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Best Tent Camping near National Mall & Memorial Parks

632 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Tent camping options are limited but rewarding within close proximity to National Mall & Memorial Parks, District of Columbia. The C&O Canal National Historical Park offers several tent-friendly locations including Swains Lock Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite, which provides riverside camping along the Potomac. Marsden Tract Group Campsite on the George Washington Memorial Parkway is another option rated highly by visitors, offering secluded tent-only sites within reach of the capital city.

Most tent sites near the National Mall are primitive with basic amenities. Swains Lock features five first-come, first-served tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and portable toilets. No garbage collection is available at these locations, and campers must pack out all trash. Some sites provide potable water pumps during warm months, though the water is often iodine-treated. Marsden Tract is particularly rustic, with no water sources, electricity, or bathroom facilities. Tent campers should bring adequate water supplies and prepare for limited facilities at these backcountry camping areas.

Areas along the C&O Canal towpath provide access to hiking trails and water activities while maintaining proximity to urban amenities. A visitor commented that Swains Lock offers "awesome free campsite right on the Potomac" with beautiful views of the river at sunrise and sunset. The sites accommodate tent and hammock camping with flat terrain suitable for comfortable setups. During peak seasons, walk-in tent locations fill quickly, especially those with vehicle parking nearby. Early arrival is recommended, particularly on weekends when day-use visitors also compete for parking. These sites offer a unique opportunity to experience nature while remaining within 30 minutes of downtown Washington, making them popular with local tent campers seeking quick wilderness escapes without lengthy travel.

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Best Tent Sites Near National Mall & Memorial Parks (25)

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Tent Camping Reviews near National Mall & Memorial Parks

632 Reviews of 25 National Mall & Memorial Parks Campgrounds

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 11, 2023

    Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    Beautiful campground, and great for visiting DC

    Beautiful campground, fairly large with 4 separate loops. Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft. No hookups at any of the sites.

    There’s a dump station and drinking water fill in loop C (sorry tenters who wanted to avoid RVs). The water fill was a little annoying in that there’s a handle you have to hold down the whole time, but we used a rock to prop the handle down. 

    The bathhouses are ok, happy to have free showers with hot running water. Faucets allow you to control the temperature and there’s continuous running water (no button to push). There’s only one large shower per bath house, and you only have a curtain (no door and no lock). Sites vary in levelness, some are fairly level and some are on a mini hill. Driveways are all very narrow. Most have too much tree cover for solar or starlink, but some sites are more open and you might be able to make it work. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Cost is $20/night, must reserve on recreation.gov, and you can do that when you arrive and pick a site (no service fee for this site)

    Cell service is pretty good for Verizon and ATT. 

    No alcohol allowed in the park. 

    GETTING TO DC: There’s normally a walking path from the campground to the metro station that takes you into DC (the green line takes you to the National Mall), but as of Oct 2023 the bridge is out due to a storm, and by the looks of it it’s been out a while and it doesn’t appear that it will be fixed soon. So what we did, since we don’t have a tow car, and just have our 26ft motorhome, is we packed up and drove to the Greenbelt station about 5 miles away, parked there for the day, and took the green line into town. The lot there is huge and open and free on weekends. Weekdays it’s about $5/day if you take the metro, and about $9 if you’re just parking there. The College Park station is closer but is apparently a parking garage (can’t confirm because we didn’t go to that station). This worked very well for us. You can pay for the metro with an app or get a card, either way it costs you $2 to buy the card, and then $2 each way on the train. Everyone over age 5 needs their own card, no sharing one card. The train ride from the Greenbelt station to the national mall is about 30 min. Get off at the Archives station to be in the center of all the sites.

  • A
    Sep. 24, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Nice Small Campsite Close to DC

    Nice small campsite in MD not too far from DC. One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down. Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby. Where we were hiking. 😬 The positives are as others have pointed out there is a huge park for kids- it’s not within walking distance for little kids but it’s a very short drive by the entrance to the park. There’s also another small park on the loop. The restrooms were central and well maintained. We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park. All sites had a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood available from camp host. Hiking poles would have been good for the trails when we had a kid in a pack on our back. Overall a nice close small campground.

  • D
    May. 22, 2023

    Little Bennett Campground

    Quiet sites with some activities

    We recently stayed the weekend here in loop A. 

