2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury, MD 20658
Headquarters: 301-743-7613 | Duty Ranger: 240-743-8475
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY: CALL 1-800-825-7275 OR 410-260-8888

Camping Regulations

Hours & Signage: Park day-use hours are from 5:00 AM to sunset. All State Laws and Regulations are enforced, and all posted signs and speed limits must be obeyed at all times.

Registration: All campers must register at Headquarters or with a Park Ranger prior to setting up at any campsite. The camping registrant must be at least 18 years of age and must be present and camping on-site. A maximum of six people are allowed per campsite, including visiting guests. Families with more than six people wishing to camp on one site must receive prior approval from a Park Ranger or Headquarters staff before setting up.

Service Charges: Camping service charges are payable to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and are non-refundable.

Quiet Hours: Quiet Hours are from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. We ask that you be respectful of other campers and try your best to limit the amount of noise made during this time. Set-up is not permitted at this time.

Check-In/Check-Out Times: Check-in is available from 3:00 PM. to 10:00 PM. Campers with confirmed reservations who plan to arrive after 8:00 PM. must contact the park in advance for after-hours access. Campers must check out or renew their reservation by 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of departure. Walk-in campers are not guaranteed additional nights.

Camper’s Boat: Your camping service charge covers the launching of one boat per site. Please place your camping hangtag on the vehicle’s front dashboard or on the rearview mirror, as it must be visible when the vehicle is parked in the boater’s parking lot.

Vehicle Parking: Only two vehicles are allowed at each site. Camper vehicles must be parked on your site’s gravel driveway or in the overflow parking areas. Please do not park alongside your campsite or on the roadways.

Equipment: There is a maximum of two sleeping units allowed per site. All equipment must be set on your assigned camping pad. Tents, vehicles, and other equipment must not be set in the woods, grass, or block roadways at any time. The operation of generators is prohibited during the established quiet hours.

Trash: All trash must be deposited in the dumpster located in front of the maintenance shop that is across from Headquarters, or the dumpster located in the campground near Site #12. Burning trash is prohibited.

Open Fire: Campfires are only allowed in the provided fire rings and must be supervised at all times by someone at least 18 years of age. Campfires are to be extinguished completely prior to leaving a site unattended.

Pet Rules: Pets are allowed on approved pet campsites and cabins only. Please keep your pets leashed and within your campsite at all times when camping. Pet owners may not leave their pet unattended at the campsite, and the pet owner must remove all waste products. Should pet owners not maintain control of their pet/s, camping permits can be terminated at the Park Ranger’s discretion.

Trees & Plants: Standing trees, shrubs, and plants may not be cut at any time for any reason by Park visitors. Please do not hang lanterns from trees or put nails in trees.

Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol is not permitted.

Firewood: Due to the potential threat of emerald ash borer, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has prohibited the importation of personal firewood into all DNR-owned and managed properties. Wood is not allowed to be transported onto any DNR property. Wood is available for purchase at Headquarters, the Camp Store, or the firewood shed near the Camp Host site. Alternatively, you may pick up any dead and downed wood for your use.

​We welcome you to Smallwood State Park and hope you have a joyful, memorable camping experience!

Do YOU know the seven (7) Leave No Trace Principles?

Learn these seven simple principles that will help you make responsible decisions to better minimize your impact on the places you love, such as Smallwood State Park, all while maximizing your outdoor experience.

1. Know Before You Go. Plan for a safe visit and prepare for all kinds of weather. Know the rules of the park before you arrive.
2. Choose the Right Site and Path. Stay on marked trails when hiking. Park in designated parking areas.
3. Trash Your Trash. If you can pack it in, please pack it out. Please do not burn food and trash. Always remember to bring a pick-up bag and pick up your pet's poop, wherever it is left.
4. Leave What You Find. Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them. Leave picnic tables where you find them; please do not move them. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.'
5. Be Careful with Fire. Use a gas-fueled camp stove for cooking; it is easier to cook on and clean. Build fires of reasonable size only in the designated camping ring. Extinguish all fires and charcoal completely before leaving a campsite or picnic area.
6. Keep Wildlife Wild. Watch wildlife from a distance. Never feed animals. Store your meals and trash tightly to protect wildlife.
7. Be Considerate of Others. Keep voices and noise to a minimum when camping, hiking, riding, or picnicking. Please observe pet policies. Always leave the area cleaner than you found it for the visitors arriving after you.

To learn more about Leave No Trace, please visit https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/lnt.aspx