8 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV parks surround McLean, Virginia, providing convenient access to Washington DC and the Northern Virginia region. Cherry Hill Park in College Park offers full hookup RV sites with 50-amp service, level gravel pads, and brick patios with tables and chairs. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp, located south of McLean, features big-rig friendly sites with full hookups including 50-amp electrical service. Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville provides year-round camping with spacious pull-through sites along the main road and full hookup options in their uneven-numbered sites. Lake Fairfax Campground in nearby Reston offers electric-only sites with 30/50-amp service and operates seasonally from March through September. "Our site was level, mostly shaded, and had electric," noted one camper about their experience at a nearby state park.
Reservations are essential for RV camping in this region, particularly during peak tourist seasons and weekends. Most campgrounds near McLean feature sanitary dump stations, though not all sites have sewer hookups at the pad. Cell service varies by location but remains generally strong throughout the area, with Cherry Hill Park visitors reporting excellent connectivity. Navigation can be challenging at some parks - Prince William Forest RV Campground has narrow roads with trees that "could use a trim," according to one reviewer. Pet policies are consistent across most facilities, with pets allowed but leashed. Many parks offer on-site amenities specifically for RV travelers, including camp stores with RV supplies, propane service, and laundry facilities. Winter camping options exist but are limited, with Bull Run Regional Park and Fort Belvoir remaining open year-round for RV campers.
"Stayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door."
"We loved the location of this RV park. We enjoyed our long-term stay."
"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
"Nice clean restrooms and showers. Friendly hostess and we had a nice shady spot, what was great with a heat of 94F."
from $47 - $86 / night
"We brought our paddle boards and river access was super easy. Freshwater hookup and electrical hookup were convenient (and the water tasted great :)."
"The campground offers adventures like rafting, biking, tubing and zip lining to name a few."
"Great Park, friendly staff, clean facilities. We stayed with our Pop Up for two nights at an electric -supported site. Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store."
"We 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."
Available this weekend
from $43 - $100 / night
"Very spartan but great location. Not much to do in the campground and some long timers there. Dirt cheap"
"If 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."
from $20 - $40 / night
"We stayed in a level pull-thru site(#1715) with picnic table on a paver patio, iron table and chairs, clean gravel surface, grill, and fire pit."
"Pros: 50 amp hook-up Water Sewer Playground Mini Golf Swimming Pool Hot tub Basketball court Snack bar on site Nightly hayride Gated On-site camp store On-site bus shuttle Cons: Gravel pad Expensive"
Available this weekend
from $999 / night
"They brought their travel trailer and our pop-up. The outer loop campsites are easily more level than the center loop."
"Campground has mostly level gravel lots with fire rings, picnic tables. No water at site. Bath house is reasonably clean. Dump station is adequate."
from $30 - $70 / 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 full-service RV parks to more rustic tent sites. The region sits at the confluence of the Potomac River and its tributaries, creating a diverse landscape of waterways, forests, and rolling terrain. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder weather with temperatures between 50-75°F.
Hiking trails access: Burke Lake Park Campground offers a 5-mile gravel trail around the lake perimeter. "The trail around the lake is a bit under 5 miles, but it's all trail. There is almost no elevation gain, and it is not very technically rigorous," notes one visitor to Burke Lake Park Campground.
Water activities: Brunswick Family Campground provides direct Potomac River access. "The Shenandoah is just as beautiful. The showers could use a good cleaning but they are typical Campground showers perfect for the campground life," reports a camper who visited Brunswick Family Campground multiple times.
Historical exploration: Prince William Forest RV Campground serves as a base for visiting Civil War sites. "Prince William Forest National Park is accessible for awesome day hikes. Civil War National Parks nearby. DC just up the road. National Marine Corp Museum just around corner," according to one reviewer.
Transportation to DC: The metro system connects to several campgrounds for easy city access. "Handy to the DC Metro Transit system. Nice views of river. Eagle's nest were interesting," notes one camper about their experience using public transportation from Fort Belvoir.
Riverfront sites: Many campers appreciate direct water access from their sites. "The campground is also right on the Potomac, easy to get to, reasonably priced, and the sites are spacious," says a visitor at Brunswick Family Campground.
Clean facilities: Bull Run Regional Park earns consistent praise for maintenance. "Five stars for the restroom facilities. Bright, large, clean and very well maintained," writes one camper about Bull Run Regional Park.
Site layout: Pull-through sites at Prince William Forest provide convenience. "Lots are really staggered/set back from each other so feels like you have more space. Average lot size in general, but the set back feels like you have more space," notes one reviewer.
Proximity to activities: Most campgrounds offer on-site or nearby recreational options. "Great location right next the river. Easy to walk into the river or tube down it. Lots of different activities for kids and plenty of space at each site to make your home away from home," shares a Brunswick Family Campground visitor.
Train noise: Several campgrounds near McLean are located near active train tracks. "The Marc train runs right above your head all night. If you are looking for a relaxing camp experience make sure to bring your noise cancelling headphones," warns a visitor at Harpers Ferry Campground.
Site leveling: Be prepared with leveling blocks at certain campgrounds. "My 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 a camper at Lake Fairfax Campground.
Reservation requirements: Military credentials are required for some sites. "You need military credentials. Handy to the DC Metro Transit system," notes a Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp visitor.
Additional fees: Many parks charge extra for amenities beyond camping. "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. Additional fee for access to the water park," shares a Bull Run Regional Park camper.
Water parks: Several campgrounds offer water features for children. "This campground has a lot to offer & there is bunch of activities available outside the campground. This is the first place I ever camped," shares a visitor at Lake Fairfax Campground.
Playground access: Multiple rv sites near McLean, Virginia include play areas. "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," describes a Bull Run Regional Park visitor.
Special events: Look for organized activities at certain parks. "A very nice State Park campground. Have a nice pool and bathrooms. On a major road not far from the freeway. Very close do Washington DC. About 17 miles to the closest Rail station to bring you to the mall in Washington DC," explains a Prince William Forest RV Campground reviewer.
Educational opportunities: Combine camping with learning experiences. "Register any visitors!! Clean, reasonable rates & quiet. Prince William Forest National Park is accessible for awesome day hikes. Civil War National Parks nearby," notes another camper.
Site selection: Pick locations carefully based on what's important to you. "The loops are small, each containing a dozen or fewer spaces. Many sites share a power pole and water faucet, but they are well situated," advises an RVer at Cherry Hill Park.
Premium site amenities: Some rv sites near McLean offer upgraded facilities. "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," shares another Cherry Hill Park camper.
Hookup variations: Water and electric availability varies widely across parks. "This campground is close (ish) to the DC area. It is easy and convenient to get to. Almost all sites are pull through and are close together. Most have some tree cover. Some long term guests occupy the back sites which have sewer," explains a visitor to Prince William Forest.
Uneven terrain: Bring leveling equipment to most area campgrounds. "Some sites are a little unlevel, front to rear, but definitely manageable. You really need a toad since supplies are not very close to the camping area," notes a Fort Belvoir visitor about the RV sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near McLean, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near McLean, VA is Prince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near McLean, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 77 RV camping locations near McLean, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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