R
Roger M.
Traveler
TravelerFredericksburg-Washington DC KOA
Family friendly
Nice size spots. Lake on site. Playground for kids. Fun bike rentals. Lots of dog walks and a dog park. Camp store has a little bit of everything.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Brandywine, MD
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Cedarville State Forest's pet-friendly campground welcomes campers with dogs in a wooded setting 60 minutes from Washington DC. The family camping loop has 27 spacious sites with gravel pads, picnic tables, and fire rings that accommodate both tents and RVs. Electric hookups are available on the inner loop sites, while the outer loop is designated for tent camping. Pets must be leashed at all times, and owners are expected to clean up after their animals. Louise F. Cosca Regional Park also allows pets at its 25 campsites, with water hookups available at every site. Spacious, wooded sites provide adequate separation between camping neighbors, though some reviewers note that raccoons are active at night and require proper food storage. Both campgrounds maintain clean bathroom facilities with hot showers, though some visitors report occasional cold water at Cedarville.
Multiple hiking trails throughout Cedarville State Forest provide excellent opportunities for walking dogs, though hikers should apply tick prevention as numerous reviews mention tick encounters. Adventure Bound Camping Resort in nearby Lothian offers full hookup sites and cabin options for those camping with pets, with clean bathroom facilities despite having many long-term residents. Cherry Hill Park in College Park provides premium amenities for campers with pets, including tent sites, RV hookups, and pet-friendly cabins. Most campgrounds in the region require pets to remain on leash at all times, with length restrictions typically six feet or less. Campers report good cell service throughout most campgrounds, with AT&T users noting consistent two-bar coverage at Cedarville. Wildlife encounters are common, so keeping pets secured is essential for their safety and the protection of local animals.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Brandywine (73)
1. Cedarville State Forest
"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
Check Availability2. Pohick Bay Campground
"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."
"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."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability3. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
"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."
from $20 / night
Check Availability4. Cherry Hill 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. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
from $999 / night
Check Availability5. Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
"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
Check Availability6. Adventure Bound Washington DC
"We had a fantastic time our 1st time at #AdventureBoundCampingResort in Lothian, Maryland."
"This place is a good place to stay, the laundry room & showers are handy, the pool is large, & it's a 40 minute drive to the capital & the Smithsonian Mall or a 25 minute drive to the closest"
7. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp
"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
Check Availability8. Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
"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
Check Availability9. Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
"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."
from $26 / night
Check Availability10. Andrews AFB Military FamCamp
from $18 - $30 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 23 min from Washington, DC
- 46 min from Lexington Park, MD
- 49 min from Baltimore, MD
- 1 hr 59 min from Salisbury, MD
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Brandywine, MD
53 Photos of 73 Brandywine Campgrounds
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Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
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Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp
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Pohick Bay Campground
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Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
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Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
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Cherry Hill Park
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Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
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Thousand Trails Harbor View
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Brandywine, MD
576 Reviews of 73 Brandywine Campgrounds
singinajf@aol.comTravelerRamblin' Pines
Quiet Spot
The staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
- Linda B.
RangerCherry Hill Park
Actually a 10!!!
This is a campers dream site. Everything you can think of is offered here. You have to check their website to see all. This is the closest site to Washington DC. 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. Pets are pampered here. Even dog walking service available.
Megan K.
GuidePrince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park
Great spot with hookups by PW park
If you, like me, hate making reservations over the phone, it was worth it! Quick, simple, painless process.
Restrooms/showers: very clean, spacious, centrally located. My spot was in the back row and I didn't mind the walk
Lots: lots are really staggered/ set back from each other so feels like you have more space. Average lot size in general, but the set back feels like you have more space. It wasn't crowded either way, especially given on a weekend
Small pool
Wifi: don't plan on being able to have work zoom calls or really much on it for that matter
Cell service: I can confirm Verizon and Google fi have great service. I would imagine any other carrier would work just as well.
Area: the surrounding area is really bikeable
Hookups: I had a 30amp hookup with no issues. They also have up to 50amp full hookups. All of them looked well maintained.
Staff: super friendly; great check in experience They have a dog park but didn't get a chance to check it out.
Overall: great experience, would recommend
MickandKarla W.
