Knowing the difference between a camper cabin and an amenity-filled full-service cabin can help you choose between sort-of roughing it and really roughing it.
• In general, full-service cabins, such as those offered by the Maryland Forest and Parks Reservation Center, have queen-size, twin or bunk beds with or without linens, private bathrooms, electricity and kitchens stocked with a varying amount of utensils, equipment and outdoor grilling areas. Some have heat, air conditioning and fireplaces. They generally sleep between two and six people, with cots sometimes available to rent for around $15 a night. Cabin rental rates start at $50 a night, though in peak seasons they generally are available for weekly rentals only.
• Camper cabins usually sleep no more than four people in queen-size beds, bunk beds or cots without linens. Most have electricity, ceiling fans, simple lighting and perhaps some other furniture, like a table and chairs. Some have access to outdoor grills. Bathroom facilities are in shared comfort stations. Camper cabins generally cost no more than $40 for a night's stay.
• As a general rule, a full-service cabin described as "rustic" has few amenities. A camper cabin described the same way is as basic as basic gets.
Following are the cabins available in the state and national parks of Maryland and Virginia.
NATIONAL PARKS
| | 
|
| | | Maryland
| |
| |
|
• Catoctin Mountain Park
6602 Foxville Rd., Thurmont
301-271-3140, www.nps.gov/cato
Twenty-one unheated, rustic cabins at Camp Misty Mount sleep three to six people; three lodges sleep eight. Metal cots, no bedding, no cooking equipment. Shared public toilets and showers. Summertime access to swimming pool. Available April 12-Oct. 31. Cabins $35-$40, lodges $70-$80. Two-night minimum on weekends.
| |
|
| | | Virginia
| |
| |
|
• Prince William Forest National Park
18100 Park Headquarters Rd., Triangle
703-221-5843 ,
www.nps.gov/prwi.
Ten rustic cabins at Camp Orenda sleep four to 10 people. Twin cots, ceiling fans, overhead lighting, outdoor grills, no bedding or other cooking equipment. Shared public toilets and showers. Available May to mid-October. $30-$50.
• Shenandoah National Park
3655 U.S. Highway 211 E., Luray
800-999-4714, www.nps.gov/shen
Unheated rustic cabins (plus multi-unit lodges and modern suites) at Big Meadows (Milepost 51). Cabins sleep up to four. Queen-size beds, linens, some with TVs. Some are handicapped accessible. Available April 27-Oct. 28. $61-$92.
Nine furnished, heated cabins at Lewis Mountain (Milepost 57.5) sleep up to four. Electric lights, towels, linens, grill. Private bathrooms. Handicapped accessible. Available May 4-Nov. 4. $75-$80.
Six cabins owned by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club also available. See story, Page E8.
STATE PARKS
| |
|
| | | Maryland
| |
| |
|
All cabin reservations, which can be made a year in advance, are booked through the Maryland Forest and Parks Reservation Center at 888-432-2267, reservations.dnr.state.md.us.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, camper cabins have a two-night minimum on weekends and three nights on holiday weekends, and full-service cabins have a one-week minimum. All other times, camper cabins have no minimum stay and full-service cabins have a two-night minimum. Camper cabins are $35 a night unless noted; full-service cabin rates are listed below.
• Cunningham Falls State Park
14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd., Thurmont
301-271-7574
Four camper cabins at Catoctin Creek Circle and five at Deer Spring Circle in the Houck Area each sleep four. $40.
• Deep Creek Lake State Park
898 State Park Rd., Swanton
301-387-4111
Two camper cabins each sleep four. Available March 29-Nov. 3. $40.
• Elk Neck State Park
4395 Turkey Point Rd., North East
410-287-5333
Nine full-service cabins each sleep four. Available May 3-Oct. 14. $40 weekdays, $50 weekends. Five camper cabins each sleep four. Available March 29-Nov. 3.
• Gambrill State Park
Catoctin Mountain, Thurmont
301-271-7574
Four camper cabins in the Rock Run Area each sleep four. Available March 29-Oct. 28. $40.
• Gunpowder Falls State Park
2813 Jerusalem Rd., Kingsville
410-592-2897
Two camper cabins in the Hammerman Area each sleep four. Available March 29-Nov. 3.
• Herrington Manor State Park
222 Herrington Lane, Oakland
301-334-9180
Twenty full-service cabins sleep two to six people. Available year-round. From $70 a night, $420 a week.
• Janes Island State Park
26280 Alfred Lawson Dr., Crisfield
410-968-1565
Four full-service log cabins each sleep six. Available year-round. $65 weekdays, $80 weekends. Five camper cabins sleep four. Available March 29-Dec. 15.
• Martinak State Park
137 Deep Shore Rd., Denton
410-820-1668
One full-service cabin overlooking the Choptank River sleeps four. $50 weekdays, $60 weekends. Four camper cabins in the A camping loop sleep four. Available March 29-Nov. 3.
• New Germany State Park
349 Headquarters Lane, Grantsville
301-895-5453
Eleven full-service cabins sleep two to eight. Available year-round. From $70 a night, $420 a week.
• Patapsco Valley State Park
8020 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City
410-461-5005
Six camper cabins in the Hilton Area each sleep four. Available year-round, though only on the weekends in the winter.
