Camping options near Burtonsville, Maryland offer accessible outdoor experiences within 60 minutes of Washington DC. This central Maryland region sits at elevations between 200-400 feet and experiences humid subtropical climate with distinct seasons. Summer camping can be particularly challenging due to tick activity, with multiple campground reviews noting the need for thorough tick prevention measures during warm months.
What to do
Hiking networks: Cedarville State Forest maintains multiple trails through wooded areas with moderate difficulty levels. "There are decent trails to hike here too. There is a sacrifice of space here- I'd like to see it expand a bit, as the campground can fill quickly, especially if RVs are involved," notes one regular visitor to Cedarville State Forest.
Water activities: Pohick Bay Campground provides boat rentals within walking distance of campsites. "Nice camping spot close to DC with hiking nearby," says one camper at Pohick Bay Campground, who appreciated the combination of terrestrial and aquatic recreation options.
Disc golf: Bull Run Regional Park features an 18-hole disc golf course among its many recreational offerings. "The park has golf frisbe course, decent water park for kids, hiking trails, small creek/river you can explore, playgrounds," explains a camper who frequents the area.
What campers like
Proximity to urban amenities: Most campgrounds in the region provide natural settings while remaining close to conveniences. At Bull Run Regional Park, campers note: "The park is located in the middle of suburbs close to manassas va. The park also offer cabin rentals if you don't want to camp."
Wildlife viewing: Eagles, turtles, snakes and other creatures frequent the area forests. "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates," reports one Cedarville visitor, highlighting the biodiversity available even at campgrounds without designated horse facilities.
Shower facilities: Clean bathrooms with functional showers rank highly in camper priorities. One Bull Run camper specifically mentioned: "I'll go again just for the showers. We tent camped there with 2 other families memorial day weekend. It rained the entire time but we still had a blast. The best review I can give us of the bathrooms. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls."
What you should know
Equestrian limitations: While seeking horse campgrounds near Burtonsville, Maryland, riders should note that dedicated equestrian camping facilities are limited. Camp Meade RV Park and other nearby options do not offer horse corrals according to their amenity listings, though some parks permit trail riding.
Site sizes vary significantly: Some campgrounds feature tight spacing between sites. "The loop is very small, with all the sites pretty close together. The forest behind the site was sparse, enough so that it was hard to find fuel for the fire," reports a Cedarville visitor about site limitations.
Noise considerations: Proximity to military installations and flight paths affects several area campgrounds. "It's close to a Naval base, and therefore you constantly hear airplanes, and helicopters at all times," notes one week-long camper at Cedarville, describing the ambient noise conditions.
Tips for camping with families
Scheduled activities: Choose campgrounds with organized programming for children. "The campground 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 a parent from Pohick Bay Regional Park.
Playground access: Select sites near play areas to simplify supervision. "We got a site on thr inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," recommends a family camper, noting the convenience of this arrangement.
Water features: During summer months, water recreation provides welcome relief. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer. This is definitely a family campground. So my activities for kids and places to run around," advises a Pohick Bay reviewer.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: At Cedarville State Forest, inner loop sites provide electrical connections, while outer sites may not. "The small loop here accommodates both tent and RVs, which is fine but some of these damn things are so huge, I have trouble believing they could wedge themselves here," comments one tent camper observing the mixed-use campground.
Water access point limitations: RVers should plan water needs carefully. "We arrived on a Sunday. Very quiet, many open RV spots around us. We had site 18. Which is next to one of the water spigots. The idea is to use it to fill up tanks. Ranger let us know not to stay hooked up to it," explains a Camp Winery visitor noting campground water policies.
Dump station availability: Some campgrounds provide this essential service while others do not. "Dump station and trash were just outside of the loop," notes a reviewer, providing practical information for RV waste management.
