Yurt camping options near Arlington, Virginia span a 25-mile radius in both Maryland and Virginia, offering quick access to national monuments while maintaining a natural setting. Several campgrounds feature yurts as alternatives to traditional tent camping, with most requiring advance reservations during peak seasons from April through October. These accommodations typically include wooden platforms and canvas structures that withstand variable mid-Atlantic weather conditions.
What to do
Historical exploration: 5 miles. Pohick Bay Campground provides access to numerous historical sites. "Beautiful campground located near the National Harbor. Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" reports Kathie M. The park connects to trails leading to Civil War-era landmarks.
Disc golf: free course. At Pohick Bay, visitors can play a full 18-hole course without additional fees. Rachel L. notes it's "a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course." Most visitors bring their own discs, though rentals may be available seasonally.
Water activities: seasonal. Multiple parks offer water recreation from May through September. At Bull Run Regional Park, families appreciate the water features. According to Bridget H., "This campground was full of stuff to do. The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my kids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt."
What campers like
Private wooded sites. Little Bennett Campground receives consistent praise for site spacing and natural surroundings. Ray & Terri F. describe: "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup. There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly."
Proximity to DC attractions. Most campers value the balance between nature and urban access. At Burke Lake Park, visitors appreciate the convenient location. "BLP has a great lake for fishing and boat rentals, a paved path to walk around the lake (about 5 miles) and a fantastic playground. There is a carousel and a kiddy train, frisbee golf, a regular golf course - all a short drive from DC," writes Alexis.
Year-round camping options. Unlike seasonal campgrounds, some facilities remain open through winter. Josh J. from Pohick Bay Campground shares, "Stayed here for 2w while visiting friends in Alexandria. Took me 25-30m to get there so you are far away from bustle of city but not so far that going in to enjoy breakfast or the sights is a feat. Nice and quiet here during winter."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: 2-4 months advance. During peak seasons, securing yurt accommodations requires planning. At Cherry Hill Park, competition for glamping sites intensifies from spring through fall.
Noise considerations. Some campgrounds experience ambient noise from surrounding infrastructure. Drew M. notes about Bull Run: "Camp ground is nice. Check in was a breeze. The only drawback is that it is not quite. There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away."
Variable site conditions. Not all sites provide level ground, which affects comfort especially for yurt campers. Ben S. at Cosca Regional Park advises, "Check out your site before booking, some sites are steep but spacious. Close to town but far enough to enjoy yourself. Bathrooms are clean and have decent showers."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: daily schedules. Many parks offer structured programming for children. At Bull Run Regional Park, Bridget H. shares, "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides. Great family friendly campground." Morning crafts and afternoon nature programs typically run during summer months.
Playground proximity: request specific sites. When booking with children, consider site location. Ben G. from Washington DC / Capitol KOA recommends: "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."
Wildlife awareness: secure food. Multiple campgrounds report active wildlife, particularly raccoons. Tye S. warns campers to "Use repel spray to keep the raccoons off your site" as "Raccoons run wild at night flipping trash can lids on your campsite hunting for food."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy. Cherry Hill Park offers varying degrees of separation between sites. Scott C. advises: "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side. The landscaping, trees and site placement does help the esthetics."
Level check before setup. Bull Run campers note site variations that impact larger rigs. Roberta K. mentions, "Our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much, so you might want to ask about that. The staff was very friendly and helpful."
Utility considerations. For yurt campers considering upgraded sites, utility access varies widely. At Cosca Regional Park, only specific sites offer electrical hookups: "Only 5 sites have electric (2, 5, 18, 24, 25) but all 25 sites have water hookup." Most sites near Arlington with yurt options also offer some form of electrical access.
