Camping cabins near La Plata, Maryland offer varied terrain for outdoor recreation within the Chesapeake watershed. Most cabins in this region require advance booking at least 45-90 days ahead during peak summer months. Cabin sites in the area typically provide fire rings, varying degrees of privacy, and proximity to water features.
What to do
Disc golf adventures: Pohick Bay Campground features an 18-hole disc golf course that makes for an excellent day activity. "I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," notes one visitor who considers this campground their "go-to weekend spot."
Water recreation options: During summer months, Pohick Bay offers multiple boating options from their marina. "Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats" provides recreation opportunities for different skill levels and interests. The park also features Pirate's Cove waterpark which serves as "definitely a highlight in summer."
Historical exploration: Smallwood State Park Campground includes historic buildings accessible to campers. "There is a playground, bathhouse, and historical buildings that are accessible to campers," explains one review. Another mentions, "We walked to the Smallwood retreat house (a museum I think) and while it wasn't open it was a beautiful house."
Nature trails: Several parks offer hiking opportunities of varying difficulty. At Pohick Bay, visitors appreciate "hiking nearby" while Bull Run Regional Park provides "miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish."
What campers like
Proximity to DC attractions: Cherry Hill Park offers exceptional access to Washington DC attractions. "Proximity to DC and surrounding areas can't be beat. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments," shares one camper. The location makes it possible to "see the nationals, the orioles. So fun."
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Pohick Bay Regional Park, one visitor notes it's an "Eagle haven! Beautiful campground located near the National Harbor. Eagles everywhere!"
Fishing access: Westmoreland State Park Campground and Smallwood State Park both offer water access for fishing. A Smallwood visitor comments, "Mattawoman Creek is right there and great for kayaking." At Westmoreland, campers can search for fossils: "We came from Pa/De and wanted to look for sharks teeth. It was beautiful here."
Off-season tranquility: Winter and early spring camping offers a different experience. "Went in March 2018 for my birthday, when it was still VERY cold, but had a wonderful time. The beaches and trails seem so much more peaceful and untouched this time of year," notes a Westmoreland State Park visitor.
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more privacy than others. At Smallwood State Park, "Sites are very well spaced out and there are only 15 in the only camp loop." Another visitor confirms: "Sites are private with most having thick foliage and trees between them."
Bathroom facilities: Shower and bathroom quality varies between parks. Bull Run Regional Park receives high 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."
Reservation windows: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. One Smallwood State Park visitor noted, "Our site was the last site available when I made the reservation about 6 weeks prior." At Cherry Hill, advance booking is essential during summer months.
Weather considerations: Drainage issues can occur at some parks after heavy rain. "There was a fairly heavy day of rain. Couple inches, I suppose, but nothing Biblical. The mouths of the metal culverts in our loop were bent downward from campers driving over them, which obstructed the flow. Result was lots of standing water at our campsite," reports a Bull Run Regional Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Bull Run Regional Park offers extensive family programming. "The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish," reports one grandparent. They also note organized evening activities: "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Cabin selection: Choose cabins based on proximity to amenities. At Pohick Bay, one family notes, "We got a site on thr inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious." This arrangement allows easier bathroom access for children.
Structured activities: Look for campgrounds with scheduled programs. "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, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning."
Pool considerations: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities. At Cherry Hill Park, amenities include "Playground, Mini Golf, Swimming Pool, Hot tub, Basketball court, Snack bar on site, Nightly hayride."
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Bull Run: Adventure Bound Washington DC offers separate areas for temporary visitors. "Seperate area for short term visitors. They are clearly making improvements and moving up," notes one RVer. Site selection matters as "not all sites are level (half)" at many area campgrounds.
Hookup considerations: Full hookups are available at most cabin and RV sites, but specifications vary. "The site had water and electric which was nice," notes one camper at Pohick Bay. At Cherry Hill Park, full-service sites include "50 amp hook-up, Water, Sewer," making it suitable for larger RVs.
Accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. Aquia Pines has a "pretty big hill to climb to get in" and "roads in have some tight curves" that can be challenging for larger rigs. As one camper notes, "Like most reviews on google state its tight and wooded. We have a 42' fifth wheel and even though it was tight we made it through with no issues."
