Camping near Oxon Hill, Maryland ranges from military-access sites to public parks with diverse terrain options within a 45-minute drive. The area averages 43 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush woodland camping environments that remain relatively humid from May through September. Most sites require advance booking, with weekend reservations filling 2-3 weeks ahead during peak summer months.
What to do
Disc golf courses: At Pohick Bay Campground, campers can enjoy an 18-hole disc golf course just minutes from their site. "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," notes Rachel L.
Water activities: During summer months, families can cool off at water-based amenities found at several campgrounds. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer. Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats," shares Anne K. about the options at Pohick Bay Campground.
Urban exploration: Greenbelt Park Campground serves as an excellent base for Washington DC trips. "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," writes one camper. The park offers direct access to public transportation, though as of late 2023, "the bridge is out due to a storm... so what we did, since we don't have a tow car, is we packed up and drove to the Greenbelt station about 5 miles away."
Hiking networks: Multiple trail systems connect throughout the region's campgrounds. "The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods," notes a Greenbelt camper. For more extensive hiking, "Equestrian trails go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail," at Cedarville State Forest according to Ben J.
What campers like
Unexpected tranquility: Despite urban proximity, many campsites offer surprisingly peaceful settings. "We stayed here on a road trip from MA to PA to DC. Was nice to sleep in the 'woods' for a night," shares Kim O. about Burke Lake Park Campground. Another camper notes about Greenbelt Park: "You can barely hear the traffic from the road outside the park."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high on camper priorities. "Bathrooms are clean and have hot showers," notes one camper at Bull Run Regional Park. Another camper at Bull Run Regional Park gives glowing praise: "The best review I can give us of the bathrooms. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities for wildlife spotting. At Pohick Bay Campground, one camper reports: "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp similarly offers "Eagle's nest were interesting" according to Mike H.
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds maintain reasonable rates despite their proximity to expensive urban centers. Lake Fairfax Campground is "great for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground," though a reviewer notes "the sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded."
What you should know
Insect preparation: Ticks are prevalent throughout the region's woodland areas, particularly from April through October. "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers," advises one camper about Cedarville State Forest. Another notes that at Lake Fairfax, you'll need "repel spray to keep the raccoons off your site."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby urban infrastructure. As one Bull Run Regional Park camper notes, "Downfall there's a shooting range near by so can be kind of noisy." At Greenbelt Park, "Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground."
Site variations: Campsite quality can vary dramatically within the same campground. "Sites vary in levelness, some are fairly level and some are on a mini hill. Driveways are all very narrow," notes a camper about Greenbelt Park. Similarly, at Lake Fairfax Campground, "The outer loop campsites are easily more level than the center loop."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the region have transitioned to reservation-only systems. "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online," advises a Greenbelt camper.
Tips for camping with families
Waterpark access: Lake Fairfax Campground offers a waterpark adjacent to camping areas for an additional fee. "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, & canoeing)," shares Amy B.
Family programming: Some campgrounds organize regular activities for children. "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," reports a camper at Pohick Bay Campground.
Playground proximity: When booking, consider site location relative to play areas. At Pohick Bay, one family noted, "We got a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse." However, at Bull Run, a camper points out, "Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."
Transportation planning: For families using public transportation into DC, note that Cherry Hill Park offers dedicated services. "They have a bus stop for metro service to the city, but we took the 20 minute drive. They have a nice looking pool area, but it was too cold."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many campgrounds in the Oxon Hill area require leveling equipment. At Cherry Hill Park, "The site was perfectly level with a fire ring, grill, picnic table and table with three chairs," shares one happy camper. However, at Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp, a reviewer advises to "bring plenty of leveling blocks" because "our site wasn't fully level."
Electric options: RV sites with electrical service are limited at some campgrounds. At Louise F. Cosca Regional Park, "Only 5 sites have electric (2, 5, 18, 24, 25) but all 25 sites have water hookup," notes a camper who stayed there.
Size restrictions: Several campgrounds have specific loop assignments based on RV length. At Greenbelt Park, "Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft. No hookups at any of the sites."
Tree clearance: For RVers requiring satellite access or solar power, tree coverage can present challenges. "Most have too much tree cover for solar or starlink, but some sites are more open and you might be able to make it work," notes one Greenbelt camper.
