Bull Run Regional Park offers tent, RV, and cabin camping options 30 miles west of Washington DC. The campground sits at an elevation of 300 feet with a moderate climate that averages 75°F in summer and 35°F in winter. Many campsites remain open year-round despite seasonal closures of certain amenities such as water parks and splash pads from October through April.
What to do
Disc golf course access: Bull Run Regional Park features an 18-hole disc golf course popular with campers. "The campground is beautiful and well-maintained. There's a disc golf course that is easy and fun to follow," notes a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Explore battlefields: The region contains significant Civil War history sites within short driving distance. "Lots of history near by so check out the old battle fields and buildings that housed troops during civil war. Very cool stuff," explains a camper from Bull Run Regional Park.
River activities: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation opportunities. "This campground is off the beaten path and QUIET! We'll be back with this as a destination for kayaking. The river access is fantastic!" reports a visitor to Rappahannock River Campground.
Historical exploration: The area offers numerous historical sites beyond traditional outdoor recreation. "Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door. Harpers Ferry Lower Town and Bolivar Heights are a few minutes by car," mentions a camper from Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds feature generously sized campsites. "Very spacious sites and awesome views of the forest," reports a camper from Bull Run Regional Park.
Clean facilities: Bathroom quality stands out as a highlight for many campers. "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," shares a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to see deer and other animals. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience. With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," notes a camper at Big Meadows Campground.
Proximity to DC: Location near the nation's capital remains a practical advantage. "Nice and quiet here during winter more so during week than weekends. 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," shares a visitor at Pohick Bay Campground.
What you should know
Environmental challenges: Some sites experience drainage issues during rain events. "While we were here, there was a fairly heavy day of rain. Couple inches, I suppose, but nothing Biblical. The mouths of the metal culverts in our loop were bent downward from campers driving over them, which obstructed the flow. Result was lots of standing water at our campsite," reports a camper from Bull Run Regional Park.
Ambient noise: Background noise can be noticeable at certain campgrounds. "Camp ground is nice. 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," explains a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Site variations: Campsite quality and levelness vary significantly within the same campground. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," notes a camper at Bull Run Regional Park.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds implement booking policies that require advance planning. "But Bull Run manages to goose you even more. There are occupancy AND transaction fees that really add up if you're only there a few nights. But the real kicker is a 2-night minimum stay. Even mid-week. In APRIL for gosh sakes!"
Tips for camping with families
Scavenger hunts: Several parks offer organized activities for children. "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. 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," shares a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Scheduled activities: Check for special events during your stay. "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," reports a camper from Cherry Hill Park.
Playground access: Consider site location relative to play areas. "We had a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," notes a family that visited Pohick Bay Campground.
Seasonal water features: Water parks provide summer recreation opportunities at certain campgrounds. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer," mentions a visitor to Pohick Bay Campground.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Some RV sites require significant adjustment to achieve proper leveling. "Heads up, big rig owners! 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," cautions a visitor at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA.
Site spacing: RV sites vary widely in spacing and privacy levels. "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," notes an RVer at Cherry Hill Park.
Hookup considerations: Utility placement can affect campsite functionality. "Our site had water and electric which was nice," explains a visitor describing glamping near Gainesville, Virginia at Pohick Bay Campground.
