8 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping provides primitive tent campsites for visitors with dogs throughout the park. Leashed pets are welcome at most sites while exploring the park's network of trails. Final-Lee Here Campground accommodates both tent and RV campers with pets on grassy, shaded sites that include fire pits and picnic tables. Pet owners staying at Endeavor Point can bring their animals to tent sites, RV spots, and pet-friendly cabins along the waterfront. The park's trails offer ample walking opportunities for dogs, though guests report the campground management is strict about rules and limits. Most campgrounds in the area provide basic pet amenities including trash disposal, though specialized facilities like dog washing stations are limited.
Dog-friendly trails at Cedarville State Forest connect directly to the campground's pet-friendly sites, making it convenient for morning walks. Westmoreland State Park Campground, though slightly farther from Port Republic, offers more extensive facilities for pets with well-maintained paths and beach access where leashed dogs can cool off during summer months. Most areas require pets remain leashed at all times, with typical restrictions of 6-foot maximum leash length. Campers report that tick prevention is essential when camping with dogs at Cedarville State Forest, especially during summer months when they become particularly plentiful. Local wildlife considerations include potential encounters with deer, rabbits, and various bird species that may attract dogs' attention. The Naval Recreation Area at Solomons requires military ID but provides spacious, pet-friendly campsites well-suited for dogs, featuring three pools and beach access that some pets are allowed to enjoy.
"It is a very nice walk about 2 miles to the beach where you can hunt for fossils. The beach has gotten smaller over the years however the trail has gotten much better."
"Also right off the parking lot is a little fishing pond which leads you to the main trail to get down to the beach which is about a mile - a mile and 1/2."
from $55 - $95 / night
"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
"The site was pretty big, laid with gravel and pebbles, and edged with wooden curbs."
"Relaxing, fishing was nice and we loved walking the trails with the dogs."
Available next weekend
from $27 - $134 / night
"Whether you are an adult or a child, this place will have a positive effect on you. The owners are involved and designed this space with the visitors pleasure in mind."
from $90 - $190 / night
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Nestled within the beautiful greenery of Huntingtown, Maryland, this campground offers heart, scenery, and access to numerous adventures."
Available next weekend
from $40 / night
"The loop’s energy felt magical — quiet, restorative, and tucked into the trees so it felt private but not isolated."
"Nice beaches and pet beach for our dogs."
from $21 - $50 / 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"
"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."
"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."
Available next weekend
from $37 - $170 / 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.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
ScoutIt was a well maintained campsite. Clean bathrooms and great hikes to fossil beach.
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.
TravelerGood spot to get away and pitch a tent. Never anyone else there too! Make sure to get a daily ($4) or annual (~$22 I forget) Access Permit on Virginia DWR, as well as special WMA camping license (free)
GuideWhat a gem! We found this place as an alternative to staying in DC during 4th of July festivities. Nice spacious sites, cabins were super clean and smelled great! Did I mention they were air conditioned during the hotest week of the summer!
Bathrooms and showers were spotless.
Many things to see and do there. Historic property, big lake (no swimming), boating, fishing, hiking. There is an Art Center with juried displays for sale.
ScoutThe park is very well maintained, and the campsites have clean fire pits and cooking grills. The restrooms are clean, spacious, and well maintained, and my campsite was large enough to comfortably fit a 6-person tent and a canopy.
However, there were a few concerns during our stay. Despite the campground’s quiet hours policy starting at 10:00 PM, many campers continued to make noise well past that time. I did not notice any campground staff or maintenance personnel making rounds to enforce the quiet hours.
I also felt concerned about security. One of my neighboring campers, who was visiting from South Carolina, told me that his generator had been stolen during the night. He reported the theft to the police, and an official report was filed. Incidents like this made me feel unsafe while camping.
I recommend increasing staff or security patrols, especially during the evening and overnight hours, to enforce quiet hours and improve the safety and security of campers and their belongings. With better enforcement and security, Burke Lake Campground would provide an even better camping experience.
TravelerOne of our favorite places. Very well kept. No bathhouse so bring your own. A lot of shady sites. Great views of Chesapeake bay. Flat roads in the area for cycling.
