9 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp accommodates pets with clean, well-maintained sites overlooking the Potomac River. The campground features full hookup RV sites with 50-amp service, picnic tables, and trash collection, all situated on an active military base with controlled access. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the property, and waste stations are available near the camping areas. Cherry Hill Park in nearby College Park, Maryland offers extensive pet amenities including two separate off-leash dog parks and a dedicated dog walking service for campers spending the day exploring Washington DC. The bathrooms at both facilities remain consistently clean with hot water always available, making them convenient for campers traveling with pets.
Several pet-friendly trails connect to the campgrounds in the region, with Pohick Bay Regional Park providing direct access to waterfront paths where leashed dogs can explore alongside their owners. Bull Run Regional Park maintains dedicated pet loops for campers with animals, offering more privacy while still providing access to facilities. The campground staff at most locations enforce quiet hours to minimize barking disturbances, with most parks requiring pets to be supervised at all times. Brunswick Family Campground along the C&O Canal allows dogs throughout their riverfront property, though some campers note that hookups can be awkwardly positioned requiring extension cords and longer hoses. Most dog-friendly campgrounds in the region sell firewood on-site, with some offering honor system purchases after office hours for late arrivals with pets.
"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
"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."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $26 / night
"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
"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."
"Restrooms/showers: very clean, spacious, centrally located."
"Adjacent to Prince William Forest, near shops and restaurants, and less than an hour away from Washington, DC. Good nature getaway from the city."
"The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours. I have a reactive dog and he did well here! We’ll be back!"
"They are in short distance from the water. There is a playground, bathhouse, and historical buildings that are accessible to campers. There are hiking trials, but none are two extensive."
from $27 - $65 / night
"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
"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"
"If you are looking for camping in Fairfax County Virginia, this is it, because there are only a couple to choose from."
from $30 - $70 / night
"This campground is abord Fort Belvoir, an US Army base in Northern, VA. It is very clean and there are many amenities close by."
"Super clean Very well maintained Pet friendly... kinda No veteran discounts smh Good for a day or two"
from $55 / 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
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 near Fort Belvoir offers access to the Potomac River watershed and Virginia's coastal forests, with elevations ranging from 5 to 200 feet above sea level. The region experiences humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F from June through August, making water access a priority for campers. Fall camping season extends through October with cooler temperatures and changing foliage.
Disc golf courses: Pohick Bay Regional Park maintains an 18-hole course within walking distance of camping areas. "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay 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 Pohick Bay Campground.
Historical exploration: The region contains significant Revolutionary and Civil War sites accessible from campgrounds. "We spent 5 days camping and exploring the civil war battle areas and other things. Definitely worth exploring. Get your camp on do some hiking, biking, fishin, and also exploring th history of the area well worth it," writes Daniel S. about Oak Ridge Campground.
Water activities: Multiple waterfront camping options offer canoeing and fishing opportunities. "The park has a beautiful lake with a 5-mile gravel walking/running/biking trail around the lake's perimeter. You are not supposed to swim in the lake but you can take out boats (there is a boat launch)," explains Sarah M. at Burke Lake Park.
Quiet camping close to DC: Many campsites provide natural settings within an hour of Washington DC. "Oak Ridge Campground is deep at 'end' of Prince William Forest (13 miles from forest entrance gate). There are three loops, front to back. Loop A are walkin only sites for RVs and tents. Loops B and C reservable," details Tracy R. about staying at Oak Ridge.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse quality varies across parks but receives positive mentions. "This campground has great space and super clean bathrooms with marble tile," reports Chad about Oak Ridge Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer opportunities to spot native wildlife. "Beautiful campground located near the National Harbor. Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" writes Kathie M. about her stay at Pohick Bay.
Military installation access: Some campgrounds have restricted entry requirements. "This campground is abord Fort Belvoir, an US Army base in Northern, VA. 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," explains Jack R. about Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp.
Ticks and insects: The forested areas require proper preparation against ticks. "Ticks were really bad. We killed dozens and ended up taking at least one with us when we left," warns Tracy R. about Oak Ridge Campground.
Seasonal crowds: Campgrounds near water features become very busy during summer weekends. "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," mentions Kelli T. about Pohick Bay.
Activity-rich parks: Choose campgrounds with multiple recreation options. "Decent campground here suitable for campers new and old. Have tent, full hook up RV sites and even cabin sites for the families who just want the comfort of a home. The sites and clean and spacious. The bathrooms are also clean and have hot showers," suggests Daniel S. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Organized activities: Some parks offer scheduled events for children. "We had a great time here over a long weekend in August. 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," shares Ben G. about Pohick Bay.
Pet-friendly trails: Many parks allow leashed dogs on hiking paths. "The bathrooms at most locations enforce quiet hours to minimize barking disturbances, with most parks requiring pets to be supervised at all times," notes a reviewer about pet-friendly camping near Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven sites at some campgrounds. "Our site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," reports Drew M. about his experience at Bull Run Regional Park.
Dump station quirks: Facility design can present challenges for RVers. "They have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower," warns Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest.
Transportation planning: Many RVers recommend having additional transportation when camping near Fort Belvoir. "You really need a toad since supplies are not very close to the camping area," advises Mike H. about Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp, highlighting a practical concern for those bringing larger rigs to pet-friendly camping near Fort Belvoir.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Belvoir, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Belvoir, VA is Pohick Bay Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Belvoir, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 76 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Belvoir, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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