8 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cedarville State Forest's designated pet-friendly campsites feature electric hookups on inner loop sites, picnic tables, and fire rings for dog owners camping with tents or RVs. The forest's well-maintained trail system accommodates leashed pets throughout the 27-site campground loop where water spigots are readily available. Louise F. Cosca Regional Park offers pet-friendly camping with both electric and non-electric sites, maintaining clean bathrooms with showers that are serviced daily by park rangers. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp provides secure camping for military personnel with pets, featuring full hookup sites overlooking the Potomac River. Park police patrol campgrounds twice daily, adding security for campers and their pets.
Hiking trails throughout these pet-friendly campgrounds provide excellent exercise options for dogs, though visitors should apply tick prevention before arrival as reviewers consistently mention ticks being prevalent, especially at Cedarville State Forest. The campgrounds are conveniently located near urban areas yet provide sufficient forest cover for pets to enjoy natural surroundings. Bathhouses close for cleaning between 1-3pm daily at some locations, requiring campers to plan dog walks and cleanups accordingly. Nighttime raccoon activity has been reported at Cosca Regional Park, so securing pet food is advisable. Sites typically accommodate up to three pets per campsite, though specific pet policies may vary by season. The parks' proximity to Washington DC makes them ideal for travelers who want to combine outdoor recreation with pets while remaining close to urban amenities.
"We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."
"This is a pet friendly campground. There's a lot to do out at the whole park, and its worth exploring (we just didn't have time). I'm sure its so pretty out near the water."
Available this weekend
from $150 / night
"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
from $30 / night
"Though you are close to highways I don’t recall hearing and noise. I love that they have shuttles to DC., walking trails and a large dog park."
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours. I have a reactive dog and he did well here! We’ll be back!"
"They are in short distance from the water. There is a playground, bathhouse, and historical buildings that are accessible to campers. There are hiking trials, but none are two extensive."
from $27 - $65 / night
"The Oak Ridge campgrounds at Prince William Forest Park are a lovely little campground just outside Washington DC. The sites were large, the facilities are clean and the staff friendly and helpful."
"Showers are in loop B, which is a 5-7 minute walk. During holiday weekends the sites closest to the shower facilities are fully booked and have less privacy."
Available this weekend
from $26 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"We stayed Burke lake campground for one night last week. It was very peaceful place. The whole camp ground was very clean and well kept."
"This was my second time going Burke Lake and it was just as enjoyable as the first."
"Super clean Very well maintained Pet friendly... kinda No veteran discounts smh Good for a day or two"
"Good site, secure location, decent facilities with solid WiFi. Pier within walking distance. Good location, tho our site wasn't fully level, so bring plenty of leveling blocks."
from $55 / night
"Restrooms/showers: very clean, spacious, centrally located."
"Adjacent to Prince William Forest, near shops and restaurants, and less than an hour away from Washington, DC. Good nature getaway from the city."
"Site 24 and 25 are very close together but the other sites are at a distance however, 6 of the 25 sites are unleveled so tent camping is probably the only option."
"Close to town but far enough to enjoy yourself. Bathrooms are clean and have decent showers."
from $10 - $45 / night
TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
ScoutIt was a well maintained campsite. Clean bathrooms and great hikes to fossil beach.
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
TravelerGood spot to get away and pitch a tent. Never anyone else there too! Make sure to get a daily ($4) or annual (~$22 I forget) Access Permit on Virginia DWR, as well as special WMA camping license (free)
Camping options near Accokeek, Maryland feature wooded sites within a 25-mile radius of the DC metropolitan area. The region sits at elevations between 50-250 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and high humidity levels. Fall camping provides more comfortable temperatures and fewer insect problems while still offering access to regional parks and forests.
Hiking trails: Greenbelt Park Campground provides access to multiple trail networks including the American Discovery Trail. "There are lots of campsites so finding one last minute shouldn't be a problem. You can barely hear the traffic from the road outside the park," notes Miranda M.
