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Maryland Free Camping Rank and Rules

Maryland ranks #3 of 50 for free camping

Maryland ranks #3 of 50 for free camping, with 25.5 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Data as of

Maryland free camping in numbers

Maryland ranks #3 of 50 for free camping, with 25.5 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Rank
#3
Known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi
25.5
Known dispersed sites
248
Land area
9,707 sq mi
Developed campgrounds
204
State-land rule
Permit required
Forest restrictions tracked
0

Dispersed camping in Maryland

Can you camp on Maryland state land?

Permit required. State forests allow camping only at sites marked on the map, and you register yourself. We found nothing in the published rules that allows camping on wildlife management areas generally. Treat that as unconfirmed rather than banned. Maryland also has no National Forest land, which we checked two separate ways. Every state, with the rule behind each answer: dispersed camping on state land, state by state.

Where is dispersed camping restricted in Maryland?

Maryland has no National Forest land, so no forest restriction applies here.

Each restriction, cited and dated: where dispersed camping is restricted.

How the rank works

We divide the known dispersed campsites in a state by its land area, in square miles, and multiply by 1,000. The rules above sit beside the rank but never change it. The count includes only sites that public sources map, so mapping effort affects the result. Roadside camping corridors and the points we place inside state wildlife and forest areas are not counted.