Best Equestrian Camping near Ironsides, MD
Looking for a place to camp near Ironsides with your horse? Equestrian camping is the best way to experience nature. At The Dyrt, you can find top-rated spots for horse camping, as reviewed by campers.
Best Equestrian Sites Near Ironsides, MD (6)
1. Pohick Bay Campground
Lorton, Virginia39 Reviews•63 Photos•307 SavesChoose your next adventure at Pohick Bay Campground in Lorton, Virginia. Bring the kids for a day of splashing and sliding at Pirate’s Cove Waterpark, spend a day on the bay with our canoe, paddleboard, stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals; or bring your own boat to our public boat launch ramp. Make a day of it by renting a picnic shelter or stay a little longer and reserve one of our cabins or campsites.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$30 - $60 / night
2. Bull Run Regional Park
Iron Gate, Virginia41 Reviews•72 Photos•187 SavesBull Run Campground, located near Interstate 66, is a getaway that is not far from Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia attractions. Bull Run Park is only 27 miles from Washington, D.C. and 15 miles from the Vienna Metro Center Station. We are convenient for visitors to the Dulles area , Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum and Manassas National Battlefield Park. The variety of campsites available at Bull Run Campground are RV sites with electric only service, Electric RV sites with water, RV sites with full-service (which includes sewer, water and electric), tent sites, rustic cabins and group camping areas. There are two bathhouses in the campground that offer hot showers, sinks, toilets and laundry facilities. The camp store sells camping supplies, snacks, ice and firewood and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$30 - $95 / night
3. Cedarville State Forest
Brandywine, Maryland17 Reviews•56 Photos•100 SavesThe lat/long on The Dyrt were updated 5/5/2022 to reflect what the State Forest site says is the CORRECT way to get into this campground.
Equestrian Camping
Campsites are primitive and a bathhouse is located in the center of the equestrian/special events camping loop. Equestrian Camping is roughly $30.00 per night per campsite. Make a reservation by calling 1-888-432-2267 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online during the camping season (April through October). A horse is required to stay in this campground. Youth Group Camping
Youth group passes are honored. Youth group camping reservations can only be made by calling the Maryland Park Service Reservation Service at 1-888-432-2267 Make future reservations by calling 1-888-432-2267 or online. The Maryland Park Service reserves the right to restrict the maximum and minimum number of vehicles and individuals admitted under one youth group pass per visit.
Check out a map of the youth group and special event loops.Family Camping
Family camping is available from April to October. Walk-ins are not permitted in office; same day reservations are made by calling 1-888-432-2267 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or online (24/7).
Check out a map of the Family Camping Area.- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$30 / night
4. Lichtman Camp 1 — Prince William Forest Park
Prince William Forest Park, Virginia1 Review•4 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
5. Andrews AFB Military FamCamp
Clinton, Maryland1 Review•21 SavesEligible users of the Force Support Squadron activities are active duty military, military retirees, reservists, Department of Defense civilian employees and family members of military identification card holders.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$18 - $30 / night
6. Camp Meade RV Park
Odenton, Maryland2 Reviews•2 Photos•30 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
Recent Equestrian Reviews in Ironsides
101 Reviews of 6 Ironsides Campgrounds
dito S.
Scout
Pohick Bay Campground
Pohick Bay Campground
Pohick Bay Campground in Virginia offers a peaceful escape with beautiful views and a variety of outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. It's an ideal spot for families and nature lovers. Don’t forget to register dito sim to stay connected during your visit!
- R
Rick V.
Traveler
Camp Meade RV Park
Great RV park to stay near Vicksburg
Did stay here after visting Vicksburg. Nice clean restrooms and showers. Friendly hostess and we had a nice shady spot, what was great with a heat of 94F.
- Judy W.Traveler
Bull Run Regional Park
Noisy but Nice
Pros - Clean Bathrooms, Camp store open 8am - 8pm, Sites 62 - 92 (except #74 and 88) are all pretty good. Security was great, patrol throughout the night. Quiet hours are enforced and campers are polite. Lots of activities, and nice hiking trails. Fabulous historical attractions, great visitor center.
