Sail up, drop the hook, and shuttle your overflow crew ashore for the night to camp.
Do you own a sailboat that only comfortably sleeps two or three people but wish you could invite a bigger group for overnight trips? Would you like to try mixing in a bit of shoreline camping as part of your cruising adventures?
My boat builder husband and I recently returned from a five-week adventure to Baja, Mexico. He custom built a bed in the back of our 2000 Dodge van (with a 1970s vibe), and we drove 9120 miles with our Grumman sport boat Puddle Duck on the roof. With mahogany bookshelves for my field guides and prop sticks to hold up the storage areas, the van felt like a tidy little prairie schooner.
After wandering aimlessly for a few weeks eating fresh fish caught on hand-tied flies every night, we picked up a few family members to hunt down some camping areas that had good surf. We brought along two tents and extra sleeping bags and camping pads, as the van was set up for two people. It was so fun to be able to open our adventure to our family and friends.
Maybe you own a sailboat that only comfortably sleeps two or three people but wish you could invite a bigger group? Here are the results of some research on campgrounds that are adjacent to an anchorage. Sail up, drop the hook, and shuttle your overflow crew ashore for the night to camp.
Chesapeake Bay Sailing Anchorages With Nearby Campgrounds:
Northern Bay: Hart-Miller Island State Park
I have camped here and anchored our little sport fishing boat just offshore when our kids were little. There are 22 campsites total available on a first-come first-served basis. Six sites are in the main camping area on Hart-Miller, 11 sites at Hawk Cove, and five sites on Pleasure Island. The Western Shore offers safe mooring; though a centerboard or shallow draft would be best suited for this area. This is a very popular spot and at six bucks a night a true camping bargain. Birdwatching and hiking trails are available for the whole crew to enjoy. dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/HartMiller/Camping.aspx
Mid Bay: Point Lookout State Park
Point Lookout State Park with 90 wooded campsites sits at the mouth of the Potomac, and Cornfield Harbor could offer some protection for anchoring depending on the wind direction. (Late May update: To facilitate scheduling significant repairs of critical infrastructure, reservations for the Point Lookout State Park campground are currently suspended for the 2025 camping season.) dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/pointlookout.aspx
Maryland Eastern Shore: Janes Island State Park
With over 105 campsites and a lovely marshy setting, Janes Island sits just outside of Crisfield Harbor. Unless your crew wants to Uber to the park, it might be one of those situations where they can drive and set up camp and join you for day adventures in Tangier Sound. If you have a dinghy with an outboard, it is a nice run up the canal to the park boat ramp. dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/eastern/janesisland.aspx
Virginia Eastern Shore: Kiptopeke State Park
Just five miles south of Cape Charles, VA, Kiptopeke is one of our favorite places to camp and launch our boat to fish and birdwatch. There is some protection for sailors behind the nine concrete ships that form the anchorage. From there it is a quick run to the boat ramp and pier, and the campground is a short walk up the beach. There are also yurts and cabins if your friends prefer to sleep off the ground. dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks
By Pamela Tenner Kellett
