RV sites near Germantown, Maryland vary in terrain and accessibility within a 40-mile radius of the city. The region sits at elevations between 250-450 feet, with camping options spanning from the Potomac River valley to the rolling hills of western Maryland. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall bring more moderate conditions for outdoor activities.
What to Do
Explore riverside activities: At Brunswick Family Campground, visitors can enjoy direct river access. "The Shanandoah river parallels the campground. The river is beautifully clean clear and cool," notes camper Brian S., who appreciated the quiet atmosphere where "all the campers for the most part were turned in by 11."
Visit historic sites: Bull Run Regional Park provides a strategic base for exploring Civil War history. One visitor mentioned, "There's lots of history near by so check out the old battle fields and buildings that housed troops during civil war. Very cool stuff." The park itself offers "miles of trails" and numerous recreation facilities.
Enjoy water recreation: The Harpers Ferry Campground provides unique water access with campsite views. "It is right on the river so you can go swimming right from your campsite! The camp ground is part of river riders which offers lazy tubing, white water tubing, zip lining, and great kayaking down the river," explains Robin W.
What Campers Like
Convenient DC access: Many campers choose Cherry Hill Park as their base for Washington DC excursions. As Jennifer H. reports, "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."
Military facilities: Active and retired military personnel appreciate the Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp for its security and riverside location. According to Jack R., "This campground is abord Fort Belvoir, an US Army base in Northern, VA. It is very clean and there are many amenities close by. The base outdoor recreation center has equipment to rent such as kayaks and canoes to explore the Potomac river."
Natural settings close to urban areas: Despite being near metropolitan areas, several campgrounds offer surprising natural experiences. At Prince William Forest RV Campground, one camper appreciated that the sites "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."
What You Should Know
Train proximity: Several campgrounds are located near active rail lines. At Brunswick Family Campground, "the CNO railroad runs pretty close," according to Brian S., though he noted "it's not super loud." Similarly, at Harpers Ferry Campground, the "train which was 12 feet up a hill across the road from the site" didn't prevent the reviewer's 1-year-old from sleeping "perfectly through it."
Site selection importance: When booking camping spots, location within the campground matters significantly. At Drummer Boy Camping Resort, Lauren B. advises, "select the correct site as that is incredibly important. I'm sure in peak season or holidays it can be very busy and then you'd be very tight to your neighbor especially in the A loop. Sites on the ends are by far larger than the center."
Seasonal factors: Most campgrounds experience their busiest periods during summer weekends and fall foliage season. Weather patterns can affect campsite conditions, with one visitor to Bull Run noting that "there was a fairly heavy day of rain" which resulted in "lots of standing water at our campsite" due to drainage issues.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: When camping with children, consider playground locations within the campground. A Cherry Hill Park visitor highlighted the abundance of family amenities: "Playground, Mini Golf, Swimming Pool, Hot tub, Basketball court, Snack bar on site, Nightly hayride."
Educational opportunities: The region offers numerous historical and educational sites for families. At Bull Run Regional Park, families can participate in "a nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish," according to Bridget H., who also enjoyed the "campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Privacy considerations: For families needing more space between neighbors, look for sites with natural barriers. At Prince William Forest RV Campground, campers noted that "most have some tree cover" and sites were "separated from our neighbors site with nice foliage."
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: RVers should note that water and electric connections can be awkwardly positioned at some campgrounds. At Round Top Campground, one camper mentioned, "Water and electric are in award spot on our site" while another noted the "septic dump was about 20 feet away and we had to use a extension to get to it."
Site leveling requirements: Bring sufficient leveling equipment when visiting campgrounds in this region. At Brunswick Family Campground, one RVer noted their "site was not level," while at Bull Run Regional Park, a visitor mentioned, "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level."
Check specific amenities: Confirm what utilities are actually available at your specific site. At Round Top Campground, one camper who "paid $675 for 8 days" was disappointed that while their reservation "was to include W,E,S, and cable," they discovered "there was no cable" and their "site was unlevel and poorly maintained."