• Pocomoke River State Forest and Park
3461 Worcester Hwy., Snow Hill
410-632-2566
Four camper cabins at Milburn Landing and eight at Shad Landing each sleep four. Available year-round.
• Point Lookout State Park
11175 Point Lookout Rd., Scotland
301-872-5688
One full-service cabin overlooking Cornfield Harbor on the Potomac River near the Chesapeake Bay sleeps six. Available March 29-Nov. 3. $50 weekdays, $60 weekends. Call the park directly for reservations before May 1 and after Aug. 31. Six camper cabins each sleep four. Available March 29-Nov. 3. $40.
• Rocky Gap State Park
12500 Pleasant Valley Rd., Flintstone
301-777-2139
Ten camper cabins each sleep four. Available March 29-Dec. 15. $40. One three-bedroom, full-service chalet sleeps eight. Available year-round. $120 a night, $720 a week.
• Smallwood State Park
2750 Sweden Point Rd., Marbury
301-743-7613
Four camper cabins each sleep four. Available March 29-Nov. 3. $40.
• Susquehanna State Park
3318 Rocks Chrome Hill Rd., Jarretsville
410-557-7994
Six camper cabins each sleep four. Available April 26-Oct. 6.
• Swallow Falls State Park
222 Herrington Lane, Oakland
301-334-9180
Three camper cabins each sleep four. Available March 29-Dec. 15.
• Tuckahoe State Park
13070 Crouse Mill Rd., Queen Anne
410-820-1668
Four camper cabins each sleep four. Available first weekend in April 6-Dec. 10.
| |
|
| | | Virginia
| |
| |
|
All reservations can be made through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation at 800-933-7275, www.dcr.state.va.us. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. Westmoreland State Park is the only park with camper cabins; otherwise, all cabins are full service.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, all cabins but those at Staunton River and Twin Lakes require either a two-night minimum or a week's minimum stay. Pets are permitted in all cabins except those at Chippokes but are not allowed in any lodges; cost is $5 per day. Proof of rabies vaccination required.
Unless noted differently, cabin rates start at $69 a night or $414 a week, and lodges are $248 a night. Rates for waterfront cabins are higher. Note: Prices are during peak season for non-Virginia residents; rates are lower for Virginia residents and off peak.
• Breaks Interstate Park
On Kentucky-Virginia border in Breaks, Va.
800-982-5122
Five two-bedroom cottages sleep up to five people. Available year-round for weekly rentals only. $400 a week for up to four people, $30 extra for a fifth person and roll-away bed.
• Chippokes Plantation State Park
695 Chippokes Park Rd., Surry
757-294-3625
Three one- to three-bedroom historic tenant houses-cum-cabins sleep four to eight. Full-service, with reproduction-style furnishings. Available year-round. The one-bedroom cabin is handicapped accessible. No pets. From $94 a night, $565 a week.
• Claytor Lake State Park
4400 State Park Rd., Dublin
540-643-2500
Twelve two-bedroom, full-service cabins sleep up to six. All have water views. Three cabins are handicapped accessible.
• Douthat State Park
Route 1, Millboro
540-862-8100
Thirty-two full-service cabins ranging from efficiency to two bedroom sleep between two and six people. The Main Lodge sleeps 13 and the handicapped-accessible Creasey Lodge sleeps 18.
• Fairy Stone State Park
967 Fairystone Lake Dr., Stuart
276-930-2424
Twenty-four full-service cabins – five of which are waterfront – sleep between two and six; one handicapped-accessible lodge sleeps 16. Available year round.
• First Landing State Park
2500 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach
757-412-2300
Twenty two-bedroom full-service cabins sleep up to six. Available year-round. No bay views. $109 a night, $652 a week.
• Hungry Mother State Park
2854 Park Blvd., Marion
276-781-7400
Twenty-five efficiency, one-bedroom and two-bedroom full-service cabins sleep between two and six. Six small lodges sleep up to eight, and one six-bedroom log lodge sleeps 15. Most cabins and lodges are open year-round, though some in less accessible areas close during he avy snowfalls. Large lodge is $292 a night.
• Smith Mountain Lake State Park
1235 State Park Rd., Huddleston
540-297-6066
Twenty two- and three-bedroom full-service cabins sleep up to six and eight, respectively. Eight waterfront cabins available year-round; the other 12 cabins close December to March. Twelve first-come, first-served boat slips available. Swimming and boat launching free for overnight guests.
• Staunton River State Park
1170 Staunton Trail, Scottsburg
434-572-4623
Seven efficiency, one- and two-bedroom full-service cabins sleep two to six. Available March 1-Dec. 31. All riverfront with limited water view. Free access to swimming pool.
• Twin Lakes State Park
Route 2, Green Bay
434-392-3435
Six full-service cabins sleep six and one lodge sleeps eight. Available year-round. All cabins have water views. Two cabins are handicapped accessible.
• Westmoreland State Park
1650 State Park Rd., Montross
804-493-8821
Twenty-six efficiency, one- and two-bedroom full-service cabins sleep two to six people, and six rustic camper cabins sleep four. Two cabins are handicapped accessible. Some cabins stay open year-round, but most close in the winter. Swimming pool, fishing pier access. Camper cabins are $45.
