Gorgeous Beach Campsites Around Washington Dc
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Feeling stuck in the city? Why not spend a weekend relaxing at a gorgeous waterside campsite? The District might not have many waterside views of its own, but if youre willing to travel just outside of the beltway, youll find incredible natural retreats. Check out five of them below.
Campgrounds Near Dc To Go Camping With Kids
Feeling cabin fever, but looking for something besides a hotel? Weve got you covered with kid-approved camping destinations, all within less than a four hour drive of Washington, DC and at a range of price points to fit any budget.
These locations all have attractions that will appeal to kids and parents alike. Whether youre an experienced, nature-loving outdoors family or glamping is more your speed, a weekend camping expedition at one of these destinations could be just what you need for a family reset. Let the kids run wild and experience the beauty of our region safely.
Is There Free Camping/boondocking In Northern Virginia
Hike-in primitive camping sites in Prince William Forest and Shenandoah National Park are free but campers must still pay park entrance fees. Backcountry permits and registration are required.
Need some gear for your camping expedition? Check out Good Wolf Gear at Sunset Park in Herndon. They are a local gear exchange with great deals on gently used and new camping equipment, clothes, and food. We picked up a basic 4-person tent for just $15!
Find more places to shop, eat, dine, and play in Herdon VA.
Camping is fun, whether you plan a quick overnight close to home or a longer stay in nature. Virginia campgrounds offer a nice range of experiences and amenities for residents and visitors to the DC area. No matter which campground you choose we wish you happy camping and a great time in the Northern Virginia area.
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Sky Meadows State Park
If your goal is a more remote nature escape, Sky Meadows State Park offers some of the best tent camping in Northern Virginia. You’ll need to pack your gear and hit the trail though because campers must hike 1 mile to reach the park’s primitive campsites.
Once you arrive, you’ll find large, private campsites spread out in the woods at Sky Meadows. Enjoy the stars by night in this designated Dark Sky Park, and hiking trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail, by day. It’s the perfect place to try primitive camping in Virginia without a long drive from the city.
- 15 primitive hike-in sites plus 1 buddy site and 2 group sites
- Primitive camping area includes pit toilets, bear-proof food lockers, picnic tables, fire pit, and some sites have hammock posts.
- Open year round online reservations required for most sites
- Leashed pets are welcome.
- Sky Meadows State Park has great hiking trails including a portion of the AT, historic buildings, a small fishing pond, and camp store.
- If camping near wineries is on your wish list, you’ll find plenty of great vineyards and tasting rooms nearby. Take a scenic drive to quaint towns like Paris and Marshall. Nearby farms offer seasonal strawberry-picking, apple-picking, and fall festivals.
Tip: Sky Meadows hosts special events throughout the year including a strawberry festival in June and a fall pumpkin patch.
Why Youll Love Ramblin Pines Family Campground & Rv Park
Ramblin Pines Family Campground & amp RV Park is a full-service, resort-style RV park that offers fishing, a jumping pillow, exercise room, security and planned activities such as games, hayrides, outdoor movies and live entertainment. It has a camp store, is about 15 minutes from shopping centers and is near several golf courses.
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Lose Yourself In The Woods
If you really want to rough it, you can backpack into a campsite, carrying your tent. And the best backpacking area in the Mid-Atlantic is Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia.
This high plateau of 17,371 acres in the Monongahela National Forest, with an elevation up to 4,700 feet , contains a tundra-like ecosystem. The landscape also includes spruce forests, marshes, a wooded canyon, and rocky scenic overlooks. More than 47 miles of hiking trails meander through the forest. While the Red Creek Campground is accessible by car, the best camping areas can be reached only by backpacking. An amazing three-day trip covers 21 miles of unforgettable sceneryalong Big Stonecoal Run and the Forks of Red Creekwith two nights under a tent.
Distance from DC: 164 miles.
For more information: Visit fs.usda.gov. Red Creek Campground costs $11 a night other camping and backpacking are free.
*All distances are measured from the Washington Monument.
Matthew Graham , who writes about outdoor recreation and adventure travel, lives in Takoma Park.
This article appears in our issue of Washingtonian.
Wake To An Ocean Sunrise
Camping on the beach at Assateague Island in Maryland can be a magical experiencefor those who come prepared. The park has 350 campsites, separated from the main beach by a dune, and campers can feel the ocean breeze, stroll along the waters edge, and swim, kayak, canoe, or fish. Plus, of course, watch the famous wild horses, which wander freely.
But unlike wooded campsites, the island isnt sheltered from the weather. To prevent tents from being blown away, pick up a pack of tent stakes for the sand. A shade canopy is also recommended for a break from the suns rays. As with any camping trip, bring insect repellent. This state park is not to be confused with the national park at Assateague, which doesnt have hot showers, only cold.
Distance from DC: 143 miles.
For more information: Go to nps.gov/asis/. Reservations can be made online or by calling 888-432-2267. Campsites cost $32 to $45 a night.
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Bald Eagle Farm On The Patuxent
This is a private tent area around the Patuxent River, with a campsite for visitors available. You should bring your tents or RVs because the owner offers just a space to set them.
