Campgrounds near Kensington, Maryland offer tent and RV options within a 30-minute drive from Washington DC. The region sits at the border between the Piedmont Plateau and Atlantic Coastal Plain with elevations ranging from 200-500 feet above sea level. Fall camping season typically extends through late October with average temperatures between 50-70°F.
What to do
Hiking trails network: Greenbelt Park Campground provides multiple trails through deciduous forest. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground... the American Discovery Trail (ADT) passes through the park," notes reviewer Becky.
Disc golf course: Bull Run Regional Park offers an 18-hole disc golf course among other amenities. "Park has golf frisbe course, decent water park for kids, hiking trails, small creek/river you can explore, playgrounds," explains Tom C. The course is open year-round and suitable for various skill levels.
Water activities: Lake Fairfax Campground provides seasonal swimming and water recreation options. "There is a waterpark that is an extra cost which is fun for kids," reports Erin W., who appreciated the facilities despite noting that "the sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Ramblin' Pines maintains well-kept camping areas. "Clean, nice people, and nice sites," writes Richard W. The campground features a pool, splash pad, and multiple playgrounds for children.
Proximity to DC: Greenbelt Park Campground provides affordable camping with easy access to Washington DC. "The other 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," shares one reviewer. Metro stations are nearby for transportation into the city.
Wooded privacy: Little Bennett Campground offers spacious, tree-covered sites. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," notes Ray & Terri F. Many campers appreciate the natural setting despite being in a developed area.
What you should know
Reservations required: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Kensington require advance booking. At Greenbelt Park, "this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online," explains Crystal C.
Seasonal operations: Several campgrounds have limited seasons. Lake Fairfax operates from March 22 to September 7, while Little Bennett Campground is open April 1 to October 30. Some facilities like Cherry Hill Park remain open year-round.
Urban noise considerations: Lake Fairfax Campground has some background noise from nearby developments. "This campground is nice for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground. The sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded," reports Erin W.
Tips for camping with families
Water park access: Bull Run Regional Park offers water recreation facilities for children. "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it," writes Bridget H., who enjoyed the campfire program with "s'mores followed by hayrides."
Playgrounds and activities: Pohick Bay Regional Park provides multiple play areas. "We had a great time here over a long weekend in August. The check in is a breeze and the staff is super nice and helpful. They gave us a great intro to the park as we were first timers. They informed us that they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend," reports Ben G.
Budget-friendly options: Greenbelt Park offers affordable camping close to attractions. One reviewer spent "$100 for 5 days ($20 per night) a great deal by far in comparison to a lot of the other sites I had explored."
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: At Little Bennett Campground, "D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C& E are tents only," notes Ray & Terri F. The campground provides full hookups with 50-amp service, water and sewer connections.
Level sites consideration: Some pet-friendly campgrounds near Kensington have uneven sites. At Burke Lake Park Campground, campers report a mix of level and sloped sites, so bring leveling blocks.
Dump station locations: Bull Run Regional Park provides sanitary dump facilities for RVs. "Sites are nicely spread out. My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," shares Drew M. who found the campground comfortable despite some ambient noise.
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