Best Equestrian Camping near Laurel, MD

Based on the data provided for campgrounds near Laurel, Maryland, none offer dedicated horse facilities like corrals, stalls, or equestrian camping amenities. Cedarville State Forest features multiple hiking trails but lacks specific horse accommodations according to its features list. While some campgrounds permit pets generally, none explicitly cater to equestrian needs with horse-specific infrastructure.

Equestrians seeking riding opportunities near Laurel may find trails at Cedarville State Forest, though specific bridle trails are not mentioned in the data. The forest provides hiking paths that some reviewers note are well-maintained and marked with excellent signage. Ticks are prevalent in warmer months according to multiple visitor reports, so proper precautions are necessary when bringing animals. For those requiring true horse camping facilities with trailer parking, corrals, or dedicated equestrian campsites, alternative destinations beyond the immediate Laurel area would be necessary.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Laurel, Maryland (8)

    1. Camp Meade RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Odenton, MD
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 722-4237

    2. Pohick Bay Campground

    38 Reviews
    Lorton, VA
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 339-6104

    $37 - $170 / night

    "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 trees are pretty and the laurel adds to the privacy. We were there in November, so the leaves were off the trees, but it still felt private."

    3. Bull Run Regional Park

    42 Reviews
    Iron Gate, VA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 631-0550

    $39 - $100 / night

    "History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."

    "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."

    4. Cedarville State Forest

    17 Reviews
    Brandywine, MD
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 888-1410

    $30 / night

    "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."

    "There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk."

    5. Andrews AFB Military FamCamp

    2 Reviews
    Clinton, MD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 981-4109

    $18 - $30 / night

    6. Camp Winery

    1 Review
    Libertytown, MD
    30 miles
    +1 (240) 674-1702

    "Close to many cool things in the area too"

    7. Finksburg Forest

    Be the first to review!
    Finksburg, MD
    27 miles
    Website

    $22 - $100 / night

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Laurel, MD

1 Photos of 8 Laurel Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Laurel, MD

105 Reviews of 8 Laurel Campgrounds


  • R
    Oct. 4, 2021

    Cedarville State Forest

    Peaceful

    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. We could hear and smell horses when we got to our campsite, but it didn't last forever. 

    The site was mostly clean, had a few pieces of small trash scattered around when we arrived. The sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us. Our site was close to the restroom, it had a little path leading to the restroom, and it looked like there was little trail paths all around leading to the restrooms from the different parts of the loop. The path leading to the restroom from our site was gravel and easy to walk on. The restrooms were clean, but the floor was wet almost the entire time we were there (likely due to the showers).

    If you need to buy wood it is $5 for 8 pieces and you call a number given to you in your registration packet. The ranger will then drive by and drop off the wood at your campsite. The inner ring of this loop has electricity, and the electric box was just on the far side of the picnic table in the corner.

  • Ben J.
    Aug. 31, 2019

    Cedarville State Forest

    Pretty cool for so close to DC

    Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC. There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk. Equestrian trails go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail. Bathrooms don’t look like much from the outside, but the inside is very nice. Clean, hot water, and good water pressure. The 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. It was hot, so it was OK. Hahaha. They sell firewood, but they were huge pieces and getting them to start burning was tough. LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers. Each site had picnic table, fire ring, and pretty level parking spot.

  • Kasey M.
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Cedarville State Forest

    Mosquitos, Overgrown & Quiet

    We chose this campground based on proximity to work. This campground was priced fairly, however, it does come with its downfalls.

    PROS

    Let me start with the positive, we were 1 of 3 campers in this loop during our week-long stay. This made it peaceful and quiet. 

    CONS

    It's close to a Naval base, and therefore you constantly hear airplanes, and helicopters at all times. 

    Other than the daily bathroom cleaning, this campground lacks maintenance on sites and walkways. They are both overgrown. 

    Playground, fishing, archery all seem blocked off at this time. 

    Trails seem open but are across and through hunting areas. They are also muddy from the rain. There is even standing water around our site which brings us to...the MOSQUITOS! We tried fans, tiki torches, and many deet free or light deet products before having to buy 100% deet so we could be outside. These things are awful!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 29, 2024

    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.

  • Jennifer S.
    Nov. 23, 2020

    Pohick Bay Campground

    Beautiful Site, a Bit Noisy

    We loved our site B56 which is a deep, private spot with lots of tent sites. The trees are pretty and the laurel adds to the privacy. We were there in November, so the leaves were off the trees, but it still felt private. There were a few parties in the campground which is strange given we are in the midst of a Pandemic. The noise carries here perhaps because there are valleys. There are a lot of shallow campsites close together. Make sure you check the length of the site. We originally had B46 which was directly across from the bathroom, right beside the road, and across from the playground. The wonderful staff allowed us to move. The camp store firewood was very dry and burned nicely. The staff patrol the park quite a bit but maybe not at night. There are several beautiful trails and kayaking nearby. There is also a water park which likely adds to the noise in the summer.

  • Kelsey K.
    Jul. 4, 2021

    Pohick Bay Campground

    Family oriented, but super close and not private

    Initially disappointed by the tiny spot we got, but we were able to move. Majority of the spots are extremely close to the next and doesn't allow much privacy. Very few trees in between. We chose another spot that was available, however, we found out the first night that there is a boat area and bright light all night right behind us and the light came through the tent. Another dissapointment. We camped in a tent and did 3 nights, 4 days. (4th of July weekend) We loved the family friendliness that allowed us to walk right down the street/trail to take our kids to the water park. They give you a discounted price if you are camping. They also have mini golf and disc golf near by as well. If we come again, we will definitely be more particular about our spot. They also had bathrooms and showers not to far from our spot that were actually clean.

