6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Greenbelt Park Campground welcomes pets at all of its 174 sites located minutes from Washington DC. The campground maintains four distinct loops where pet owners can stay with their dogs while enjoying the natural environment. Campers note the park has extensive walking trails perfect for daily dog exercise, though tick prevention is strongly recommended during warmer months. The bathrooms remain open and heated year-round, a convenience for pet owners camping during colder seasons. Tent sites, RV spaces up to 35 feet, and basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables are available at each pet-friendly site for $20 per night. The campground requires all dogs to remain leashed throughout the park, including on all hiking trails and at individual campsites.
Five miles of maintained nature trails wind through Greenbelt's wooded landscape, providing ample opportunities for dog walking and outdoor enjoyment. Wildlife sightings, including deer near the entrance road, add to the natural experience when camping with pets. Dogs must be kept under control at all times as the park serves as habitat for local wildlife. Despite its urban surroundings, the park creates a surprisingly quiet, green oasis where dogs and owners can enjoy nature together. Some trails bring hikers close to roads where trash cans are available for pet waste disposal, though dedicated pet waste stations are limited throughout the campground. Campers should note that the park prohibits hanging items from trees, including dog tie-outs, so bring appropriate pet restraints when visiting with dogs.
"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 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 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
"A lot to do: mountain bike trails (horses and walking, too); wooded hikes with water along the trails (great for dogs in the summer heat), skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing"
"We set up our tent in the far side of the campground close to the lake ( site 27). It is slightly slant but still comfortable in the tent. Bathrooms are close by and kept clean."
from $30 - $70 / night
"We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"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
"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"
"Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store. We stayed at site 146 on the first caul-de-sac off the first loop just another site away from the bath house (which was pretty clean)."
"There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation."
Available this weekend
from $43 - $100 / 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."
"Based 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."
from $12 - $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.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
RangerWe stayed at Redemption Springs to get relatively close to Baltimore without bringing our 30ft travel trailer into the city. Seth and the other gentlemen I spoke with were all extremely accommodating. Enjoyed learning about their approach to restorative farming and purchasing a variety of treats at the farm store. Beef, pork, chicken, seasonings, baked goods, and more. We booked on Hipcamp and recommend following his driving instructions. Our rig fit fine by tuhe main barn and they kept an eye on us going in and out to make sure we didn't have issues making any of the turns. Lots of farm life!
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.
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.
Greenbelt Park Campground offers 174 tent and RV sites arranged in four distinct loops within 10 miles of Washington DC. The wooded landscape contains 5 miles of maintained hiking trails accessible from all camping areas. Sites accommodate RVs up to 35 feet with standard features like fire rings and picnic tables for $20 per night. While no electric hookups are available, the campground provides heated bathrooms year-round and has restrictions on hanging items from trees including dog tie-outs.
Trail exploration: Cherry Hill Park combines outdoor activities with urban convenience. The park has "plenty of attractions," including "bike trails outside of the complex" according to campers. Some visitors specifically choose this location for its proximity to regional bike networks while still having full camping amenities.
Water recreation: Use Lake Fairfax Park as a base for aquatic activities. The park includes "a nice lake where you can fish" plus a water park that requires an additional entry fee. One visitor noted the campground is "great for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground," making it convenient for water-based day trips.
Historical exploration: Visit nearby Civil War sites. The region contains numerous historical battlefields and monuments accessible from multiple campgrounds. Bull Run Regional Park includes areas that "housed troops during civil war" according to reviews, with interpretive trails connecting historical points of interest.
Quiet atmosphere: Pohick Bay Campground provides a nature retreat despite urban proximity. Located near National Harbor, one visitor described it as an "Eagle haven!" with "eagles everywhere!" Another camper mentioned "the sites are spacious and decently level" while appreciating the balance of wilderness and amenities.
Urban accessibility: Camping options exist remarkably close to city amenities. Cedarville State Forest offers what one reviewer called "a surprisingly quiet, green oasis where dogs and owners can enjoy nature together" despite being near developed areas. As another camper noted, "If you've forgotten anything you can pop on by the Target or Costco right outside the forest."
Wildlife viewing: Greenbelt Park Campground delivers unexpected animal encounters. One visitor observed that "traffic can be heard but not seen" while still experiencing "lots of woods around for shade and hammocks." Another camper reported: "There is plenty of space between camp site clusters. The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking through recreation.gov or similar platforms. At Lake Fairfax Campground, campers noted the inner loop sites "are not level at all," with one visitor stating "many tents were on a full slant." Plan accordingly when selecting specific sites.
Campground maintenance varies seasonally: Parks in this region may have limited staff during off-peak times. During summer months, one camper at Cedarville State Forest warned "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers."
Noise considerations: Urban campgrounds have different sound profiles. At Bull Run Regional Park, reviewers mentioned hearing "a shooting range near by" that "can be kind of noisy." Aircraft noise is common at multiple campgrounds, with campers recommending "bringing earplugs if you are a sensitive sleeper."
Activity planning: Pohick Bay Regional Park organizes family-friendly programs. A camper reported 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," creating structured activities for younger children.
Bathhouse proximity: Select sites near facilities for convenience with small children. One family at Bull Run Regional Park recommended their experience, noting: "The bathrooms are ok, happy to have free showers with hot running water. Faucets allow you to control the temperature and there's continuous running water."
Transportation logistics: Use public transit for DC excursions. At Cherry Hill Park, a visitor advised: "Proximity to DC and surrounding areas can't be beat. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments. Our uber rides ranged from 20-45$ for a family of 5."
Site selection criteria: Washington DC Capitol KOA offers varying privacy levels. A camper advised: "If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy." This distinction matters for longer stays or visitors seeking more personal space.
Leveling challenges: Check site descriptions carefully before booking. Bull Run Regional Park campers noted "my site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level." This preparation prevents setup frustrations upon arrival.
Electrical considerations: Not all campgrounds offer hookups. At Cosca Regional Park, a visitor clarified: "Only 5 sites have electric (2, 5, 18, 24, 25) but all 25 sites have water hookup." This information proves essential for RVers with medical equipment or other power requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Brentwood, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Brentwood, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Brentwood, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 66 dog-friendly camping locations near Brentwood, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