    There are several good things that can be said about this campground. 

    Restricted- only people camping and visitors are allowed to use the facilities. Keeps things from being too crowded. 

    Good sized sites- My family of 4 was able to stretch out 2 tents, our 4 camping chairs, the provided picnic table, our car, and have plenty of room left over. 

    Limited activities on weekends- jumping pad/pillow, pedal carts, laser tag ($), ceramics ($), t-shirts ($), hikes, and more. Changes weekly. Details sent out at the beginning of the week. 

    Decent stocked camp store with reasonable prices. $10 for wood, 3.50 for 7 lbs of ice, $5 shakes, and lots more. 

    There are some clear downsides, too. 

    Only 1 bathhouse per loop. Pay attention to where your site is located. You might be in for quite a hike to go to the bathroom, which is inconvenient in the early morning hours. Loop E doesn't have a bathhouse (mostly reserved for RVs). The bathhouses have showers and somewhat warm water. 

    The tent pad is gravel. While this might help with drainage (I don't know), it makes it incredibly difficult to walk on and stake down your tent. 

    The camp store/activities are quite a good distance from some of the loops. It took me about 10 minutes to walk at a decent pace from the start of loop A to the camp store. From our site which was only not even close to the halfway point it would have added another 5 minutes. The spots really deep in would have easily been a 30 minute walk each way. So driving, especially with little kids, is unfortunately necessary in some instances, especially if you want to visit the playground/basketball/volleyball courts which are WAY down past loop E. 

    Activities are limited to certain times. When we arrived Friday the jumping pad was only open for an hour from 4 30 to 5 30. We arrived just before 4 30, so we unpacked a few things and took the kids to the jumping pad area (right next to loop A). It wasn't open and inflated until almost 4 50. You'd think because it was opened late they would keep it open later. Nope! Right at 5 30 a worker pulled up and shut things down much to the chagrin of the kids. Why they can't have it running more often is beyond me. 1 hour on Friday was clearly not enough, especially when opened late. Maybe 2-3 hours on Friday and 5-6 on Saturday. 

    They should consider having time for younger kids on the jumping pad, who are bounced off by the older kids. On Saturday there were at least 40 kids, some pre-teens/teenagers from girl scouts. My 4 year old was having trouble staying on the pad because "it is too bouncy". Kids come and go as it stays open longer, but little kids have trouble keeping up. 

    The pedal carts were a good idea in practice, but have 2 faults. 1. They are EXTREMELY hard to pedal. I tried two carts, one was totally stuck on an incline and the second barely made it around the track. I have no idea why they are so difficult to use. 2. There are no tandem carts. The only ones using the carts while I was there were little kids who couldn't use the jumping pad. I had my daughter on my lap while on the cart, but it was awkward to use this way. Either having a two seater or side car would have worked out better. Based on the condition of the other carts in the shed, only a few appeared usable. 

    Clear signs are needed. Lots of cars were going the wrong way down loop A. The road is barely big enough for 1 car, so having to accommodate 2 is even more problematic, especially with kids walking around. There were at least 10 cars going the wrong way in the loop. 

    The limit of 2 cars per site isn't enforced. A few sites had 3 cars, which fit ok. A pack of cub scouts were hiking a few of the trials, so a few sites had 4 or 5 cars. The sites were not big enough to fit that many cars plus camping equipment, so they started taking up the road. This made it hard to maneuver, especially with little kids running about in the road unsupervised. 

    All in all it was a great campground and I truly do appreciate the staff trying to provide a few things for families to do. With a few considerations and improvements, this campground could easily be a 5-star location.

