6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cherry Hill Park's dedicated dog park provides a spacious area for pets to exercise off-leash while camping near Riverdale Park. This full-service campground accommodates pets at tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping units with clean, well-maintained facilities. Greenbelt Park Campground offers a more rustic pet-friendly camping option with both drive-in and walk-in sites available for tent and RV campers. Washington DC/Capitol KOA welcomes pets at all accommodation types including cabins, with campers noting the dog exercise area is particularly well-designed for pets to run freely. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash policies outside designated pet areas and provide waste stations throughout the grounds. The bathrooms at pet-friendly loops remain consistently clean despite the high volume of four-legged visitors.
Trails surrounding Greenbelt Park provide excellent walking opportunities for dogs, with multiple pet waste stations positioned along paths. Several campgrounds feature dedicated pet loops where dog owners can camp together, creating a more accommodating environment for pets that may be reactive around strangers. Bull Run Regional Park maintains pet-friendly status while prohibiting alcohol, making it suitable for families focusing on outdoor activities with their dogs. Patapsco Valley State Park offers extensive hiking options directly accessible from pet-friendly campsites, allowing campers to explore the Patapsco River with their dogs without needing to drive elsewhere. During October, Ramblin' Pines becomes particularly busy with Halloween-themed activities, requiring early reservations for pet owners planning fall camping trips. The proximity of most dog-friendly campgrounds to veterinary services in College Park and surrounding communities provides peace of mind for those traveling with pets.
"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. "
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"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
"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."
Available this weekend
from $37 - $170 / night
"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"
"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
"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
"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
"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
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.
Camping sites near Riverdale Park sit within Maryland's Piedmont region at 49 feet above sea level, with moderate year-round temperatures averaging 55-80°F in summer months. The area's watersheds flow into the Chesapeake Bay, creating diverse riparian habitats around campgrounds. The high water table can affect tent camping spots after heavy rainfall.
**Trail exploration at Greenbelt Park: There are 9 miles of hiking trails suitable for all skill levels. The American Discovery Trail passes through the park, connecting to broader regional path networks. "Living nearby but storing my popup camper elsewhere, I often park my camper here for a few days while I pack it for a trip. The American Discovery Trail (ADT) passes through the park," notes Becky at Greenbelt Park Campground.
**Historical sites access: Several campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring Civil War battlefields and colonial history sites within 30-45 minutes by car. "Plenty of things to do here to keep a family occupied. There is boat rental a short walk down the trail from the campgrounds and the pool and disc golf course are another short trail walk away," mentions Ben G. at Hollofield Area Campground.
**Water recreation: The Patapsco River provides swimming and fishing opportunities directly from some campgrounds, eliminating the need for additional travel. "Took a fairly easy hike down to the river and even went for a swim," shares Diana S. at Patapsco Valley State Park-Hollofield Area.
**Well-maintained facilities: Bathrooms receive regular cleaning even in the busiest pet-friendly loops. "The bathhouse is standard but also has laundry and an outdoor dish washing station. The campground was quiet which is nice," reports Ben G. at Pohick Bay Campground.
**Buffer between sites: Some campgrounds feature natural barriers providing privacy despite proximity to others. "Sites were well-maintained, including lavatories. Plenty of tree cover," explains Timothy C. about Greenbelt Park Campground.
**Unexpected wildlife encounters: Despite the suburban location, campers report seeing deer, birds, and small aquatic creatures. "We had a nice stay overlooking the marsh. The small crabs were skittering around the campsite and birds perched in the marsh," notes Caleb S. at Patapsco Valley State Park.
**Varied site leveling: Prepare for potentially uneven terrain at tent-only areas. "My site was level and nicely spaced from other sites but many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant," warns Erin W. about Lake Fairfax Campground.
**Reservation requirements: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Riverdale Park have moved to reservation-only systems, eliminating walk-up registration. "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online," advises Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park.
**Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience aircraft or traffic noise due to their proximity to transportation corridors. "There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away," mentions Drew M. about Bull Run Regional Park.
**Activity planning: Dog-friendly campgrounds with diverse recreational options keep children engaged. "This park has a lot to offer & there is bunch of activities available outside the campground. This is the first place I ever camped," shares Shawn W. about Lake Fairfax Campground.
**Nature programs: Many parks offer ranger-led educational activities scheduled throughout the weekend. "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," explains Ben G. at Pohick Bay Campground.
**Playground access: Dedicated play areas within walking distance from campsites provide convenient activity options. "The inner loop was completely full, and the sites were just too closely spaced for my preferences. If you're a tent camper and don't need electric, the sites on the outer loop were quite nice and private," reports Jen V. about Hollofield Area Campground.
**Limited hookup availability: Bring extra water storage as full hookups are rare at pet-friendly sites near Riverdale Park. "We got a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious. We are tent campers but almost all our neighbors were in an RV or trailer. The site had water and electric which was nice," explains Ben G. at Pohick Bay Campground.
**Dump station accessibility: Plan water usage around the operating hours of dump facilities, which sometimes close for maintenance mid-day. "There's a dump station and drinking water fill in loop C (sorry tenters who wanted to avoid RVs). The water fill was a little annoying in that there's a handle you have to hold down the whole time, but we used a rock to prop the handle down," shares Laura M. about Greenbelt Park Campground.
**Navigation challenges: Larger rigs should approach from specific directions to avoid low bridges and tight turns. "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)," cautions Travyl Couple about Hollofield Area Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Riverdale Park, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Riverdale Park, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Riverdale Park, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Riverdale Park, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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