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 Glen Echo, MD
Campgrounds near Glen Echo, Maryland range from full-service private parks to rustic public campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Cherry Hill Park in College Park offers the most amenities, including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options, while Greenbelt Park Campground provides a more natural setting with basic facilities just 15 miles east of Washington DC. Several mixed-use campgrounds like Lake Fairfax in Reston and Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton accommodate multiple camping styles with varying levels of development.
Many campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during peak summer months and fall weekends. Most developed sites maintain year-round accessibility, though some facilities like Lake Fairfax operate seasonally from March through September. "This is a fairly nice, bare bones NPS campground. If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it," noted one visitor about Greenbelt Park. Road access to established campgrounds is generally good, with paved roads leading to most developed camping areas. Cell service remains reliable throughout the region due to proximity to urban centers. Water access varies significantly between sites, with Pohick Bay and Burke Lake offering waterfront recreation opportunities.
The National Park Service manages several camping areas near Glen Echo, including Greenbelt Park and sites along the C&O Canal like Marsden Tract Group Campsite. These locations provide more primitive camping experiences while remaining accessible to metropolitan Washington DC. Campers consistently rate Cherry Hill Park highly for its extensive amenities and proximity to public transportation for city exploration. A review of Swains Lock mentioned, "The sites are flat and dispersed with most located adjacent to the river. Each site comes with a picnic table, fire ring and grill." Bull Run Regional Park and Little Bennett Campground round out the options with spacious sites for both tent and RV camping. Visitors should note that noise from nearby transportation corridors, including airports and highways, is common at most campgrounds in the region.
Best Camping Sites Near Glen Echo, Maryland (104)
1. Cherry Hill Park
42 ReviewsBeltsville, MD11 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. Lake Fairfax Campground
25 ReviewsReston, VA10 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."
3. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
32 ReviewsGreenbelt, MD13 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"
4. Bull Run Regional Park
43 ReviewsIron Gate, VA21 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."
5. Pohick Bay Campground
37 ReviewsLorton, VA21 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."
6. Burke Lake Park Campground
15 ReviewsBurke, VA16 milesWebsite+1 (703) 323-6600"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."
7. Little Bennett Campground
23 ReviewsClarksburg, MD21 milesWebsite+1 (301) 528-3430"Quiet woods in Maryland about 30 or 40 miles north of DC. Tenting, and RV spots partial to full service. Just of hiway 270. pricey ($66/night) for a state park, but nice."
"PROS Very nice small Montgomery County Park
No reservation fee to make on-line reservations
Reserved 137 days prior to arriving
Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone"
9. Marsden Tract Group Campsite
1 ReviewCabin John, MD4 milesWebsite$40 / night
"Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water"
10. Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
32 ReviewsDumfries, VA29 milesWebsite+1 (703) 221-7181$26 / night
"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."
"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."
Recent Camping Photos near Glen Echo, MD
268 Photos of 104 Glen Echo Campgrounds
Emerson K.
Marsden Tract Group Campsite — George Washington Memorial Parkway
Chrystal P.
Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Shari G.
Swains Lock Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
adrian F.
Lake Fairfax Campground
Artemis A.
Cherry Hill Park
Becky
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Ethel B.
Horsepen Branch Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Rachel
Burke Lake Park Campground
Jarmonay N.
Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Overnight Campsite — Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Tye S.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
Trees F.
Pohick Bay Campground
Ch. A.
Little Bennett Campground
Recent Reviews near Glen Echo, MD
740 Reviews of 104 Glen Echo 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.
- DDebbie W.Scout
Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA
Not as advertised on website. Loose dogs. Sites not as advertised.
Less amenities than advertised. We usually camp in more rustic locations and planned this trip simply for the fun of the amenities. Their website claims that the pool is seasonal but doesn't list anything else as seasonal. There was supposed to be mini golf, a giant bounce pillow, indoor basketball, an arcade with air hockey and a pool table. Mini golf was fine. The bounce pillow was deflated and full of water. The arcade/pool table/air hockey building was locked and the maintenance guy(who locks it up) was outside smoking before leaving early for the day. The employee at the camp store said it was supposed to be open until the store closed but that he probably just closed it early.
The rules state that dogs need to be on a leash at all times and, in the two hours we actually stayed, we saw four that weren't. One was staying near us and started chasing us when we rode our bikes by. One was wandering about 4 campsites down from it's owner. We mentioned it to the person at the camp store before we were chased and she just shrugged it off.
The map is incorrect. It lists site numbers that don't exist and doesn't list some sites that supposedly do. We spent a fifteen minutes trying to find a non-existent site before going back to the camp office and getting assigned a new site. They acted like it was a new thing caused by maintenance but we just looked and saw a review from ten months ago saying the map was messed up then.
The description of the site we paid for was non electric tent with a sand tent pad. The site we got was on a hill(no actual flat spot) overgrown with weeds, no tent pad, a slanted picnic table, and no actual parking spot. You had to drive over a drainage ditch and park on the hill. If our car didn't have high clearance we wouldn't have made it. There was also a hole in the middle of the site. And the map showed that number site on the corner where another unmarked site was. Our originally assigned site was supposedly in the same group of sites, so it would've been similar. Also don't believe the claim that they're"large sites." Most of them are crammed together. There are a few that look decent sized and flat, but they want you to pay an extra$30 to pick your own site.
We didn't even look in the bathrooms.
We left after two hours. Definitely a waste of$60+ dollars.
Next time we'll go over to the Brunswick Family campground. Their owners are lovely people who care about their customers.