  • C
    Aug. 26, 2019

    Little Bennett Campground

    Lovely campground, nice hiking with kids

    We spent several nights here with kids aged 5-12 and will definitely come back. We live in Montgomery County and this is a nice camping get away close to home. We stayed in Loop E, where the majority of the campsites were set back a bit off the road, well spaced, and nicely shaded. We took a couple of walks through Loop A, and this seemed to be the case for those sites as well. We were a group of 5 and used 2 4-person tents. The tent sites all have a tent pad (great drainage during a downpour!) but the tent pad isn’t big enough for two tents. So beware if you intend to use two tents that most, but not all, of the tent sites seem to have a patch of level ground where a 2nd tent can be pitched. On Saturday there were fun activities for the kids all day (pedal cars, crafts, water balloon baseball, laser tag, to name a few from memory), with some activities also on Friday evening and Sunday morning. A fee is charged for some of these (laser tag and craft supplies) but most are free. There is a small arcade-style game room (with free wifi in the building) where we passed a rainy morning. Air hockey, table soccer, and a small basketball game could be played for free, but pool and the video games required $.25-1.00 per game. We used perhaps 5 miles in total of the hiking trails, doing loops down to the creek and back. They were all manageable for a 5-year old and the kids enjoyed playing in the stream in warm weather. We did see poison ivy at the edges of some trails. There is some distant ambient noise from 270 and overhead air traffic, but nothing too bad. If coming with kids, I would recommend bringing a playground ball and/or basketball so you can use the gaga pit or basketball courts even when no games are organized by camp staff. Also note that there was no ice in the camp store for the duration of our stay, but ice can be bought at the Liberty gas station and the small Clarksburg Grocery, both about a mile from the campground.

    Update after also staying in Loop A several times: I might just be imagining it, but the tent pads seem bigger in Loop A. We we able to jigsaw our two 4-person tents and a single on the pad in site 6. Poison ivy noticed in the site, camp staff brought us gloves to take care of it and a free bundle of firewood by way of apology.

  • Sean M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2020

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Great Small Campground - Cool Cabinso

    This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park. It’s a bit odd getting here through a suburban neighborhood, but the Hilton area is great. It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes.

    The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table. The crushed stone at the sites isn’t comfortable for tents, and they won’t let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground. There are helpful and friendly camp hosts always on duty. The bathhouse is nothing special, but it’s well maintained and clean. The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely “rough it.” We found everything reasonably priced.

    Remember: no alcohol or firewood can be brought into the park. Firewood can only be purchased on site due to harmful insects. But the money goes toward the parks volunteer program.

    This is a very nice small campground that is great for kids!

  • Napunani
    Jun. 24, 2022

    Little Bennett Campground

    Nice County Park

    PROS 

    Very nice small Montgomery County Park 

    No reservation fee to make on-line reservations 

    Reserved 137 days prior to arriving 

    Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone to proceed to campsite as check-in at camp store is at dead end with insufficient turning space for pickup towing 28ft bumper pull; complete check-in after camper was unhooked at site

     Great night sky viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings 

    Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors 

    Site#D69 shady 

    Very quiet campground 

    Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back 

    Site#D69 gravel parking pad 

    Wooden/metal picnic table that was moveable 

    Metal fire pit with cooking grate 

    Toilet/shower facility very clean 

    3 washers and 3 dryers, along with folding tables in the basement of the check-in building. Accepted credit card for $1.75/load 

    Harper’s Ferry National Historical park 35 miles from Park 

    Walmart and Wegman’s 5 miles from Park 

    CONS 

    Out-of-state campers pay higher camping fee than Maryland residents,$66/night 

    No senior or veteran discount 

    Trees falling on Park power lines caused power outage for hours 

    No toilet/shower facility in FHU loop so had to hike to facilities in Loops B & E

    No camp host 

    No ranger patrolling thru campsite 

    No WIFI 

    1 bar Verizon

  • Kristy R.
    Nov. 13, 2020

    Cherry Hill Park

    Great Family Fun

    Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice. My grandchildren live it there. We will return to a premium tent site soon.

  • Margaret D.
    May. 3, 2023

    Lake Fairfax Campground

    Comfortable sites

    Campground has mostly level gravel lots with fire rings, picnic tables. No water at site. Bath house is reasonably clean. Dump station is adequate.

  • G
    Jun. 25, 2020

    Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    Management unresponsive to many many issues with our site

    Broken water pipe flooded our site, broken sewer pipe that left raw sewage on our site, no WiFi, no cable, neighbors utility pole in the center of our site and their sewage pipe right next to our picnic table. They dug up the utility pole in the middle of our campsite without notifying us, leaving their tools all over the site and moving our stuff and smoking/throwing butts on the site.  No one answers the after hours phone number. Noisy at night. The manager was completely unresponsive despite me trying for days and days to talk to her. She wouldn't call me back or come by the site to talk to us and see the issues. The neighbors told us that they notified the campground of the water leak/flooding prior to us coming and yet the campground put us on this site anyway knowing full well of the broken utilities.

