happyly approved

Elk Neck State Park

4395 Turkey Point Rd North East, MD 21901

24 hours

$$

swim, road-trips, water-activities, camping, hikes

Elk Neck State Park is located in Cecil County in the northeastern most portion of Maryland, about an hour and a half from Baltimore.

The park is divided into four sections: Turkey Point Lighthouse, Northeast Beach Area, Rogues Harbor Boat Launch, and Elk River Camping Area. 

The campgrounds at Elk Neck offer 250 campsites, including sites that allow for full RV hook-ups. Campers can also rent one of 19 cabins, with a variety of amenities. The campground is also home to the nature center at Elk Neck where campers can learn about local flora and fauna. 

The best hiking at Elk Neck is located at the Turkey Point Lighthouse portion of the park. The Lighthouse is located at the southern tip of the Elk Neck Peninsula and provides  great views of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding land masses. The hike from the parking lot is short (.8 mile) and flat, making it easy for little legs. The lighthouse is open to climb on weekends from 10AM-2PM from early May until late October. (Be advised, the parking lot is small and can fill quickly.)

The Beach Area at Elk Neck offers hiking, playgrounds and, of course, a beach! The beach is great for little ones as there are no waves. Visitors can also take advantage of picnic shelters and a canoe/kayak launch.

Rogues Harbor features four boat launch ramps offer access to the Elk River, Chesapeake Bay, and surrounding waterways. Visitors that aren’t boaters can  also fish and crab from the piers. 

Elk Neck is a great spot for camping in Maryland and offers all the amenities that a family would need to fill up a long weekend. Even for those not camping, a visit to the Turkey Point Lighthouse is worth the roadtrip!

Features

Hiking Nature Center Beach Camping Lighthouse
Thoughtfully captured by:
Katie Raspa
Our work in Baltimore is truly a family affair. Husband and wife, Matt and Katie, work together to head up our ambassador team in Charm City. Katie is a Maryland native and has lived in the state her whole life. She moved to Baltimore in 2007 after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She has been working in the field of early childhood education as a teacher and family coach for the past 12 years. Katie also holds a Masters of Education in Literacy from Loyola University. She is passionate about giving kids and families the knowledge and tools that they need to thrive. Matt grew up in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. As a city native, Matt is a great resource on all that the city has to offer. After months of helping Katie explore the city for her role at a Happy Active Family, he decided to put his love of writing to use and officially come on board as an ambassador. Matt and Katie have two girls, ages 5 and 7. They spend their weekends camping, hiking, or exploring other hidden gems in their area. Tap into their insider knowledge by downloading the app today!
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