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Best Overnight Summer Camps in Virginia and Maryland

Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center offers lots of fun outdoor activities, including water sports. Photo courtesy of the camp
Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center offers lots of fun outdoor activities, including water sports. Photo courtesy of the camp
2/19/23 - By Jennifer Swope

Overnight summer camps are a time-honored tradition for many children. The freedom to choose daily activities, learn independence, and sleep in cabins are just some of the best parts of going to sleepaway camp. Luckily, there are a variety of overnight summer camps not far from DC that help kids learn new skills, have fun, and build lifelong friendships. Ideal for kids as young as 5 and up to 17, these overnight summer camps in Virginia and Maryland are located in the mountains, in forests, along the shore, and on farms. While each camp offers an overnight experience and similar activities, no two camps are exactly the same.

Here are 11 overnight summer camps we're sure your kids will love and ask to return to year after year. Many sleepaway camps begin sign-ups in the winter, so be sure to check their websites for registration and camp dates, rates, and up-to-date availability.

Looking for more options for summer camps near DC? Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest, from sports summer camps to STEM summer camps and everything in between.

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Being outside is a core component of the aptly named Camp Under the Stars. Photo courtesy of the camp
Being outside is a core component of the aptly named Camp Under the Stars. Photo courtesy of the camp

Best Overnight Summer Camps in Virginia

Camp Friendship

Palmyra
Ages 7-16
Camp Friendship offers two programs for ages 7-11 and ages 12-16 with a focus on community and fun. Daily activities fall under four categories: adventure, aquatic, arts, and sports. Campers select morning activities from a list of options, receiving a personalized daily morning schedule for each week of camp, as well as daily afternoon activities from a list of two activities each day. Family and equestrian camps are also available during the summer, with family and tennis programs offered in the spring and fall. READ MORE

Camp Horizons

Harrisonburg
Ages 6-16
Camp Horizons welcomes campers ages 6-16 on its 300-acre property. Divided into three distinct age groups (6-8, 9-11, 12-16), programs include standard camp activities such as swimming, sports, high ropes courses, and art as well as unique ones like flying drones, drama, and improv acting. Off-site trips and equestrian camps are offered as add-on experiences. READ MORE

Camp Under the Stars

Dumfries
Ages 5-14
Nestled in Prince William Forest National Park, Camp Under the Stars offers summer sleepaway camp for ages 5-14. Being outside is a core component of the camp, with a variety of activities including art, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, mindfulness and yoga, waterfall walks, cooking nutritious campfire meals, library, and STEM. Campers ages 12-17 may participate in Culinary Leader-in-Training or Culinary CIT Counselor-in-Training programs, learning to be a camp counselor and build culinary skills. READ MORE

Game Camp Nation - Herndon, VA

Herndon
Ages 9-19
Campers turn video game ideas into reality at Game Camp Nation, an educational game studio for kids and teens that offers in-person summer day camps and year-round online lessons for aspiring game designers, programmers, and artists of all skill levels. READ MORE

YMCA Camp Silver Beach

Jamesville
Ages 8-16
Located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, YMCA Camp Silver Beach is an overnight summer camp for ages 8-16, set on 151 acres with forests and wetlands, surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay. Sailing, kayaking, zip lining, sports, arts, and archery are just some of the fun activities campers enjoy. Campers ages 11-14 can stay for two weeks at camp, and an expedition camp is available for campers ages 13-16. READ MORE
Campers can choose their own activities at YMCA Camp Tockwogh. Photo courtesy of the camp
Campers can choose their own activities at YMCA Camp Tockwogh. Photo courtesy of the camp

Best Overnight Summer Camps in Maryland

Ancestral Knowledge

Greenbelt
Ages 11-17
Through day camps (ages 7-14) and Wilderness Experience & Earthskills overnight camps (ages 11-17), Ancestral Knowledge offers programming in a wide range of topics including earth-based living skills, nature awareness, primitive technology, and wilderness survival. The Wilderness Experience Camp is a foundational camp where campers build a friction fire kit and survival shelter, learn ancient navigational skills, cook over a campfire, and more. The Earthskills Camp teaches advanced skills such as archery, stone tools, fishing, and more. READ MORE

Echo Hill Camp

Worton
Ages 7-16
Located on a 350-acre farm on Maryland's Eastern Shore , Echo Hill Camp is a sleepaway summer camp for 150 children, ages 7-16. While staying in large platform tents, campers are given the freedom to select their daily activities from beginner to expert levels. Examples of daily activities include waterskiing, sailing, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, sports, fruit picking, an adventure course, music, drama, and archery. READ MORE

Camp Puh'tok in the Pines

Monkton
Ages 7-16
Situated on 67 acres of woodlands and bordered by the scenic Gunpowder Falls River and State Park, Puh'tok in the Pines offers overnight (ages 7-16) and day (ages 5-10) camps for kids looking to unplug and jump into nature. Campers swim, play games, hike, climb ropes courses, design arts and crafts, and more. The camp also provides an overnight horse camp (ages 10-16) and an extreme Tipi Village camp (ages 13-16) focusing on Native American culture. READ MORE

Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center

North East
Ages 8-16
Sandy Hill offers one- and two-week action-packed, traditional, residential camp experiences on 643 acres overlooking the Upper Chesapeake Bay for kids who have completed 2nd through 10th grades. Campers are encouraged to learn and grow through a variety of fun activities, including horseback riding, zip lining, sailing, swimming, sports, theater, arts, and more. Campers choose three instructional activities for the week out of 30 available and receive daily 75-minute instruction on each activity. READ MORE

YMCA Camp Tockwogh

Worton
Ages 6-17
YMCA Camp Tockwogh sits on 300 acres along the Chesapeake Bay and offers a traditional summer camp, a water-sports camp, a mini camp, a family camp, and a teen leadership program. Campers will have completed kindergarten through 11th grade. Depending on the program, campers can choose from a variety of activities, including waterskiing, sailing, arts and crafts, target sports, pool time, and more. READ MORE

YMCA Camp Letts

Edgewater
Ages 6-16
YMCA Camp Letts is located on a 219-acre peninsula off the Chesapeake Bay, overlooking three islands and a 2,600-acre preserve. Campers can choose either day camp (ages 6-13) or overnight camp (ages 6-16) featuring a theme each week. Campers learn how to be more independent and collaborative while engaging in physical, social, and educational activities. Swimming, games, sports, and art are just some of the fun campers will experience. READ MORE

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