There are three popular cities in Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., that deserve a visit. Baltimore is the largest and most popular, Columbia is midway between Baltimore and Washington, and Silver Spring lies on the border with the District of Columbia. Each city serves the needs of RV travelers with outstanding amenities and incredible histories.
Many visitors seek Class A and Class C motorhomes to rent. Class A motorhomes are the more luxurious of the two, and they begin around $209 per night for a 2020 32-foot Thor Motor Coach ACE that sleeps nine. In comparison, the cheapest Class C is a 24-foot 2019 Freedom Elite that sleeps four and costs $169 per day. Both classes of motorhomes come with a range, microwave, kitchen sink, and generator.
Towed travel trailers also come in a wide range, with a 12-foot 2017 Little Guy Teardrop that sleeps two and costs $65 per night. Larger trailers like the 22-foot 2014 Forest River Stealth EVO that sleeps five and has the appliances found in motorhomes cost $75 per day.
First colonized by European settlers in 1624, Baltimore has seen repeated waves of immigration, making the city a diverse community with strong social foundations. Since the American Revolution and the War of 1812, this town has been known as an independent city. Its deep history is revealed in the 66 National Register Historic Districts and 33 local historic districts protecting structures erected since its founding. The town hosts an incredible number of amenities, including:
500+ Restaurants
200+ Gas Stations
15+ Campgrounds
8 Nearby State Parks
7 Nearby Dump Stations
Columbia, located 20 miles southwest of Baltimore, is an experimental planned city founded in 1967. The intent was to enhance citizens' quality of life by eliminating racial, religious, and class segregation. Today, the city’s history draws visitors by the thousands to experience a planned city. The town hosts several businesses and amenities, including:
300+ Restaurants
15 Gas Stations
10 Campgrounds
2 Nearby State Parks
Silver Spring is the fourth most populated area in Maryland. It began as a respite to the intense heat in Washington, D.C., when Francis Preston Blair, an American journalist who advised several U.S. presidents, sought a cooler place to spend the hot summers. Many presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, spent days and nights at this location. Guests visiting the city find:
300+ Restaurants
50+ Gas Stations
9 Campgrounds
1 Nearby State Park
Two national parks are within easy driving distance of Maryland, though none lie within the state itself. Shenandoah National Park lies just 76 miles west of Silver Spring. Visitors from across the country enjoy the diverse plant and animal life, streams, waterfalls, and high ridges hovering over deep valleys. Many of the peaks in the 300 square miles that make up the park reach above 4,000 feet. Hiking and biking are among the favorite activities that draw visitors. Rock climbing and the discovery of hidden lakes full of fish are just a few of the surprises awaiting venturers into Shenandoah.
Located 187 miles southwest of the western Maryland border is the New River Gorge National Park. Visitors to this park find an amazing canyon carved from solid granite by the New River over millions of years. Situated on the great plateau of West Virginia, this park is covered in deciduous forests that present a vivid color display in the fall and burgeoning energy in the spring. Hikers find tremendous views of the canyon from the high ridges that hover like sentinels. Anglers find plenty of activity in this park in hidden lakes, mountain streams, and the New River itself.
Situated next to Catoctin Mountain 60 miles northwest of Columbia, Cunningham Falls State Park is one of the most visited parks in Maryland. Though the park itself is only 6 acres, it accesses the high ridges of Catoctin Mountain and the waters of a 43-acre artificial lake. The park features the tallest cascading waterfall in Maryland and the remains of the Catoctin power plant. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails get visitors to viewpoints overlooking an impressive valley.
Located 47 miles northeast of Baltimore on the northern tip of Chesapeake Bay, Elk Neck State Park remains one of the favorite day-use parks in Maryland. The landscape ranges from marshlands and wooded areas to sandy beaches and white clay cliffs. Picturesque Turkey Point Lighthouse occupies the tip of the spit, providing a fantastic backdrop for family photographs.
