The Best in Tent Camping: Maryland: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos (Best Tent Camping) Paperback – March 28, 2008

Unfortunately, the author does little more than compile data that is otherwise easily available on the internet into one centralized place. While that does have some utility (hence the two stars instead of one), he does very little more than that; thus, the book offers little in the way of orginality or direction.The book's title suggests that he's going to pare down all of Maryland's camping options into, gee, "the best" ones. But there are 50 listed in the book (ok, conveniently by region) and he doesn't go much further to opinionate (it's OK to have an opinion!) what the best choices are. For example, which would be, say, the top five for families with young children? For avid hikers? For sheer beauty, scenery, history, or isolation? While he uses a "star-rating" system that covers five sub-categories, it ends up being useless because he awards most of the camping sites either four or five stars in each category, thereby providing little meaningful distinction among them all. Also, does five stars really mean "can't miss" or is that just a level relative to Maryland?He sometimes recommends a few campgrounds within each site, which is certainly on the right track to helping us out, but offers few concrete details and suggestions on anything else; for example, food options, maps, photos, itineraries, etc.All in all, a wasted opportunity to cut through the chaffe to write a book that tent campers could really use.

I must say I respectfully disagree with the previous reviewer's comment that the information here is all available on the Internet and isn't specific enough to be really helpful. If you actually read the couple of pages devoted to each campground, you'll find details that definitely are NOT covered on the DNR Website or in any other readily available source.On every camping trip, I take notes and annotate my map in preparation for our next trip. But each trip, I like to try a new place, so my notes don't always help! The info in this book is exactly the kind of information I would like to have before I go: what amenities are there, best loops, advantages and disadvantages of each area, and--most useful--the exact site numbers of sites that are especially good or especially avoidable (and why). I've found a number of very precise tidbits that have, IMO, been worth the purchase price.

This book is a great resource since no one wants to reserve a site without some info first! The descriptions of the campgrounds are spot on and I feel very confident visiting new spots based on the recommendations in this book.The problem with it ( and I'm writing the same review for the Pennsylvania one as well) is that the campgrounds have changed. In one case the site numbers are different and in another several sites have been removed all together.I would advise double checking on the websites for the campgrounds themselves in addition to reading the book.

Lots of good info on most public and some pvt camps in MD. It even lists the best individual sites in the camps, which is very helpful.

Good info but a little dated.

a good comprehensive guide to Maryland tent camping. lively personal text from the author. kudos to him

Just received this book for my birthday and it really does have great information. Particularly, which sites are actually the best is helpful. Often all you have to go on is the campground map unless you have actually visited the park before so this specific information makes it easier to plan. Hoping to visit some new parks as soon as the weather warms just a bit!

This is exactly what you need when planning a tent camping trip in Maryland. The information is not tremendously deep for each campground but the fact that this one book covers such a nice selection of Maryland camp grounds makes it THE go-to guide for these trips. I've planned two trips with my family based on recommendations in this book and Evan hit the nail on the head for us.[...][...]