Cons - Campground is in the flight path of Dulles Airport, so planes are flying over head at all hours of the day and sometimes late at night/morning. There is a shooting range nearby. Some noise during range hours. (Not late at night!) Because there had been so little rain, there was not great fishing in the park. (I went to Silver Lake, that was great!)
Traffic! Lots of local traffic on the main roads. (to be fair, it IS a suburb of DC ). Stores are all approx. 20 mins away. (Head towards Haymarket)
Jake C.
LegendBull Run Regional Park
Spacious Sites and family friendly
I stayed here with my family this summer and the park itself is a perfect spot for nature near DC. My son loved the giant playground and full water park at the campground, they even had discounted entry to the water park for campers. We stayed in site 20 which is an easy pull through and had a direct trail to the water park and the full network of trails in the park.
Trees F.ScoutPohick Bay Campground
Excellent spot
We loved staying at Pohick. We were here to visit DC and it was an excellent spot to stay. It was extremely hot as it was July but the sites had a lot of shade. Site 46 where we stayed was close to the bathrooms and nice and flat. The bathrooms were cleaner than any other campground we have stayed in and they have laundry and a nice stainless sink and counter for washing dishes if needed. About a 40 minute drive into DC and definitely worth it. Also, campers get a discount at the water park which was a very reasonable 5 dollars per person. The weekend tends to be a bit louder but during the week was very quiet.
- AAngela M.Scout
Pohick Bay Campground
Good trip
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. The waterpark is new and loud so we avoid but nice if you have young kids. Careful low bridge on Route 1 exit ramp little warning when taking ramp off I95. Go around to next exit. The check in at the cap store is crowded and narrow even with renovations but our 34 ft makes it okay. Bring bikes. Long bike trail along road. Farmers markets in Lorton and things to do in DC. Park at Huntington or Springfield metro. Short boat ride straight across from Ft Belvoir new family campground. Ice cream shop in season by water docks. Bathrooms clean always hot water three stalls each. Sink outside for dishes. Playground buts up against inner circle which are the only sewer sites. Others are electric water. Careful some near steep drop off. Stick to main road or inner circle or first circle if in big unit. Must go round circle to get to those spots which can be annoying. Two speed bumps. Camp store sells smores ingredients, limited candy, no eggs or bacon get those off Rte 1. Past entrance on Rte 1 is a Food Lion, McDonalds. Gas stations along Rte one are tight so fill up before exiting to campground. If you are desperate there is gas 7/11 at corner of Pohick and Rte 1 but its sketchy. Up the road off Rte 1 is Fort Belvoir Access w a drivers license however cant shop without military sponsored ID. Great bbq at Telegraph Rd and greek at Olympians family restaurant. Movie theater on Telegraph is nice. Springfield Mall close. Take Onville Rd which is a backroad by Pohick Church to shortcut to Rte 1. Pohick Rd past camping turn deadends into private neighborhood. Do not pass camp entrance. Hard to turn around if you do. Near End of Pohick is a small walk with overlook. See birds at point. Drive a car not RV. Park at lot on right before road split deadend. Gunston Hall on left can see from campground and water. Tours are nice.
- JJoey M.Scout
Bull Run Regional Park
First Camping Trip
Took my family of 7 to the Bull Run regional park for our first camping trip and the experience was great! Didn’t want to stray too far from the house in the event that it was a nightmare, thankfully this local spot offered a soft opening to our family over the two days we spent there and all was good. The site was clean and well kept, bathhouse was close to the tent site and in ok shape (wasn’t expecting anything spectacular so wasn’t disappointed. Playground and trails were nice, kids really enjoyed the chance to take in nature. This experience was good and would recommend a visit for anyone looking for a soft intro to camping for their family!
Zach T.TravelerBull Run Regional Park
Great Facility
Came to stay for a volleyball tournament and got way more. Christmas lights and just a festive atmosphere. Campsite was easy to pull into and hookup to. Overall a great experience
Jim L.ScoutPohick Bay Campground
Absolutely not
This place is so noisy with these helicopters that fly 24/7. Another absolutely insane noisy campground run by nova. Absolutely a rip off because of the noise just like all nova parks seem to be. Insane
- Jim L.Scout
Bull Run Regional Park
Absolutely insane annoying sound.
