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Greenbelt Park Campground's pet-friendly sites offer a wooded camping experience less than 15 miles from Washington DC. All loops welcome pets on standard 6-foot leashes, with Loop B accommodating both tents and RVs under 30 feet, Loop C designated for tents only, and Loop D accepting tents and RVs up to 35 feet. Cherry Hill Park and Washington DC Capitol KOA provide additional pet-friendly alternatives with more amenities, including full hookups for RVs. The campground maintains strict policies on pet waste disposal and supervision. Visitors appreciate the ability to bring their dogs while enjoying an affordable outdoor experience so close to the city, though several have noted that the sites are somewhat close together and offer limited privacy.
Hiking with dogs is permitted on all of Greenbelt Park's trails, including the popular 5.3-mile Perimeter Trail that encircles the park. Pet owners should be vigilant for ticks and other pests, especially in warmer months when hiking through tall grasses or wooded areas. The campground does not feature dedicated dog exercise areas or pet waste stations, so campers should bring their own waste bags and dispose of them properly in the trash facilities. Nearby resources include several veterinary clinics within a 10-minute drive in College Park, plus pet supply stores along Greenbelt Road. Dogs must remain on leash at all times within the park boundaries, including at campsites, and should never be left unattended to prevent disturbing wildlife or other campers.
"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. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
from $999 / night
Check Availability"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"Greenbelt campground has 4 loops (A, B, C, D)A is for scouts group camp, B & C for tents and small RVs due to tight turns and low hanging trees. D is for anything over 30 ft."
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."
"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"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"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."
"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."
from $37 - $170 / 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"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
"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."
from $30 / night
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TravelerThe staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
ScoutOverall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them. Also the pool and dog park isn’t on site you have to leave to go to it.
RangerThis is a campers dream site. Everything you can think of is offered here. You have to check their website to see all. This is the closest site to Washington DC. 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. Pets are pampered here. Even dog walking service available.
TravelerOur first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.
You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.
LegendCherry Hill Park was easy to find and get to basically right off I-95. This was our first time RVing into the WA DC area and we were concerned about traffic getting to the campground(CG). As we arrived, traffic was heavy on I-95 but manageable. Cherry Hill’s and our RV GPS directions were spot on getting us to the park. We were very impressed with this CG from the moment we entered. We picked up our package outside the office(no contact check-in) and went to premium site 93 with FHUs. Back-in was easy. The wifi was very good but the CG was only about a 1/4 full. Cherry Hill has many different ways to stay; cottages, cabins, yurts, glamping pods, premium and regular tent sites in addition to the RV sites. As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same. There are a few sites in the CG on the end that will give you a little more yard space like 97(need to be a competent backer), 402, and 1723. We got 2 bars each on Verizon and AT&T. The CG’s cable provided a large selection of channels and worked well. We were impressed with the main laundry facility due to the amount of large washers and dryers, very fair pricing and very clean. The two off leash dog parks(in the same area) were nice plus there’s a well maintained walking trail that goes around this very large CG’s perimeter. We really liked how there are trash receptacles and dog poopy bag dispensers nicely placed all over the CG. Though we didn’t use it, they even have a dog walker service so you can spend a lot of time exploring the DC area without worrying about your pups. About the only draw back was the road noise from the interstate and highway pretty much 24/7, but considering the area that is to be expected. Sites 13-38 and 1500 sites near the premium tent area are the farthest away from the road noise. We would definitely stay here again.
GuideIf you, like me, hate making reservations over the phone, it was worth it! Quick, simple, painless process.
Restrooms/showers: very clean, spacious, centrally located. My spot was in the back row and I didn't mind the walk
Lots: lots 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. It wasn't crowded either way, especially given on a weekend
Small pool
Wifi: don't plan on being able to have work zoom calls or really much on it for that matter
Cell service: I can confirm Verizon and Google fi have great service. I would imagine any other carrier would work just as well.
Area: the surrounding area is really bikeable
Hookups: I had a 30amp hookup with no issues. They also have up to 50amp full hookups. All of them looked well maintained.
Staff: super friendly; great check in experience They have a dog park but didn't get a chance to check it out.
Overall: great experience, would recommend
ScoutThese campground is a great find. The sites are well spaced, and while on the smaller side they’re very private with woods between each one. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours. I have a reactive dog and he did well here! We’ll be back!
GuideThis campground is perfect for a quiet visit to the Eastern shore town of Rock Hall as It sits conveniently between the village of Rock Hall and Eastern Neck sanctuary. The area reserved for RV campsites overlooks a bluff on the Chesapeake Bay….gorgeous. Because we went in the middle of the week, we had a lot of space to our self and open areas for our dog to play. Admittedly there isn’t a lot to do in the campground itself, even the bathrooms were closed down for Covid and only self contained RVs could camp.There is a small playground and a dog park, and a small pond for fishing. Sewer hook ups are not yet available but they are coming. Purchasing the WiFi access was a waste of money and our Verizon signal was very weak. The biggest attraction is the view over the Bay. So if you are looking for beautiful scenery and a cooling breeze this is a lovely and relaxing place. We met the owner who was very attentive to our needs and also helped us use the dump station as this was the maiden voyage with our new RV. The campground is clean and nicely landscaped. Be sure to go into the town of rock Hall for a seafood dinner at Waterman’s.
