Hollofield Area Campground
Patapsco Valley State Park
Write a Review 8020 Baltimore National Pike Ellicott City, MD 21043 410-461-5005 Reservations: 888-432-2267 Official WebsiteGPS: 39.2952, -76.7879
Overview of Hollofield Area Campground
Last Price Paid: $26
Reported by Adventures of Roy the Airstream on 4/17/2022
Longest RV Reported: 35 feet
Reported by AB on 6/13/2018
Number of Sites 73
Reservations yes
Open Seasonally Late Mar. - early Nov.
Elevation 393 ft / 119 m
Tent Camping Yes
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 410-461-5005
Reviews of Hollofield Area Campground 15 people have reviewed this location.
Reviewed 4/22/2019
Nightly rate: | $4 |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Beautiful campground!
Jaime28 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice park in a very convenient location, but too noisy and tightly spaced for us.”
Reviewed 8/23/2018
Nightly rate: | $27 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 418 |
RV Length: | 24' |
Site Details: We stayed in site #418 in the Hollofield campground. The site was nice and level, but a bit small, with a short driveway. We actually brought 2 vehicles this time, and it was really tight. Fair amount of trees surrounding our site, but since there are still very few leaves, it felt way closer and less private. This campgr... more
Site Details: We stayed in site #418 in the Hollofield campground. The site was nice and level, but a bit small, with a short driveway. We actually brought 2 vehicles this time, and it was really tight. Fair amount of trees surrounding our site, but since there are still very few leaves, it felt way closer and less private. This campground is very popular, and set up as two loops; an inner loop with electric sites, and a more spread-out outer loop with non-electric, tent-only sites. The inner loop was completely full, and the sites were just too closely spaced for my preferences. There were a few sites with a little extra room and privacy (419 and 420 caught my eye), but for the most part they were packed in pretty tightly. If you’re a tent camper and don’t need electric, the sites on the outer loop were quite nice and private.
Facilities/Overall Park: Bath house was old, small, and not exceptionally clean, but adequate for our needs. Did not use the showers this time. However, there are only 4 restroom stalls and 2 showers on the ladies side, so I can imagine the lines would be pretty crazy during the summer time. I expected lines this weekend, considering the campground was full, but we lucked out. There is also a dishwashing room with a deep double sink, but this was old and dingy as well. I’m really surprised that the bath house hasn’t been renovated yet, considering the size and popularity of the park. I’m also amazed that there is only one bath house and a single water spigot to service both loops; normally in MD State Parks, there is a water pump every few sites.
Outside of camping, Patapsco Valley offers tons of activities for all outdoor lovers. This is the largest state park in MD, and is very spread out, with several distinct areas. While only the Hollofield and Hilton areas have campgrounds, almost every area has a really nice day use section, with tons of pavilions in all sizes, and great playgrounds. There is a nature center with lots of ranger programs in the Hilton area, along with a huge playground, and another camping loop with tent sites and mini cabins. Though I didn’t try any of them this time, there are apparently some great hiking trails in all areas of the park. I also hear wading and tubing in the river is very popular during the summer.
Surrounding Area/Attractions: This park is very convenient to Baltimore, Ellicott City, and Catonsville, all with their unique attractions and cute historic districts. Both Baltimore and Ellicott City have some great dining options, and Catonsville offers all the major stores and conveniences within a mile or two of the park. If you need anything, whether it be food, gas, or any type of service, it will be very quick and easy to find. Since you’re so close to civilization, there is great cell service pretty much everywhere in the park.
Overall, while this is a great park for day-tripping with a very convenient location, we just didn’t care for the campground. If you don’t mind the proximity to other campers and multiple scouting groups, or if you can make use of the more private tent sites, this might be a good option. We were hoping to count on this park for quick weekend getaways, since it’s only about 15 miles from us, but we may be willing to drive a bit further to get the more peaceful, woodsy experience we prefer.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful area but not great for a huge rig”
Reviewed 6/13/2018
Days stayed: | 7 |
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Site Number: | 400 |
RV Length: | 35' |
This campground was very easy to find and had plenty to do in the campground and surrounding area. Pulling into the campground was pretty tight as was leaving. Be sure to follow instructions on arriving into the park because if you come the wrong way you will encounter a low overpass. I would definitely not recommend site 400. This is ... more
This campground was very easy to find and had plenty to do in the campground and surrounding area. Pulling into the campground was pretty tight as was leaving. Be sure to follow instructions on arriving into the park because if you come the wrong way you will encounter a low overpass. I would definitely not recommend site 400. This is the first site of the campground and was incredibly hard to get our 35 ft 5th wheel into it. Leaving the site was also very difficult. The sites only have electric, but there is a place to fill your fresh water tank if need be. However, when we arrived the attendant was not knowledgable on if or where you could fill up your fresh water. During our stay here the campground experienced trouble with the pipes and was forced to shut down the bath houses and dump station. This was very inconvenient, but the staff was very pleasant and brought in porta potties for those without their own bathrooms. The campground does have plenty of walking/hiking trails which were great to walk the dog and get in some exercise. There are also plenty of delicious restaurants not far from the campground and it's also located right outside of Baltimore.
AB would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great park and friendly hosts. ”
Reviewed 8/29/2017
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 420 |
RV Length: | 25' |
The goods: the park has great trails and is close to Ellicott City (a historic area, also plenty of nearby shops and restaurants, particularly Korean). The river is rocky and you can easily wade into it to cool off. Fishing is allowed in the park. The hosts (sites 422 & 423) are very friendly, firewood is $5 a bundle. The dump station ... more
The goods: the park has great trails and is close to Ellicott City (a historic area, also plenty of nearby shops and restaurants, particularly Korean). The river is rocky and you can easily wade into it to cool off. Fishing is allowed in the park. The hosts (sites 422 & 423) are very friendly, firewood is $5 a bundle. The dump station is near the hosts, fresh water is near the bathhouse in the middle of the inner loop, trash dumpster is at the entrance side (low number) of the inner loop.
