Camping near Aldie, Virginia offers varied terrain from riverside sites to wooded forest settings across a 20-mile radius. The area sits at elevations between 300-700 feet with terrain that ranges from flat riverfront camping to hillier forest sites. Most campgrounds maintain moderate temperatures from April through October with nighttime lows typically dropping 15-20 degrees below daytime highs.
What to Do
Tubing and river activities: At Harpers Ferry Campground, campers enjoy direct river access. "Wonderful tent campground. It is right on the river so you can go swimming right from your campsite!" notes Robin W. The campground offers tubing, white water rafting, and fishing from your site.
Historical exploration: Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA serves as an excellent base for history enthusiasts. Matt S. explains, "Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door." From here, Frederick and Antietam are about 30 minutes by car.
Hiking trails: Sky Meadows State Park Campground offers access to the Appalachian Trail and numerous other paths. "There is also a stretch of trail that they deem the 'old AT' before it was relocated," mentions David S. The park features both meadow and wooded trails with varying difficulty levels.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Little Bennett Campground receives praise for its spacious layout. Ray & Terri F. note, "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup." Many campers appreciate the natural separation between sites.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses. At Bull Run Regional Park, one camper mentioned, "Bathrooms are also clean and have hot showers." At Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA, Erin S. found that "bathroom/shower facilities were clean and plentiful, laundry worked and was average price."
Night sky viewing: Little Bennett Campground offers excellent stargazing opportunities. As one reviewer noted, "Great night sky viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings." The wooded setting helps block ambient light from nearby communities.
What You Should Know
Train noise: At Harpers Ferry Campground, proximity to train tracks affects some campers. "The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains," warns Sherri C. Consider bringing earplugs if you're a light sleeper.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds in the region require advance bookings, especially during peak season. At Sky Meadows, Justin S. cautions about "the antiquated check-in process" where "you have to drive up to the main building, register, go back to the overnight lot, put in the gate code, hang the lot tag on your mirror, and hike in to the site."
Water sources: Water availability varies significantly between campgrounds. Sky Meadows has "non potable water available via hand pump near rest rooms," according to Lucas B., while Bull Run and Lake Fairfax offer full hookups at many sites.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly amenities: Lake Fairfax Campground offers numerous activities for children. Amy B. shares, "A lot to do: mountain bike trails; wooded hikes with water along the trails, skateboard park, BMX park, Water Park near the campground, fishing, & canoeing." The water park is an additional cost but worth it for many families.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas. At Bull Run Regional Park, Bridget H. notes, "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do... The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt."
Bathroom considerations: When camping with kids, bathroom proximity matters. Yvonne B. from Bull Run Regional Park mentions, "The best review I can give us of the bathrooms. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Best camping showers I've ever had." However, she notes "there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: At some campgrounds, RV sites may require significant leveling. At Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA, Matt S. warns, "Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air." Request information about site grade when booking.
Dump station locations: Watermelon Park Campground offers electric and water hookups but no sewer at sites. Brian J. notes, "Price is a little high considering there is no sewer hookup (dump station is on site)." Plan your tank usage accordingly.
Access road considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access routes. At Watermelon Park Campground, Brian J. mentions, "the road in off of US 7 is pretty narrow." At Bull Run, some sites have awkwardly positioned hookups, so request specific information when booking.