GuideNeeded a place for 13 weeks near Baltimore. This was the only place available. Could be nice,but... Most expensive site we've ever had, plus had to pay electric at almost double electric company rates. Had to allow others to drive through our site, plus had to drive through someone elses to get to ours. Completely unkept. Filthy laundry room. Half the toilets and showers out of order. Took about a month just to put up out of order signs on washer and dryer that at least 3 people brought to their attention. Won't allow you to receive mail or packages and claim it is a county rule. Just tell people you don't want to mess with their mail. Any time the power even flickered due to wind or rain (which was frequently) it would take about 8 hours for wifi to come back up. Had to walk up the hill to get any cell service. Got a call because we had Memorial Day flowers outside. We're told we couldn't have them in a pot and Needed to plant them in the ground. Was told water was shut off for routine sanitization, then noticed small signs behind restroom and at dog park about e. coli being in the well. Tried to give away firewood when leaving, but the guy didn't want it on his site because he might fail his site inspection. Using pressure regulator messes with the well pump and makes it pulsate. Their answer is don't use a regulator. Since we went 5 days over 3 months our going away gift was to be put on a daily rate of $76 so it cost almost $400 for the last few days. Every other place we've stayed just continues you at the same rate. "Oh, we can't do that," was the response. There is more, but I'll stop now. Would not stay here again.
Located less than 10 miles northeast of Washington DC, the forested camping areas near Greenbelt, Maryland combine urban accessibility with natural settings. The region's humid subtropical climate brings hot summers and mild winters, with campgrounds typically open from April through October. The parks maintain mixed hardwood forests of oak, maple, and pine surrounding small streams and wetland areas.
Hiking and nature trails: At Patapsco Valley State Park, the extensive trail network supports multiple outdoor activities. "This is a small gem of a state park campground, one of only two is the massive Patapsco Valley State Park... There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes," notes Sean M. The park offers dedicated fishing areas and wading spots along the Patapsco River.
Metro access to DC attractions: The Washington DC Capitol KOA offers convenient city access. "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat," according to Sean M. Another visitor mentioned, "We stopped at the DC KOA as a base to visit the Capitol. This is not a site for nature lovers but is perfect for kids."
Water recreation options: Several parks feature swimming and boating opportunities during summer months. At Lake Fairfax, "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," writes Amy B.
Affordability near the city: Greenbelt Park Campground offers an economical option for DC visitors. One camper noted, "There is plenty of space between camp site clusters. The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods. It is not free but very reasonable considering the area."
Family-friendly amenities: Many campers appreciate the recreational facilities. A visitor at Lake Fairfax Campground shared, "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained. It's very convenient and plenty of activities for the kids."
Spacious sites at some locations: Despite urban proximity, several campgrounds maintain adequate spacing. At Pohick Bay Regional Park, a camper mentioned, "Nice layout, not all sites are level (half). Staff are always nice and go out of their way to help." Another visitor stated, "We had a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. For Cherry Hill Park, a reviewer advised, "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."
Seasonal considerations: Tick activity increases in warmer months. At Cedarville State Forest, a camper warned, "Bring bug and tick spray - definitely need it! We hiked the brown trail and it was a nice walk."
Noise factors: Urban camping means occasional disturbances. One reviewer at Lake Fairfax noted, "This place gets crowded. I shouldn't be surprised since it's in the middle of the city but driving through the masses picnicking on the weekends takes you out of it."
Site selection tips: Research site layouts before booking. A Patapsco Valley camper advised, "The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground."
Playground access: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area offers excellent facilities for children. "The Hilton entrance of Patapsco Valley Park is perfect for keeping the kids entertained. There is a huge playground, sensory trail and nature discovery center at the entrance to the park," writes Angel G.
Pet-friendly trail options: For pet-friendly camping near Greenbelt, Maryland, several parks welcome four-legged family members. A Lake Fairfax visitor noted, "Wooded hikes with water along the trails (great for dogs in the summer heat)."
Educational opportunities: Some parks offer ranger programs during summer. A Patapsco Valley camper mentioned, "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."
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited in the area. At Pohick Bay Regional Park, "Sites are spacious and decently level (depends on the site I'm sure)," one RVer reported. Another added, "Great regional park with lots to do - trails, biking, boating."
Accessibility concerns: Some campgrounds have tight turns or low clearances. At Patapsco Valley State Park, a reviewer cautioned, "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park.)"
Dump station protocols: When using facilities, follow posted guidelines. At Cedarville State Forest, a camper noted, "They have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Greenbelt, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Greenbelt, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Greenbelt, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Greenbelt, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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