9 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lake Fairfax Campground accommodates pets at all campsites with electric hookups and tent-friendly areas. The campground provides clean, well-maintained facilities with private bathroom/shower combinations that accommodate families with pets. Sites vary in privacy and level ground, with tent sites 30, 33, and 35 offering better tree coverage along the forest edge. Bull Run Regional Park and Cherry Hill Park also welcome pets with more extensive hookup options including water and sewer connections. Bathrooms throughout these facilities remain consistently clean, though some campers note that Lake Fairfax sites can be crowded during peak times with limited separation between neighbors.
Trails surrounding Lake Fairfax Park provide excellent pet exercise opportunities with wooded paths that offer shade and water access during summer months. Dogs particularly enjoy the hiking trails near the lake, which is just a short 0.3-mile walk from the campground area. The surrounding park system includes access to Great Falls National Park approximately 3 miles away, offering additional pet-friendly trail options. Marsden Tract Group Campsite provides a more secluded alternative for tent campers with pets but requires a longer hike to access with no immediate parking, water, or bathroom facilities. For overnight stays in the McLean vicinity, campers should pack extra water for pets as not all sites offer direct water hookups, and summer temperatures can necessitate additional hydration for dogs on trails.
"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, Water Park near the campground, fishing"
"If you are looking for camping in Fairfax County Virginia, this is it, because there are only a couple to choose from."
from $30 - $70 / night
"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. "
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $43 - $100 / night
"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."
Available this weekend
from $20 / night
"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."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $150 / night
"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."
"There is a very nice network of trails, most if not all were leashed dog friendly."
"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."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $26 / night
"Purchasers the camp site is beautiful secluded quiet wonderful if you're looking for that extreme outdoors a no civilization it's a good hike to get to the campsite there's no parking nearby no water"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $40 / night
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.
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!
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.
Camping opportunities near McLean, Virginia range from suburban parks with urban amenities to more secluded natural areas along the Potomac River. The region sits at elevations between 200-400 feet above sea level with a humid subtropical climate that features hot summers and mild winters. Most campgrounds remain open from March through October, though several offer year-round camping options with winter water shutoffs at non-electric sites.
Disc golf courses: Bull Run Regional Park offers an 18-hole disc golf course that attracts campers looking for recreational activities beyond hiking. As Rachel L. notes about Pohick Bay Campground, "I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course."
Biking trails: The paved paths and natural surface trails throughout the region accommodate various cycling abilities. At Lake Fairfax Campground, "Great place to mountain bike as we noticed several groups camping and biking during our stay," according to Corey B.
Historical exploration: Many campgrounds provide access to Civil War sites and other historical landmarks. Daniel S. describes the Oak Ridge Campground experience: "We spent 5 days camping and exploring the civil war battle areas and other things. Definitely worth exploring."
Urban accessibility: The proximity to Washington DC makes these campgrounds popular for visitors exploring the capital. At Cherry Hill Park, Jennifer H. appreciates this benefit: "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."
Wildlife viewing: Despite the suburban setting, many campgrounds offer opportunities to observe wildlife. At Pohick Bay Regional Park, Kathie M. reports an abundance of wildlife: "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites."
Bathroom facilities: Many campers note the exceptional bathroom facilities at certain campgrounds. Yvonne B. specifically praises Bull Run Regional Park: "The best review I can give is of the bathrooms. They're worth staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had."
Noise levels: The proximity to urban areas means some noise should be expected. At Greenbelt Park Campground, Lauren S. notes: "It was quiet aside from occasional air traffic noise, and while there wasn't much spacing between some camp sites everyone was respectful."
Site variations: Level ground can be inconsistent at many campgrounds. Erin W. observes at Lake Fairfax Campground: "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."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during peak season. Crystal C. advises about Greenbelt Park: "Reserve online - this is a NO CASH facility which means you CANNOT pay upon arrival so you will have to do so online."
Seasonal activities: Many campgrounds offer organized recreational programs. Ben G. shares his experience at Pohick Bay Regional Park: "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."
Multiple amenities: Look for campgrounds with diverse facilities to keep children entertained. Brittany V. recommends Lake Fairfax: "There's a water park, paddle boats, playgrounds, trails, skate park, sports fields, and the bathrooms are the nicest I've ever seen."
Pet-friendly options: For families camping with pets near McLean, Virginia, consider site location carefully. Many sites at Bull Run Regional Park face woods, creating a more secluded feeling. Roberta K. notes: "The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone."
Utility considerations: Electric hookups and water access vary significantly between campgrounds. At Little Bennett Campground, Ray & Terri F. report: "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup. D Loop is for RVs, A, B, C & E are tents only."
Connectivity: Cell service and internet access can be limited at wooded sites. Ray & Terri F. also note at Little Bennett: "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."
Road access: Some campgrounds have limitations on RV size and turning radius. Drew M. advises about Bull Run Regional Park: "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near McLean, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near McLean, VA is Lake Fairfax Campground with a 4-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near McLean, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 84 dog-friendly camping locations near McLean, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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