Is Martinak State Park first-come first-served or reservation?

Martinak State Park accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Martinak State Park before I book?

Yes! Martinak State Park has 1 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Martinak State Park?

Martinak State Park is open 2026 Reservable Dates All Campsites: March 27, 2026-November 1, 2026 Mini Cabins: March 27, 2026-November 1, 2026 Picnic Shelter: Year-round operations Choptank Cottage: Year-round operations 2027 Reservable Dates All Campsites: March 26, 2027-October 31, 2027 Mini Cabins: March 26, 2026-October 31, 2027 Picnic Shelter: Year-round operations Choptank Cottage: Year-round operations. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Martinak State Park?

Yes, Martinak State Park has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Can I have a campfire at Martinak State Park?

Fire policies at Martinak State Park: Fire pits are present at campsites and visitors purchase firewood on-site (some noted the wood is expensive); no formal fire policy details provided in source.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Is there cell service at Martinak State Park?

Cell phone service at Martinak State Park is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Martinak State Park have?

Martinak State Park has 70 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Martinak State Park?

Yes, pets are allowed at Martinak State Park. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Martinak State Park?

Martinak State Park offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Dump Station, Electrical Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Martinak State Park?

Popular activities at Martinak State Park include Hiking, Fishing, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Martinak State Park

4.33

154 reviews

Martinak State Park

B+Report Card

Fishing

Featured in:Fishing Camping Maryland Spring Camping Maryland Tent Camping Maryland +9 more

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

33 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

70 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

ElectricShowers

Book on Maryland DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

33 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

70 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

ElectricShowers

Book on Maryland DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Martinak State Park

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Facility Rates* Park Season Site Type Nightly/Daily Rates Peak Season Mar 27 2026 - Nov 01 2026 Picnic Shelter $56.75-$57.75 Mini...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Campground Map

Martinak State Park

38.8659, -75.8364

Nearby places

Tuckahoe (sister park) mentioned as about 9 miles away by a visitor

Bridgeville referenced as nearby but no distance given

Nearby supplies

Wal‑Mart and Food Lion less than 1 mile from the park (visitor report)

Weather at Martinak State Park

Best Time to Camp at Martinak State Park

Fall offers the most pleasant temperatures. Typically 50–70°F in September and October. With thinner crowds and vivid woodland color along the Choptank shoreline. Cooler, drier days make biking and hiking more comfortable than humid summer weather. October in particular combines reliable conditions with peaceful campgrounds, especially on weekdays when regional visitors taper off. Expect moderate weekend use but real solitude midweek, perfect for quiet fishing and wildlife viewing.

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Fall cited as best: pleasant temps, thinner crowds and vivid woodland color along shoreline.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: 2026 Reservable Dates All Campsites: March 27, 2026-November 1, 2026 Mini Cabins: March 27, 2026-November 1, 2026 Picnic Shelter: Year-round operations Choptank Cottage: Year-round operations 2027 Reservable Dates All Campsites: March 26, 2027-October 31, 2027 Mini Cabins: March 26, 2026-October 31, 2027 Picnic Shelter: Year-round operations Choptank Cottage: Year-round operations

About Martinak State Park

Martinak State Park sits where the Choptank River meets Watts Creek on Maryland's Eastern Shore, offering 70 sites plus cabins for families who want easy access to calm water. The campground delivers modern conveniences. Electric hookups, spotless restrooms with hot showers cleaned twice daily, dump station. Alongside fishing, paddling, and flat trails. Reviewers consistently praise the cleanliness and family-friendly setup, though sites can feel close together when the park fills up.

Mixed-use campground offering tent and RV sites in loops plus rentable cabins (4- and 6-person) and full-service cabins.

Weather and SeasonsFall offers the most pleasant temperatures. Typically 50–70°F in September and October. With thinner crowds and vivid woodland color along the Choptank shoreline. Cooler, drier days make biking and hiking more comfortable than humid summer weather. October in particular combines reliable conditions with peaceful campgrounds, especially on weekdays when regional visitors taper off. Expect moderate weekend use but real solitude midweek, perfect for quiet fishing and wildlife viewing.

Natural Features and SceneryThe park's dual waterfront sits at just 33 feet elevation, where the Choptank River and Watts Creek converge in flat, wooded terrain typical of the Eastern Shore. Campsites back into natural areas thick with songbirds and woodland canopy that turns vivid in fall. Short trails wind through accessible, level ground to the water's edge, where paddlers find calm conditions and anglers work the shoreline. A quiet pond near the cabins offers morning views across still water, and the riverside amphitheater overlooks the Choptank's gentle current.

Scenic ViewsRiver views from the boat launch and amphitheater; some cabins have river frontage and screened porches overlooking a pond; many campsites back up to woods.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsGoingToCamp; official reservations site: https://parkreservations.maryland.gov

Total Campsites70 campsites

Best CampsitesLoop B draws consistent praise from reviewers. Site 16 backs to woods and fits large tents comfortably, offering a bit more buffer from neighbors than some of the closer-spaced sites elsewhere in the park.

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Amenities available

Modern state park campground with centralized bathhouses and cabins; RV and tent sites with electric hookups, potable water pumps and a dump station on-site, fire rings and picnic tables at sites, and firewood available for purchase.

