Best Campgrounds near Takoma Park, MD

Campgrounds near Takoma Park, Maryland range from urban-adjacent parks to more secluded forest settings within a short drive. Cherry Hill Park in College Park provides full-service camping with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options just minutes from the city. Greenbelt Park Campground, operated by the National Park Service, offers a more natural setting with tent and RV sites surrounded by forest trails. Several additional campgrounds exist within a 30-45 minute drive, including Lake Fairfax Campground in Reston, Virginia and Patapsco Valley State Park with multiple camping areas across its extensive river corridor.

Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during the peak camping season from April through October. Campgrounds like Little Bennett and Patapsco Valley State Park operate seasonally, typically closing for winter months. As one visitor noted, "Greenbelt Park has a decent drive - maybe a half mile or so - to the camp area. It has fairly steep rolling hills and would not be good for small children to bike or walk, but okay for older kids." Road access varies considerably between locations, with most developed campgrounds offering paved roads suitable for RVs, while some areas have more challenging terrain. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region due to proximity to urban areas, though coverage may be spotty in more remote sections of larger parks.

Campers report high satisfaction with the balance of natural settings and urban convenience. The proximity to Washington DC makes these campgrounds popular with visitors exploring the capital, with Cherry Hill Park even offering orientation sessions for DC tourists. Several visitors mentioned the unexpected tranquility despite urban proximity. According to one camper at Greenbelt Park, "This is a fairly nice, bare bones NPS campground. If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it. But it is a pretty nice campground with campsites and showers that seem clean and well maintained." Most campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities including restrooms, picnic tables, and fire rings, with varying levels of hookups for RVs. Patapsco Valley State Park receives particular praise for its extensive trail network and river access.

Best Camping Sites Near Takoma Park, Maryland (86)

    1. Cherry Hill Park

    42 Reviews
    Beltsville, MD
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 937-7116

    $282 - $999 / night

    "Metrorail is about 6 miles from campground, near University of Maryland."

    "Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."

    2. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    32 Reviews
    Greenbelt, MD
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 344-3948

    $20 / night

    "If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."

    "The campsite is superb with walking trails, wildlife and the occasional overflying US Presidential Helicopter. Easily accessible from close by freeways, and charmingly peaceful"

    3. Lake Fairfax Campground

    25 Reviews
    Reston, VA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 471-5414

    $30 - $70 / night

    "We set up our tent in the far side of the campground close to the lake ( site 27). It is slightly slant but still comfortable in the tent. Bathrooms are close by and kept clean."

    "For tent camping I would suggests sites 30,33 or 35 these are tucked along the tree line. The bathroom facilities were the cleanest I have seen in a campground."

    4. Pohick Bay Campground

    38 Reviews
    Lorton, VA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 339-6104

    $37 - $170 / night

    "We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."

    "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."

    5. Washington DC / Capitol KOA

    16 Reviews
    Millersville, MD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 923-2771

    "They have a nice dog area for the dog to be able to run around and exercise which a lot of places we have been do not have a place for the dog to really exercise."

    "We had a site near the pool, outdoor chess set, jumping pillow and gaga ball pit. Our kids (9, 10 and 14) all had fun and made friends. The staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful."

    6. Bull Run Regional Park

    42 Reviews
    Iron Gate, VA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 631-0550

    $43 - $100 / night

    "History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."

    "We booked site 136 due to proximity of the playground (traveling with a 5 & 10 yr old). The site was great except the weird parking stops on every site but the pull throughs."

    7. Little Bennett Campground

    23 Reviews
    Clarksburg, MD
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (301) 528-3430

    "Quiet woods in Maryland about 30 or 40 miles north of DC. Tenting, and RV spots partial to full service. Just of hiway 270. pricey ($66/night) for a state park, but nice."

    "PROS  Very nice small Montgomery County Park 

    No reservation fee to make on-line reservations 

    Reserved 137 days prior to arriving 

    Entrance gate required entry code Instructed by staff via gate phone"

    8. Burke Lake Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Burke, VA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 323-6600

    "We stayed Burke lake campground for one night last week. It was very peaceful place. The whole camp ground was very clean and well kept."

    "This was my second time going Burke Lake and it was just as enjoyable as the first."

    9. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    19 Reviews
    Catonsville, MD
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 461-5005

    $20 - $51 / night

    "Camp site(Tent camping)
    The camp site is what it is, just a camp site :)  It's one of the bigger state parks surrounded by forest in MD."

    "Another negative was after the storm for the next few days we heard trees falling nearby."

    10. Hollofield Area Campground

    19 Reviews
    Windsor Mill, MD
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 461-5005

    $19 - $27 / night

    "It has 8 recreation areas and we stayed at the Hollofield Area in April- one of our first experiences in a Maryland State Park. Beautiful park with 70 miles of hiking/biking /multi use trails."

    "This campground is pleasant, but the sites are situated quite close to one another."

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Recent Reviews near Takoma Park, MD

623 Reviews of 86 Takoma Park Campgrounds


  • Amanda S.
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Washington DC / Capitol KOA

    Got bed bugs? They do.

