127 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Herndon, Virginia include both suburban parks and regional recreation areas offering a mix of camping experiences. Lake Fairfax Campground in Reston provides electric hookups and accommodates both tent and RV camping with sites arranged in an open meadow setting. Other developed campgrounds within driving distance include Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville and Pohick Bay Campground in Lorton, which offer cabin options alongside traditional camping. The Fairfax County area features several camping areas providing varying levels of amenities and natural settings while maintaining proximity to Washington DC.
Many campgrounds in the Northern Virginia region operate seasonally, with Lake Fairfax Campground typically open from March through early September. Several campgrounds offer electric hookups but limited water connections directly at sites. "This is the first place I ever camped," shared one visitor about Lake Fairfax, noting "there is a bunch of activities available outside the campground." Regional parks feature predominantly level gravel camping pads, though tent campers should be aware that some sites have noticeable slopes. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend visits between Memorial Day and Labor Day when waterparks and lake activities draw larger crowds.
Campers report that Lake Fairfax Campground provides clean facilities with individual bathroom/shower combinations frequently mentioned as a highlight. The proximity to recreation amenities appears in multiple reviews, with one camper noting "there's a water park, paddle boats, playgrounds, trails, skate park, sports fields, and the bathrooms are the nicest I've ever seen." Several visitors mentioned that while sites lack privacy and can feel crowded, the convenient location and family-friendly activities compensate for the close quarters. Pohick Bay and Bull Run campgrounds offer more wooded settings with cabin options for those seeking alternatives to tent camping. Most developed campgrounds in the region provide fire rings, picnic tables, and access to trails, though alcohol policies vary by park jurisdiction.
"If you are looking for camping in Fairfax County Virginia, this is it, because there are only a couple to choose from."
"We set up our tent in the far side of the campground close to the lake ( site 27). It is slightly slant but still comfortable in the tent. Bathrooms are close by and kept clean."
from $30 - $70 / night
Check Availability"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 have lived in northern Virginia for over 30 years and never been to this campground until this month! Very nice campground with friendly staff and friendly campground hosts."
from $39 - $100 / 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."
"Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice."
"That being said, I’m sure there were a few campers who didn’t like being right next to the walkway to the bathrooms and showers. The park is broken down in to various sections and slightly tiered."
from $999 / night
Check Availability"We prefer hiking as a family and staying away from crowds and this camp site wasn’t crowded or felt busy. It’s a quick drive from NOVA but just far enough where you feel away from it all."
"We live in Montgomery County and this is a nice camping get away close to home."
"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."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"If you are really looking for somewhere to feel far away from civilization and see some beautiful scenery, this probably isn't it."
"The campsite is superb with walking trails, wildlife and the occasional overflying US Presidential Helicopter. Easily accessible from close by freeways, and charmingly peaceful"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"You are able to drive right up to the camp area and we kept our car right next to our tent. There are nearby chickens, geese and pigs. "
from $30 / night
Check Availability
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.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
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.
ScoutThis is are first camping adventure in are new travel trailer. Camp ground is quiet and well maintained. Bath rooms and shower facilities are fantastic.
GuidePrimitive feel with full hookups. I have a 22' trailer, and it fits fine. I hope you like trains. Plenty of them go by.
GuideThis is a great camping spot. The sites aren’t too close together and the hosts are very friendly. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we are near a highway so you can hear cars throughout the night. But the crickets make up for it by being as loud as possible. With the fees, it cost $25 for a non-electric site and with access to showers after a long trek I was happy to pay.
RangerWe stayed at Redemption Springs to get relatively close to Baltimore without bringing our 30ft travel trailer into the city. Seth and the other gentlemen I spoke with were all extremely accommodating. Enjoyed learning about their approach to restorative farming and purchasing a variety of treats at the farm store. Beef, pork, chicken, seasonings, baked goods, and more. We booked on Hipcamp and recommend following his driving instructions. Our rig fit fine by tuhe main barn and they kept an eye on us going in and out to make sure we didn't have issues making any of the turns. Lots of farm life!
Campgrounds near Herndon, Virginia provide varied camping experiences within 30 miles of the Washington DC metropolitan area. The region features a mix of county, regional, and federal park camping options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV accommodations. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 200-400 feet above sea level and experience humid subtropical conditions with distinct seasonal changes that affect camping availability and comfort levels.
Disc golf access: Pohick Bay Campground offers an 18-hole course perfect for casual players. "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.
Mountain biking trails: The trail networks at Lake Fairfax Campground accommodate multiple skill levels with varying terrain. "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," reports Amy B.
Historical exploration: Oak Ridge Campground in Prince William Forest Park provides access to Civil War history sites. "There is lots and lots of history around the area. We spent 5 days camping and exploring the civil war battle areas and other things. Definitely worth exploring," writes Daniel S.
Private camping atmosphere: Many sites at Little Bennett Campground feature natural screening between campsites. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," notes Ray & Terri F., highlighting the campground's privacy despite its suburban location.
Urban escape proximity: Greenbelt Park Campground offers woodland camping with quick transit access to DC. One camper explains: "The other great thing about it that you can spend entire days at the always-free Smithsonian museums and still fall asleep in the woods. Can't beat the close proximity to DC."
Bathroom quality: Clean restroom facilities rate highly among campers. "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained," writes Tana S. about Lake Fairfax Campground, while another camper at Oak Ridge Campground mentions "super clean bathrooms with marble tile."
Reservation requirements: Most camping sites near Herndon require advance booking. Bull Run Regional Park has specific booking policies to note: "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," explains Stuart O.
Noise considerations: Urban-adjacent campgrounds experience various noise sources. Drew M. notes about Bull Run: "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."
Tent site levelness: Many tent sites throughout the region have noticeable slopes. "Our site, 41, was level and nicely spaced from other sites but many tent sites were not level at all. Many tents were on a full slant," reports Erin W. about Lake Fairfax Campground.
Water features: Multiple campgrounds offer water-based recreation for children. "This campground is nice for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground... There is a waterpark that is an extra cost which is fun for kids," reports Erin W. about Lake Fairfax.
Structured activities: Cherry Hill Park offers scheduled family programming. "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it... They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides. Great family friendly campground," shares Bridget H. about Bull Run.
Playground access: Many regional parks feature play equipment adjacent to camping areas. "The camp host came by and welcomed me before I was fully set up for the evening and was great!!! After staying here for a week I was so pleased by the quiet nature of the campground," notes Crystal C. about Greenbelt Park.
Site leveling challenges: RV campers should prepare for uneven terrain at many area campgrounds. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," advises Drew M. regarding Bull Run Regional Park.
RV size restrictions: Campgrounds have varying length limitations and loop configurations. "Only came through for a weekend but the sites were well maintained, and felt separated enough to have some privacy," notes Michael A. about Little Bennett Campground, which separates its loops by RV capability.
Premium site amenities: Higher-tier sites may include additional features worth the cost difference. "We had a premium site for seven nights. The site was perfectly level with a fire ring, grill, picnic table and table with three chairs," explains Jonathan B. about Cherry Hill Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Herndon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Herndon, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near Herndon, VA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Herndon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Herndon, VA is Lake Fairfax Campground with a 4-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Herndon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Herndon, VA.
What parks are near Herndon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Herndon, VA that allow camping, notably Rock Creek Park and National Mall & Memorial Parks.
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