Guide to National Mall & Memorial Parks

Tent campsites near National Mall & Memorial Parks provide access to natural settings within 30-40 miles of Washington DC's urban center. Camping options range from rustic group sites requiring significant hikes to more accessible locations along the Potomac River corridor. Most sites in the immediate area restrict generators and have seasonal availability from April through October when temperatures range from 50-90°F.

What to do

Hiking at Patapsco Valley State Park: Located about 30 minutes from DC, the park features multiple entrance points with trails of varying difficulty. "The trails we have been on are all pretty moderate to hard but offer beautiful waterfalls and river views. This definitely is a park that takes a while to explore all of it. It cannot be done in a day," notes Angel G. from Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area.

Kayaking on the Patapsco River: Water activities provide another way to experience the region. "Roland Lake in Baltimore County is a great place to kayak on the Patapsco River. Tons of wildlife, facilities, and amenities for you and your family," states Anthony S. regarding his experience at Patapsco Valley.

Swimming opportunities: Several camping areas provide water access for cooling off during summer months. At Prince William Forest Park, group cabin camps feature swimming ponds among their amenities. "Sites have extras like fire rings with seating, swimming ponds, hiking trails, grassy playing fields," explains Dan N. about the Goodwill Cabin area.

What campers like

Secluded camping near urban areas: Some sites offer unexpected seclusion despite proximity to the capital. "Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite," writes Chrystal P. about Marsden Tract Group Campsite.

Family-friendly environments: Many campers appreciate the recreational facilities available at certain parks. "This park is ALWAYS full of family's having picnics and enjoying time together! There's playground and a beach area for kids and family to all enjoy," reports Sarah F. about her experience at Leesylvania State Park Campground.

Economical camping options: Budget-conscious campers can find reasonably priced sites. "Super simple and the best price... easy to find and very clean," notes Emerson K. about their experience at Marsden Tract Group Campsite.

What you should know

Limited facilities at primitive sites: Many camping areas near DC offer minimal amenities. "There's no parking nearby no water no bathrooms or electricity but all in all it's beautiful," explains Chrystal P. regarding Marsden Tract Group Campsite.

Weather impacts on camping areas: Seasonal conditions can affect site usability and comfort. "When it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down," advises Alexandra T. about Patapsco Valley State Park.

Check-in procedures: Some parks maintain strict check-in times. "This was also the first time we have ever had to wait till exactly 3pm to check in. So if you arrive early expect to wait until 3," mentions Gabrielle E. about camping at Patapsco Valley.

Tips for camping with families

Look for dedicated youth facilities: Some camping areas specifically cater to children's activities. "For camping or just spending a day out on the trail with the kids we prefer the Hilton entrance. There are two huge playgrounds and a youth campground as well as a family campground," recommends Angel G. about The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring.

Consider cabin camping options: Group cabin camps provide structured accommodations suitable for families or large groups. "The cabins have beds with waterproof mattresses, closets, screen windows, and electricity, but no fans or AC (bring fans!!). There are central shower houses, central dining halls (with full modern kitchens, fridge, etc)," explains Dan N. about the Goodwill Cabin area.

Pack appropriate gear for trail conditions: Terrain near DC camping areas can be challenging with children. "Hiking poles would have been good for the trails when we had a kid in a pack on our back," advises Alexandra T. regarding trails at Patapsco Valley State Park.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV accommodation: True RV camping options are scarce within close proximity to the National Mall. At Lacy Oasis Campground, visitors note the property focuses more on tent and glamping experiences rather than large RV setups. "This space is about healing and being grounded with yourself," explains Terrance D., suggesting the emphasis is on quiet, natural experiences rather than extensive RV facilities.

Consider Patapsco Valley for small RVs: Some sites at Patapsco Valley State Park can accommodate modest RVs, though primarily designed for tent camping. "The campground is on the smaller side. You get a fire pit and cooking crate, and a picnic table," notes Sean M., explaining the limited space available at each site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near National Mall & Memorial Parks?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near National Mall & Memorial Parks is Marsden Tract Group Campsite — George Washington Memorial Parkway with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near National Mall & Memorial Parks?

TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near National Mall & Memorial Parks, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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