    Stayed in cabin 202 for a Fri- Sun and on our last morning we found a bed bug on our clothing. While they gave a refund it does not come close to cover the time and energy of remediating all of our clothing, sheets, and blankets. We also had to throw out items that could not be cleaned properly and now have to replace them(pillows, shoes, etc). My husband has 23 bites over the course of 2 nights. They burn and itch very badly. I truly hope this was a hiccup for them and they go through correct methods of having the cabin treated properly. 

    UPDATE: A recount of the bites- my husband has 31 bites so far. The remediation of all of our items is exhausting. All the blankets, clothing, suit cases, all the other items we used in the cabin needs to be cleaned. We had to throw out our shoes because they shrunk in the dryer. Spent$$$ replacing shoes for a family for 4. Pillows are not cheap to replace either. I bought a new corset at the renfest this weekend that I'm hoping doesn't get ruined when it goes through the dryer. That too was expensive. So if you're looking to have to spend a bunch of extra money to replace items you didn't want to replace in the first place- I recommend staying here.

  • Chelsea B.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park

    Great non-electric site, no dumstation

    This site is at the very top of the loop so it has a great cozy vibe and is spaced well away from other sites. The only downside is that the bathhouse is a walk downhill and then a walk back uphill. Surprised there’s no place for someone to park next to the bathhouse - only trails to it- so if you have accessibility needs, consider choosing a site that’s lower in the loop. The site is level and was raked by the hosts before we got there. Really clean and quiet except for some road noise. Showers are SO nice compared to other campsite. Hot water is hot, no push buttons, and there is a shower wand in both stalls. No dump station though!! Dump before you get here. Also if you work remote and depend on service, it’s spotty. Very wooded so Starlink can’t help much. OH- Don’t bother visiting the winery down the road. Ew. Just don’t.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Adventure Bound Washington DC

    Nice

    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 Metro station. It's crowded but folks are quiet & respectful!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders

    Awesome views on the Potomac

    Very cool spot. Amazing sites right on the Potomac. There is a Ale House above the office that delivers for free to your site (2.5 miles away), just tip the driver

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Aquia Pines Campground

    Good stopover near the highway but hidden between the trees

    We where forced land-inwards because of tropical storm Erin (potential hurricane hitting the Outer Banks). So we decided to visit Washington DC and had a stopover here. It was conveniently located. Terrain is not flat but our spot was well levelled. There is a big dog (and an older gentleman) in the office to welcome you. Full hook up was oké and our spot was nicly secluded between the trees.

  • Erin W.
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Lake Fairfax Campground

    Nice for a quick weekend

    This campground is nice for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground. The sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded. Our site, 41, was level and nicely spaced from other sites but many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant. There is a waterpark that is an extra cost which is fun for kids. Bathrooms are well maintained and huge.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Cherry Hill Park

    Can’t beat it

    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. Our uber rides ranged from 20-45$ for a family of 5. So $4-9 per person. We rode in all 4 days this way. Personalized, comfortable. Door to door. We saw tons of stuff. No one can say they saw everything. We took the train from Union station to Penn station. Saw the nationals, the orioles. So fun. The park itself has more than most. Mini golf, two pools, arcade, 24 hour laundry, a store and office open early!! And late!!! Wow! Just can’t be beat. Great sites. So many other things in the park. Splash pad, paved roads for scootering. Just awesome!

  • Caleb S.
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area

    Tabolt island state park

    We had a nice stay overlooking the marsh. The small crabs were skittering around the campsite and birds perched in the marsh. The beach was nice and clean.

  • John B.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    Overcrowded with upkeep

    I hate leaving bad reviews, but I think people should be aware of this campsite. First thing we noticed when we arrived at the campsite was that it was very tight. We had a pull through campsite, but on the camp side it was all dirt and grass that look like it hadn’t been mowed in over two weeks. With the heat and humidity we have been having for the last couple weeks, I knew this was gonna be a buggy site. Then the rains came and everything turned into mud. We had a rug laid down, but the mud and water worked its way through that. We couldn’t enter the RV without tracking mode through it. On days it was raining we spent a lot of time in the camper. That’s when we discovered another issue. On almost all occasions there was no Internet. We had a strong Wi-Fi signal, but no Internet. Upon talking to some of our neighbors who frequented this campsite, they said they had never seen it this bad. The other thing too, was that there was hardly any trash receptacles. Ending this on a good note, we loved how close it was to historical Harpers Ferry, and how convenient it was to be able to walk to the visitor center and catch a ferry. It really is a beautiful area. I would hope that the management of this KOA would address these issues, because I’m sure I’m not gonna be the only one to leave a negative review about this campground.


Guide to Takoma Park

Camping spots near Takoma Park, Maryland range from seasonal operations to year-round facilities with varied terrain. Most campgrounds sit within the Piedmont region at elevations between 300-500 feet, creating moderately rolling terrain that affects campsite leveling and drainage. The region's humid subtropical climate means summer camping temperatures regularly exceed 85°F with high humidity from June through September.

