Catoctin Mountain Park

Show on map (301) 663-9388 cato_superintendent@nps.gov

6602 Foxville Road
Thurmont, MD 21788

President Franklin D. Roosevelt created programs to give people a chance to rebuild their lives from the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps gave this land a second opportunity and through re-growth, a new role as a recreation area.

Directions

To reach the visitor center from the east, follow US Route 15 to MD Route 77 and go west about 3 miles. The visitor center is on the right side of the road. From the west, take I 70 to MD 66 at exit 35. Turn left onto MD 66 north and travel about 5 miles, passing through the roundabout. Turn right onto MD 64 and drive 1 mile. Turn right onto MD 77. Drive on MD 77 about 7.5 miles. The visitor center is on the left.

Reviews

Catoctin Mountain Park is consistently praised for its peaceful, scenic, and family-friendly camping environment featuring clean and well-maintained facilities, including bathrooms and showers. Visitors highlight the friendly and helpful staff, plentiful firewood availability, and good access to diverse hiking trails. While cabins offer rustic charm and some modern conveniences, a few require maintenance updates or have limited accessibility. Noise levels and crowding vary by season, with occasional disturbances noted. Some sites present challenges such as uneven terrain, close proximity to neighbors, strict regulations, and limited parking. Overall, the park is regarded as a great place for relaxation and reconnecting with nature despite minor drawbacks.

Peaceful, scenic, and family-friendly environment

Clean and well-maintained bathrooms and showers

Friendly and helpful staff and camp hosts

Plentiful free or donation-based firewood

Good access to varied hiking trails

Some cabins need maintenance or have limited vehicle access

Noise disturbances, especially on weekends and peak seasons

Sites vary in privacy, proximity, and terrain levelness

Strict rules and limited parking at cabins

Facilities like bathhouses sometimes need updating

663 reviews

5 stars

501

4 stars

113

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Carol M

Campground:Owens Creek Campground

Loop:Owens Creek Campground

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

The hosts were helpful. Bathrooms were old but clean and the water was hot in the shower. They need to improve the lighting in the shower area however. There were great hikes around the campground area as well as in other parts of the park that I enjoyed.

Rolla C

Campground:Owens Creek Campground

Loop:Owens Creek Campground

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

They provide seasoned firewood!!!! They provide seasoned firewood!!! for the whole campsite.

Rachel W

Campground:Owens Creek Campground

Loop:Owens Creek Campground

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Great campground, free firewood, can't wait to go back.

Karen L

Campground:Camp Misty Mount

Loop:Middle

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Bret C

Campground:Owens Creek Campground

Loop:Owens Creek Campground

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Mostly tent sites here, but sites 12, 39 and 43 allow RVs up to I think 30 feet long. Lots of the sites that don't allow RVs would have fit our 25 footer better than steep site 43 did, but they have their rules. Great small quiet place, nice hosts this year, I'd stay again. They enthusiastically offer their free firewood which is a nice feature.

DONGHYOUN C

Campground:Owens Creek Campground

Loop:Owens Creek Campground

Site:

Reviewed 10 days ago

Always nice camping at Owens Creek. Special thanks to camp host couple. They were really enthusiastic for their job. They took care of the campground atmosphere well enough for the comfortable camping. Thanks again.

Keep your options open

Watch for a matching campsite across monitored campgrounds in Catoctin Mountain Park.

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in November, when about 9% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 6 years of reservations.