Little Bennett Campground offers practical tent and RV accommodations in addition to its glamping options, making it popular for weekend trips from Germantown, Maryland. The campground sits within a 3,700-acre regional park where forested campsites provide natural shade during summer months. Most sites require reservations, especially during peak season from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Hiking trails: Little Bennett Regional Park features over 25 miles of trails through mature forests. "We stayed at site D72 for 4 days. The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup... There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly," notes a visitor to Little Bennett Campground.
Fishing spots: Brunswick Family Campground provides direct access to the Potomac River for fishing. "The Shanandoah is just as beautiful. The showers could use a good cleaning but they are typical Campground showers perfect for the campground life," reports one frequent visitor to Brunswick Family Campground.
Historical exploration: The Harpers Ferry area combines outdoor recreation with Civil War history. "Harpers Ferry National Historical park 35 miles from Park" mentions a camper from Little Bennett, noting the convenient distance for day trips to explore battlefield sites and restored historic buildings.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the natural setting at Little Bennett. "My family loves this camp ground. It's conveniently located, it's quite, it's beautiful and there is plenty to do to keep the kids busy," explains one reviewer.
Riverside camping: At Harpers Ferry Campground, sites are positioned along the Potomac River. "Great river front sites, and pool in the campground. Close to historic Harpers Ferry and lots of great hiking," notes a camper who appreciated the waterfront setting.
Year-round yurt options: Yurt camping near Germantown, Maryland remains available throughout the seasons at several parks. "We stay here at least 6 trips a year. Nice layout, not all sites are level (half). Staff are always nice and go out of their way to help," mentions a regular visitor to Pohick Bay Campground, which offers year-round accommodations including yurt rentals.
What you should know
Train noise: Some campgrounds in the area sit near active rail lines. "The only downside is that it is not quite. There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away," explains a camper at Bull Run Regional Park about nearby noise sources.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially for yurts. "PROS: Very nice small Montgomery County Park. No reservation fee to make on-line reservations. Reserved 137 days prior to arriving," details one organized camper at Little Bennett.
Water access considerations: Cunningham Falls State Park offers waterfall hikes and lake swimming, but conditions vary. "We hiked to the falls but with little rain, there was no falls. A very crowded hike with people everywhere," notes one visitor, highlighting how seasonal conditions affect water features.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Cherry Hill Park provides numerous family-friendly options. "This campground has so much to offer. We loved it. Pros: 50 amp hook-up, Water, Sewer, Playground, Mini Golf, Swimming Pool, Hot tub, Basketball court, Snack bar on site, Nightly hayride," lists one satisfied family at Cherry Hill Park.
Playground proximity: When booking a site, check the campground map for playground locations. "We got a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," recommends a parent who stayed at Pohick Bay with young children.
Bathroom facilities: For families with young children, bathroom quality matters. "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," raves one parent about Bull Run Regional Park, though they noted, "Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven sites. "Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," reports an RVer at Little Bennett, providing specific details about what to expect.
Hookup options: Ramblin' Pines offers full hookups and seasonal activities. "This is our local campground and our second time here and we really like it. It has a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds," notes a returning camper.
Access roads: Some parks have challenging entry roads. "The road into the campground was badly in need of repair. Site was not level and infested with black flies," warns a camper with a 17-foot hybrid trailer at Brunswick Family Campground, providing important information for RV travelers considering yurt camping near Germantown as an alternative.
