c
cara S.
Scout
ScoutPatapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
Hilton area
Thought the campsites were extremely close together. There were A LOT of kids and no quiet hours. Good for families. Not good for a camping camping experience.
Best Campgrounds near Riverdale Park, MD
Greenbelt Park Campground offers an unexpected camping oasis just minutes from Washington DC in the Riverdale Park, Maryland area. This National Park Service campground provides tent and RV sites with basic amenities in a forested setting. Cherry Hill Park in College Park and Adventure Bound Washington DC in Lothian round out the mixed-use campgrounds in the region, offering more developed options with cabin accommodations, glamping setups, and full hookup sites for RVs. Most camping areas in this suburban region are established campgrounds rather than primitive sites.
Access to campgrounds remains available year-round at several locations, though some facilities like Cedarville State Forest operate seasonally from April to October. "A great campground just outside of DC - Tucked into the middle of a park where there's no noise out light pollution," notes one visitor about Greenbelt Park. Reservations are generally required at most camping areas, with no cash payments accepted at Greenbelt Park. Campers should be prepared for varying levels of amenities - Greenbelt offers no electric hookups while nearby Cherry Hill Park and Adventure Bound provide full hookup options including water, electric, and sewer connections. Weather conditions remain mild through most seasons, though summer humidity can be significant.
Campers frequently mention the unexpected tranquility of these campgrounds despite their proximity to urban areas. The juxtaposition of wooded campsites against the backdrop of the nation's capital creates a unique camping experience. Several visitors highlighted convenient access to Washington DC via nearby Metro stations as a major advantage. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "This is a fantastic campground for the price! The rangers at the check-in are very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Anything you want to know about visiting DC, they are prepared with maps and suggestions." Wildlife sightings, including deer, are commonly reported at Greenbelt Park. Some reviews mention issues with bugs, particularly ticks and mosquitoes, during warmer months, so appropriate repellent is advisable.
Best Camping Sites Near Riverdale Park, Maryland (82)
1. Cherry Hill Park
42 ReviewsBeltsville, MD4 milesWebsite+1 (301) 937-7116$999 / night
"Metrorail is about 6 miles from campground, near University of Maryland."
"Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."
2. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
32 ReviewsGreenbelt, MD2 milesWebsite+1 (301) 344-3948$20 / night
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"The campsite is superb with walking trails, wildlife and the occasional overflying US Presidential Helicopter. Easily accessible from close by freeways, and charmingly peaceful"
3. Washington DC / Capitol KOA
16 ReviewsMillersville, MD17 milesWebsite+1 (410) 923-2771"They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
4. Pohick Bay Campground
37 ReviewsLorton, VA24 milesWebsite+1 (703) 339-6104$37 - $170 / night
"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"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."
5. Lake Fairfax Campground
25 ReviewsReston, VA21 milesWebsite+1 (703) 471-5414$30 - $70 / night
"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."
"For tent camping I would suggests sites 30,33 or 35 these are tucked along the tree line. The bathroom facilities were the cleanest I have seen in a campground."
6. Adventure Bound Washington DC
9 ReviewsUpper Marlboro, MD16 milesWebsite+1 (443) 607-8609"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. Cedarville State Forest
17 ReviewsBrandywine, MD22 milesWebsite+1 (301) 888-1410$30 / night
"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."
"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
8. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
20 ReviewsCatonsville, MD24 milesWebsite+1 (410) 461-5005$20 - $51 / night
"Camp site(Tent camping)
The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :) It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD.""Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."
9. Hollofield Area Campground
18 ReviewsWindsor Mill, MD24 milesWebsite+1 (410) 461-5005$19 - $27 / night
"It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April- one of our first experiences in a Maryland State Park. Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking /multi use trails."
"This campground is pleasant, but the sites are situated quite close to one another."
10. Bull Run Regional Park
43 ReviewsIron Gate, VA32 milesWebsite+1 (703) 631-0550$43 - $100 / night
"History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."
"We booked site 136 due to proximity of the playground (traveling with a 5 & 10 yr old). The site was great except the weird parking stops on every site but the pull throughs."
Recent Camping Photos near Riverdale Park, MD
163 Photos of 82 Riverdale Park Campgrounds
Cecilia D.
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
deb K.
Cherry Hill Park
Tye S.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
Emerson K.
Marsden Tract Group Campsite — George Washington Memorial Parkway
Chrystal P.
Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Kristy R.
Adventure Bound Washington DC
Angie G.
Washington DC / Capitol KOA
Manager P.
Pinetree Associates
Shari G.
Swains Lock Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Jason F.
Lake Fairfax Campground
Joe C.
Cedarville State Forest
Jennifer S.
Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area
Recent Reviews near Riverdale Park, MD
527 Reviews of 82 Riverdale Park Campgrounds
- FFredrick K.
TravelerMarble Quarry Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Great place to get some peace and quiet
If youre looking for fun and people, go to the south campground. But if youre looking for true quiet and have a tent, check out the dispersed campsites. Good shower and bathroom setup that i bet would fare well in a tornado, its got that solid storm shelter feel. Next to a quiet airport, plenty of free firewood to gather
John M.
