ABOUT CUNNINGHAM STATE PARK: The Manor Area Campground at Cunningham State Park is located near Thurmont, Maryland in the picturesque Catoctin Mountains. “Cunningham State Park is divided into two separate, but unique areas. The William Houck Area, located three miles west of Thurmont on Route 77, has the 78-foot cascading namesake falls, a 43-acre lake, and a camping area. The Manor Area off Route 15, 3 miles south of Thurmont, has the Scales and Tales Aviary, the historic Catoctin Iron Furnace, camping, a playground & shelter. With plenty to explore, natural outdoor activities abound at Cunningham Falls State Park: swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, camping, and more.” from Explore 2021, Cunningham Falls & Gambrill State Parks brochure, February 2020, available at the campgrounds.
The William Houck Area is open from April to the end of October. Because the campground was closed for the season when we were here, we were unable to drive through. But we did go to the Hunting Creek Lake – facilities are geared up for huge crowds in the summer. They offer 144 campsites and many hiking trails.
The Manor Area is open all year with primitive camping offered from November through March. The have only 31 campsites. This campground is probably much quieter than William Houck, but never having stayed at Houck, we don’t know that for a fact. At Manor Area there is the Scales & Tales Aviary, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the historic Catoctin Iron Furnace.
Manor Area Campground: 31 campsites; 8 offer electric hook-ups. There is no dump station – a dump station is available at the other campground, William Houck. There are three water spigots throughout the campground for fresh water. There is a bathhouse, available during season. The campsites, for the most part, are not level. The best sites are: M24 (back in and steep hill) and M11 (back in). Other possibilities include: M26, M27, M12, M31, and M23 (back in), and M30 and M5 (head in), and M6 (don’t know if it’s head in or back in – electric).
For campsite #M25, Manor Area Campground, no hook-ups, for one night, we paid $28.75. It was not a level campsite. But it was very quiet. Surrounded by dense trees. Too small for a tent, too. Check in time was after 3 p.m. Check-out time was before 1 p.m. Manor Area Campground: 6709 Cunningham Falls Park Road, Thurmont, MD 21788; William Houck Area Campground: 5783 Campground Drive, Thurmont, MD 21788. For both campgrounds – reservations: call 1-888-432-CAMP; online: www.parkreservations.maryland.gov
NOTE: The GPS tried to direct us to the entry to Cunningham State Park that went north to the William Houck Area campground, the lake, and the Cunningham Falls. This road wouldn’t even fit two cars going in opposite directions, let alone a RV towing a car. If we are going to the Manor Area Campground in the RV, proceed beyond this turn-off to the entrance off Route 15 beyond this first entrance. If we are going to William Houck, continue on Route 15 to Route 77, head west, and enter at that entrance.
- 2021 – 11/4-11/5
- 2022 – 11/6-11/8