8 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Pohick Bay Campground permits pets throughout its family-friendly camping area with sites that accommodate tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping options. Located in Lorton, Virginia, this year-round campground provides electric hookups, fire rings, and sanitary dump stations for campers traveling with animals. Cherry Hill Park in College Park offers extensive pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, cabins, glamping setups, and even yurt options that welcome dogs. Cedarville State Forest maintains pet-friendly campsites with drinking water, electric hookups, and picnic tables where dogs are permitted on-leash. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp receives positive reviews for its pet policy, though users note it's somewhat limited and requires military credentials for access. Louise F. Cosca Regional Park features 25 sites with water hookups, though only 5 offer electricity, making it suitable for pet owners seeking a more rustic experience with their animals. Park rangers clean the bathrooms daily and maintain the pet-friendly grounds.
Hiking trails at multiple campgrounds provide excellent pet exercise opportunities, including Pohick Bay's well-marked paths overlooking the Potomac River where dogs can enjoy walks with their owners. Bull Run Regional Park and Lake Fairfax Campground both accommodate pets year-round with trails accessible directly from campsites. The water access at Pohick Bay proves particularly popular with pet owners during warmer months, offering opportunities for dogs to cool off. Raccoons frequently visit Louise F. Cosca Regional Park at night according to campers, so securing pet food is essential when camping there. Several campgrounds offer trash collection services, important for proper disposal of pet waste. Most facilities enforce standard pet policies requiring leashes no longer than 6 feet, vaccination records, and immediate cleanup of pet waste, with quiet hours strictly enforced to prevent excessive barking.
"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."
Available this weekend
from $37 - $170 / 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
"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
"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."
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
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)
Fort Washington offers several pet friendly camping options located within 30 miles of Washington DC. Nestled along the Potomac River valley with elevations typically under 200 feet, the area features humid subtropical climate conditions. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October, with limited year-round options available during winter months when temperatures average 30-40°F.
Hiking trails: Pohick Bay Campground maintains several nature trails accessible directly from campsites. "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. 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," notes camper Rachel L.
Fishing access: Water activities abound at several pet-friendly locations near Fort Washington. The fishing pier at Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp provides prime Potomac River access. "The base outdoor recreation center has equipment to rent such as kayaks and canoes to explore the Potomac river. There is a pier out into the river to fish on," reports Jack R.
Historical exploration: The region contains significant Civil War sites within a short drive of campgrounds. "We spent 5 days camping and exploring the civil war battle areas and other things. Definitely worth exploring," writes Daniel S. about Oak Ridge Campground. Many sites serve as convenient base camps for historical day trips with pets.
Camp stores: Several campgrounds maintain on-site supply options for forgotten essentials. Cherry Hill Park provides comprehensive shopping. "On site are pools, splash pad, rv supplies and repair parts, a snack bar and lots more," notes Scott C. This eliminates driving for basics when camping with pets.
Bathroom facilities: Clean, well-maintained facilities rank high in camper satisfaction. "Bathrooms are clean, closed daily for cleaning between 1 pm - 3 pm. Two showers were included but didn't use it so not sure about pressure or heat," writes Nurse N. about Cedarville State Forest. Many facilities undergo daily maintenance.
Public transportation: For travelers wanting to explore Washington DC while pets rest at camp, transportation options exist. "The campground is very close to DC and you are able to ride the metro bus right from the campground," notes Jonathan B. about Cherry Hill Park. This provides flexibility for managing pet care.
Site selection: Terrain varies considerably between and within campgrounds. "Check out your site before booking, some sites are steep but spacious," advises Ben S. about Louise F. Cosca Regional Park. Some locations offer limited level spots for tent camping.
Wildlife encounters: Proper food storage prevents unwanted 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," shares Tye S. about Louise F. Cosca Regional Park. Secure all pet food especially carefully.
Reservation requirements: Most locations require advance planning. "This is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online," explains Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park. Booking policies vary by campground, with some implementing minimum stay requirements.
Water recreation: Summer camping offers swimming opportunities at select locations. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer," comments Anne K. about Pohick Bay. Many water facilities charge additional fees beyond camping costs.
Organized activities: Bull Run Regional Park schedules regular family-oriented events. "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," reports Ben G. about weekend programming.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment near camping areas. "Playground, mini golf, swimming pool, hot tub, basketball court, snack bar on site, nightly hayride, gated, on-site camp store," lists Beth R. about Cherry Hill Park amenities that keep children entertained.
Site leveling: Lake Fairfax Campground presents challenges for larger vehicles. "The outer loop campsites are easily more level than the center loop. If leveling perfectly is a concern you may want to call ahead and ask before commiting to the inner loop," suggests Corey B. Bring extra leveling blocks.
Electrical considerations: Not all sites offer full hookups. "Only 5 sites have electric (2, 5, 18, 24, 25) but all 25 sites have water hookup," points out Tye S. about Louise F. Cosca Regional Park. Check amperage specifications when booking - 30 and 50 amp availability varies.
Dump station access: Facilities maintain varying sanitation capabilities. "They have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower," warns Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest's setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Washington, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Washington, 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 Fort Washington, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Washington, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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