This place is absolutely the most horrific noisy place is like sleeping on the side of the highway. Absolutely annoying sound 24/!7, this place should be free. Absolutely a rip off to call this park a campground. More like a parking lot on the internete.
Kat G.
GuideBull Run Regional Park
Great Location for visiting DC
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. It only allows you to back your camper in so far.
We were able to drive to a DC Metro station easily - 30 minutes. Our main goal was to explore DC but there is lots to do near the campground. Even some National Battle Sites nearby.
- GGeorge L.Guide
Bull Run Regional Park
Clean Park well maintained
Sites are gravel pretty level and not to close. Bathhouses are ample and clean but can be a hike from some sites.
- VVanessa K.Scout
Pohick Bay Campground
Last minute Overnight stay
We were traveling with our daughter and have had a long day. Pohick bay was on our list and Owen at the camping office did such a great job making sure that everything goes well for us. The bathrooms are clean and very well kept. We will definitely stay here again!
Tabby B.ScoutPohick Bay Campground
Decent
Workers are nice, campground is decent. After hours ranger was really helpful and sweet helping spot me backing in. The trails to the bay are fun. Whoever designed the comfort station in the front needs to refund the park. You have to be on the toilet to close the door, there isn't an inch of extra space in the stalls. The laundry machines are positioned as inefficiently as possible. The second comfort station smells badly of sewage and the grate in the showers is painful on my feet, and I'm a barefoot gravel walker. Try to get a spot with full hookups to avoid the bathrooms.Other than the bathrooms, it's okay.
Angie C.ScoutPohick Bay Campground
Great campground , close campsites
My partner and I camped here in the middle of February '23. Great campground, clean comfort stations. Comfort station 1 is newer and more renovated that comfort station 2 but both were clean and well kept! it was very warm in the comfort station ( a plus in the winter) with hot water. There are a few trails here, a marina, waterpark & mini golf when in season. great for families. The staff at the camp store were nice and very accommodating. This was our first trip so when we booked our site we had no idea how close the RV sites were. I mean, zero privacy, barely any trees in between. So the camp store clerk allowed us to change our site to a more private one. Site 11 seemed very private for anyone looking to book.
also, just to mention, all sites that back up to the playground have no buffer or trees. You will be exposed to the playground but that may be what you're looking for.
All in all, a great stay!
Wendy C.GuideBull Run Regional Park
Big spots
These big spots were great but it was pretty expensive for what it was. I think you were paying for the location.
- KKateTraveler
Bull Run Regional Park
Enjoyable
We camped here in the winter of 2020 on News Years Eve. This was one of the few campsites open on New Years Eve.
We enjoyed our time here.
We walked on the trails, walked by the river, and the disc golf course.
We enjoyed being able to buy firewood onsite.
moonbeansScout
Cedarville State Forest
Great beginner’s campground
Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC.
If you’ve forgotten anything you can pop on by the Target or Costco right outside the forest.
Also, you can purchase wood while checking in and the Rangers don’t mind if you take a bit extra. Just bring your own starters and kindling (or a small hatchet/saw).
Planes do occasionally fly over the area so consider bringing earplugs if you are a sensitive sleeper. The noise wasn’t really noticeable when I went on a Saturday (the neighboring campsite’s dogs were louder).
- Jen S.Traveler
Cedarville State Forest
Small but peaceful
We stayed here in the family campground for 3 nights in mid-October. The sites are very small and you sit very close to the camp loop road. Our site was #16 and it was very flat and easy to back a 30’ RV into. Most of the sites have very little distance between them. You’re really on top of your neighbors at this place! We didn’t see a camp host until we left on Monday. The bath house was pretty clean but out of TP frequently (both mens and womens rooms.) There is no camp sink, which was a bummer. There are lots of water spigots around the loop, however. Plenty of firewood when we arrived Friday night, but was totally gone by Saturday morning when we took the dog out at 7am. It was mostly replenished by Saturday night. No kindling, however, just the logs. $5 per crate (honor box, cash only of course.) The ranger station was closed when we arrived and when we left so we couldn’t check out the nature center. There are some really nice trails accessible from the loop. Dog friendly! We’ll stay here again if nowhere else is available, but it’s just too tight of a campground for our taste.
