RV parks near Garrett Park, Maryland offer diverse options within 30-45 minutes of the DC metropolitan area. The region sits along the fall line between the Piedmont Plateau and Coastal Plain, creating varied terrain for camping from river valleys to forested hills. Most campgrounds remain open year-round with seasonal limitations on water hookups during winter months when temperatures can dip below freezing.
What to do
Hiking access: Prince William Forest Park offers excellent day hiking opportunities close to the RV campground. "Prince William Forest National Park is accessible for awesome day hikes. Civil War National Parks nearby. DC just up the road. National Marine Corp Museum just around corner," notes Kenneth H. from Prince William Forest RV Campground.
Water recreation: At Brunswick Family Campground, the Potomac River provides water activities right from your site. "The Shenandoah is just as beautiful. The showers could use a good cleaning but they are typical Campground showers perfect for the campground life," writes Brian S. who adds, "100 yards from here campsite may be a little more for further out but the Shenandoah river parallels the campground."
Historical exploration: Harpers Ferry Campground positions you perfectly for exploring significant historical sites. "Harpers Ferry is a beautiful place to hike, camp and visit," reports Annie S. who adds that "the campground is part of zip lining/rafting courses" offering multiple recreational options from one base camp.
What campers like
Convenient transportation: Cherry Hill Park stands out for its transit connections to DC attractions. "They have a bus stop for metro service to the city, but we took the 20 minute drive. They have a nice looking pool area, but it was too cold. The shop was cute and staff nice," shares Joe R., highlighting the practical benefits of Cherry Hill Park.
Fishing opportunities: Fort Belvoir Travel Camp offers productive fishing access directly from the campground. "It is very clean and there are many amenities close by. The base outdoor recreation center has equipment to rent such as kayaks and canoes to explore the Potomac river. There is a pier out into the river to fish on," explains Jack R., noting the Fort Belvoir facilities.
Clean facilities: Lake Fairfax Campground earns praise for its well-maintained facilities. "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained. It's very convenient and plenty of activities for the kids," states Tana S., though she notes that "this place gets crowded" due to its prime location.
What you should know
Noise considerations: Train tracks run close to several area campgrounds, creating periodic noise disturbances. At Harpers Ferry Campground, "you are directly next to train tracks but being from the city, this noise doesn't bother my husband or me," explains Robin W. Similarly, Brunswick Family Campground has nearby rail activity: "The Brunswick train station and depot is just a few hundred feet away and you can hear trains at all times of the night."
Seasonal crowds: Summer and holiday weekends see significant crowding at campgrounds nearest to DC attractions. "It's not the most private and serene campsite," mentions Robin W. about Harpers Ferry, while Tana notes at Lake Fairfax that "because it is such a high traffic area, our campsite had small pieces of trash scattered around."
Terrain challenges: Many campsites in the region require leveling equipment. At Bull Run Regional Park, "our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much, so you might want to ask about that," advises Roberta K. Similarly, at Lake Fairfax "many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Ramblin' Pines offers numerous structured activities for children. "It has a pool, jump pillow, mini golf, fishing pond, barnyard with goats, and multiple playgrounds. I really like all the trees," reports Sean M., highlighting the diverse entertainment options available on-site.
Water parks: Several campgrounds feature water recreation facilities specifically designed for families. Bull Run Regional Park "has golf frisbe course, decent water park for kids, hiking trails, small creek/river you can explore, playgrounds," mentions Tom C., making it ideal for families with varied interests.
Playground access: Multiple reviewers note playground availability as an important family consideration. At Prince William Forest, Rebecca E. mentions "the playground is in very good condition," while Michelle L. reports that at Ramblin' Pines "the kids loved the bounce pillow."
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Bring adequate leveling blocks for many sites in the region. At Fort Belvoir, Thomas notes "our site wasn't fully level, so bring plenty of leveling blocks," while Drew M. shares about Bull Run Park: "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level."
Site selection strategy: Request end sites when possible for more space. At Brunswick Family Campground, Lauren B. advises "select the correct site as that is incredibly important. Sites on the ends are by far larger than the center."
Hookup variations: Water access differs significantly between parks. At Lake Fairfax, sites feature electric hookups but no direct water connections. Prince William Forest RV Camp offers more complete hookups, with Mary P. noting "tables and fire rings at all sites. Small, well stocked camp store. Propane and 2 easy dump stations."