Point Lookout State Park offers tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and cabins across multiple camping loops. Campers report that sites on the outside of loops provide more privacy with mature trees and waterfront views. The park has natural beaches on both the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay for swimming and fossil hunting. Winter camping remains available with heated bathhouses, though summer visitors should prepare for biting insects due to the marshy terrain.
Fossil hunting at Calvert Cliffs: Walk approximately 1.8 miles from the parking area to reach the beach where visitors search for prehistoric shark teeth and other fossils. "Such an amazing expieriance and brings right into the eyes of child with both adult and children searching for shark teeth. Not only is searching for shark teeth a blast, but, the views are beautiful and walkin thru the woofs Is very calming!" notes Sarah F. about Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping.
Disc golf at Cedarville: Play an 18-hole course through wooded terrain at Cedarville State Forest. "Great forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC," explains reviewer moonbeans. This activity works well for campers of all experience levels and remains accessible year-round when trails might be muddy.
Fishing and crabbing: Bring fishing gear to take advantage of waterfront access at multiple campgrounds. Endeavor Point provides direct access to the river with a dedicated pier. "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise," reports Ally S. Many campgrounds require Maryland fishing licenses, which can be purchased online or at local tackle shops.
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded feeling at several campgrounds near Port Republic. At Westmoreland State Park Campground, "the tent sites are awesome and mine have always been pretty private feeling despite being somewhat near others," notes reviewer RL. Sites on outer loops typically offer more privacy than interior spots.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high in visitor satisfaction. "Bathrooms were clean, closed daily for cleaning between 1 pm - 3 pm. Two showers were included but didn't use it so not sure about pressure or heat," reports Nurse N. about their stay at Cedarville State Forest. Most campgrounds maintain regular cleaning schedules for bathhouses.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local fauna. At Point Lookout State Park, "I've never left this park without at least one tick," warns Bill G., highlighting the importance of tick prevention while enjoying nature. Bald eagles, herons, turtles, and other water birds appear frequently at waterfront campgrounds.
Insects can be intense: Ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies present significant challenges, especially in summer months. "Bring bug and tick spray - definitely need it!" advises Nurse N. about Cedarville State Forest. Campgrounds near water or in marshy areas report the highest insect activity, particularly after rainfall when standing water collects.
Limited cell service: Communication capabilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Adventure Bound Washington DC, "We have AT&T and had two bars pretty consistently," reports one camper at Cedarville State Forest. However, Point Lookout visitors report "no good anywhere near this campground. We were an hour away before getting any kind of cell service."
Military requirements: Some campgrounds require military ID for access. The Solomons Navy Recreation Area offers "spacious sites, and anything else you could want!" according to sharon F., but civilian access is restricted. Check requirements before booking at military-affiliated campgrounds.
Water activities for summer: Families appreciate campgrounds with swimming options during hot months. "Westmoreland felt a little crowded at full capacity. Had to wait for restrooms and the beaches were well used. They did have great trails, a lot of scheduled events for all ages, a pool and boat rentals and competitive prices," reports Rachel A. about Pohick Bay Campground.
Playgrounds and programs: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's activities. "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," shares Ben G. about Pohick Bay, noting these amenities were particularly valuable with young children.
Dog-friendly options: For families camping with pets, look for campgrounds with dedicated pet areas. "We brought our dog for an extended weekend... Nice clean sites and beaches, there are 2. One is a drive up and the other is a bit of a hike," explains Christian about Westmoreland State Park Campground, which offers separate pet beaches away from main swimming areas.
Site selection matters: Many RV sites near Port Republic lack level pads, requiring extra preparation. "Not all sites are level (half)," notes Robert P. about Pohick Bay. RVers should bring leveling blocks and check campground maps for pull-through availability.
Hookup variations: Electric service ranges from basic to full. At Lacy Oasis Campground, sites offer primitive camping without hookups in a natural setting. Meanwhile, Point Lookout provides full hookups in the Tulip Loop, though "the sites are basically in a swamp. I think we were there before the mosquitos. I'm sure with all the standing water they'd be everywhere!!" warns Buck P.
Dump station accessibility: RV owners should note that not all campgrounds offer sanitary dump stations. For those traveling between locations, Point Lookout provides "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," shares Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Port Republic, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Port Republic, MD is Calvert Cliffs State Park Youth Group Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Port Republic, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 73 dog-friendly camping locations near Port Republic, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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