GuideMatoaka Beach Cottages
Fantastic location with winderful hosts
Private campground with cabins and tent sites. Tent sites are first come, first service so call ahead to ensure the space is available. The host family was very nice and easy to work with and talk to. Fire pits were at tent sites and past the office was beach access into Chesapeake Bay. There are trash bins and porta potty’s on sight that are all maintained and kept clean. Beautiful sights and plenty to do in the area with DC being roughly an 40-60 minutes away.
Beth B.
LegendPrince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park
Nice clean Campground
Stayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door. Even with busy road nearby, park was quiet and felt private. Sites were level and paved making setup easy. Sites had 1/2 site extra paved for vehicle with extra parking nearby. There was no litter in park, we observed a staff member daily making the rounds to keep everything clean. There was walking access into the park on wide private roads without traffic. With park access you are able to walk into national forest park from RV camp. National Forest visitor center close by, 1 exit away going south I95. Amenities in RV park included swimming pool, chess board with extra large pieces, playground and clean bath house. Firewood and ice on site.
- CCaitlin R.Scout
Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
Great Campground
Our family loved this campground. It was entirely wooded with plenty of shade, sites were close but separated enough to feel like you were in your own site. Our kids and others rode their bikes around the loop all weekend long. Bathrooms could have been a little cleaner and all the entrances except one were closed, but that’s what happens when you cut budgets for public lands.
- VVaught M.Scout
Brunswick Family Campground
Lovely campground on the C&O. Beware the trains!
This is a lovely campground that I recommend and would stay again. We have been twice: once as a family and once with a Scout troop. The RV sites are fairly large and clean. The tent-only sites are smaller and have a metal fire ring with a grate (nice!). The RV sites have mostly brick rings without grates. The bathrooms are fairly small (two showers on the female and one on the male) which might be an issue on busy weekends. The only real water entrance is the boat ramp, but you can climb down a cliff in other places. A, D, and E are sunnier. B and C and Nottingham are mostly wooded with mature trees. We used the site as a base for a bike trip along the C&O to go to Harper’s Ferry (14mi round trip along a gravel path). The staff were friendly and there is a small camp store.
But the trains! THE TRAINS!!! Every review will mention them for a reason. The site is adjacent to a rail yard that runs all day. Not just a passing train, but clanging car and engine changes. It’s LOUD. I slept with earplugs, but could still hear the noise. The yard really starts going around 5am and goes all day. It slows down after 8/9pm, but never stops entirely. The trains are the only reason for the removed star and it’s not the campground’s fault. But almost all of the real complaints are about the noise. If you want an extra quiet campground with only birds and running water, this is not the place for you. But if you don’t mind the loud bangs and low rumbles, this place is fine!
The entrance is beyond the train yard and about a mile down a widened part of the C&O. It is possible to be trapped inside or outside if a train is stopped at the crossing (30min for us, once).
In short, it’s a great campground if you bring ear plugs!
Ashley T.TravelerGoose Bay Marina
Jeepers Creepers meets Catalina Wine Mixer
When we first arrived it was late (we are either late or not coming as always!) the cut down tobacco fields and long dark woods surrounded the entrance into this campground and marina… to be honest I was scared and cried and my husband thought I was ridiculous and reminded me I will love it tomorrow… welp he knows me! All the boat storage and walking around it so fun looking at all the boat names… they are remodeling the bathhouses now they look nice so far on the inside. Everyone is working really hard a staying busy tending to the boats or landscaping or docks… Vicki is super friendly she works practically everyday… but hopefully one day she will trust someone enough to delegate her duties to…
Thiru Moorthy G.ScoutBull Run Regional Park
⭐ 1-Star Review – Shockingly Rude, Misleading, and Embarrassing Experience
I am writing this review because what happened to me at Bull Run Regional Park Campground was not just inconvenient—it was humiliating, unprofessional, and completely avoidable.
I camp in my Tesla. I have already stayed at this exact campground before with no issue. Their online reservation system allowed me to book again—no warnings, no restrictions, nothing to indicate a problem. So I drove all the way from North Carolina to Virginia trusting that everything was fine.
When I arrived to check in, the office staff was literally handing me the paperwork. Out of nowhere, a ranger barged in and bluntly told me: “You cannot camp in a Tesla. You need a separate rig.”
His tone was rude, dismissive, and made me feel like I was doing something dirty or cheap. There was zero respect, zero empathy—just instant judgment. I felt like I was being treated as if I was trying to sneak in or break rules, even though they allowed the booking and accepted my reservation.
If they have such a rule, why wasn’t I notified during booking? Why was I allowed to stay the first time? Why let me drive for hours only to embarrass me at the check-in counter?
The office employee even tried to defend me, but he couldn’t convince the ranger. Instead, they told me I could not stay and promised an immediate refund.
After a long drive, being spoken to like that was extremely disappointing. I’ve camped all over North Carolina and never been treated with such disrespect. Camping in a Tesla is clean, quiet, zero-emission, and safe, yet I was made to feel like I didn’t belong.
