Camping at Rocky Gap State Park with a Dog: Auggie’s Maryland Adventure

After trading country life for Washington, DC, Auggie has spent a lot of time learning how to be a city dog. Elevators. Busy sidewalks. Apartment hallways. Traffic. People appearing around corners when you least expect them.

He’s making progress, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned through this transition, it’s that Auggie is still happiest when the buildings disappear, the leash gets a little longer, and there’s water somewhere nearby.

So, naturally, we went camping.

Our destination was Rocky Gap State Park in Western Maryland, where we spent a few days hiking, swimming, sleeping under the trees—and watching Auggie become completely himself again.

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Why We Chose Rocky Gap State Park

One of the best things about living in DC is how quickly you can leave the city behind. Rocky Gap State Park is roughly a 2.5 hour drive from Washington, DC, making it manageable for a weekend getaway without spending half the trip in the car.

The park surrounds Lake Habeeb and has wooded campsites, hiking trails, mountain views, and plenty of water—which, in Auggie’s opinion, is the most important amenity any destination can offer.

For us, it felt like exactly the reset we needed.

Camping With a Water-Obsessed Dog

Our lake entry at the campsite. Auggie can't wait to jump in!

Auggie loves a lot of things. Peanut butter. Scattering fluff on my recently vacuumed floors. Being included in absolutely everything. But swimming might beat them all.

We chose a campsite with access to the lake, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. Auggie could go from hanging around camp to being in his favorite place in the world within minutes.

One important thing to know if you're planning your own trip: dogs aren't allowed on the park's sandy swimming beaches during peak season. That doesn't mean your dog has to spend the trip staring longingly at the lake, though. Many campsites offer water access, and there are plently of spots along the lake trails where dogs can go straight into the lake.

As always, check the park's current pet rules before your trip, since regulations can change.

Paddle boarding on Lake Habeeb

This is his first time on a paddle board! Already a pro!

Of course, simply being near the lake was never going to be enough for Auggie.

We brought our paddle board out on Lake Habeeb, which gave us a completely different way to explore the park together. Auggie joined me on the board—although his definition of “paddle boarding” involves considerably less peaceful floating and considerably more monitoring the water for his next opportunity to swim.

The paddle board was a great way for me to give him access to more of the lake instead of him being limited to the area around our campsite. I would paddle beside him so he could extend his swimming distance, and when he got tired, he would ride with me for a bit before jumping back in for a swim.

If your dog is comfortable around water, bringing a paddle board or kayak can be a really fun addition to a Rocky Gap camping trip. Just make sure your dog is comfortable with the equipment before heading far from shore, bring a properly fitted canine life jacket, and check the park’s current rules for boating and water access before you go.

The 5.5-Mile Hike That Became a Search for Water

I think I enjoyed the hike more than he did! He didn't understand why we were walking instead of swimming.

I also took Auggie on a roughly 5.5-mile loop hike around the park.

For me, this was a scenic hike. For Auggie, it was apparently a prolonged investigation into how quickly he could get back to the lake. Every time the trail brought us close to the water, he was ready to abandon whatever hiking agenda we thought we had.

Honestly, I respect the commitment.

If you're hiking Rocky Gap with your dog, bring more water than you think you'll need, especially during warmer months, and pay attention to the temperature and trail conditions. We also took breaks and let Auggie set the pace when he needed to.

The Great Campsite Sleeping Debate

We brought things to make Auggie comfortable at the campsite. He had his elevated bed, padding, his own sleeping bag.

Naturally, he chose the ground. Because apparently when you're a dog, a perfectly reasonable sleeping surface is less appealing than pretending you are indeed a wild wolf instead of a pampered pup.

This is also a useful reminder for anyone planning their first camping trip with a dog: you can bring the bed, blanket, mat and every other comfort item imaginable. Your dog may still choose dirt. Plan accordingly.

A Little Freedom at Camp

Auggie's awake, so I'm awake! This bug fly made hammock camping with a dog so much easier!

One of our favorite pieces of gear on the trip was our hammock fly setup.

It gave Auggie a contained space where he could relax, look out at everything happening around the campsite and still feel like he was part of the action. It was especially helpful when I wanted to rest without having to worry about him deciding that something interesting in the distance required immediate investigation.

For a dog who wants to see everything, having a safe place where he could watch the world without needing to participate in every second of it worked surprisingly well.

We also brought Auggie’s Halo collar, which gives us an extra layer of security when we’re somewhere he can safely and legally have a little more freedom. Auggie is trained to come back when he hears the collar’s warning beep, so we don’t use the static correction feature. It’s particularly helpful with a dog who is extremely curious and can develop a rather impressive case of selective hearing when something interesting appears in the distance. The collar doesn’t replace a leash or the rules of wherever we’re visiting, but in appropriate off-leash areas, it gives Auggie room to explore while giving me some reassurance that my occasionally, magically deaf adventure dog has a familiar cue telling him when it’s time to come back.

More Than Just a Camping Trip

The timing of this trip ended up being important. Auggie had been working incredibly hard since our move to DC. Things that seem completely ordinary to a city dog—walking through an apartment hallway, waiting for an elevator, stepping onto a busy sidewalk—can be a lot for him.

At Rocky Gap, none of that existed. There were trails. There were trees. There was water. There was room to explore.

And I got to watch my confident, curious adventure dog come rushing back out.

That doesn't mean city life isn't becoming part of who he is. It is. We're learning it together, slowly.

But I also don't think helping him adjust to the city means asking him to leave his old life behind.

Maybe the goal is to give him both.

Would We Camp at Rocky Gap With Auggie Again?

Absolutely.

For us, Rocky Gap offered exactly what we wanted: a relatively easy escape from Washington, DC, lots of outdoor time, hiking, lake access and a chance for Auggie to do the things he loves most.

If you’re looking to feel completely secluded, Rocky Gap may not be the place for you. You definitely feel surrounded by nature once you’re at the campsite, but it’s worth knowing that there’s also a golf course and casino right down the road. That can be a big plus if you’re traveling with people who want a few activities beyond hiking, swimming, and campfires—or if you like the idea of escaping into the woods without being too far from civilization. But if what you’re after is the feeling of being truly off the grid and deep in the wilderness, Rocky Gap doesn’t quite offer that.

If you are okay with the interplay of civilization and nature, and if you're considering a dog-friendly camping trip from the DC area, it's definitely one to put on your list.

Just remember to check the latest campground and pet regulations before you go, especially rules surrounding swimming areas and seasonal restrictions.

And if your dog loves water as much as Auggie does? Good luck convincing them that the hiking trail is not simply an unnecessarily complicated route back to the lake.

Planning your own Rocky Gap trip with a dog? We learned quite a bit on our first visit, so feel free to reach out if you have questions about camping with your pup—or follow along as Auggie trades elevators for trails whenever he gets the chance.

This post is part of Auggie’s Adventures, where we share dog-friendly trips, outdoor escapes, and everything we learn while exploring together.