11 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Camping near Fairfax Station ranges from primitive tent sites to developed RV parks with electric hookups, cabin accommodations, and full amenities. Burke Lake Park offers tent and RV camping within a suburban setting near Fairfax Station, Virginia, with primitive sites without hookups in a wooded setting along the lake. Additional developed campgrounds in the area include Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville and Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, both offering more amenities including electric hookups, water access, and cabin accommodations. Most campgrounds in this region are within regional or state parks, situated within 10-20 miles of Washington D.C., making them convenient base camps for exploring the capital area.
The camping season generally runs from March through October, with some facilities like Bull Run and Pohick Bay remaining open year-round. Most sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when availability becomes limited. A visitor commented, "This place is right near my house yet it still feels like you're out in the open." Facilities vary significantly between parks, with Burke Lake offering more primitive experiences while others like Cherry Hill Park in nearby College Park, Maryland provide full hookups and extensive amenities. Bathhouses with showers are available at most developed campgrounds, though the quality and cleanliness can vary by location.
Campers particularly appreciate the recreational opportunities available at these parks. Burke Lake features a 5-mile trail around the lake, fishing opportunities, boat rentals, disc golf, and family activities. A review mentioned that it's "a great primitive sites with upgraded bath houses" and that the "park offers a lake for fishing and kayaking, 5 mile trail around the lake, disc golf, mini golf, carousel, and a cool little train." While sites at Burke Lake and other regional campgrounds can be relatively close together, they typically provide enough privacy for a comfortable experience. Many campers note that despite being in suburban settings, these campgrounds still provide a sense of being in nature while offering convenient access to nearby attractions and services.
"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 have lived in northern Virginia for over 30 years and never been to this campground until this month! Very nice campground with friendly staff and friendly campground hosts."
Available this weekend
from $34 - $90 / night
"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $150 / night
"Showers are in loop B, which is a 5-7 minute walk. During holiday weekends the sites closest to the shower facilities are fully booked and have less privacy."
"The Oak Ridge campgrounds at Prince William Forest Park are a lovely little campground just outside Washington DC. The sites were large, the facilities are clean and the staff friendly and helpful."
Available this weekend
from $26 / night
"If you are looking for camping in Fairfax County Virginia, this is it, because there are only a couple to choose from."
"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."
from $32 - $40 / night
"Adjacent to Prince William Forest, near shops and restaurants, and less than an hour away from Washington, DC. Good nature getaway from the city."
"Stayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door."
"Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."
"That being said, I’m sure there were a few campers who didn’t like being right next to the walkway to the bathrooms and showers. The park is broken down in to various sections and slightly tiered."
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"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."
"i’ve camped here too many times to count, love being surrounded by nature!"
"Close to me so theres nothing new"
"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..."
from $15 - $18 / night
"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."
"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."
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.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
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.
ScoutThis is are first camping adventure in are new travel trailer. Camp ground is quiet and well maintained. Bath rooms and shower facilities are fantastic.
GuidePrimitive feel with full hookups. I have a 22' trailer, and it fits fine. I hope you like trains. Plenty of them go by.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
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.
Campgrounds near Fairfax Station, Virginia offer varied terrain and access points throughout the year. The region sits at elevations between 200-400 feet in the Piedmont region, characterized by rolling hills and mixed hardwood forests. Winter camping remains available at several locations with temperatures typically ranging from 25-45°F from December through February.
Hiking trails beyond Burke Lake: The area offers multiple trail systems for different skill levels. At Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park, you can explore extensive trail networks. One camper noted: "We spent 5 days camping and exploring the civil war battle areas and other things. Definitely worth exploring."
Disc golf courses: Fairfax County parks feature multiple disc golf options. "BR park is absolutely beautiful. So much to do and centered around many historical sites. It's a gem," mentions one visitor to Bull Run Regional Park.
Water recreation: Boating opportunities exist throughout the region. At Pohick Bay, "Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats" is available according to a regular visitor. Lake Fairfax Park provides additional water activities with various rental options available seasonally.
Proximity to DC with natural setting: Many campgrounds serve as convenient basestations for capital visits. A camper at Pohick Bay Campground shared: "Spent several nights here while visiting Washington DC. You need military credentials. Handy to the DC Metro Transit system. Nice views of river."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The watershed areas attract diverse wildlife. "Beautiful campground located near the National Harbor. Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" reported a visitor to Pohick Bay.
Seasonal activities: Different parks offer rotating scheduled events. One family at Bull Run Regional Park reported: "The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish."
Varying site privacy levels: Site spacing differs significantly between locations. A camper noted about Lake Fairfax Campground: "Campsites are close together. If you like being around people and don't mind seeing 3-4 other sites around you, then this place is a really nice and easy campsite."
Seasonal crowds and noise: Some parks experience significant seasonal crowding. According to one visitor: "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."
Terrain challenges: Not all sites offer level ground. A recent visitor observed: "Not all sites are level at all. Many tents were on a full slant." At Burke Lake, sites in the outer loop tend to be more level than inner loop locations.
Educational programming: Several parks offer structured learning activities. At Bull Run Regional Park, a family reported: "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it. They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Water parks for summer visits: Multiple parks feature water recreation areas. A visitor noted: "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer." These water features generally operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day with daily admission fees.
Playground accessibility: Consider proximity to play areas when booking. One family at Oak Ridge Campground shared: "We had a great time here over a long weekend in August. We got a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious."
Bathroom facility quality: Shower and restroom conditions vary significantly. An RVer highlighted: "I'll go again just for the showers. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had."
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds require significant leveling. One RVer at Prince William Forest RV Campground cautioned: "The back row is steep. We were unable to get our Super C level. The rain created red clay mud so the dogs were a mess."
Winter accessibility: Several campgrounds maintain year-round operations. A winter visitor at Cherry Hill Park remarked: "Stayed here for 2 weeks while visiting friends in Alexandria. Nice and quiet here during winter more so during week than weekends."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Fairfax Station, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Fairfax Station, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 108 campgrounds and RV parks near Fairfax Station, VA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Fairfax Station, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fairfax Station, VA is Bull Run Regional Park with a 3.9-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fairfax Station, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Fairfax Station, VA.
What parks are near Fairfax Station, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Fairfax Station, VA that allow camping, notably Prince William Forest Park and George Washington Memorial Parkway.
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