To make matters worse, it has now been seven days and not a single dollar of the refund has appeared. When I called, the office representative didn’t even ask for my reservation details and seemed completely clueless. She first said she couldn’t do anything, then suddenly changed her story and said she would “leave a note.” When I asked to speak with someone who could actually help, she put me on hold and suddenly claimed the manager had “just refunded” me and that I would see the money in two business days.
After everything that happened, it felt like another layer of indifference and incompetence.
This entire experience—from the rude ranger to the unprofessional refund handling—left me feeling disrespected and upset. For a campground that charges over $75 a night after fees and taxes, the treatment I received was unacceptable.
Guests deserve honesty, clear communication, and basic respect.
- aamanda A.Scout
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Great Campsite!
The campground is well maintained. The facilities were clean, and the other campers were friendly. There was plenty of firewood (fallen tree limbs and branches on the ground to use. Overall we had a great time!
Guide to Riverdale Park
Camping options near Riverdale Park, Maryland range from basic tent sites to full-service RV parks with varying seasonal availability. Most campgrounds in this region operate throughout the year, though facilities like Cedarville State Forest maintain a seasonal schedule from April through October. The metropolitan location creates a unique camping experience where wooded sites exist just minutes from urban attractions, with temperatures generally moderate except for high humidity during summer months.
What to do
Hiking trail networks: At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hollofield Area, trails connect directly from campsites to the Patapsco River. "We enjoyed hiking the trails directly from our campsite that led us down to the Patapsco River. There is a lot of history associated with the River and the area. You can even swim in this river," notes one visitor.
Water activities: Kayaking and fishing opportunities abound at Pohick Bay Campground, particularly during summer months. "Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats," mentions one camper, while another points out the "beautiful park with hiking nearby" that complements water recreation options.
Nature exploration with kids: Lake Fairfax Campground offers a variety of activities within walking distance. "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, & canoeing)," shares a camper who visited with family.
What campers like
Proximity to metropolitan attractions: Cedarville State Forest provides an accessible wilderness experience with urban conveniences nearby. "Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC. If you've forgotten anything you can pop on by the Target or Costco right outside the forest," explains one reviewer.
Surprising wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds in the region offer unexpected nature sightings despite urban proximity. At Hollofield Area Campground, campers report regularly seeing local wildlife: "We saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC."
Clean facilities with modern amenities: Bull Run Regional Park receives praise for well-maintained infrastructure. "The best review I can give us of the bathrooms. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had," shares an enthusiastic tent camper who visited with two other families.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the region require advance booking, with some implementing minimum stay requirements. At Bull Run Regional Park, one camper notes: "There are occupancy AND transaction fees that really add up if you're only there a few nights. But the real kicker is a 2-night minimum stay. Even mid-week."
Bug preparation: Ticks and mosquitoes are common during warmer months at most campgrounds. At Cedarville State Forest, one camper warns: "I've never left this park without at least one tick," while another notes they "tried fans, tiki torches, and many deet free or light deet products before having to buy 100% deet so we could be outside."
Noise considerations: Despite wooded settings, some campgrounds experience noise from nearby infrastructure. At Adventure Bound Washington DC, campers mention: "Nearby road was very busy with a lot of traffic noise especially early in the morning," while others note the presence of "well hopped up diesel pickups, non-baffled Harley exhausts" from long-term residents.
Tips for camping with families
Water park access: Several of the best places to camp near Riverdale Park offer water recreation specifically designed for children. "They have a nice area for kids (pool, playground, jumping pillow, basketball courts, giant chess, etc). If you get an area to back into it'll be more secluded, but the pull through spots offer no privacy," reports a family that stayed at Washington DC Capitol KOA.
Playgrounds and activities: Lake Fairfax Campground offers extensive recreational options for children. One visitor mentions, "This campground is nice for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground... There is a waterpark that is an extra cost which is fun for kids. Bathrooms are well maintained and huge."
Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds in the region organize family-friendly activities with educational components. A visitor to Bull Run Regional Park shares: "The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish...They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: RV campers should inquire about site grading before booking. At Patapsco Valley State Park-Hollofield Area, a visitor advises: "The inner loop was completely full, and the sites were just too closely spaced for my preferences. There were a few sites with a little extra room and privacy (419 and 420 caught my eye)."
Transportation options: Many campgrounds offer convenient access to Washington DC via public transit. Cherry Hill Park receives consistent praise for its location and accessibility: "This campground is byfar one of the best I have ever stayed at. The price is a little steep, but with all the amenities you get, it is well worth it... This campground is very close to DC and you are able to ride the metro bus right from the campground."
Hookup availability: Electric service varies significantly between camping areas. At Hollofield Area, "The inner circle has electric but no water or sewer. The outer circle is primitive. There is a dump station," while Adventure Bound Washington DC offers more complete services: "Location wise, it's great to see things in area. Both Washington DC and many area's along the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis, Chesapeake Beach, Solomon's Etc. The sites are very close but adequate."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Riverdale Park, MD?
Which is the most popular campground near Riverdale Park, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Riverdale Park, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 42 reviews.
What parks are near Riverdale Park, MD?
What parks are near Riverdale Park, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Riverdale Park, MD that allow camping, notably Greenbelt Park and Rock Creek Park.
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