4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Tent campers seeking overnight options near Fort Washington, Maryland can access multiple campgrounds along the Potomac River and surrounding state parks, ranging from developed sites with shower facilities to primitive tent campsites with only a fire ring and portable toilet. Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area provides non-electric tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings within a forested setting, while the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers several primitive tent camping areas including Swains Lock and Horsepen Branch hiker-biker campsites.
The tent camping surfaces vary significantly across these locations. Patapsco Valley sites feature crushed stone pads that some campers find uncomfortable for tent setup, requiring extra padding and alternative tent-securing methods. Most backcountry tent camping areas like those at Caledon State Park include designated tent pads with nearby fire rings but lack running water. A visitor commented, "The sites are flat and dispersed with most located adjacent to the river. Each site comes with a picnic table, fire ring and grill." Portable toilets are available at most primitive sites, while established campgrounds provide shower facilities and flush toilets. Weather considerations are important, as lower-elevation sites at Patapsco can experience flooding during heavy rain.
Primitive tent sites along the C&O Canal towpath offer unique advantages for tent campers seeking solitude. Areas like Swains Lock provide river views and a short walk-in from parking areas, making them accessible for backcountry tent camping without requiring extensive hiking. According to one visitor, "If I lived in Washington DC, this is where I would ride my bike to every weekend." Most hiker-biker campsites feature water pumps (seasonally available), though the water is treated with iodine which affects taste. The proximity to the Potomac River creates scenic camping but noise can be an issue at some locations due to nearby train tracks. Tent campers should arrive early to secure spots at popular locations, especially on weekends when sites fill quickly. Wildlife sightings including deer, wild turkeys, and waterfowl are common at these natural settings.
"Good for a day use, parking is full most of the time but have a lot of space to park you may have to walk but you will find one spot..."
"Close to me so theres nothing new"
from $15 - $18 / night
"Based 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."
from $12 - $45 / 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
from $55 - $95 / night
"Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water"
Available next weekend
from $40 / night
"7 or 8 tent pads. Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile. You’re not supposed to setup anything outside of the “tent pads”."
"It was my first hike in primitive camping experience. We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River."
Available next weekend
from $16 / night
"Sites have extras like fire rings with seating, swimming ponds, hiking trails, grassy playing fields, etc. but I’m not sure they all have all of these. They’re all among the trees and shady."
from $70 / night
"We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm and it was very wet even after the rain died down."
"There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center. There are a lot of easy, but beautiful hikes. The campground is on the smaller side."
from $20 - $51 / night
ScoutLovely but busy spot. Campground A has hookups but you can also fit a camper into the standard sites. All sites have nice travel pads and fire rings. Campground b is basically an open field as of Nov 2026 recommend avoiding that area.
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.
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.
Tent camping near Fort Washington, Maryland offers diverse options within 30 miles of this historic community. Located where the Potomac and Piscataway Creek meet, the area features low-elevation terrain with seasonal weather considerations. Summer camping brings humid conditions with temperatures averaging 85-90°F, while spring and fall camping sees milder temperatures with occasional rainfall.
Fishing and crabbing access: At Endeavor Point, campers can enjoy direct water access for fishing. "The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise," reports one visitor.
Family playground exploration: Patapsco Valley State Park-Hilton Area features extensive play areas. "It seem like this area is, possibly unintentionally, geared toward children. There is a massive playground, nature play space, sensory trail, and a small nature center," notes a camper.
Short hiking excursions: Trails at Caledon State Park provide scenic walks along the Potomac. A camper mentions, "It's a nice 3 mile hike to the campsite which is right by the Potomac river! They have porta Johns and a pavilion close by."
River views and sunsets: Waterfront sites offer natural scenery. "The beach is beautiful and we saw the most gorgeous sunset," shares a Caledon visitor, highlighting the waterfront experience.
Group camping facilities: Marsden Tract Group Campsite provides secluded spaces for larger gatherings. One camper describes it as "beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization."
Historic surroundings: Leesylvania State Park combines camping with historical elements. A camper notes, "This campground was so pretty. It is small, but the price and location near DC cannot be beat. It is directly on Potomac River."
Stone tent pads require preparation: Several campgrounds use crushed stone pads that need special consideration. A Patapsco Valley visitor advises, "The crushed stone at the sites isn't comfortable for tents, and they won't let you pitch it on the ground, so bring extra pads and alternative ways to secure the tent to the ground."
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Marsden Tract offers basic accommodations. A visitor notes it's "Super simple and the best price... easy to find and very clean."
Weather vulnerability: Low-lying campsites can flood during heavy rain. A Patapsco camper shares, "One negative was that when it rains it really flushes through the grounds. We had a site on the lower end of the loop and our site was hard to set up as we arrived during a storm."
Nature programs for kids: Many parks offer educational activities. At Patapsco Valley, "There is a huge playground for kids- it's not within walking distance for little kids but it's a very short drive by the entrance to the park."
Swimming options: Look for water access points at river-adjacent campgrounds. One Caledon State Park camper mentions, "We found a small river and swimming hole at the bottom of the hill off to the side opposite the cabins/park."
Alternative shelter options: For families new to tent camping Fort Washington, consider cabins. "The best part of this campground are the neat mini cabins. Small one room cabins that have electricity and heat. They are a nice touch for those that want to camp, but not completely 'rough it,'" shares a Patapsco Valley visitor.
Limited RV accommodations: Most tent camping sites near Fort Washington have few RV-specific amenities. At Lacy Oasis, one visitor notes it "provides guests with a quiet spot to stay while enjoying this escape," though sites are limited with only 6 total camping spots.
Size restrictions apply: Large RVs face challenges at most local campgrounds. "We missed the entrance and had to turn around," explains a camper about Patapsco Valley's narrow access roads.
Seasonal considerations: RV camping is most accessible from April through October. Patapsco Valley's season runs "April 1 to October 30," giving a clear timeframe for planning tent and small RV camping trips to Fort Washington area parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fort Washington, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fort Washington, MD is Leesylvania State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Fort Washington, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Fort Washington, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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