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.
