Camp Meade RV Park

We stayed at the Ft Meade Campground as a stopping place on our trip down to and back from Myrtle Beach. When we got to our site on our way down we all looked at each other and said "Can we stay here for the week?" Very clean campground with well layed out sites. We had a back in site on our way down and a pull through on the way back. I had no trouble getting a 42' 5th wheel into and out of either. The MWR Office was very helpful with both of our nights being on the weekend when they are closes. I got phone messages on my cell phone giving us the codes to get into the campground and for the shower facility. We are already planning on coming down and staying to do the "Washington" thing some time next year and will definitely stay here when we do.

Sea Mist in Virginia Beach on the 13th, now Camp Meade on the 25th, I’m really pushing this new RV thing. We came here to visit my son and grand kids, my son is stationed here. This is a very nice park. Quite a few log term campers, but still plenty of empty sites the week we were here. I read one of the previous posts about the shower rooms and he/she was spot on, they are individual rooms clean and private. Access to Post was easy, my son checked with the guard at the Reese gate about RVs. Guard said no problem. I showed up Saturday afternoon and had no problems with my GMC 2500 and 33 ft 5er that requires 12’5” clearance. If you enter via this gate make the first left on Ernie Pyle st. cross Mapes Rd (flashing red light) Turn right on Llewellyn Ave (Stop Sign), and left on Wilson St. (at hospital). Camp Mead is on your left, lots of parking for RVs. Yes the office has limited duty hrs, closed on weekends. However I made reservation for a Sat arrival and on the Friday before they called me and provided a site number and codes for the entry gate, and bathhouse, on Monday morning at 0900 they called and politely asked me to stop by to register. Very pleasant happy people. I will be here again. Super quiet, comfortable park.

We 'wintered' here and it was perfect! They allow you to skirt your RV unlike Andrews which helped allot. Nice office with multiple employees with regular hours. Can refill propane onsite. Two large shower/ laundry facilities. 5 miles from Metro.

A very pleasant first-time experience in this campground. I absolutely will return. Having read previous posts I was pleasantly surprised to NOT find grumpy, unhelpful management. The staff that runs the facility could not be friendlier or more accommodating. My only dings on amenities/facilities, and thus the reason for four stars instead of five, are (1) No WiFi in the campground and (2) Office hours. It is hard to reconcile an "Outdoor Recreation Facility" that limits its hours to 0800-1600 Mon-Fri. My military experience was that most "outdoor recreation" was done after hours and weekends. One afternoon I returned to my campsite at 1630 to find somebody had made off with my power cord (connection to shore power). I had to wait until the next day to speak with someone in Outdoor Rec and get it back (a Good Sam though someone left the power cord behind and turned it into the office). Admittedly, a relatively minor point. The shower, restroom, and laundry facilities were spotless; although perhaps we can turn the temperature up a few degrees in those shower rooms (yes; shower ROOMS -- each shower is a self-contained key-pad accessible room with shower, toilet, sink, mirror, electric outlets . . . VERY convenient). The cumbersome Post access through the truck/delivery gate is due to the oversized nature of many RVs (can't fit through the normal Post gates). If traveling in a Class B (as I was), access through the normal gates is easy and painless. Just be sure to have your ID handy to present to security.

We have stayed at this park before and would do so again. Yes, the price is high for a Famcamp but when you consider the area it is just fine. We have stayed at a few Famcamps that are in the $30 range. We paid $33 a night here. Our only complaint about the campground - the building next door has a brand new loudspeaker that they are very proud of and it is LOUD! Reveille is played at 6:30 AM, colors at 5:00 PM and Taps at 9:00 PM. You will not miss them as the sound echoes through the park. Not the parks fault but don't jump a foot when it starts! I am used to hearing these, just not so LOUD. I submitted a change to the directions. Once you get through the commercial gate and turn left on Mapes road, follow it until it ends at Ernie Pyle Road and turn right. Turn right at Llewellyn (stop sign), and then left on Wilson. Outdoor Rec will be up on your left. Park in the lot and check in.

