R
Roger M.
Traveler
TravelerFredericksburg-Washington DC KOA
Family friendly
Nice size spots. Lake on site. Playground for kids. Fun bike rentals. Lots of dog walks and a dog park. Camp store has a little bit of everything.
Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Mount Vernon, VA
Pohick Bay Campground accommodates pets within easy driving distance of Mount Vernon, Virginia. Campers with dogs can access tent sites, RV spots with electric/water hookups, and cabin camping options. Four other pet-friendly campgrounds serve the area, including Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp, which requires military credentials for access but provides river views and walking distance to a fishing pier. Sites stay clean and well-maintained with respectful dog owners keeping pets leashed throughout the camping areas. Bull Run Regional Park and Burke Lake Park also welcome pets at their established campsites.
Hiking trails near many Mount Vernon area campgrounds provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with several paths leading directly to water access points. The boat launch area at Pohick Bay allows separate entry for kayaks and paddleboards away from motorboats, making it safer for campers with dogs who enjoy water activities. Wildlife sightings include eagles nesting near the Potomac River shoreline, requiring proper pet control on trails. Bathrooms and shower facilities remain clean at most locations, though weekend crowds can create noise issues at parks with water attractions. During summer months, early morning walks with dogs prove most comfortable due to humidity levels in this region.
Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Mount Vernon, Virginia (73)
1. Pohick Bay Campground
37 ReviewsLorton, VA5 milesWebsite+1 (703) 339-6104$37 - $170 / 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."
2. Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
32 ReviewsDumfries, VA18 milesWebsite+1 (703) 221-7181$26 / night
"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."
3. Burke Lake Park Campground
15 ReviewsBurke, VA11 milesWebsite+1 (703) 323-6600"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."
4. Bull Run Regional Park
43 ReviewsIron Gate, VA21 milesWebsite+1 (703) 631-0550$39 - $100 / 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)."
"Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had. Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."
5. Prince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park
19 ReviewsDumfries, VA15 miles+1 (703) 221-2474"Restrooms/showers: very clean, spacious, centrally located."
"Adjacent to Prince William Forest, near shops and restaurants, and less than an hour away from Washington, DC. Good nature getaway from the city."
6. Cherry Hill Park
42 ReviewsBeltsville, MD23 milesWebsite+1 (301) 937-7116$999 / night
"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. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
7. Cedarville State Forest
17 ReviewsBrandywine, MD15 milesWebsite+1 (301) 888-1410$30 / night
"Forested campground with fairly lengthy but level (and thus beginner friendly) hiking just a short distance away from Washington, DC."
"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
8. Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
32 ReviewsGreenbelt, MD22 milesWebsite+1 (301) 344-3948$20 / 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."
9. Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
9 ReviewsMarbury, MD12 milesWebsite+1 (888) 432-2267$27 - $65 / night
"The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours. I have a reactive dog and he did well here! We’ll be back!"
"They are in short distance from the water. There is a playground, bathhouse, and historical buildings that are accessible to campers. There are hiking trials, but none are two extensive."
10. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp
4 ReviewsFort Belvoir, VA2 milesWebsite+1 (703) 805-3081$55 / night
"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."
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Mount Vernon, VA
60 Photos of 73 Mount Vernon Campgrounds
Katia G.
Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp
Sonyia W.
Pohick Bay Campground
Caralee B.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
Phillip W.
Burke Lake Park Campground
Caitlin A.
Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
Charity B.
The Oasis at Lake Serenity
Charity B.
Charity’s Hope Family Farm Resort
Gwynn G.
Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
Matthias
Lake Fairfax Campground
Mallory H.
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Evelyn T.
Cherry Hill Park
Ariel F.
Thousand Trails Harbor View
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Mount Vernon, VA
590 Reviews of 73 Mount Vernon Campgrounds
singinajf@aol.comTravelerRamblin' Pines
Quiet Spot
The staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.
- JJordan W.
ScoutBrunswick Family Campground
Great but only a few things I noticed
Overall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them. Also the pool and dog park isn’t on site you have to leave to go to it.
- Linda B.
RangerCherry Hill Park
Actually a 10!!!
This is a campers dream site. Everything you can think of is offered here. You have to check their website to see all. This is the closest site to Washington DC. 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. Pets are pampered here. Even dog walking service available.
Megan K.
GuidePrince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park
Great spot with hookups by PW park
If you, like me, hate making reservations over the phone, it was worth it! Quick, simple, painless process.