Harry R.ScoutBull Run Regional Park
No truck bed tents or campers allowed
Was excited to try first night out in a Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent. Unfortunately, learned NOVA Parks regards anything in a truck bed whether a camper or tent is not welcome. I didn't realize NOVA Parks considers this campground as a resort and vehicle camping - ither than a class A or B - implies homeless and they don't want that image. They do also allow a travel trailer and tents can only be used on the ground not in a truck bed as designed. Beautiful park ... I live nearby in Arlington but was frustrated not able to use a nearby Park and Campground I pay taxes to support. I used another Campground in Fairfax County that was welcoming.
- RRichard S.Traveler
Bull Run Regional Park
Bull Run
Great campsite has something for everyone. Clean well kept park and campsites. Courteous staff. Would definitely stay here again!
- SStephanie S.Traveler
Pohick Bay Campground
Just okay
We had spot 84 which was great for privacy and location to the laundry! The staff was nice. It was a bummer to have no water hook-up (we did know this before booking) but that would have made it perfect. WATCH OUT for poison oak - our electrical cord must have come in contact with it as we did not hike through the woods yet we both got poison oak on the inside of our arms (from holding the cord) and it has spread down both our arms. The laundry facility was clean and it’s $2 to wash and $2 to dry. Easy 45 minute drive to DC. Overall, would stay again if passing through.
- NNew D.Guide
Pohick Bay Campground
Great Family Campsite
Such a great campsite. So many things to do. There was a waterpark, mini golf, marina, lots of trails and playground. Our stay was awesome. The staff were so nice and helpful. Pretty Quiet at night.
Some bugs but not too bad. Didn’t have to use too much bug spray. Our site was spacious. Peaceful, water spigot across the road. Close to comfort station.
Great for families, groups, single, anyone. Noticed different size sites. Great stay definitely planning to stay again.
- RRobert P.Guide
Bull Run Regional Park
Spacious and private
Spacious and private (for the East Coast).
We enjoy this regional park, the loops are all drive through, there were a couple sites that only had electric (no water and none have sewer).
Gun range nearby. But it’s not excessively loud.
Grounds are always clean, staff has always been courteous and helpful.
Joe C.GuideCedarville State Forest
Tickville Otherwise nice
We arrived on a Sunday. Very quiet, many open RV spots around us. We had site 18. Which is next to one of the water spigots. The idea is to use it to fill up tanks. Ranger let us know not to stay hooked up to it. 30 amp electric. No issues there. Lots of trails but in June at least the ticks were waaaay too plentiful.
- DDavid W.Guide
Lichtman Camp 1 — Prince William Forest Park
Sweet tooth
Had a bunch of candy
Chris P.ScoutBull Run Regional Park
Gun Range Nearby
The gun range and outdoor music events nearby ruin an otherwise nice camp.
Guide to Ironsides
Horse camping in Maryland offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of well-reviewed campgrounds, equestrian enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.
Tips for equestrian camping near Ironsides, Maryland
- At Cedarville State Forest, you’ll find trails that are beginner-friendly and perfect for leisurely rides through the forested landscape.
- Andrews AFB Military FamCamp provides a secure environment for campers, making it a great choice for those traveling with horses.
- For a more rustic experience, consider Camp Meade RV Park, which offers access to nearby trails and a welcoming atmosphere for horse owners.
Equestrian campers like these nearby activities
- Enjoy scenic rides at Cedarville State Forest, where you can explore lengthy hiking trails that are also suitable for horseback riding.
- Take advantage of the family-friendly environment at Andrews AFB Military FamCamp, which is close to various outdoor activities and attractions.
- Experience the thrill of riding through diverse terrains at Camp Meade RV Park, where you can also enjoy the camaraderie of fellow equestrians.
Campers appreciate these amenities for horses
- Cedarville State Forest features ample water spigots around the loop, ensuring your horse stays hydrated during your stay.
- At Andrews AFB Military FamCamp, you’ll find electric hookups and picnic tables, making it convenient for horse camping.
- Camp Meade RV Park offers a welcoming environment with facilities that cater to both campers and their horses, ensuring a comfortable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ironsides, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ironsides, MD is Pohick Bay Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 39 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ironsides, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Ironsides, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.