Camping near Haymarket, Virginia offers extensive hiking trails and water activities within 30 miles of the town center. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall provide milder camping conditions with daytime highs in the 60-70°F range. Cell coverage transitions from strong near urban areas to variable signal in mountain campgrounds.
What to do
Fishing spots: Lake Fairfax Campground provides fishing access directly from the park. "The lake is beautiful," notes a camper, highlighting the tranquil setting just minutes from urban areas.
Historical exploration: Fort Valley Ranch sits within driving distance of Civil War sites. "Within a 10-minute drive, there are opportunities for hiking and river activities. We found a river access point perfect for swimming and wading," explains one visitor.
Riverside relaxation: Harpers Ferry Campground offers immediate water access. "The river is beautifully clean, clear and cool," notes a camper. Sites position directly along the Shenandoah with easy access to tubing, fishing, and swimming activities.
Hiking network: Oak Ridge Campground connects to Prince William Forest Park's extensive trail system. "We saw DC during the day but camped each evening. It was amazing!" reports one visitor who enjoyed the contrast between city exploration and forest camping.
What campers like
Accessibility to DC attractions: Cherry Hill Park provides transit options to Washington. "Uber, Lyft, bus, shuttle. It takes about a half hour to get downtown to the monuments. Our uber rides ranged from 20-45$ for a family of 5," reports one camper who visited multiple attractions.
Clean facilities: Bull Run Regional Park maintains well-kept bathrooms. "Bath houses are clean and well maintained. Our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much," notes a visitor who appreciated the maintenance standards.
River views: Brunswick Family Campground offers waterfront camping. "Situated next to the river so half of the sites have river views. Nice boat loading ramp and dock for fishing," explains a camper who enjoyed the water access.
Shaded sites: Many campers appreciate Oak Ridge Campground's forest setting. "The sites were roomy and not too close. We saw lots of wildlife but had no issues with trash or food," shares a visitor who enjoyed the natural surroundings.
What you should know
Train noise: Harpers Ferry Campground sits beside active rail lines. "The trains that come through here almost hourly range from quick commuter MARC or Amtrak trains to long freight trains. The proximity to the tracks means that if the sound doesn't wake you up, the rumbling ground will," warns one camper.
Site leveling challenges: Lake Fairfax Campground has variable terrain. "The outer loop campsites are easily more level than the center loop. If leveling perfectly is a concern you may want to call ahead and ask before committing to the inner loop," advises a visitor.
Weekend crowding: Regional parks see heavy use during summer weekends. "This place gets crowded. I shouldn't be surprised since it's in the middle of the city but driving through the masses picnicking on the weekends takes you out of it," notes a Lake Fairfax camper.
Military credentials: Fort Belvoir Travel Camp requires proper identification. "You need military credentials. Handy to the DC Metro Transit system. Nice views of river," explains a camper, highlighting both the access restriction and benefits.
Tips for camping with families
Water park access: Lake Fairfax offers additional water recreation. "We enjoyed the water park immensely. Ten of us in total with kids ranging from 18 months old to 13 years old. Everyone enjoyed the water park and the time we spent there," shares a family camper, though noting there's an additional fee for water park entry.
Playground availability: Prince William Forest RV Campground provides children's recreation areas. "The playground is nice," mentions a camper, making the site suitable for families needing to keep younger children entertained.
Educational opportunities: Brunswick Family Campground connects to historical sites. "Harpers Ferry is only 6 miles away on the trail," notes a visitor, referencing the nearby national historical park which offers ranger programs and living history demonstrations.
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Multiple campgrounds accommodate larger rigs with specific site constraints. "All level padded sites. Most with Blue ridge views," notes a KOA Luray visitor, while another camper at Prince William Forest observes, "Easy entry after dark. Sites were mostly level."
Electrical service: Prince William Forest RV Campground offers electrical connections. "I had a 30amp hookup with no issues. They also have up to 50amp full hookups. All of them looked well maintained," confirms a recent visitor.
Dump station access: Cherry Hill Park provides complete services. "Personalized, comfortable. Door to door," reports a camper who appreciated the convenient setup that minimized travel between service points.
