Cunningham falls is a great place for first-timers... and for parents who would benefit from not carrying tons of weight to a camp site!

Serious camping is hard with small children. Carrying everything needed to live outdoors for a day or two for you and your entire family can get really heavy. If you are looking to have an easy outdoor experience, Cunningfalls is a great place to start. 

Preparations 

Even though it is a very convenient camp site, all camping requires quite a bit of planning.

Reservations

First, go to the Cunningham Falls website to reserve a campsite: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/CunninghamFalls/Camping.aspx

Spots fill out FAST. Definitely plan with plenty of time.

Each campsite is 23x23 and made of stone dust. This is very important information as you want to make sure your tent(s) will fit. You can set two medium tents (4 people in each) next to each other with no problem and maybe squeeze a small, oe person tent, next to the picnic table - each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post.

Pets are allowed in Addison Run and Bear Branch Loops, which is very nice. You can see people happily walking their dogs early in the morning. 

What to bring

Highly recomend to bring a nice sleeping pad (an inflatable one is better if you want to have a good night sleep). Sleeping bags, mosquito repellent, and a flashlight for each member of your family is a must. Having bear spray handy is also a good idea!

If you are planning on hiking cunningham falls or going to the beach, make sure to bring swimsuits, sun screen, and everything needed for a day in the sun. 

Last, but definitely not least, make sure that you bring all of your food and water. The store close by is closed nowadays. Wood is available for purchase at the entrance so you can make a nice fire and roast some hot dogs and smores. If you want more elavorate food, you will need to bring a small outdoor stove. 

Directions/parking

Luckily, parking is right next to the tents so no carrying of equipment is involved.

The camping area is called "The William Houck Area Campground" - signs are very clear. If by any chance you can't find it, you can ask for directions at the main entrance of Cunningham Falls. The campgounds are open from April to October. 

Bathrooms

There are bathrooms with toilets and hot showers centrally located in each camping area. They are well maintained and open all night.

Important reminder

Make sure that at the end of the day someone drops off the trash to the designated trash area (you will need to drive). You DO NOT want to leave any food on the camp site. Make sure any food for the next day is stored in the car inside a cooler or closed container. 

Things to do

If this is the first time that you go camping, the kids will be so excited setting the tent and playing inside of it that a big chunk of the day will go exploring the inmediate surroundings. There are birds, tiny little frogs, dragonflies, and more for the kids to chase after. 

There is a lot of hiking and exploring to do close to the camp sites. For other activities in the area see the happyly posts on Cunningham Falls!