  • Jenifer K.
    May. 11, 2019

    Pohick Bay Campground

    Woods and City

    We stayed here for 3 nights at a back in with w/e. 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. We were working in Arlington/DC only a 25 min drive away and it was nice to come home to some nature.

  • moonbeans
    Oct. 15, 2022

    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).

  • Chris F.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Cedarville State Forest

    A Crime of Opportunity

    If this campground is convenient - and given that it's open through October and <60 minutes from DC it might well be - this campground is good to go. But without that convenience factor I would not rate this site as worth visiting.

    The loop is very small, with all the sites pretty close together. The forest behind the site was sparse, enough so that it was hard to find fuel for the fire and we were basically part of the youth group activities happening. From 8am to 4pm I learned A LOT about what number to dial in case of emergency.

    The site itself was very small - difficult to get 2 cars and two tents in - and the fire ring was smaller as well. Though it was cleaner than the average state park site.

    We stayed in site 21, which was fine enough except for its proximity to the nearest pavilion and all the small children screaming "stop drop and roll" at the top of their lungs.

    But at the end of the day it was $20 (with a $6 booking fee) and for better or worse we never interacted with a single park ranger or camp host. The upside is we could do what we wanted, the downside is there wasn't a sense of community, or regulation.

    I'll say I have never been to a site where the firewood is padlocked, and you have to call someone to come unlock it so you can buy firewood. In fact I'm downgrading the review from 3 stars to 2 as I write this - there really weren't many positives about this campground other than that camping is a terrific hobby.


Guide to Laurel

Equestrian camping near Laurel, Maryland offers limited dedicated horse facilities, though some nearby forests provide trail access. The region sits at low elevations between 100-300 feet with mild seasons and humid summers averaging 87°F in July. Most campgrounds open April through October, with tick activity peaking during warmer months requiring proper precautions.

What to do

Hiking trails access: Cedarville State Forest provides multiple well-marked trails through mixed hardwood forests. Camper Josh J. notes, "Lots of trails but in June at least the ticks were waaaay too plentiful."

Water recreation options: At Pohick Bay Campground, families can enjoy boating and water activities. Anne K. mentions, "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer. Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats."

Disc golf course: Pohick Bay offers a full 18-hole course for disc golf enthusiasts. Rachel L. recommends, "I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course."

Wildlife viewing: The forests and waterways around Laurel support diverse wildlife. At Bull Run Regional Park, visitors frequently spot native species. Kathie M. observed, "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites."

What campers like

Proximity to DC: Bull Run Regional Park offers camping within easy reach of Washington DC. Perry A. notes, "Nice camping spot close to DC with hiking nearby," while Josh J. adds, "Took me 25-30m to get there so you are far away from bustle of city but not so far that going in to enjoy breakfast or the sights is a feat."

Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses. At Cedarville State Forest, one reviewer mentions, "Restrooms were clean, closed daily for cleaning between 1 pm - 3 pm."

Spacious sites: Camp Winery provides room between campsites for better privacy. Sammii D. simply states, "Very beautiful spot, did some tent camping. Close to many cool things in the area too."

Easy access: Most campgrounds offer straightforward check-in processes. Charyssa G. from Bull Run Regional Park reports, "We arrived late at night and finding our site was easy. Very spacious sites and awesome views of the forest."

What you should know

Tick prevention essential: Cedarville State Forest has significant tick populations, particularly in warmer months. Bill G. warns, "I've never left this park without at least one tick." Ben J. adds, "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers."

Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby infrastructure. At Bull Run Regional Park, Drew M. explains, "The only drawback is that it is not quite [quiet]. There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away."

Site selection matters: Sites vary in levelness and size. Roberta K. recommends, "Our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much, so you might want to ask about that."

Military access requirements: Some campgrounds require military credentials. For Andrews AFB Military FamCamp, M.B. points out, "Need military id and reservations to go."

Tips for camping with families

Scheduled activities: Bull Run Regional Park offers family-focused programming throughout weekends. Bridget H. shares, "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides. Great family friendly campground."

Playground access: Consider site proximity to play areas. Yvonne B. notes, "Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."

Water features for hot days: Several parks offer swimming options during summer months. Ben G. from Pohick Bay Campground mentions, "There is also a pool/water park in the park as well as a nice network of trails. There is plenty of things to do here to keep a family occupied."

Scavenger hunts: Seasonal activities for children are available at some parks. Moonbeans reports, "Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling requirements: Pohick Bay Campground has varied terrain. Kristen M. explains, "Sites are spacious and decently level (depends on the site I'm sure)."

Campground layout: Site configurations vary between campgrounds. Drew M. shares his experience at Bull Run: "The 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."

Hookup considerations: Check what utilities are available before booking. At Cedarville State Forest, Joe C. mentions, "30 amp electric. No issues there," while Nurse N. adds, "Dump station and trash were just outside of the loop."

Tight navigation: Some sites present challenges for larger rigs. Nurse N. warns about Cedarville State Forest, "Site 6 was good but not for larger rigs. We have a pop up and had to navigate around a tree that would have been very difficult for larger rigs. Site 5 or 7 wouldn't have that problem."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Laurel, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Laurel, MD is Camp Meade RV Park with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Laurel, MD?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Laurel, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.