We have stayed here multiple times over the past couple of years, and there is one thing of which you can be sure--nothing ever changes. Yes, it is an ideal location. Yes, they have nice, wide concrete sites. Yes, there is not another RV park in the area that comes close to the price of this park. With that being said, there has been no effort to improve the RV experience at this park in years. We paid $231 per week for our four week stay. We have stayed in many military RV parks across the eastern and southern United States, and nobody charges more for less than this park. The water quality is absolutely horrible. There is a lot of iron in the water, and dark orange surges are common. Plan on going through at least one water filter per week. There are many overhanging trees throughout the park that need trimming. It is virtually impossible to drive through the park without brushing against tree branches. There is still no WiFi and there is no plan to add it to the park's amenities. The office staff is friendly enough, but after you check in, you will not hear from them again unless they have a problem with something you are doing. Here is the crazy thing--we will definitely stay here again because it is still the best deal in the area--and they know it.

It was our first time to stay here. I hope these extra instructions help other first-timers. Using exit 8 off of MD 32 to enter Ft Meade with your camper, enter the roundabout and bypass the Main Gate. Take the next right off the roundabout which looks (and is) the entrance ramp onto MD 32 west. There is an exit off that road that takes you to the Truck Gate/NSA Gate. You will be driving on the left side of a road that is divided and one-way. When you reach the check-point and finish, you make a U-turn to the right in the parking lot and go back through the gate up the opposite side of the one-way road you came in on. When you reach a stop sign, turn right – (left takes you to an NSA gate where you will have you turn around). You are on Ft Meade and can proceed to the campground by taking a left onto Mapes Road at the first traffic light. We enjoyed the camp and found the staff very helpful. I had a medical emergency and had to extend our stay which the staff was reluctant but did work something out for us to stay. The campground is across the street from a small lake with a paved path plus you see deer and ground hogs almost anytime you are walking. It is expensive and the long parking pad had the water/electricity located about middle of the pad so I could not back to the end and reach the plug-in at the rear of my 5th wheel. I would recommend this campground and would stay again (non-emergency).

I maybe adding a comment once we get there, since I have read the posts, and how the campground is being take care of. The homesteader I am sure don't complain since they are double dipping (getting paid more for living allowance than they pay there). Even though it is one of the pricier parks it is still a bargain for homesteaders. I thought I had read at onetime, that active and retired military, could get a site before DOD civilian and contractors. Is this no longer true? Apparently this is not true at FT Meade, which seems to be a homesteaders meca, especially since of BRAC. We called Ft Meade RV CG and requested a back-in site (which are cheaper) for 5 days. We were told they only had one for 2 days, but we could get a pull through (more expensive). I know FT Meade has many DOD and Contractor homesteaders from the years we have used their campground. Our family lives in the area and we stay there when we visit MD. I thought as the rules stand, they would have to move someone, either a homesteader, or DOD/Contractor, to open a site. I really don't feel it is fair, that we will be spending much more for a site, when we are "guest" using the park for Recreation, and the campgrounds are called RV parks. :( :angry:

I read the previous review and I agree the grass is cut and the dumpster was not over flowing. I was in site 23, a pull through for $38, and had great difficulty getting into my site and out of it because of tree limbs and branches that scraped the sides and roof of my coach. There was also what I believe a telephone junction box in my site, front right, by the road that was probably 40 inches tall. It showed signs of being hit by previous rigs. With a tree on the left side it made turning left interesting. The roadways also need tree limbs trimmed. Although on previous stays I was told that nobody stays longer than 30 days, on this visit I was told that there are a large number of folks that do. I was told they can stay six months, depart for a day and return for six more. This is a convenient stop for us on a Saturday, so we can get on a jump on the D.C. beltway early Sunday morning but I think $38 is too much to charge for a military campground, especially one that is not maintained properly, and does not have cable or wifi.

This can be the one of the most expensive Military Parks in the system; however, costs can be brought into line with the weekly rate and a back-in site. The staff are friendly and, I was surprised, when they called us the day before our Sunday arrival, to provide gate codes and info. BTW - operations at the RV park seem unaffected by the shutdown. The area is well maintained with regular lawn maintenance and trash collection. It is a great location to visit Baltimore. Many of the sites are very spacious and most are shaded. Antennae picks up most of the local stations, if you have a sat-dish, many sites are blocked. We'll be back!

Very nice clean park, but as with most of these facilities, they are becoming less of a value or benefit to RVers. Internet is available within 50 ft or so of the laundry area.

R.L. left this review using the Directory software: - Absolutely disappointed with this park. We have stayed here several times over the past 5 years. They used to provide cable TV and wifi at a rate less than they charged us. Seems the Army is simply interested in gouging the RVers. We wont be back.