LegendCherry Hill Park
Impressive Campground
Cherry Hill Park was easy to find and get to basically right off I-95. This was our first time RVing into the WA DC area and we were concerned about traffic getting to the campground(CG). As we arrived, traffic was heavy on I-95 but manageable. Cherry Hill’s and our RV GPS directions were spot on getting us to the park. We were very impressed with this CG from the moment we entered. We picked up our package outside the office(no contact check-in) and went to premium site 93 with FHUs. Back-in was easy. The wifi was very good but the CG was only about a 1/4 full. Cherry Hill has many different ways to stay; cottages, cabins, yurts, glamping pods, premium and regular tent sites in addition to the RV sites. As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same. There are a few sites in the CG on the end that will give you a little more yard space like 97(need to be a competent backer), 402, and 1723. We got 2 bars each on Verizon and AT&T. The CG’s cable provided a large selection of channels and worked well. We were impressed with the main laundry facility due to the amount of large washers and dryers, very fair pricing and very clean. The two off leash dog parks(in the same area) were nice plus there’s a well maintained walking trail that goes around this very large CG’s perimeter. We really liked how there are trash receptacles and dog poopy bag dispensers nicely placed all over the CG. Though we didn’t use it, they even have a dog walker service so you can spend a lot of time exploring the DC area without worrying about your pups. About the only draw back was the road noise from the interstate and highway pretty much 24/7, but considering the area that is to be expected. Sites 13-38 and 1500 sites near the premium tent area are the farthest away from the road noise. We would definitely stay here again.
Caitlin A.
ScoutSmallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
Private sites with water views nearby
These campground is a great find. The sites are well spaced, and while on the smaller side they’re very private with woods between each one. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. 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!
- CCindyGuide
Bay Shore Campground
Nice place with awesome view
This campground is perfect for a quiet visit to the Eastern shore town of Rock Hall as It sits conveniently between the village of Rock Hall and Eastern Neck sanctuary. The area reserved for RV campsites overlooks a bluff on the Chesapeake Bay….gorgeous. Because we went in the middle of the week, we had a lot of space to our self and open areas for our dog to play. Admittedly there isn’t a lot to do in the campground itself, even the bathrooms were closed down for Covid and only self contained RVs could camp.There is a small playground and a dog park, and a small pond for fishing. Sewer hook ups are not yet available but they are coming. Purchasing the WiFi access was a waste of money and our Verizon signal was very weak. The biggest attraction is the view over the Bay. So if you are looking for beautiful scenery and a cooling breeze this is a lovely and relaxing place. We met the owner who was very attentive to our needs and also helped us use the dump station as this was the maiden voyage with our new RV. The campground is clean and nicely landscaped. Be sure to go into the town of rock Hall for a seafood dinner at Waterman’s.
J B.ScoutGreenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
The park/ trails
The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom. The bathroom is a average out door bathroom with no A.C. and the floor always seems to be wet, but I never had an issue with no toliet paper. The trails are maintained. You could tell there was even some work in progress spots. Wish there were some doggie bag stations just for the trash can. The trail comes close to the road enough times that it could be a great add for a visitor who brings pets and staff would not have to hike in to hike out a bag of garbage.
Nancy W.LegendRamblin' Pines
Good location to Baltimore/Frederick Attractions
We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick. The campground is quite large with lots of seasonal sites but there are some transient spaces that can accommodate big-rigs. In addition to RV sites, there are tent sites and cabins.
We stayed in one of the transient sites (#FR14) across from the RV storage lot. It was a long gravel back-in with 50-amp FHU. The water hook-up is in a pit so it doesn’t freeze so look under the cover. It can be a bit difficult to reach and you have to get on the ground to hook-up. Based on the location of the spigot, we were not able to attach our water filter (we drank the tap water anyway and it was good). The electric worked fine and were able to reach the sewer with our 20’ hose. The view out of our front window was of the storage lot which was not the most scenic. However, parking in the FR row is the easiest place for big-rigs to park since some roads in the park are tight and hard to navigate with the trees and with the two-way traffic.
There are lots of amenities and it seems some people come here for the activities and things to do. It is a destination for many campers. They have lots of themed events, the most popular being the entire month of October celebrating like Halloween. They set up a haunted walk through the woods, have pumpkin carving, trick or treating, a costume contest, haunted hayride, and site decoration contest every weekend. If you want to camp on the weekends– book early because we found it very difficult to get a reservation during October and you have to pay in full and there are no refunds for cancellations. Other weekends have live music, bingo, hayrides, cornhole tournaments, crafts, and more. Basically, there is something every weekend.
