“located on the ridge of the Catocin Mountains”
Gambrill State Park is a beautiful mountain park, located on the ridge of the Catoctin Mountains in Frederick County. Its most popular feature is the 16 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The park is separated into two areas, the Rock Run area and the High Knob area. From the 1600-foot High Knob, three stone overlooks offer breathtaking views of the Frederick and Middletown Valleys then continue to the northern reaches of the Shenandoah Mountains. The High Knob area also offers wooded picnic areas, three picnic shelters, and a large stone lodge, called the Tea Room. The picnic shelters and the Tea Room are available for reservation. The Rock Run area offers a cozy family-style campground, a picnic area, and a small pond for fishing. Gambrill State Park was named in honor of the late James H. Gambrill, Jr., a well-known citizen of Frederick. Mr. Gambrill was a conservationist who first brought attention to the beauty of the area in the early 1900’s. He believed that it was in the public’s best interest to develop the area into a park. Following his lead, a group of local citizens joined together to purchase the land. The group then donated the land to the City of Frederick to be used for a park. The City of Frederick soon-after gave the land to the State of Maryland for the development of Gambrill State Park.
Reviews of Gambrill State Park
13 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on October 02, 2022AT&T 4G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on April 12, 2019T-Mobile 4G
Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on October 02, 2022Needed a spot for a night with electric while working on a project on my RV. Found few spots in this park had electric. The ones without looked more appealing to me so maybe another time... The sites themselves look mostly unlevel and not very large. Wasn't a problem for me in my class b but for others could be challenging. The host was friendly and helpful. It was quiet enough given the road is not far away. There are hiking trails nearby also good for mountain biking. The bathhouse is dated but clean and functional. My site actually has a path - lighted at night - straight to the bathhouse. My $18 cost included out-of-state senior discount.
Nightly Rate: $18.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 13
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
My price was reduced with the "Golden Pass" for MD. There were some large RVs here. Some electric only but I believe only the two camp host sites were full hookup. The Red Maple Trail could be reached easily by walking. It was considered moderate but it was fairly easy except for one section about 1/4 mile. There are several other trails nearby and overlooks over the nearby towns. The restroom/shower facility was old but clean and supplied with soap and paper. Two shower areas in the women's side and a kitchen sink area around the side. There was a potable water fill at the restroom but also several locations along the loops. Not sure about level. Probably not too bad. I have a tent. It is close to the City of Frederick and from my site I could hear route 40 and Interstate 70 traffic but it wasn't disturbing. I was told there were bears here and thought I heard one grunting the first night but was probably my imagination. I did take precautions as warned. Camp host said she's seen them but they usually don't cause problems.
This was in September 2020, during COVID-19 so check in was provided by an envelop pinned to a board at the restroom facility. There is a dump station as you come in. At one point there were two camp hosts there and they were very nice and visible, if needed.
Nightly Rate: $9.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 21
We stayed at Rock Run Campground to give ourselves a few stationary days to relax since we live in an RV and are always on the go. The grounds itself is very well maintained. The women’s bathroom was clean however the showers didn’t seem well attended as a feminine hygiene product remained in one of the shower stalls the 3 days we stayed. I’m not asking for much. I know it was off season in late April 2021, but all I’m asking is when the toilets are cleaned that the showers get looked at for trash. I could have thrown it away but this is how I tell if showers are kept clean since I see this so often at campgrounds. But anyway, our campsite was private and super clean. I’d stay again.
Internet. At 12:35pm on a Friday, T-Mobile via Nighthawk MR-1100 - 63 mbps down, 13 mbps up and 39 ms ping.
Nightly Rate: $19.00
Days Stayed: 27
Site Number: 16
Cell Coverage Rating
T-Mobile 4G
Tent camping. Found beautiful trails leading out of the camping area and are scaled by difficulty. We enjoyed the friendliness of the host and the super clean showers and restrooms. Fairly busy place but no noise to report other than the highway buzz that we could hear at night behind the crickets and treefrogs. Bunnies, birds and deer abound.
Nightly Rate: $16.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: ??
Did the trick for a one night stay. Arrived on a Thursday about 6pm and there were open sites. You have to call the number and reserve them. $19.50 for non electric plus a $6.50 reservation fee.
They were nice and helpful.
Some sites had reserved tags but they weren’t so call and check what’s open.
They have a gate that closes and locked at 10pm so you wouldn’t want to arrive late.
Seemed noisy but quieted down and I did not hear the Highway noise all night.
Showers are free and super hot.
Nightly Rate: $26.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 11
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 5G
I rolled in late last night, during a large storm. I self registered at the box and they were plenty of open spots at this time of year. Everything was great and as you would expect. The bathhouse was in really good shape and very clean. The next morning I spoke with the camp hosts who were very sweet. I would stay here again.
Nightly Rate: $26.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 13
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
T-Mobile 4G
Has very private campsites and the ranger was super helpful and very friendly! We are just passing through but will make it a point to come back.
Nightly Rate: $30.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 12
The sites were spaced well apart. Trees were between each site. It was not very crowded during the week. Bathroom and showers were clean and well maintained. Friendly and helpful staff. You could hear some traffic but not from my van with the windows closed.
Nightly Rate: $24.00
Days Stayed: -
Site Number: -
Stayed at Gambrill State Park's campground in May. It was nearly empty, with only one or two other campers. The campground host site had an RV in it, but no host.
A ranger came by to collect our fee and gave us the code to exit the campground. The gate is locked at night and you cannot get in - or out - without the code.
Showers were dirty but had warm water. In the morning a different ranger came by asking for payment. When we let her know we had given it to the ranger the night before, she said it hadn't been marked down. She looked like she might charge us again, but in the end did not.
Small rigs only here. Sites are small and sloped.
Nightly Rate: $24.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: -
Beautiful, quiet campground, 16 miles of hiking trails, well spaced sites, clean bathhouse, friendly helpful staff! Close to Frederick MD, cute town with lots to do.
Nightly Rate: $30.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: 22
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
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Gambrill State Park
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 25
- Last Nightly Rate
- 24.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 22.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 9.0
- Max Stay
- 14
- Sites Count
- 30
- Standard Tent Sites Count
- 34
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Back In RV Sites
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Slide Outs
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Standard Tent Sites
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
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Water Hookup
Campground, Restrooms
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