Two miles of ocean beach beside them, and no trucks or vehicles allowed on that beach at all
Kit for a table, a fire ring and nothing else
That phrase is the state forest standard, repeated by the Department for both Green Ridge and Savage River: a picnic table, a fire ring, no other amenities and no plumbing. Bring water, bring a stove, and plan to pack every scrap out, because Maryland state forests are trash free by policy.
Fire kit needs thought. Open burning in or near woodland runs 4pm to midnight and needs a permit from the local forest office, someone has to stay until the last spark is out, and Catoctin Mountain Park refuses imported firewood entirely. Assateague allows only wood bought within 50 miles, or down and dead wood.
Vehicle camping gear works under a different constraint than backpacking gear. Weight matters less, but everything has to survive vibration and dust and pack the same way every time. Stores that understand the difference stock 12-volt fridges, water systems and kitchens rather than ultralight pots.
What they carry
0112-volt fridges and slides
02Stoves and kitchen systems
03Water storage, pumps and filtration
04Chairs, tables and shelter
05Sleep systems
06Lighting and power stations
How to choose camp equipment
Buy fewer, better things. Every item has to be packed, carried and cleaned.
01Buy the fridge for your power system, not the other way round. Ask about power draw and what battery it needs to run overnight.
02Pack it before you buy it. Bring the measurements of your cargo area or drawers.
03Favor gear that can be repaired and has parts available.
04Choose a kitchen you can set up in the dark, in wind, when you are tired.
What to have ready before you ask for a quote
Space and power are the limits.
01Vehicle and storage dimensions
02Your power system, if you have one
03How many people, and how long you stay out
04What you already own
05A budget range
Questions people ask
Do I need a 12-volt fridge?
For trips longer than a weekend, most people never go back. No ice to find and no wet food. It does need a house battery or a power station that can carry it overnight.
How much water should I carry?
Enough for drinking, cooking and washing between reliable refills, with a reserve. How much that is depends on the climate, the people and how you cook. Carry it low in the vehicle, and in more than one container.
Is a power station enough, or do I need a second battery?
A power station is simple and portable and suits lights, devices and a small fridge for a couple of days. A wired house battery charges while you drive and suits longer trips and bigger loads.
How high is Maryland?
From Snow Hill at 16 feet to Hoye Crest at 3,360.
Altitude decides what your engine, your brakes and your lungs have to work with, and how late in the year the passes open.
02,0004,000
Feet above sea level
Towns
McHenryDeep Creek Lake services, and where an ORV permit is sold2,482 ft
OaklandGarrett County seat, and the way in to Potomac-Garrett State Forest2,404 ft
GrantsvilleSavage River State Forest headquarters is two miles down New Germany Road2,309 ft
FrostburgOn the old National Road between the plateau and Cumberland2,063 ft
FriendsvilleThe northern Youghiogheny, near the Mill Run campground1,500 ft
FlintstoneGreen Ridge State Forest headquarters, where campsites are registered814 ft
CumberlandThe western end of the canal towpath and the last full-service city624 ft
HagerstownTires, parts and freight-road access for the whole Potomac valley542 ft
ThurmontThe gateway to Catoctin Mountain Park and its firewood rule519 ft
HancockThe narrowest point of the state, between the canal and the Pennsylvania line446 ft
SharpsburgAntietam and the Snyders Landing stretch of the canal418 ft
FrederickThe last big supply stop before the mountains going west283 ft
BerlinThe mainland town before the Assateague bridge and the sand permit36 ft
SalisburyThe service centre of the lower Eastern Shore26 ft
CambridgeBlackwater refuge and the Wildlife Drive are south of here18 ft
Snow HillPocomoke State Forest and the cypress swamp country16 ft
Passes, high roads and summits
Hoye CrestThe state high point, on the crest of Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. The USGS published figure; our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point gives 3,3683,360 ft
Meadow MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point. Its 12-mile trail carries the four-mile section open to off-road vehicles3,033 ft
East Shale Road, Meadow Mountain TrailThe I-68 corridor to New Germany Road, Savage River State Forest3,033 ft
Big Savage MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, above Savage River State Forest2,970 ft
Dans MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Allegany County2,892 ft
Margraff PlantationMargraff Plantation, Savage River State Forest2,800 ft
Town HillOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point. The Green Ridge driving tour passes its 1931 fire tower2,029 ft
Catoctin MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Frederick County1,877 ft
Green RidgeOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, the ridge the state forest is named for1,424 ft
Pass, road and summit elevations are the figures published by the agency that manages them. Town elevations are the town’s or county’s own
figure where it publishes an exact one; the rest are from the U.S. Geological Survey (3D Elevation Program at the place’s official coordinates),
retrieved September 18, 2026. Every source is listed at the foot of the page.
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