The others: Campsites are close together so you will see your neighbors (though it was very quiet). Some sites have 30A/20A service only (inner loop). The road from the park entrance is long and steep, so it is a long hike (but the campground loop and ridge trails are worth it). If you don't need electric, site 430 is the nicest trailer site.
matthorr would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Pretty much everything we want in a campground”
Reviewed 4/15/2017
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 5 |
Site Number: | 400 |
RV Length: | 33' (Class A) |
****NOTE the name of this place is Hollofield Campground at Patapsco Valley State Park NOT Hollofield State Park. There are 2 camping areas within this State Park-cabins are in the Hilton area (and they do not allow pets in that area.) Hollofield is for tents and RVs and this review is for that area. ****MD no longer uses Reserv... more
****NOTE the name of this place is Hollofield Campground at Patapsco Valley State Park NOT Hollofield State Park. There are 2 camping areas within this State Park-cabins are in the Hilton area (and they do not allow pets in that area.) Hollofield is for tents and RVs and this review is for that area.
****MD no longer uses Reserve America but its own state site: https://parkreservations.maryland.gov
***PAY ATTENTION to directions if your rig is over 11' high
We stayed 5 days at this lovely campground and wish we'd had more time since we didn't get all that we wanted to do done.
Access: I cannot stress enough the need to follow the directions to the campground if you are above 11'. You MUST use Rte 40 EAST/Baltimore National Pike. There is a stone underpass after you leave 40E that is only 11'1". That said, if you follow the directions it is very easy to get there. The entrance to the campground/park is well marked. But the entry process is a bit of a ding. They advise you to call ahead if you will arrive after 4pm to have a ranger meet you but from the (futile) attempts my husband made to get a trail map from the ranger at the front gate it might make sense to call at any time. We arrived 2 hours earlier than check i time and were told we had to wait in the parking lot until 3pm as the "computer would not allow check in) Aside from the fact that this is a pretty small window it was OK. We met fellow "early birds" while waiting and once the computer allowed it we were handed all our papers including the gate code. But, at none of the other 3 times hubby went to get a map did he find the booth occupied. So, call ahead. One other thing, you will need the gate code to access the road to the campground which goes down a very steep hill and then back up one before getting to the actual campground.
We had made our reservations on Reserve America before MD created their own state reservation site but had no problem with that.
There are two loops in the CG-the inner loop has the electric only sites the outer loop has no services. They are quite shaded so solar would not work. Generators are allowed. The tents and RVs are interspersed with each other though mostly RVs in the electric sites. We were the at the beginning of Easter w/e and it began to fill up on Fri night but it was quiet. Sites 400-405 back up to a wooded area that is just in front of a suburban development and we were afraid it might be noisy. It wasn't at all. There is a huge power line running above those sites if that kind of thing concerns you. The site sizes, degree of slope and privacy differed but virtually all were fine. The non-electric sites on the outer side of the outer loop tended to looked the best. There is a train that runs by but the sound is very distant. Our site was quite sloped and we had to use 3 blocks in the rear. There was a picnic table and fire ring at the site, the surface is dirt/gravel. There is no water at the sites so if you need to fill up, proceed FIRST to the inner loop and the west side of the bathhouse where the drinking water spigot is located (back side of the bathhouse) (the dump station is at the front, east side and across from the camp host, who also sells firewood.)
The bathhouse is clean with 2 showers with excellent pressure and a shared changing area. Also, on busy weekends, the showers may run out of hot water pretty early in the morning. It was chilly during the time we were there and the camp host had sealed the vents as well as put in a nice electric radiator so the entire room was toasty. Nice detail. There is no laundry in site but within 3 miles in Catonsville or Ellicott City.
We had decent (2-3 bars) ATT boosted so I didn't think to test our Verizon. Trash is at the dump station but there was no recycle bin.
There are two hiking trails in the park. One goes down to the river and laong the train tracks for awhile. Families with kids as well as many others were hiking every day.
This is a great location for doing a variety of day trips. Washington DC is about 1.5 hours. Drive to the Glenmont Metro Station in Silver Spring. Parking, in one of the garages at the station, is $3 for the day and may be paid with your metro card (when you leave) which you can get in the station. It is then 1/2 hour to Metro Center on the Red Line.
Baltimore is 1/2 hour away.
Ellicott City has a historical area and there is all sorts of shopping on the Baltimore Pike minutes east or west, including H-Town a HUGE Korean/Asian market that also has supermarket foods. It's a great visit even if you don't buy anything and they have at least a dozen tasting stations.
All in all, except for the issue with checking in, this CG held everything we look for. Things to do on-site, close enough to laundry and shopping that it isn't a trek, close to sites to visit and quiet.
Voyagers On Wheels would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Baltimore came camping, Rangers did nothing”
Reviewed 6/1/2019
Nightly rate: | $30 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 406 |
Shrieking shoving youth acting out violently shoving each other in and out of their tent screaming nonstop while their 2 mothers did nothing. A nice European camper walking his dog told me they had been carrying on for hours. I don't know if other campers complained, but we did and were told we cannot leave (we were told to stay at th... more
Shrieking shoving youth acting out violently shoving each other in and out of their tent screaming nonstop while their 2 mothers did nothing. A nice European camper walking his dog told me they had been carrying on for hours. I don't know if other campers complained, but we did and were told we cannot leave (we were told to stay at the site right across from them in clear view). NO REFUNDS. The site was tiny cramped and parking on an incline.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- picnic area
- playground
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- dump station
- firewood
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
Nearby
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