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Flush toilets

Dump station

Fire rings

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

Family-oriented park with short trails, playgrounds, river access for boating and fishing, cabin rentals, and multi-use camp loops suitable for biking and kid activities.

Hiking

Fishing

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsTicks have been reported by visitors; some visitors mention pest issues (roaches, cobwebs). Generator noise from neighboring RVs has been reported as disruptive on at least one occasion.

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

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Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.3

154 reviews

Recommended

Martinak State Park is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers consistently praise Martinak State Park for cleanliness, family-friendly amenities, accessible and hot showers, roomy sites, playgrounds, fishing and boating access, and well-kept facilities. Common drawbacks mentioned include occasional pest issues (ticks/roaches), noise from other campers (generator use), and sites that can feel close together during busy periods.

Review Summaries

Based on 154 reviews

What Campers Love

Spotless restrooms and hot showers cleaned twice daily; accessible handicapped shower; spacious, level sites with picnic tables and fire rings; playgrounds, short trails, amphitheater, canoe/kayak...

Based on 154 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring insect repellent and check pets for ticks; if you need a water fill hose bring a long hose (reviewer suggested ~25 ft); buy firewood on entry or collect small branches for starter wood; expect...

Based on 154 reviews

Camper Quotes

"The bathrooms were cleaned twice a day, well placed in the middle of the loop, and the showers were HOT."; "One of the nicest, cleanest little Camping Parks I have ever spent time in."

Based on 154 reviews

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Go if

Families with kids or anglers targeting catfish, perch, and bass on the Choptank. Electric hookups, a boat ramp, canoe rentals, playgrounds, and a Walmart less than a mile away make this genuinely easy. Fall weekdays are the sweet spot.

Skip if

Close-together sites plus generator-running neighbors is a real pattern on busy summer weekends. Tent campers wanting separation or anyone sensitive to overnight generator noise will be better off on a fall weekday or at nearby Tuckahoe State Park.

Nearby Campgrounds

Maryland State Parks, Maryland

Tuckahoe State Park sits on Maryland's Eastern Shore, offering 68 wooded campsites along Tuckahoe Creek and a quiet lake. The campground fills quickly with families drawn to the shaded sites, clean bathhouses, disc golf course, and lake access. Sites have electric hookups but no water or sewer.

Killens Pond State Park

5025 Killens Pond Road, FELTON, Delaware, 19943, United States

Killens Pond State Park sits on 1,444 acres of pine forest and wetlands in Delaware's inland coastal plain, about 85 feet above sea level. The centerpiece is a 66-acre millpond that dates to the late 1700s. Campsites accommodate tents, RVs (with electric and water hookups), and cabins, with nightly rates at $32. Reservations fill quickly during peak season.

$32.00 - $32.00 / night

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NRC Solomons sits on the Patuxent River in southern Maryland, offering bungalow rentals with riverside access for fishing, boating, and swimming. Operated as a seasonal recreation facility, the site features a private beach, pier, and well-maintained grounds with WiFi and a camp store. Guests enjoy striped bass and white perch angling, waterfront sunsets, and family-friendly summer programming during peak months.

Reservable

80.692 km

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Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight (Hbo) Campsite

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Chisel Branch is a hiker-biker overnight site on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath near Poolesville, operated by the National Park Service. The primitive campsite serves cyclists and hikers traveling the canal trail, with vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and seasonal potable water. Reviewers highlight spacious sites, river views, and abundant birdlife, though airplane noise from nearby airports and seasonal water shutoffs are common trade-offs.

Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds

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Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds sits on Naval Air Station Patuxent River, a small military installation campground near Washington D.C. offering waterfront access on the Patuxent River. Operated by NAS Patuxent River for military families and authorized users, the campground provides primitive tent sites and group options with fire rings and picnic tables. Campers fish, crab, swim, and boat from the shoreline, with a fishing bridge on-site.

$20.00 - $30.00 / night

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null

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Nrc Solomons (Contemporary Cottages)

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Widewater State Park Campground

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Widewater State Park Campground sits on a 1,100-acre peninsula where Aquia Creek meets the Potomac River in Stafford County. The 10-site campground (Hunts #H-01 through #H-10) stays quiet and nearly empty at times, making it a low-key alternative when nearby parks fill up. The peninsula's hilly terrain requires checking site fit for larger campers.

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Campgrounds

Maryland State Parks, Maryland

Martinak State Park

B+

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 80% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 126 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.

Strengths

Grade A.Things to do
Grade A.Safety
Grade A.Belonging

Watch-outs

Grade C+.Staff & hosts
Grade C+.Scenery
Grade B-.Bugs & weather

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

How we grade →See how Maryland grades overall

About Shadow Mountain Lake

Context for the broader area surrounding Martinak State Park, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

<A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/co01666.htm">Shadow Mountain Dam</a> and Reservoir, <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/cbt.html">Colorado-Big Thompson Project</a>, are on the Colorado River below its confluence with the Grand Lake outlet. Developments include 1 campground with 80 campsites and 2 boat-launch ramps. Good access exists. Total water surface available for recreation is approximately 1,346 surface acres and 8 miles of shoreline. Primary recreational activities are camping, fishing, and power boating. Primary sport fish are bown trout, rainbow trout, and salmon. Facilities closed in winter due to ice and snow conditions. <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_sharesco.pl">Current Reservoir Levels</a>.

Directions

North from Granby, Colorado on U.S. 34.

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