There is a beautiful forest to take a walk and a few attractive touristic places. This place is great for those who need to take their pet with them and who need to stay connected to the digital world because the whole area is covered with WiFi. But, you should think about the alternatives for toilets and showers, and also you should bring kitchen supplies and folding tables and chairs.
Cherry Hill Park College Park Md
Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Maryland, boasts that its the closest RV park and campground to D.C., making it one of the easiest spots to pitch your RV. You can even take public transportation to and from the district. Theyre open all year.
A post shared by Luke Gover on Dec 28, 2017 at 9:15am PST
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Camp Inside The Beltway
Have the urge to pitch a tent and commune with the great outdoorsbut dont want to stray too far from urban life? Greenbelt Park, just inside the Beltway, has 174 wooded campsites. The 1,100-acre National Park Service facility includes a bathhouse with hot showers, three picnic areas, and nine miles of forested hiking trails where you might spot deer, red fox, and birds of many feathers.
Distance from DC: 16 miles.
For more information: Go to nps.gov/gree. Open year-round reservations can be made at recreation.gov. Fee: $16 a night.
Skip The Tenttry Glamping
Want to sleep under some canvas, in a wooded setting, yet still have a comfy bed? Try glamping, or glamour camping. Its essentially sleeping in a yurta large, portable, round tent, usually set up on a wooden platform. Savage River Lodge in western Maryland offers eight 30-foot yurts nestled in the woods. Each has a king bed, full bathroom, deck, gas fireplace, and radiant-heat floor. Its a romantic getaway for the nature lover who wants a bit of pamperingincluding robes, a French-press coffeepot, and house-made hot chocolate. Okay, a lot of pampering. And naturally, a price to match.
Distance from DC:* 156 miles.
For more information: Go to savageriverlodge.com/yurts. Rates start at $220 a night.
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Where Can I Rent A 4
4-person camping tent rentals available via Cloud of Goods in Washington, D.C. now. We have a range of 4-person camping tent rental models from popular brands to fit to your needs. Simply make a reservation online on CloudofGoods.com and one of our local rental shop partners in Washington, D.C. will meet you with your Washington, D.C.4-person camping tent rental.
Adventure Bound Camping Resort
- Distance from Washington, DC: 25 miles
- Types of Campsites: RV, tent, cabins
- Open Dates: Year-round
- Reservations & Cost: Reservations required, site fees vary
Whether you want to book a cabin getaway, hang out in your RV, or pitch a tent and sleep under the stars, the Adventure Bound campground has got you covered. You will not have any trouble finding things to do on-site and nearby the campground itself is fitted with a swimming pool, basketball courts, playground, dog park, and a camp store. Take a day to relax on-site or venture out on the nature trail to explore its the perfect local getaway to spend some time outdoors.
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Free Camping In The Cascades
The Cascade Mountains stretch from British Columbia, Canada to northern California, cutting a beautiful path through Washington. In the north part of the state, youll find solitude and few roads cutting through the landscape. Check out Hozomeen Campground, a popular waterfront spot right on the Canadian border.
A bit further south and closer to Seattle, youll find more people and some of the prettiest landscapes in the state. Ranger Creek Airstrip is big-rig and tent camping friendly, and each site has a picnic table and firepit. The memorably-named Tree Phone Campground is a hidden gem in Ahtanum State Forest.
Find Your New Favorite Spot
Washington, D.C is one of the most-visited spots in the United States. Itâs packed with iconic sights, from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House. Whether youâre coming alone or with a group, camping is a great way to see the nationâs capital.You wonât find any tent or RV sites within the city. Instead, look to the green spaces in Maryland and Virginia. For primitive tent camping, try Robert C. McDonell Campground. Bull Run Regional Park offers cabins, tent sites, and sites with full hookups.Just 12 miles from downtown, Greenbelt Park welcomes tents and RVs in 174 sites. With its wooded landscape and 9 miles of hiking trails, this park is the perfect place to relax. Itâs run by the National Park Service, so you can reserve sites online.RV travelers should head for Pohick Bay Regional Park. At this Potomac River spot, youâll find 100 sites with 30-amp hookups. The park also offers tent sites and comfortable cabins. The onsite lake provides swimming and boating during the warmer months. Within an hour of the city, you can also find year-round private campgrounds with Wi-Fi and other amenities.Once youâre settled in, thereâs plenty to explore in the D.C. area. Explore 1,700-acre Rock Creek Park by bike or on horseback. Rent a kayak at Georgetown Waterfront Park and paddle the Potomac or the Tidal Basin. Feel like running? The Mount Vernon Trail offers great views of the D.C. skyline.
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The Best Campgrounds And Rv Parks Near Washington Dc
Best known as the epicentre of US politics, Washington DC and its surroundings are also blessed with several areas of natural beauty including some great campgrounds and RV Parks.
If youre travelling to Washington DC and would like to embark on a camping adventure during your trip, weve done some research and picked out some of the best and most popular campgrounds that can be found in and around the city. Weve also included RV parks which have facilities for accommodating recreational vehicles for overnight stays. Here are seven of our favourites.