Restrooms/showers: very clean, spacious, centrally located. My spot was in the back row and I didn't mind the walk
Lots: 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. It wasn't crowded either way, especially given on a weekend
Small pool
Wifi: don't plan on being able to have work zoom calls or really much on it for that matter
Cell service: I can confirm Verizon and Google fi have great service. I would imagine any other carrier would work just as well.
Area: the surrounding area is really bikeable
Hookups: I had a 30amp hookup with no issues. They also have up to 50amp full hookups. All of them looked well maintained.
Staff: super friendly; great check in experience They have a dog park but didn't get a chance to check it out.
Overall: great experience, would recommend
MickandKarla W.
LegendCherry Hill Park
Impressive Campground
Cherry Hill Park was easy to find and get to basically right off I-95. This was our first time RVing into the WA DC area and we were concerned about traffic getting to the campground(CG). As we arrived, traffic was heavy on I-95 but manageable. Cherry Hill’s and our RV GPS directions were spot on getting us to the park. We were very impressed with this CG from the moment we entered. We picked up our package outside the office(no contact check-in) and went to premium site 93 with FHUs. Back-in was easy. The wifi was very good but the CG was only about a 1/4 full. Cherry Hill has many different ways to stay; cottages, cabins, yurts, glamping pods, premium and regular tent sites in addition to the RV sites. As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same. There are a few sites in the CG on the end that will give you a little more yard space like 97(need to be a competent backer), 402, and 1723. We got 2 bars each on Verizon and AT&T. The CG’s cable provided a large selection of channels and worked well. We were impressed with the main laundry facility due to the amount of large washers and dryers, very fair pricing and very clean. The two off leash dog parks(in the same area) were nice plus there’s a well maintained walking trail that goes around this very large CG’s perimeter. We really liked how there are trash receptacles and dog poopy bag dispensers nicely placed all over the CG. Though we didn’t use it, they even have a dog walker service so you can spend a lot of time exploring the DC area without worrying about your pups. About the only draw back was the road noise from the interstate and highway pretty much 24/7, but considering the area that is to be expected. Sites 13-38 and 1500 sites near the premium tent area are the farthest away from the road noise. We would definitely stay here again.
Caitlin A.ScoutSmallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
Private sites with water views nearby
These campground is a great find. The sites are well spaced, and while on the smaller side they’re very private with woods between each one. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The other campers were all respectful and observed pet policy and quiet hours. I have a reactive dog and he did well here! We’ll be back!
J B.ScoutGreenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
The park/ trails
The park is located away from the camping grounds. It has two play grounds, several picnic tables and a bathroom. The bathroom is a average out door bathroom with no A.C. and the floor always seems to be wet, but I never had an issue with no toliet paper. The trails are maintained. You could tell there was even some work in progress spots. Wish there were some doggie bag stations just for the trash can. The trail comes close to the road enough times that it could be a great add for a visitor who brings pets and staff would not have to hike in to hike out a bag of garbage.
Nancy W.LegendRamblin' Pines
Good location to Baltimore/Frederick Attractions
We stay at Ramblin Pines because it is close to family and a good proximity to visiting Baltimore and Frederick. The campground is quite large with lots of seasonal sites but there are some transient spaces that can accommodate big-rigs. In addition to RV sites, there are tent sites and cabins.
We stayed in one of the transient sites (#FR14) across from the RV storage lot. It was a long gravel back-in with 50-amp FHU. The water hook-up is in a pit so it doesn’t freeze so look under the cover. It can be a bit difficult to reach and you have to get on the ground to hook-up. Based on the location of the spigot, we were not able to attach our water filter (we drank the tap water anyway and it was good). The electric worked fine and were able to reach the sewer with our 20’ hose. The view out of our front window was of the storage lot which was not the most scenic. However, parking in the FR row is the easiest place for big-rigs to park since some roads in the park are tight and hard to navigate with the trees and with the two-way traffic.
There are lots of amenities and it seems some people come here for the activities and things to do. It is a destination for many campers. They have lots of themed events, the most popular being the entire month of October celebrating like Halloween. They set up a haunted walk through the woods, have pumpkin carving, trick or treating, a costume contest, haunted hayride, and site decoration contest every weekend. If you want to camp on the weekends– book early because we found it very difficult to get a reservation during October and you have to pay in full and there are no refunds for cancellations. Other weekends have live music, bingo, hayrides, cornhole tournaments, crafts, and more. Basically, there is something every weekend.