Fishing spots: Smallwood State Park offers excellent fishing access via Mattawoman Creek. "Mattawoman Creek is right there and great for kayaking. We'll definitely be back!!" shares Lorraine P. The park maintains fishing piers and boat launch facilities.
Seasonal activities: Burke Lake Park offers varied recreation beyond camping. "Located close to George Mason University, host to many high school cross country meets, this park has a beautiful lake with a 5-mile gravel walking/running/biking trail around the lake's perimeter," explains Sarah M.
Playground access: Prince William Forest RV Campground maintains playground facilities for families. "The showers are clean/hot and the playground is in very good condition," notes Rebecca E., making this an option for families needing standard amenities.
Proximity to DC: Pohick Bay Campground receives high marks for its location. "Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," says Rachel L.
Urban escape value: Greenbelt Park Campground serves as an urban oasis for campers. "There is plenty of space between camp site clusters. The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods," explains one reviewer who appreciates the $20 per night rate.
Diverse amenities: Cherry Hill Park offers comprehensive facilities including pool access. "50 amp hook-up, water, sewer, playground, mini golf, swimming pool, hot tub, basketball court, snack bar on site, nightly hayride, gated, on-site camp store," lists Beth R., highlighting the range of conveniences available.
Wildlife viewing: Oak Ridge Campground at Prince William Forest Park provides natural settings. "The staff were so helpful and nice. They checked on us daily but didn't over stay. The sites were roomy and not too close. We saw lots of wildlife but had no issues with trash or food," reports Lisa P.
Security considerations: Louise F. Cosca Regional Park maintains regular security patrols. "Park Police patrol the campground 2 times a day. Also the bathrooms are clean, their are 2 stalls and 1 shower, cleaned daily by park rangers," explains Tye S.
Maintenance schedules: Bathrooms at many campgrounds close for cleaning during afternoon hours. "Restrooms were clean, closed daily for cleaning between 1 pm - 3 pm," reports Nurse N. about Cedarville State Forest facilities.
Wildlife interactions: Raccoons actively search for food at night in multiple campgrounds. "Raccoons run wild at night flipping trash can lids on your campsite hunting for food. Use repel spray to keep the raccoons off your site," advises a Cosca Regional Park camper.
Reservation systems: Most campgrounds require advance booking through recreation.gov or park-specific systems. "This is not a gated campground so anyone can come through and have a tour," explains a camper at Cosca, where registration is online only through pgparksdirect.com.
Amenity access: Oak Ridge Campground receives praise for its facilities. "The bathrooms are clean and the stalls were pretty large," notes a reviewer, adding that the shower facilities offer good water pressure.
Loop selection: Cherry Hill Park offers family-friendly spaces. "There are some nice tenting sites under the trees and off by themselves for the true campers, and for the rest of us glampers there are hookups and lots to do," suggests Scott C.
Evening activities: Several campgrounds offer scheduled programming. "They informed us that they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning," shares Ben G. about Pohick Bay.
Transportation options: Cherry Hill Park provides metro access to DC attractions. "Register any visitors!! Clean, reasonable rates & quiet. Prince William Forest National Park is accessible for awesome day hikes. Civil War National Parks nearby. DC just up the road," advises Kenneth H.
Site leveling: Prince William Forest RV Campground requires preparation for uneven terrain. "Caution though, the back row is steep. We were unable to get our Super C level," warns Cheryl D., recommending row E for full hookups.
Hookup availability: Cosca Regional Park offers limited electrical sites. "Only 5 sites have electric (2, 5, 18, 24, 25) but all 25 sites have water hookup," explains a reviewer, noting site 24 and 25 are very close together while others offer more distance.
Navigation considerations: Campground roads vary in width and accessibility. "It's a slight drive to the main park entrance," notes Laura G. about Prince William Forest RV Campground, where pull-through sites are available but space can be tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Accokeek, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Accokeek, MD is Pohick Bay Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Accokeek, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 78 dog-friendly camping locations near Accokeek, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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