Camping opportunities near North Potomac, Maryland range from developed sites with full amenities to primitive wilderness experiences. The area sits at elevations between 200-400 feet above sea level, experiencing hot, humid summers and moderate winters. Fall camping offers colorful foliage displays from late October through early November when temperatures typically range from 50-70°F during the day.
What to do
Disc golf course access: Pohick Bay Regional Park offers an 18-hole disc golf course that provides recreational options beyond traditional camping activities. "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," writes Rachel L.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds provide fishing access in stocked ponds and natural waterways. At Ramblin' Pines, campers can enjoy the on-site fishing pond along with numerous other activities. The campground features "a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds," according to Sean M.
Trail exploration: Extensive trail systems connect many campgrounds to larger networks. Lake Fairfax Campground has impressive trail access as noted by Amy B.: "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)."
What campers like
Secluded nature experiences: Marsden Tract Group Campsite provides a true wilderness experience for those willing to hike in. "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 no bathrooms or electricity but all in all it's beautiful," explains Chrystal P.
Clean, updated facilities: Little Bennett Campground receives consistent praise for its well-maintained amenities. Ray & Terri F. note, "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup. D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C& E are tents only."
Urban-accessible nature: Many campers appreciate being able to camp while accessing urban attractions. At Greenbelt Park Campground, Laura M. explains, "The great thing about it that you can spend entire days at the always-free Smithsonian museums and still fall asleep in the woods. Can't beat the close proximity to DC."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the area require advance bookings, especially during peak seasons. At Greenbelt Park, you should know "Cost is $20/night, must reserve on recreation.gov, and you can do that when you arrive and pick a site (no service fee for this site)," according to Laura M.
Weather considerations: The region experiences significant seasonal variations affecting camping comfort. At Bull Run Regional Park, Stuart O. notes a potential issue: "While we were here, there was a fairly heavy day of rain. Couple inches, I suppose, but nothing Biblical. The mouths of the metal culverts in our loop were bent downward from campers driving over them, which obstructed the flow. Result was lots of standing water at our campsite."
Noise levels: Given the proximity to urban areas, some sites experience traffic or flight path noise. One camper at Lake Fairfax notes: "This place does have a lot of things to do like Water park, A big open field where you can sometimes watch cricket games, a nice lake where you can fish, but you're not out in the open, and there's only a trails to walk on it's basically a camp site in an urban town."
Tips for camping with families
Water-based recreation: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near North Potomac offer water features specifically designed for families. At Cherry Hill Park, Jennifer H. details the extensive options: "The park itself has more than most. Mini golf, two pools, arcade, 24 hour laundry, a store and office open early!! And late!!! Wow! Just can't be beat. Great sites. So many other things in the park. Splash pad, paved roads for scootering. Just awesome!"
Scheduled activities: Many campgrounds organize regular programmed events for children. Ben G. shares about Pohick Bay Campground: "They informed us that they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning. This was music to our ears as we camp with our 3 and 1 year old."
Site selection for families: Choose sites strategically based on proximity to amenities. One camper at Bull Run Regional Park advises: "There is 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. This park has too many amenities to list. They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Tips from RVers
Leveling considerations: RV sites vary considerably in how level they are across different campgrounds. At Lake Fairfax Campground, Erin W. cautions: "The sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded. Our site, 41, was level and nicely spaced from other sites but many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant."
Utility connections: Available hookups differ between campgrounds and sometimes between loops. At Little Bennett Campground, campers note "D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C& E are tents only. AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy. OTA TV was descent using an external omni antenna."
Space dimensions: RV sites vary in width and parking approach. Drew M. notes about Bull Run Regional Park: "The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone. Our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much, so you might want to ask about that."