We stayed here for the weekend to see some local sites. Great location, less than 30 minutes from the inner harbor and not too far from Washington. As others stated the cable did not work, however we picked up many local stations with no problems. We did get the "dd-wrt" WiFi but was not the best quality. A new PX is being built along with some construction along the route to the campsites. The campground is clean and well shaded with plenty of space between sites. Some have concrete pads under the table and fire ring. There were a few RVs that appeared to be there for a while and not occupied, however there were plenty of open sites. The office personnel were friendly. The store had several items for RV'ers that we've not seen at other military campgrounds. The store also has the Leisure Travel Service for discount tickets. The store and office do close at 5pm, however if you have a reservation they will call the number you give with the reservation with the code for the gate and bathhouses.

Great location for DC and/or Baltimore. No WiFi or cable, but the security, paved sites, and proximity to facilities on base (PX, commissary, lake park, etc.) makes it a good week or weekend visit. I would camp here again for a PCS transition or a visit to the region.

The park web site says "CATV", but the cable has been inoperative for at least several months including the TV in the shower building. There was a problem with the contractor providing the service. A resident offered to help fix the problem, but management was non-responsive. The park has an unofficial WiFi, put together by some skilled park residents using existing lines from a previous landline install. The residents offered to set up a real WiFi, but management again unresponsive. The WiFi mostly works in the shower building and nearby sites. It is named "dd-wrt". Might have been previously mentioned, but..park discontinued the discounts based on Golden Age/Sr Pass etc. in April 2013. But they instituted a weekly rate. But they also raised the rates $5 per day. So a backin costs $28 per day on a weekly rate and a pull-through is $33. I suggest saving your money and taking a back-in whenever possible. There used to be recycle bins in the shower building, but now only in the office building and mostly invisible near the restrooms. Sounds like someone is ignoring the Army push for recycling - likely because thoughtless residents treated receptacles like trash cans. In the 1st 2-3 years (2003-2005 or 2006) there were Park Hosts as you entered the camping area and no barriers to entry. That meant campers could arrive after 5:00 office closing time and get a site..or could at least call. Then they fired the hosts, put up a barrier and now late arrivals or un-reserved people must sit in the paved parking lot overnight when there are sites empty inside. Bad customer service and loss of revenue for the post. I put these items and a couple others in an "ICE" evaluation to MWR. We shall see if I get an answer. I sent an "ICE" to the Law Enforcement division about speeders and tailgaters on the post and got an answer the next duty day. It has been 3 days and counting for MWR. I no response I will resent the "ICE" to the command section. I don't plan to be back at Ft Meade until 2016 anyway...

This is a very well maintained park in a prime location. It is a bit on the expensive side ($33 per night for a pull-thru site at a weekly rate), but that comes with the location. In my opinion, the main detraction is that there is no WiFi in the park and, according to the manager, there are no plans to provide it at any point in the near future. Water pressure and electrical service are very good. Given that this is a beautiful wooded campground, satellite reception in many of the sites is questionable or impossible. If you have a DOD decal, there is no problem entering the base through the main gate on Reece Road. The pull-thru sites were designed for motorhomes (not fifth wheels), because once you pull through, there is no circular way for you to easily pull your truck in front of your fifth wheel once you leave the campground and return. The commissary is one of the largest and best stocked commissaries in the country, and it is right around the corner from the campground. The campground staff don't tell you, but there is a comprehensive recycling facility right around the corner from the campground, also (on Rock Road). You can drop off your recycling materials there 24/7. We plan to return to this park annually.

F.D. left this review using the Directory software: - Beautiful campground. Rest rooms kept clean (door code given at check-in). Gate Code needed for entry (given at check-in). Site has concrete pad with an attached pad (made from playground gravel) with aluminum picnic table at each site. Each site has a cable TV connection. Nice Commissary & Exchange. Ten minute ride to Odenton MD, MARC (railroad) station. $5/one way ticket to Washington DC (30 min train ride) Union Station. Union Station gives you access to all METRO subway lines and 2 blocks from Capital building. Camp store with propane sales. Exchange gas station has gas & diesel fuel.

R.B. left this review using the Directory software: - When leaving 05/05/13 at 0730 AM I discovered that the gate we normally arrive and depart by now has limited hours. The staff at MWR failed to inform anyone that due to the recent automatic budget cuts the gate hours have changed. I had to unhook my tow vehicle in order to turn around. I think the staff could provide better information the RV'ers as we arrive. I would like to also add that when I asked how to get to the golf course I was informed that it is now closed due to some kind of land ownership dispute between DOD and MWR with no plans to ever open the course again. Other that what I have already mentioned it was a good two day stay.