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Greenbelt Park Campground's pet-friendly policy accommodates campers with dogs, allowing them to enjoy the natural setting just minutes from Washington D.C. The campground features four separate loops with varying accommodation types, including tent-only areas and spaces for RVs up to 35 feet, all welcoming pets. Campsite driveways are narrow and some sites have limited levelness, but each includes a picnic table and fire ring for comfortable stays with pets. Traffic noise is minimal within the wooded campground, creating a quiet environment for pets sensitive to urban sounds. Trails throughout the park are dog-friendly but require pets to be leashed at all times, and hanging items from trees (including pet tie-outs) is strictly prohibited by park service rules.
Dog owners appreciate the maintained hiking trails and multiple bathroom facilities distributed throughout the camping loops, though no dedicated pet waste stations were noted in visitor reports. The American Discovery Trail passes through the park, providing additional walking opportunities for leashed dogs. Wildlife encounters are common, with deer frequently spotted near the entrance road and throughout the camping areas. Campers with pets should take tick and mosquito precautions, as multiple visitors reported finding ticks after hikes through the park's wooded areas. The campground's location just 10 minutes from the Metro station allows pet owners convenient access to transportation while keeping pets secured at campsites during day trips to explore DC attractions.
"Though you are close to highways I don’t recall hearing and noise. I love that they have shuttles to DC., walking trails and a large dog park."
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
from $999 / night
Check Availability"The bathhouse situation. "
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time."
"The location worked for my trip but not sure it’s that convenient to DC."
"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"
"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."
from $30 - $70 / night
Check Availability"This is a pet friendly campground. There's a lot to do out at the whole park, and its worth exploring (we just didn't have time). I'm sure its so pretty out near the water."
"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."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $51 / night
Check Availability"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"
"Pet friendly. Very quiet. I only gave it 4 stars because the camp sites are too close together. Fire pits were well designed, bathrooms were relatively clean."
"It may be close to suburbia (a neighborhood right through the trees) and convenient to major highways (literal minutes to I95), but you will feel like you are truly secluded in the woods."
from $19 - $27 / night
Check Availability"Based on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit."
from $12 - $45 / night
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TravelerClose to washington as we could get. Could also park our skoolie bus which was nice and had plenty of close by shower with bathrooms. Keep in mind only one shower per restroom house. We stayed at a pretty slow season so it wasn’t bad. Would recommend if visiting DC! They also have a dump station and water fill up.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
RangerWe stayed at Redemption Springs to get relatively close to Baltimore without bringing our 30ft travel trailer into the city. Seth and the other gentlemen I spoke with were all extremely accommodating. Enjoyed learning about their approach to restorative farming and purchasing a variety of treats at the farm store. Beef, pork, chicken, seasonings, baked goods, and more. We booked on Hipcamp and recommend following his driving instructions. Our rig fit fine by tuhe main barn and they kept an eye on us going in and out to make sure we didn't have issues making any of the turns. Lots of farm life!
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
GuideIf you want to be near Annapolis, right on the Severn River...this is it. About 15 RV spots nestled in the woods...with full hook ups. A couple of primitive spots as well. Just a quick 5 min walk to the river...right across from the Academy. NEX, gas within 10 min walk, and 15 min drive to downtown Annapolis. Staff is always great here, and the park is clean....for a park on the woods.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
Greenbelt Park's location between the Patuxent and Anacostia Rivers creates a unique forested environment at an elevation of approximately 160 feet. The park's sandy soil composition affects drainage during rainy periods, which can impact both tent sites and hiking trails. Traffic noise varies significantly between camping loops, with Loop C typically offering the quietest experience for noise-sensitive dogs.
Explore hiking options: Trails throughout Greenbelt Park Campground connect to the American Discovery Trail, allowing longer excursions beyond park boundaries. "The American Discovery Trail (ADT) passes through the park," notes Becky, who frequently visits even when not camping.
Visit nearby Washington DC: The campground's proximity to public transportation makes day trips convenient while keeping dogs at your campsite. "We did not take our dog this time with us but would seriously consider it next time. 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," explains Stephanie H. about Washington DC / Capitol KOA.
Watch wildlife: The woodland setting attracts diverse wildlife throughout the seasons. "We saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates," reports Ben J. about his experience at Cedarville State Forest, which offers similar wildlife viewing opportunities to Greenbelt.
Metro accessibility: One of the most appreciated features is the campground's location near two Metro stations. "Being nearby but storing my popup camper elsewhere, I often park my camper here for a few days while I pack it for a trip. It's also just nice to experience that 'getaway' feeling without being too far from home," explains Becky about Greenbelt Park.
Urban escape feeling: Despite its proximity to developed areas, the campground provides a true forest experience. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground," comments Becky from her experience at Greenbelt Park.
Clean facilities: The campground's maintenance receives positive comments from visitors. "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," notes Amanda A. from her visit to Patapsco Valley State Park.
Tree restrictions: Park rules limit how camping gear can interact with trees. "NOTE: park service forbade tying lines or straps to the trees at the time of our visit (Autumn 2024), so if you favor hammock camping or deploying tarps/ridgelines, plan accordingly," warns Timothy C. about his Greenbelt Park stay.
Insect preparation: The wooded environment supports significant insect populations, particularly during warmer months. "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers," advises Ben J. from Pohick Bay Campground, which shares similar tick issues with Greenbelt.
Campsite variations: Campsite quality and layout varies between loops. "Decent little campground! It was quiet aside from occasional air traffic noise, and while there wasn't much spacing between some camp sites everyone was respectful. My spot was a little difficult to find because the online park map was incorrect," reports Lauren S. about her Greenbelt experience.
Playground options: The camping loops include small play areas, but larger playgrounds require short drives. "We had a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," shares Ben G. about nearby Lake Fairfax Campground, which offers similar family amenities to Greenbelt.
Evening programs: Check with rangers about scheduled activities at the campfire circle. "Rangers keep a close eye on things, and there are monthly programs at the campfire circle that I sometimes attend even when not camping here," mentions Becky about Greenbelt Park.
Difficulty finding sites: Navigation within the park can be challenging after dark. "Wasn't the easiest place to navigate at night to find spots that weren't reserved. The ranger station was closed so we couldn't talk to anyone to see what sites were open," explains Kim O. from her Greenbelt Park visit.
Narrow access roads: The campground's one-way loop roads can be difficult for larger rigs. "You can't beat the close proximity to DC and public transportation while still falling asleep in the woods," notes a Greenbelt visitor, though site access requires careful navigation.
Leveling challenges: Many RV sites require significant leveling. "Sites were pretty level but did have some rocks in the area where my pad would be so I had to do a little clearing," explains Crystal C. during her extended stay at Greenbelt Park.
Limited hookups: While electric is available in select loops, water access points are shared. "There is only 20/30amp electricity and NO water or sewer- although there was a dump and a place to fill your water tank," explains Travyl Couple from their visit to Hollofield Area Campground, which has similar hookup arrangements to Greenbelt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Greenbelt Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Greenbelt Park is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Greenbelt Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 63 dog-friendly camping locations near Greenbelt Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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