Camping options near Great Falls, Virginia are abundant across Maryland, Virginia, and nearby West Virginia. The region contains over 10 established campgrounds within 40 miles of Great Falls, each positioned along notable waterways including the Potomac River, Shenandoah River, and Bull Run. Summer temperatures average in the 80s, while spring and fall visitors enjoy milder weather in the 60s and 70s with occasional rain showers. Most campgrounds in this area open from April through October, though some maintain year-round operations.
What to do
Visit historical landmarks: Brunswick Family Campground provides excellent access to nearby attractions. "Close to Harpers Ferry and tubing. Close to the Monocacy River (great for kayaking!)," notes one visitor to Brunswick Family Campground.
Explore miles of trails: Hiking and biking opportunities surround the camping areas. "The park features a jumping pillow, pedal carts, and golf frisbe course, decent water park for kids, hiking trails, small creek/river you can explore, playgrounds," writes a camper at Bull Run Regional Park.
Water activities: Riverside camping provides direct water access. "Gorgeous spot on the river. Small campground with not a lot of amenities BUT THAT RIVER IS GORGEOUS. Lots of activities - tubing, zip lining, fishing," says a reviewer of Harpers Ferry Campground.
Experience stargazing: The area offers good night sky viewing away from city lights. "Great night sky viewing as no lights what so ever in camping loops except for toilet/shower buildings," mentions a camper from Little Bennett Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: While glamping close to Great Falls, Virginia often means shared spaces, some campgrounds offer more seclusion. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," writes a camper about Little Bennett Campground.
Clean facilities: "The bathhouse is very clean and well maintained. Our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much, so you might want to ask about that," notes a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Accessibility to DC: Many campers appreciate the proximity to Washington DC. "Proximity to DC and surrounding areas can't be beat. Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments," shares a reviewer from Cherry Hill Park.
Natural settings: The combination of wooded sites with nearby water features ranks highly. "We arrived late at night and finding our site was easy. Very spacious sites and awesome views of the forest," explains a Bull Run Regional Park camper.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds are located near active train tracks. "There is a train which was 12 feet up a hill across the road from the site. Only had a couple come through the night our 1 yr old slept perfectly through it so it isn't too bothersome," explains a camper at Harpers Ferry Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Some campsites require work to level RVs or trailers. "Site #D69 level side-to-side but we were forced to greatly elevate front of trailer to level front-to-back," reports a visitor to Little Bennett Campground.
Seasonal limitations: Many sites operate with restricted schedules. "Season: April 1 to October 30" is listed for Little Bennett Campground, while other parks like Bull Run Regional Park operate year-round.
Site spacing variations: Reviews frequently mention proximity to neighbors. "Tight spots but very big and clean park," notes a Cherry Hill Park camper, while another mentions: "The sites are pretty close together and some of the back-in sites are not very level."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated activities: Some campgrounds offer special programming. "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 a visitor from Pohick Bay Campground.
Consider bathhouse proximity: Location of facilities matters with children. "Our campsite was right along the water (all spots are along the water). We love walking and having a nice walk right from our campsite is a big bonus," mentions a Harpers Ferry Campground reviewer.
Check playground locations: Not all playgrounds are conveniently situated. "Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located," notes a Bull Run Regional Park visitor.
Explore water options: Pools and water features keep children entertained. "We had a great time here over a long weekend in August. There is also a pool/water park in the park as well as a nice network of trails," says a Pohick Bay camper.
Tips from RVers
Reserve premium sites early: The best glamping sites close to Great Falls, Virginia book quickly. "We reserved 137 days prior to arriving," notes a Ramblin' Pines visitor who secured a good site.
Check site dimensions and terrain: Site characteristics vary significantly. "D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C&E are tents only. AT&T 5 MB/s w/o booster(1 bar), 8 MB/s with it(2 bars). There is no satellite coverage due to the heavy tree canopy," shares a Little Bennett Campground reviewer.
Consider hookup locations: Utility placement affects setup. "Many sites share a power pole and water faucet, but they are well situated," explains a Brunswick Family Campground visitor.
Plan for connectivity: Cell service varies by location and carrier. "1 bar Verizon," reports a Little Bennett Campground visitor, while another notes: "No WIFI. We had a strong Wi-Fi signal, but no Internet."
