Campgrounds and RV parks near Preston, MD

Paddling and fishing are the main draws. Anglers at Martinak State Park can fish for bass, perch, sunfish, and catfish in the Choptank River and Watts Creek, with a boat launch and pier providing easy access to the waterways. Tuckahoe State Park has a 60-acre lake suitable for boating and fishing, with canoeing and kayaking popular for observing bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons. For families, the Adkins Arboretum encompasses park land with almost three miles of surfaced walkways leading through tagged native species of trees and shrubs. An 18-hole disc golf course is located in the Cherry Lane section of Tuckahoe, and Scales and Tales programs feature raptors up close. Off-park, the town of Denton offers restaurants, a small museum on the Choptank riverfront, and access to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Ocean City and the Delaware beaches are reachable as a day trip.

The main Maryland state-park camping season runs from spring through late fall. Martinak campsites close from November through the second to last weekend in March, so peak availability is between April and October. Sites at Martinak and Tuckahoe fill fastest on weekends between May and October, so reserving well ahead is important for holiday weekends and any Friday or Saturday arrival in peak summer. Summer is warm and humid on the Eastern Shore, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and biting insects along the creek and marsh. Spring and early fall are the most comfortable stretches for RV travel: mild days, cooler nights, active birdlife, and lighter mosquito pressure. September and October also bring clearer skies and fewer crowds after the school year starts. Winter camping is very limited on the Eastern Shore, with the Martinak campground closed through the cold months and services reduced elsewhere. Snow is light and infrequent, but overnight lows regularly drop below freezing, so travelers should confirm operating status before planning any late-fall or winter trip.

Expect wooded, shaded loops with basic amenities rather than resort features. At Martinak, campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs, there are 30 with electric hookups, each site has a table, fire ring and grate, and amenities include drinking water, flush toilets and a dump station with water fill. Tuckahoe has 54 sites, 33 with electric hookups, a central bathhouse with showers and toilet facilities, a camping pad, picnic table and fire ring at each site, potable water around each loop, and a dump station for trailer use. Cell service can be spotty in the woods, and campground stores are limited to ice, firewood, and small items. Firewood is available for purchase at the Tuckahoe campground on a self-serve basis. Pets are allowed in the campground but must remain on a leash at all times.