What to do

Trail exploration: 70+ miles at Patapsco Valley: Patapsco Valley State Park spans 32 miles along the Patapsco River with extensive trail networks. "There are parks on both sides of the river to explore and experience the trails. Be sure to bring/download maps. You are close to Ellicott & Columbia in Maryland and DC," notes one camper at Hollofield Area Campground.

Water activities: Fairfax swimming for kids: Lake Fairfax Campground offers supervised swimming options during summer months. "They brought their travel trailer and our pop-up. The outer loop campsites are easily more level than the center loop. We enjoyed the water park immensely. Ten of us in total with kids ranging from 18 months old to 13 years old. Everyone enjoyed the water park," reports a camper at Lake Fairfax Campground.

Urban exploration via public transit: Several campgrounds provide access to Washington DC via public transportation. "This is a great urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground. Oh, and bonus, the American Discovery Trail (ADT) passes through the park," mentions a camper at Greenbelt Park Campground.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple parks offer fishing access with varied regulations. Bull Run Regional Park provides fishing areas near camping loops. Pohick Bay also offers diverse water access, with one camper noting: "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!"

What campers like

Natural settings close to urban areas: Many campers appreciate finding wooded camping near cities. "When I was checking out this site I wasn't sure how it would work out exactly. It seemed close to the METRO, which made for a great option when exploring the DC area and had been raved about as a great escape for those with larger rigs," reports a visitor to Greenbelt Park.

Clean bathroom facilities: Well-maintained facilities receive consistent praise across several campgrounds. "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained. It's very convenient and plenty of activities for the kids," notes a reviewer at Bull Run Regional Park.

Site spacing and privacy: Some locations offer better spacing between sites than others. At Little Bennett Campground, a camper observed: "We stayed at site D72 for 4 days. The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup. D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C & E are tents only."

Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds specifically cater to families with children. "The park is nice, but if you're looking for fishing don't go here, but you can in fact kayak down the creek," mentions a camper about Burke Lake Park.

What you should know

Seasonal operation variations: Many campgrounds close during winter months. Little Bennett Campground operates April 1 to October 30, while Lake Fairfax operates March 22 to September 7. Bull Run and Pohick Bay remain open year-round but with reduced services in winter.

Noise considerations: Airport, traffic, and shooting range noise affects some locations. At Washington DC Capitol KOA, a visitor reported: "Talk about being right up the butt of watching other people and being in Washington DC it's not cheaper than a hotel and it's much more inconvenient."

Reservation requirements: Most parks require advance booking through recreation.gov or specific reservation systems, especially for popular summer weekends. Greenbelt Park switched to reservations-only with one camper noting: "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online."

Limited hookups at some locations: Several parks offer electric-only connections or no hookups at all. "If leveling perfectly is a concern you may want to call ahead and ask before committing to the inner loop. Electric hookup only," advises a Lake Fairfax visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Natural playgrounds for kids: Several parks feature unique play areas. "There is a 'natural' playground in the loop, and then if you drive down further to the park entrance, there is a large playground for the kids. I've attached photos from the 'natural playground' aka, large rocks and overturned trees. The kids loved it," describes a camper at Hollofield Area.

Programming options: Some campgrounds offer structured activities. A visitor to Pohick Bay Campground shared: "We had a great time here over a long weekend in August. 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."

Site selection for kids: Not all sites work equally well for families. "We took our grand daughter there for her first camping trip and she loved the bouncing strawberry and the hikes. She was 3 or 4 at the time," shares a Little Bennett visitor, where certain loops are designated more family-friendly than others.

Weather preparation: The region's summer humidity and sudden storms require planning. At Bull Run Regional Park, a visitor notes: "The sites are pretty close together but not right on top of each other. Lots of good hiking trails can be accessed from the campsite as well as a nice playground for the kids."

Tips from RVers

Limited big-rig access: Several parks have restrictions for larger vehicles. Cherry Hill Park provides the most accommodation for larger rigs, though sites can be crowded. "Tight spots but very big and clean park. Great for camping if u want to go into Washington DC," notes one visitor.

Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have sloped sites requiring leveling blocks. At Patapsco Valley, a camper observed: "The sites are fairly close together but not right on top of each other. My site, 41, was level and nicely spaced from other sites but many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant."

RV approach routes matter: Bridge and road clearances affect access to some parks. "APPROACH THIS PARK ONLY FROM THE WEST IF YOUR VEHICLE IS OVER 11 FEET HIGH. (There is a 11' bridge coming east bound into this park.)," warns a Hollofield Area visitor. This often requires careful navigation or avoiding certain entrance roads.

Urban camping considerations: RVers note proximity to services and challenges of urban camping. A Bull Run visitor shared: "We stayed at Bull Run Regional Campground on our visit to Washington DC. It was fall and the colors were gorgeous. The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Takoma Park, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Takoma Park, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 42 reviews.

What parks are near Takoma Park, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Takoma Park, MD that allow camping, notably Rock Creek Park and Greenbelt Park.