if you didn't want to do a 5 mile hike. The maps provided weren't very accurate however. We waited maybe one minute for parking at the lighthouse and then got right in. Some of the campsites are real close together, others are better laid out. I will say the bathrooms were pretty gross but it is camping after all. I had my puppy with me and the environment was very good for her to explore. read more

I love this place, it's not far from the farm I grew up on and it hasn't changed that much over the years. The lighthouse is small, I've been in it a few times since the lock never used to stay on it for long. It does now... You can wade WAY out in the river since it's pretty flat around the point (in most places) and the water is generally clear for the bay, meaning it's not clear like a pristine mountain like in the himalayas. You can hike all over and its for the most part pretty flat. We used to ride bikes (vroom vroom) up there decades ago and nobody said a word but times have changed. The campground and cabin are decent and older, well, they were older back in the 80s and most of it's ancient now but still perfectly serviceable. You'll get the feeling you're in the boondocks but really you're not far from North East. We used to ride bicycles around there all the time when I was really young, although then as now the road is a little twister and you stand a fair chance of becoming road pizza. It's a pretty unique park for the area thats been there forever and hopefully will remain to be well into the future since everything else is getting so built up not far from it. read more

My husband and I go to this park every summer. They have a nice swimming area in Turkey Point. It is a small beach but it is quiet. It is great for small children as it doesn't have waves that parents will have to worry about as you would on a beach. There are no life guards, so you swim at your own risk but the roped off swimming area never gets very deep and there isn't really a current. The shore is rocky so wear water shoes. There is also a BBQ area with picnic tables and a playground. There is a few for the swimming area but it's pretty cheap, $3 dollars/car in state, $5 out of state during the week. $3 person in state, $5 person out of state on holidays or weekends. There are also many other areas of the park to camp, fish, canoe etc. There is also a quaint, small town only a few minutes away to get something eat and to do a little shopping. (Nothing spectacular but something to do.) read more

This place is so nice and quiet we came here camping for the first time for three days and it is very quiet the camp sites are spacious and the beach area is nice it is just around the corner also all of the rangers are very helpfull!! We will be back! read more

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My absolute favorite camping spot ! Something for everyone. Sites are spacious, and most allow some degree of privacy... you can't go wrong with reserving a campsite here. read more