Huge fishing pond, shuffleboard, horseshoes, large dog park with agility, game room, playgrounds, jump pillow, heated swimming pool, and exercise room (which was decent but didn’t have a television to occupy your time), 18-hole mini golf. A short but nice hiking trail winds through the woods and is nice for walking dogs. There is a large covered pavilion with picnic tables for big gatherings. There is free Wi-Fi but it doesn’t reach sites in the back of the campground. Wi-Fi is great if you are near the office/store. The camp store is fairly large with some food/beverage items, t-shirts, large amount of RV supplies, and misc. other items. There is a coffee maker with free coffee.
Guide to Brandywine
Camping near Brandywine, Maryland offers a variety of terrain from wooded settings to waterfront access, with the region experiencing hot, humid summers and mild springs and falls. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 100-300 feet above sea level, creating moderately hilly camping conditions that require careful site selection for level setup.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Smallwood State Park provides access to Mattawoman Creek where visitors can fish from several docks. "Mattawoman Creek is right there and great for kayaking," notes Lorraine P. about Smallwood State Park.
Disc golf courses: Several parks offer disc golf for campers looking for recreational activities. "I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," says Rachel L. about Pohick Bay Campground, which also features water activities.
Historical exploration: Visit the historic structures within park boundaries to learn about the region's past. One reviewer mentions, "There is a separate historic area in the park, which contains Gen. Smallwood's mansion, and a few other historic buildings" at Smallwood State Park, though they note these buildings "are only open a few days out of each month during the summer."
Metro access to Washington DC: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring the nation's capital. "The green line takes you to the National Mall... Get off at the Archives station to be in the center of all the sites," explains Laura M. about taking the train from Greenbelt Park Campground.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campers appreciate the separation between sites at certain parks. "Sites are well spaced, and while on the smaller side they're very private with woods between each one," writes Caitlin A. about Smallwood State Park, making it ideal for those with reactive dogs.
Clean facilities: Despite varying ages of infrastructure, many campgrounds maintain clean restrooms. "Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours," notes another Smallwood State Park visitor.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple parks offer opportunities to spot local fauna. "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates," reports Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest, highlighting the biodiversity around the camping areas.
Urban proximity with nature feel: The combination of natural settings near urban areas appeals to many campers. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," explains Becky about Greenbelt Park Campground, noting its convenience for area residents.
What you should know
Tick prevention essential: Multiple parks report high tick populations, particularly in warmer months. "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers," warns a Cedarville State Forest visitor who otherwise enjoyed their stay.
Seasonal water issues: Some facilities experience occasional water temperature inconsistency. "Showers looked ok, and the stalls were quite large, but we didn't use them this trip," notes Jen V. from Smallwood State Park, while others mention variability in water temperatures at different times.
Reservation systems vary: Some parks require advance online booking while others allow on-site registration. "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online," advises Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park Campground.
Light pollution concerns: Due to proximity to urban areas, stargazing may be limited. "It's quiet, but not too dark, as the lights from DC interfere with the night sky here," mentions Bill G. about his experience at Louise F. Cosca Regional Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Choose sites near play areas for convenient supervision. "We got a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," shares Ben G. about Pohick Bay Campground, adding that the park also offers "a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend."
Wildlife safety measures: Store food securely to prevent unwanted animal visitors. "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 Tye S. about Louise F. Cosca Regional Park.
Weekday visits recommended: For quieter experiences with children, consider non-weekend stays. "Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," notes a reviewer about Greenbelt Park, suggesting better conditions for families seeking more peaceful camping experiences.
Water activities: Many parks offer water-based recreation options for families. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer... Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats," shares Anne K. about the family-friendly amenities at Pohick Bay Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring preparation. "Not all sites are level (half)," notes Robert P. about Burke Lake Park Campground, suggesting campers bring adequate leveling equipment.
Access considerations: Several parks have tight entrances or narrow roads requiring careful navigation. "Do not try and come in after dark. Very tight and very dark," warns Matthew S. about Adventure Bound Washington DC, highlighting the challenges for larger rigs.
Electric hookup locations: Inner loop sites typically offer electric access while outer loops may be tent-only. "Site 6 was good but not for larger rigs. We have a pop up and had to navigate around a tree that would have been very difficult for larger rigs. Site 5 or 7 wouldn't have that problem," reports Nurse N. about site selection at Cedarville State Forest.
Pet-friendly accommodations: For RVers traveling with animals, most parks allow pets with specific restrictions. "Most sites have water hookup" at Louise F. Cosca Regional Park according to reviewers, making it convenient for RVers with pets needing reliable water access.
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