9 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV parks offer options for camping near Cheltenham, Maryland. Cherry Hill Park in College Park provides full hookups with 30- and 50-amp electric service, water, and sewer connections on level sites. "This place is competitively priced as anyone of the RV parks around. Most of the spots are level," according to a review on The Dyrt. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp, though requiring military credentials, features big-rig friendly sites with 50-amp hookups and waterfront views of the Potomac River. Cedarville State Forest, open April through October, offers more modest accommodations with 30-amp electric service but no water hookups at individual sites. Camp Meade RV Park in Laurel accommodates a range of RV sizes with full hookup sites and is open year-round.
Across the region, RV campers should note varying levels of site privacy and road noise. Several parks near major highways experience traffic noise throughout the day and night, particularly those closest to I-95. Cell service is generally reliable, with reviewers reporting strong signals at most locations. Many campgrounds provide dump stations, though availability varies—Breezy Point Beach only offers pump-out service a few days per week. Pet policies differ between facilities, with most allowing pets in the camping areas but restricting them from day-use zones or beaches. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially for premium sites and during peak seasons from spring through fall when Washington DC tourism is highest.
"Stayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door."
"We loved the location of this RV park. We enjoyed our long-term stay."
"Super clean Very well maintained Pet friendly... kinda No veteran discounts smh Good for a day or two"
"Good site, secure location, decent facilities with solid WiFi. Pier within walking distance. Good location, tho our site wasn't fully level, so bring plenty of leveling blocks."
from $55 / night
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"Nice clean restrooms and showers. Friendly hostess and we had a nice shady spot, what was great with a heat of 94F."
"If 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."
from $20 - $40 / night
"Nice campground with all the amenities. Pool, laundry, bath houses, FHU, 50 amp. The sites are big enough, maybe a little right in some places."
"Nearby Colonial Beach is a cute area that has nice waterfront access. We also loved going to Westmoreland park which was practically next door to Harbor View. Great trails and fossil beach was fun."
from $47 - $86 / night
"We stayed in a level pull-thru site(#1715) with picnic table on a paver patio, iron table and chairs, clean gravel surface, grill, and fire pit."
"Pros: 50 amp hook-up Water Sewer Playground Mini Golf Swimming Pool Hot tub Basketball court Snack bar on site Nightly hayride Gated On-site camp store On-site bus shuttle Cons: Gravel pad Expensive"
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"Great Park, friendly staff, clean facilities. We stayed with our Pop Up for two nights at an electric -supported site. Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store."
"We stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private."
Available this weekend
from $43 - $100 / night
"We got a quick run down, some wood and a brochure with maps and area info. We were at site 133, non electric non water."
"Really enjoyed this park especially since it is so close to Washington DC. The sites were fairly level and shaded with a fire ring and picnic table. Verizon cell coverage was good."
Available this weekend
from $150 / 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.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
ScoutSimple and friendly check in process. Clean and well-maintained site.
GuideSpent two nights while we saw the Avett Brothers play at Wolf Trap. Nice flat site with power. Campground was quiet and clean. The only negative is communication and signage. It took us a couple wrong turns to find our site and when we came back, after the concert around 11, the entrance gate was closed and we had to sneak in through the exit gate. Asked the next day and they said that is what campers do to access the park after 11pm.
RangerWe stayed at Little Bennett starting on Labor Day Monday and left before the weekend, so it is hard to say how this looks when the campground is full of life. They had quite a few activities for families and a pavilion capable of concerts and such, but there was minimal activity during our stay. My biggest complaint is that the gate code changed and we didn't get any notice--so after a long day and a dinner out near Baltimore (nearly an hour away), I had to call the police to get back to my camper. Otherwise, the campsite was relatively spacious and quiet. The bugs were a little rough. Lots of whitetail running around.
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.
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.
Camping options near Cheltenham, Maryland range from natural wooded settings to developed facilities with modern amenities. The region sits in Maryland's coastal plain where elevations rarely exceed 300 feet, creating accessible terrain for most campers. Summer humidity levels regularly reach 80-90% during peak camping season from May through September, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 50-60°F even during summer months.
Hiking trails: Prince William Forest RV Campground offers easy access to forested trails for day hikes. "Prince William Forest National Park is accessible for awesome day hikes. Civil War National Parks nearby," notes Kenneth H., highlighting the historical significance of the area.
Fishing access: Smallwood State Park provides multiple docks for anglers looking to catch local fish species. "There is a nice fishing pier and the Generals Trail which my son loved," reports Sean R., who visited with his young son. The park also grants boat launching access with camping reservations.
Water recreation: Burke Lake Park features a 5-mile gravel trail surrounding a lake where water activities are popular. "You are not supposed to swim in the lake but you can take out boats (there is a boat launch)," according to Sarah M., making this a good option for those wanting to spend time on the water without swimming.
Private campsites: Smallwood State Park campers appreciate the spacing between sites. "The sites are well spaced, and while on the smaller side they're very private with woods between each one," writes Caitlin A. The park features only 15 sites in a single camping loop, providing a more intimate experience.
Clean facilities: Many RV parks and campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. "Super clean, very well maintained," reports Katia G. about Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp. At Smallwood State Park, "Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours."
Accessible location: For campers wanting to explore Washington DC while RV camping near Cheltenham, Maryland, multiple options exist. "A very nice State Park campground... Very close to Washington DC. About 17 miles to the closest Rail station to bring you to the mall in Washington DC," explains Ken W. about Prince William Forest RV Campground.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience noise from surrounding infrastructure. "The downside is that there are no trails accessible onsite and the campground is pretty close to main road," notes Laura G. about Prince William Forest RV Campground. At Bull Run Regional Park, "There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away," according to Drew M.
Tick precautions: Multiple campgrounds report tick issues during warmer months. "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers," warns Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest. Another camper noted, "Lots of trails but in June at least the ticks were waaaay too plentiful."
Site leveling: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for leveling RVs. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," reports Drew M. about Bull Run Regional Park. At Harbor View RV and Camping Resort, one camper noted they "had to put down boards to park our travel trailer because about a third of the pad had just turned into mud."
Playground options: Cherry Hill Park offers multiple family-friendly features. "Playground, mini golf, swimming pool, arcade, 24 hour laundry, a store and office open early!! And late!!! Wow! Just can't be beat," Jennifer H. enthusiastically reports, making this a solid choice for families.
Kid-friendly activities: Bull Run Regional Park provides organized activities for children. "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," writes Bridget H. about their family weekend experience.
Pool facilities: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming pools for summer visits. "Nice pool and bath house. Close to everything," notes Mary P. about Prince William Forest RV Campground. Cherry Hill Park has "a nice looking pool area" according to Joe R., though he mentions it was too cold during their visit.
Site selection: At Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp, "Some sites are a little unlevel, front to rear, but definitely manageable. You really need a toad since supplies are not very close to the camping area," advises Mike H., referring to the need for an additional vehicle when staying at this military facility.
Hookup details: Campers at Cedarville State Forest note specific limitations with utilities. "30 amp electric. No issues there. Lots of trails but in June at least the ticks were waaaay too plentiful," reports Joe C. Another reviewer mentions, "They 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."
Internet connectivity: Cell service varies between campgrounds. "I work full-time remote and the Verizon service was perfect with our hotspot," according to Ariel F. at Harbor View RV and Camping Resort. At Prince William Forest RV Campground, "ATT coverage is good," notes Kristen M., which is important for working campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Cheltenham, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Cheltenham, MD is Prince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Cheltenham, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 67 RV camping locations near Cheltenham, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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