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Pohick Bay Campground accommodates pets throughout its forested sites where tent campers and RV travelers find spacious areas for overnight stays. The campground offers electric hookups, water access, and fire rings at most sites, with both drive-in and walk-in options available. Campsites backing up to the playground provide convenient recreation for families with children and pets. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp maintains pet-friendly policies on its military installation, featuring full hookup sites along the Potomac River. Both locations enforce on-leash requirements for dogs throughout the camping areas. The sites are generally well-maintained with clean facilities, though some spots at Fort Belvoir may require additional leveling blocks due to uneven terrain.
Hiking trails near Pohick Bay provide excellent opportunities for dog walking, with paths leading to waterfront areas where some campers report seeing eagles. The campground's proximity to Washington DC (approximately 30 minutes) makes it convenient for pet owners balancing outdoor recreation with urban exploration. Bull Run Regional Park and Burke Lake Park also welcome pets with designated walking areas. During summer months, higher temperatures require additional consideration for pets, including adequate shade and water access. The regional park system maintains consistent pet policies across properties, requiring leashes no longer than 6 feet and proper waste disposal. Several nearby veterinary clinics serve the area, with the closest emergency services located in Alexandria and Springfield.
"This is a pet friendly campground. There's a lot to do out at the whole park, and its worth exploring (we just didn't have time). I'm sure its so pretty out near the water."
"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."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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. "
from $999 / night
Check Availability"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."
"The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom."
"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $43 - $100 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Super clean Very well maintained Pet friendly... kinda No veteran discounts smh Good for a day or two"
"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."
from $55 / night
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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 areas along George Washington Memorial Parkway extend from suburban Washington DC into rural Virginia. Sites range from heavily wooded locations to waterfront settings with access to the Potomac River. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder camping conditions with nighttime temperatures that can drop into the 40s.
Disc golf course access: Bull Run Regional Park maintains an 18-hole course popular with campers seeking recreational activities. "Great regional park with lots to do - trails, biking, boating," notes Kristen M. about the facilities at Bull Run Regional Park.
Kayaking and canoeing: Explore Mattawoman Creek directly from Smallwood State Park. "Mattawoman Creek is right there and great for kayaking," reports Lorraine P., who has camped at Smallwood State Park multiple times.
Historical exploration: Prince William Forest offers access to numerous Civil War sites within short driving distance. "We spent 5 days camping and exploring the civil war battle areas and other things," shares one camper who found the historical context worthwhile at Oak Ridge Campground.
Metro accessibility: Greenbelt Park Campground provides convenient public transportation options. "Take the METRO if you are going into the District. There are two stations very close to camp. Rides vary depending on how far you are going but on average I spent about $10 per day on METRO versus $20-$40 on parking," advises Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park Campground.
Well-maintained showers: Bull Run Regional Park offers private shower facilities that receive consistently positive reviews. "I'll go again just for the showers... They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Best camping showers I've ever had," reports Yvonne B.
Wildlife viewing: Campers at Cedarville State Forest report diverse wildlife sightings. "Saw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC," writes Ben J. about their experience at Cedarville State Forest.
Varying site levelness: Several campgrounds require additional equipment for level setups. "Some sites are a little unlevel, front to rear, but definitely manageable," notes Mike H. about camping at Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds operate on reservation-only systems, especially during peak seasons. "When I was checking out this site I wasn't sure how it would work out exactly... I went ahead and booked for the days I would be there in good faith and spent $100 for 5 days ($20 per night)," explains Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park.
Tick prevalence: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near George Washington Memorial Parkway report tick issues during warmer months. "Ticks were really bad. We killed dozens and ended up taking at least one with us when we left," warns Tracy R. at Prince William Forest RV Campground.
Waterpark amenities: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation facilities for children. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer," mentions Anne K. about Pohick Bay Campground.
Organized activities: Cherry Hill Park offers structured family programming throughout the week. "Nightly hayride... They have so much going on! Plan and reserve you DC tours right at the campground. No need to drive anywhere, the tour buses pick you up at the park," explains Jason E. about the comprehensive family services at Cherry Hill Park.
Playground proximity: When selecting sites at pet-friendly campgrounds, consider proximity to recreation areas. "We had a site on the inner loop and it backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," shares Ben G. about his experience at Pohick Bay with his young children.
Electric hookup variability: RV sites range from 30-amp to 50-amp service depending on the campground. "50 amp hook-up, Water, Sewer," lists Beth R. as amenities at Cherry Hill Park, while others note limited electrical service at other locations.
Leveling requirements: Some RV sites require additional equipment for proper setup. "Not all sites are level (half). Staff are always nice and go out of their way to help," notes Robert P. about Pohick Bay Campground's terrain.
Navigation challenges: RVers should assess site access before arrival, especially in more wooded areas. "We have AT&T and had two bars pretty consistently. We would stay here again," adds Nurse N. after successfully navigating Cedarville State Forest with their pop-up camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near George Washington Memorial Parkway?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near George Washington Memorial Parkway is Pohick Bay Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near George Washington Memorial Parkway?
TheDyrt.com has all 75 dog-friendly camping locations near George Washington Memorial Parkway, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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