Huge fishing pond, shuffleboard, horseshoes, large dog park with agility, game room, playgrounds, jump pillow, heated swimming pool, and exercise room (which was decent but didn’t have a television to occupy your time), 18-hole mini golf. A short but nice hiking trail winds through the woods and is nice for walking dogs. There is a large covered pavilion with picnic tables for big gatherings. There is free Wi-Fi but it doesn’t reach sites in the back of the campground. Wi-Fi is great if you are near the office/store. The camp store is fairly large with some food/beverage items, t-shirts, large amount of RV supplies, and misc. other items. There is a coffee maker with free coffee.
Guide to Mount Vernon
Potomac River access and forested terrain define camping around Mount Vernon, Virginia, located just 15 miles south of Washington DC. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons. Winter camping is available at several year-round facilities with temperatures rarely dropping below 30°F.
What to Do
Disc golf course access: Pohick Bay Regional Park offers an 18-hole disc golf course within walking distance of the campsites. "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. from Pohick Bay Campground.
Historical exploration: The Prince William Forest area provides access to Civil War battlefields and historical structures. "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," shares Daniel S. from Oak Ridge Campground.
Water activities: Multiple bodies of water support fishing, kayaking and other boating activities. "Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats" is a highlight according to Anne K. at Pohick Bay, while Smallwood State Park offers creek access for paddlers. "Mattawoman Creek is right there and great for kayaking," mentions Lorraine P.
What Campers Like
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced camping areas with natural screening. At Smallwood State Park, "Sites are private with most having thick foliage and trees between them. Our site was perfectly level," reports Laure D. Similarly at Bull Run Regional Park, "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."
Proximity to DC attractions: Locations provide a nature escape while maintaining easy city access. "Stayed here for 2w while visiting friends in Alexandria. Took me 25-30m to get there so you are far away from bustle of city but not so far that going in to enjoy breakfast or the sights is a feat," writes Josh J. about Pohick Bay Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds host eagle nests and other wildlife viewing opportunities. "Beautiful campground located near the National Harbor. Eagles everywhere!" exclaims Kathie M. about Pohick Bay, while Fort Belvoir campers mention, "Eagle's nest were interesting."
What You Should Know
Military base access requirements: Not all campgrounds permit general public entry. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp requires military credentials for entry, but offers "Very clean and great Potomac River views. This campground is abord Fort Belvoir, an US Army base in Northern, VA," explains Jack R.
Ticks and insects: Several wooded areas have significant tick populations. "Ticks were really bad. We killed dozens and ended up taking at least one with us when we left," warns Tracy R. about Oak Ridge Campground. Cedarville State Forest similarly gets reviews noting "Bring bug and tick spray - definitely need it!"
Noise considerations: Urban proximity means occasional aircraft or highway sounds. At Bull Run Regional Park, "There is a shooting range in the park. It is on a flight path for DCA. And, I66 is not that far away," notes Drew M. Noise issues vary by campground and specific sites.
Tips for Camping with Families
Playgrounds and recreational facilities: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. At Bull Run Regional Park, "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...The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt."
Water parks and swimming: Summer visits can include splash pads and swimming areas. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer," mentions Anne K. about Pohick Bay, while Glen W. adds, "Water park is great."
Scheduled activities: Many parks offer ranger-led programs or seasonal events. "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides. Great family friendly campground," shares Bridget H. about Bull Run Regional Park's organized activities.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness varies: Always bring leveling blocks as site conditions differ even within campgrounds. At Cherry Hill Park, "You get what you pay for. This campground has so much to offer. We loved it... Cons: Gravel pad, Expensive, Spotty Wi-Fi," notes Beth R.
Dump station considerations: Waste disposal facilities vary in quality and design. "The dump station was the strangest I've ever seen. Very run down but it worked," shares Laure D. about Smallwood State Park. Prince William Forest RV Campground offers "Propane and 2 easy dump stations."
Pet-friendly accommodations: Most campgrounds welcome pets but with specific restrictions. While pet friendly camping near Mount Vernon, Virginia is widely available, specific site limitations exist. "BR park is absolutely beautiful. So much to do and centered around many historical sites. It's a gem," notes AS, a camper with pet-friendly camping needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Mount Vernon, VA?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mount Vernon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mount Vernon, VA is Pohick Bay Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
Mount Vernon, VA?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mount Vernon, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 73 dog-friendly camping locations near Mount Vernon, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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