Sitting on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay, 73 miles east of Silver Spring, Martinak State Park provides 107 acres of fun for Maryland families. The park is surrounded by Watts Creek and Choptank River and provides an extensive shoreline for anglers, sunbathers, and swimmers. Two boat ramps offer easy access to the water on either side of the park where canoes, kayaks, and boats find smooth waters.
Bar Harbor Park and Marina lies 24 miles northeast of Baltimore on the banks of the Bush River. It has served as a favorite resting spot for RV campers visiting Baltimore for over 55 years. Mature trees provide shade over the 73 RV campsites offered by the park, of which 41 have paved pads, and 32 are graveled. These campsites are 30 feet wide. The park provides a marina with a dock, a boat ramp for easy access to the river, and nature trails where guests can stretch their legs while learning about the environment around them.
Just 24 miles northwest of Columbia, Ramblin’ Pines Family Campground and RV Park reserves 90 RV campsites for temporary visitors with full hookups, a choice of 30-amp or 50-amp service, and free WiFi and cable TV connections. The park offers a heated swimming pool, a water umbrella, playgrounds, a bounce pillow, and a mini-golf course. A well-stocked fishing pond lets anglers teach their kids the art of fishing in a peaceful setting.
One of the favorite campgrounds enjoyed by Maryland families is Cherry Hill Park. Located only six miles east of Silver Spring, it's the nearest RV park to Washington, D.C. With 390 all-weather, full-hookup sites, this park is an ideal home for visitors exploring the D.C. area. Protected by a controlled gate, guests of this community enjoy cable TV, a robust WiFi system that supports simultaneous streaming of three devices at each site, and a choice of 30-amp or 50-amp service. Fun facilities like a heated swimming pool, hot tubs, a water umbrella, and a splash pad help guests cool off during the summer. The park is pet-friendly with an enclosed dog run and a dog park available to keep pets healthy and happy during their stay.
Knowing the location of public dump stations makes an RV trip through Maryland a lot easier. One of the busiest dump stations in Maryland is at the Fort Whaley campground on the east side of Chesapeake Bay. The facility is open from May through September, 24 hours a day. Campers at the park have free use of the station; outside RV traffic pays a nominal fee. To find more facilities, check out this list of dump stations in Maryland.
International Edgar Allen Poe Festival and Awards - This event adds an international flavor to Baltimore’s city center. Guests to this two-day event come from everywhere globally get a tour of Poe’s Baltimore, attend the Black Cat Ball, and take part in a cognac and roses graveside masquerade.
Diagon Alley Market - Witches and sorcerers vend their unique wares along Lower Main Street to the tune of mysterious music and cackling witches. Visit this fun upcoming event in Ellicott City, MD, just eight miles north of Columbia, for some family fun.
Twilight Tuesday Concerts - Enjoy some evening music as long as the weather permits at the Veteran’s Plaza in Silver Spring. These Tuesday evening events include classical concerts, pop music, up-and-coming bands, and church choirs.
Fort Frederick is one of the first places to be on Maryland’s list of important landmarks. Constructed in 1756 on the north shore of the Potomac River, the stone fort has withstood the ravages of time and provides a peek into the lives of those who were posted at this frontier fort during the French and Indian War. Park officials organize reenactments for visitors and offer tours of the facility.
March to the sounds of battle as you hike the Monocracy Battlefield. Relive an essential part of history as Confederate General Jubal Early led his troops to the outskirts of Washington, D.C., in 1864 to ease pressure on the forces under General Robert E. Lee in Petersburg by invading Maryland. On these 1,600 acres of rolling farmland, the Union forces delayed Early for one day, which was just enough time to get reinforcements into the trenches around Washington for a successful defense. Organizers present reenactments of this little-known but important battle.
Antietam National Battlefield holds an important place in American history. In this single day of fighting, Union forces defeated the invading Confederates on September 17, 1862. The sacrifices made here are well-documented and visible via a night auto tour where 33,000 candles are lit on the anniversary evening of the battle, covering the acreage over which Americans fought each other so long ago. Each flickering candle represents a life lost in a struggle that led to the defeat of the Confederacy three years later.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Maryland?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Maryland from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Maryland?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.