Capitol KOA
Part of the acclaimed KOA chain of expansive campgrounds dotted across the US, this Maryland outpost, located 20 miles northeast of DC, is set on 50 acres of rolling countryside and offers a wide choice of RV Sites, shaded tent sites, camping cabins, deluxe cabins, and group areas. On-site amenities include an outdoor pool, outdoor billiards, ping-pong table, basketball court, a Jumping Pillow and a dog park. Meanwhile the summer months buzz with fun-filled activities for all ages and tastes, such as flashlight lollipop hunts, outdoor movies and poolside ice cream socials.
768 Cecil Avenue North, Millersville, Maryland
Bar Harbor RV Park and Marina
4228 Birch Avenue, Abingdon, Maryland
Cherry Hill Park
9800 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, Maryland
Camp Meade RV Park
2300 Wilson Street, Fort Meade, Maryland
Bull Run Regional Park
7700 Bull Run Drive, Centerville, Virginia
Ramblin Pines
Lake Fairfax Park
Your Own Personal Tree House
Primland, a luxury resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, takes childhood fantasies to a new level. The resorts three private luxury tree houses are perched in sturdy oak trees and feature stunning mountain views, plus nightly turn-down service, a soaking tub and your own four-wheel drive vehicle to travel to and from the resorts lodge. Primland is also home to its own observatory dome, from which visitors can explore the night skies via telescope.
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Best Tent Camping Locations In Washington Dc In 2022
The tent camping is a unique adventure for those who know where to stay and what to bring with them. Some people enjoy being under the sky and to visit camping destinations regularly because it helps them take a rest, heal and connect to nature.
Many people are skeptical about this type of vacation, but there are proven ways that you can make your tent trip as comfortable as a rented apartment or with RV.
Louise F Cosca Regional Park
Image Source:http://www.campingroadtrip.co…
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park is administered by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. It has developed areas for playing and picnicking and wilderness areas for hiking just 15 miles south of Washington, D.C. Reservations are required for groups of six or more people.
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Best Free Camping Inwashington
By Sara Sheehy
There is nowhere else in the United States quite like the Pacific Northwest. In the upper left state of Washington, youll find mountain ranges that stretch to the sky, lush and moody rainforests, and a wild coastline that holds such beauty that youll forget that youre within a mornings drive of Seattles city lights.
Washington is chock full of great spots for boondocking and dispersed camping. So grab your tent or RV, stock up on good eats, and head to one of these campsite gems in Washington State.
See a map of all free camping in Washington.
Pohick Bay Regional Park
- Distance from Washington, DC: 25 miles
- Types of Campsites: Tent sites, cabins
- Open Dates:
- Reservations & Cost:Reservations required, site fees vary
If youre looking for a campsite near the water, enjoy the 1000 bayside acres of the Mason Neck Peninsula and Pohick Bay. Tent sites and cabins are surrounded by the natural beauty of this campground.
Visitors to Pohick Bay Regional Park will find golf courses , hiking trails, seasonal waterpark, boat launches, rentals, and a camp store. The grounds are also equipped with full-service restrooms, showers, laundry, and dishwashing. This campground is known for its peaceful environment and wide range of water activities, perfect for a weekend immersed in nature with many of the basic comforts of home.
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Camping Near Washington Dc
A guide to campgrounds in the DC Capital Region
Looking to spend a few days camping out in the woods? Within a short drive from the Washington, DC area you can find a wide selection of campgrounds. Here is a guide to the campgrounds in Maryland and Northern Virginia. It is a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation at most of these campgrounds, especially during the peak season in the late spring and early fall.
Why Youll Love Prince William Forest Rv Campground
This is a highly rated Good Sam RV park near Washington, D.C. It has a great location for visiting all the attractions near Washington, D.C., such as being 21 miles from Mount Vernon, 28 miles from the White House, four miles from Quantico Marine Base and five miles from Potomac Mills Mall. Just 35 miles south of Washington, D.C., the park combines the best of natural beauty with access to the city.
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A Note About The Department Of Natural Resources Campgrounds In Washington
Washingtons Department of Natural Resources manages 80 campgrounds through the state that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Though these campgrounds are free to use and are listed as such Campendium, a Discover Pass is required.
A Discover Pass gains you access to DNR properties for recreation and camping alike. The annual pass costs $35 and can be purchased online. On Campendium, these campsites have a permit required icon at the top of the page.
Camping Near You Find A Free Campsite
Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we’ve got you covered. You can simply use your smart phone’s GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast.
Our community provides the best free camping information available. Free campgrounds can be hard to find. Freecampsites.net makes it easy. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip.
This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. We are community driven, and while we will be adding many free camping spots, we hope that you will add some of your favorite camping places as well. By sharing camping information freely, we can all spend less time researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping. If everyone contributes a few campsites, we’ll all have more places to go camping.
Please come back and let us know what you find!
We are not actively seeking Wal-Marts, truckstops or other parking lots and will not be adding very many of these. There are enough Wal-Mart and truck stop directories out there already. However, if a member of the community finds one of these locations to be useful for overnight RV parking and creates an entry, we may approve the listing.
Please come back and let us know what you find!
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