Adam and Suzanne B.GuideGreenbrier State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Beautiful setting
It is NOT closed for 2026! Spent the weekend here as it is only an hour from home. There are 4 large camping loops. Only loop C- cedar has electric. None of the loops have water hookups but all have spigots to fill your rig. There are also 3 fill stations at check in (which we missed). The campground is on a hill and the loop roads are narrow, hilly, and winding. We had no trouble with our 23 ft TT and saw some bigger rigs. There are some tight angles to get into a few sites. But, once you are in, the sites are spacious and mostly private. It is wooded without feeling overgrown. Loop D has some sites that are good buddy campsites. There are many hiking trails and a lovely lake. The only bad thing are the dated bathhouses. Mostly clean but there are only 2 showers for each fenced for each loop and they were yucky enough that we showered at our rig. It was busy but pretty quiet. It’s close to I-70
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…
Guide to Glen Echo
Camping sites near Glen Echo, Maryland range in elevation from 250 to 350 feet above sea level, with most established campgrounds situated within mature deciduous forest areas. These sites experience a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Park Service facilities in the region require advance reservations through Recreation.gov while county-managed campgrounds operate separate reservation systems.
What to do
Water activities on the Potomac River: Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers direct river access within a secluded natural setting. "The camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite," reports one visitor.
Hiking network: The trail system at Oak Ridge Campground connects to over 37 miles of paths throughout Prince William Forest Park. "Beautiful park and campground many of nice camp sites!" notes a camper who wished they could have stayed longer.
Seasonal water park access: Lake Fairfax Campground includes admission discounts for the adjacent water park operating May through September. "We enjoyed the water park immensely. Ten of us in total with kids ranging from 18 months old to 13 years old. Everyone enjoyed the water park and the time we spent there," writes a reviewer.
Disc golf courses: Multiple 18-hole courses exist within a 30-minute drive of Glen Echo, with Bull Run Regional Park featuring one of the most well-maintained options. "This place has a lot to offer & there is bunch of activities available outside the campground," states a regular visitor.
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Greenbelt Park Campground offers significantly less crowded conditions Monday through Thursday. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," explains a local camper who uses the park for preparation before longer trips.
Clean shower facilities: Campers frequently mention the bathroom quality at several parks. "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained," writes one reviewer about Lake Fairfax. Another notes about Oak Ridge Campground: "Bathrooms were clean and stocked. Sites were nicely kept."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early morning and dusk provide optimal wildlife spotting conditions near campgrounds. "We saw lots of wildlife but had no issues with trash or food (raccoons left everything alone)," reports a visitor who balanced camping with daily trips into DC.
Wooded privacy between sites: Little Bennett Campground features significant natural buffers between campsites. "Lots of vegetation between sites providing privacy from neighbors," notes a reviewer who appreciated the thoughtful layout design.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: All area campgrounds require advance booking, with Little Bennett having no same-day registration option. One camper mentions, "Out-of-state campers pay higher camping fee than Maryland residents, $66/night."
Noise conditions: Burke Lake Park Campground sits relatively close to transportation corridors. "Staff are friendly but this place can be noise at night with all the cars zooming by," warns a regular visitor. Similarly, at Oak Ridge Campground: "We could hear activity at Quantico. Lots of air noise too, from both airplanes and helicopters."
Cell service variation: Signal strength differs significantly between campgrounds. "AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars)," reports an RVer at Little Bennett, providing specific technical details. Other campgrounds maintain consistent coverage due to proximity to urban areas.
Tick prevalence: The region's forests harbor ticks, particularly during warmer months. "Ticks were really bad. We killed dozens and ended up taking at least one with us when we left," cautions a camper, adding "We had Deep Woods Off, but seemed to do no good."
Tips for camping with families
Best playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. At Lake Fairfax, a visitor notes, "There's a water park, paddle boats, playgrounds, trails, skate park, sports fields, and the bathrooms are the nicest I've ever seen."
Educational programs: Bull Run Regional Park runs regular structured activities for young campers. "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," shares a grandparent who stayed in one of the cabins.
Swimming options: Water-based recreation varies widely between parks. "There is a waterpark that is an extra cost which is fun for kids. Bathrooms are well maintained and huge," explains a camper at Lake Fairfax who noted that many tent sites were not level.
Family-friendly transportation: Public transit accessibility makes DC excursions manageable without moving vehicles. "Take the METRO if you are going into the District. There are two stations very close to camp (Greenbelt and University Park)," recommends a visitor who calculated significant savings compared to parking fees in Washington.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require additional equipment for proper leveling. "Site#D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," shares a Little Bennett camper who otherwise enjoyed their stay.
Premium site selection: Cherry Hill Park offers the most developed RV sites with full hookups. "We had a premium site for seven nights. The site was perfectly level with a fire ring, grill, picnic table and table with three chairs," reports a satisfied visitor who mentioned the price was "a little steep" but "well worth it."
RV size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "This campground can accommodate large campers, ours is 35 ft," confirms a repeat visitor to Little Bennett, noting the spaciousness of both RV and tent camping areas.
Limited generator use: Several parks restrict or prohibit generator operation entirely. "No hookups in the campground, but drinking water is available near each bathhouse," explains a camper who stayed at Oak Ridge, which compensates with strategically placed water sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Glen Echo, MD?
Which is the most popular campground near Glen Echo, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Glen Echo, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 42 reviews.
What parks are near Glen Echo, MD?
What parks are near Glen Echo, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Glen Echo, MD that allow camping, notably Rock Creek Park and National Mall & Memorial Parks.
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