Best Tent Camping near Chevy Chase, MD
Walk-in and primitive tent camping sites can be found within a short drive of Chevy Chase, Maryland, with several options along the Potomac River and C&O Canal corridor. Marsden Tract Group Campsite in the George Washington Memorial Parkway offers tent-only camping with walk-in access approximately 3 miles northwest of Chevy Chase. The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring provides walk-in tent sites about 10 miles north. For tent campers seeking more established facilities, Patapsco Valley State Park's Hilton Area, located 25 miles northeast, features tent-only sites with no RVs allowed. Several hiker-biker campsites along the C&O Canal National Historical Park, including Swains Lock and Horsepen Branch, provide primitive tent camping experiences with Potomac River views.
Most tent campgrounds near Chevy Chase require campers to park and carry gear short distances to their sites. Tent pads vary from crushed stone at Patapsco Valley to natural surfaces at C&O Canal sites. Basic amenities typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and pit toilets or vault latrines. Water availability varies significantly - some sites offer non-potable pumps requiring treatment, while others have no water access, necessitating campers bring their own supply. The camping season generally runs April through October, with some sites available year-round. Pack-in, pack-out policies apply at most primitive locations, particularly along the C&O Canal where trash receptacles are limited or nonexistent.
Tent campers frequently note the accessibility of these sites despite their proximity to urban areas. According to reviews, Swains Lock campsites along the C&O Canal offer "flat and dispersed sites with most located adjacent to the river" with manageable walks from parking areas. At Patapsco Valley State Park, campers should "avoid booking a site at the very bottom" of the loop as these areas can become waterlogged during rain. The C&O Canal hiker-biker campsites provide particularly good options for backcountry tent camping without long hikes, though some visitors recommend earplugs at certain locations due to nearby train tracks. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species at dawn and dusk.