8 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Cherry Hill Park accommodates tent, RV, cabin, and glamping campers traveling with pets. Located in College Park, Maryland, this highly-rated campground provides essential amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and showers alongside pet-friendly policies. Greenbelt Park Campground in nearby Greenbelt allows pets with drive-in and walk-in access for tent and RV camping. The campground has maintained hiking trails suitable for pets, though visitors should use tick and mosquito precautions when exploring with their dogs. Pohick Bay Campground in Lorton, Virginia also welcomes pets with options for tent camping, RVs, and cabins. The bathrooms at Greenbelt are clean with hot showers available 24/7, making longer stays with pets more comfortable.
Greenbelt National Park's trails offer excellent opportunities for dog walking, with the five-mile perimeter trail being particularly popular despite occasional tick issues. Morning wildlife sightings are common at these campgrounds, with many visitors reporting deer grazing near their campsites. Traffic noise from nearby highways can sometimes be heard at Greenbelt Park, particularly for those camping with windows open. The Metro station is approximately 2 miles from Greenbelt campground, making it an ideal base for pet owners who want to explore Washington DC while keeping camping costs reasonable. Sites with electric hookups are limited at some facilities – Louise F. Cosca Regional Park has only 5 electric sites out of 25 total campsites, all featuring water hookups. Park police regularly patrol the campgrounds, providing additional security for campers with valuable pets and equipment.
"Though you are close to highways I don’t recall hearing and noise. I love that they have shuttles to DC., walking trails and a large dog park."
"Great location with access to all forms of transportation. Store fully stocked to include groceries. Two pools. Hot tub. Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf. "
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"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 this weekend
from $150 / 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
"Site 24 and 25 are very close together but the other sites are at a distance however, 6 of the 25 sites are unleveled so tent camping is probably the only option."
"Close to town but far enough to enjoy yourself. Bathrooms are clean and have decent showers."
from $10 - $45 / 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"
"A lot to do: mountain bike trails (horses and walking, too); wooded hikes with water along the trails (great for dogs in the summer heat), skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing"
"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."
from $30 - $70 / night
"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."
"Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store. We stayed at site 146 on the first caul-de-sac off the first loop just another site away from the bath house (which was pretty clean)."
"There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation."
Available this weekend
from $34 - $90 / night
"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
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.
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)
Camping options within 30 miles of Temple Hills range from urban forests to waterfront settings along the Potomac River. The region maintains moderate temperatures through spring and fall camping seasons, with summer humidity requiring proper tent ventilation. Most dog friendly campgrounds near Temple Hills enforce leash requirements and limit pets to specific camping areas.
Disc golf course access: Bull Run Regional Park has an 18-hole course perfect for casual players. "Bull Run is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Bull Run is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," notes Rachel L. from Bull Run Regional Park.
Historic site exploration: Many campgrounds are near Civil War battlefields and historic structures within a 30-minute drive. "There is plenty of space between camp site clusters. The park itself is safe, quiet, permitting some nice treks through the woods. It is not free but very reasonable considering the area. The other great thing about it that you can spend entire days at the always-free Smithsonian museums and still fall asleep in the woods," writes a camper at Greenbelt Park Campground.
Water activities: Several parks offer kayaking, fishing and boating options during summer months. "Sites were well-maintained, including lavatories. Plenty of tree cover," shares Timothy C. Pohick Bay Campground includes motorboat rentals and paddling access points along its shoreline.
Well-maintained bathrooms: Clean facilities with hot water are consistently mentioned as a significant plus. "The bathhouse is ok, happy to have free showers with hot running water. Faucets allow you to control the temperature and there's continuous running water (no button to push)," reports Laura M. at Greenbelt Park Campground.
Access to DC attractions: Many campgrounds serve as affordable bases for visiting Washington DC. "This is an urban oasis. Traffic can be heard but not seen. Weekdays are pretty quiet in this campground. Living nearby but storing my popup camper elsewhere, I often park my camper here for a few days while I pack it for a trip," shares Becky about Greenbelt Park.
Family-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds offer recreational facilities beyond basic camping. "We had a great time here over a long weekend in August. The check in is a breeze and the staff is super nice and helpful. They gave us a great intro to the park as we were first timers. They informed us that they had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend," writes Ben G. at Pohick Bay Campground.
Noise considerations: Highway sounds and air traffic affect some campgrounds in the region. "This place is packed full of people who like to stay up late and make lots of noise. Park rules aren't very well enforced. Showers were clean and campsites seemed well maintained," warns Kelli T. about Pohick Bay.
Tick prevention: Multiple parks report tick issues, particularly in wooded areas during summer months. "Lots of trails but in June at least the ticks were waaaay too plentiful," notes Joe C. about Cedarville State Forest.
Wildlife encounters: Early morning wildlife viewing is common at several parks. "Every morning birds and squirrels" can be seen throughout the camping areas according to reviews of Greenbelt Campground. "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates," reports Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest.
Water parks nearby: Some campgrounds offer splash pads or water features ideal for summer camping with children. "This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it. We stayed in a cabin for 2 nights and had a great time. The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon," shares Bridget H. from Bull Run Regional Park.
Organized children's activities: Several parks run regular weekend programming for kids. "Great family friendly campground. They gave us a great intro to the park as we were first timers. 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," reports Ben G.
Kid-friendly hiking trails: Many campgrounds feature shorter, relatively flat trails suitable for young hikers. "There are lots of things for kids to do and places to run around. Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer," explains Anne K. from Lake Fairfax Campground.
Site levelness: Many reviewers note varying leveling challenges at regional campgrounds. "Sites vary in levelness, some are fairly level and some are on a mini hill. Driveways are all very narrow. Most have too much tree cover for solar or starlink, but some sites are more open and you might be able to make it work," explains Laura M. about Greenbelt Park.
Limited hookup availability: Some parks have minimal electric sites despite water availability. "This campground is about 25 sites. Only 5 sites have electric (2, 5, 18, 24, 25) but all 25 sites have water hookup," notes Tye S. about Louise F. Cosca Regional Park.
Dump station accessibility: Varying dump station quality across campgrounds impacts longer stays. "There is a dump station and drinking water fill in loop C. The water fill was a little annoying in that there's a handle you have to hold down the whole time, but we used a rock to prop the handle down," shares Laura M. about her experience at pet-friendly Greenbelt Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Temple Hills, MD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Temple Hills, MD is Cherry Hill Park with a 4.8-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Temple Hills, MD?
TheDyrt.com has all 74 dog-friendly camping locations near Temple Hills, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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