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.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Occoquan, VA
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Pohick Bay Campground's pet-friendly sites include non-electric tent areas, RV spots with full hookups, and cabins that accommodate dogs throughout the year. Oak Ridge Campground at Prince William Forest Park and Bull Run Regional Park also welcome pets with designated areas for dogs. Most sites feature fire rings, picnic tables, and shaded spaces for pets to rest comfortably during hot weather. Campsite 138 at Pohick Bay offers the most privacy for campers with active dogs, situated away from neighboring sites. Bathrooms and comfort stations are generally clean and well-maintained, with regular cleaning throughout the day. The camp store at Pohick Bay sells pet supplies and remains open from 8am to 8pm daily.
Trails connecting to Pohick Bay provide excellent walking opportunities for dogs, with several routes leading directly to the water where pets can cool off. Camping areas near the playground at Pohick Bay make supervising both children and pets easier during family outings. Wildlife encounters are common, so keeping dogs leashed is essential as raccoons and squirrels show little fear of humans or pets. Some comfort stations include outdoor washing areas that can double as pet cleaning stations after muddy hikes. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp maintains strict pet policies but offers a secure environment for military families with animals. Summer visitors should note that the water park at Pohick Bay creates additional noise that might disturb sensitive pets, while weekday camping tends to be significantly quieter and less crowded for nervous dogs.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Occoquan (74)
1. Pohick Bay Campground
"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."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability2. Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
"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 Availability3. Bull Run Regional Park
"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."
from $39 - $100 / night
Check Availability4. Prince William Forest RV Campground — Prince William Forest Park
"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."
5. Burke Lake Park Campground
"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."
6. Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
"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."
from $27 - $65 / night
Check Availability7. Lake Fairfax Campground
"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
Check Availability8. Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp
"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
Check Availability9. Fairfax County Burke Lake Park
"BLP has a great lake for fishing and boat rentals, a paved path to walk around the lake (about 5 miles) and a fantastic playground."
"i’ve camped here too many times to count, love being surrounded by nature!"
10. Cherry Hill 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. "
"As we looked around we found that all of the sites, regardless of amenities, were spaced about the same."
from $999 / night
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Drive Time
- 21 min from Washington, DC
- 59 min from Baltimore, MD
- 1 hr 14 min from Winchester, VA
- 1 hr 18 min from Lexington Park, MD
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Occoquan, VA
60 Photos of 74 Occoquan Campgrounds
Sunny W.
Pohick Bay Campground
Katia G.
Fort Belvoir Travel and RV Camp
Phillip W.
Burke Lake Park Campground
Caitlin A.
Smallwood State Park Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH JULY 2023
Gwynn G.
Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park
Charity B.
Charity’s Hope Family Farm Resort
Charity B.
The Oasis at Lake Serenity
Caralee B.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
adrian F.
Lake Fairfax Campground
Nicholas S.
Rappahannock River Campground
Mallory H.
Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park
Stefan K.
Cherry Hill Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Occoquan, VA
605 Reviews of 74 Occoquan 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 Occoquan
Campgrounds near Occoquan, Virginia occupy a transition zone between suburban development and the protected watersheds of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers. Most sites sit at elevations between 100-250 feet above sea level on gently rolling terrain with oak-hickory forest cover. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate conditions between 50-75°F.
What to do
Disc golf course access: The 18-hole course at Pohick Bay Campground provides a recreational option for campers throughout the camping season. "I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," notes Rachel L., who calls Pohick Bay her "go-to weekend camping spot."
Hiking options: Trail networks connect most campgrounds to nearby waterways and provide varied terrain for day hikes. "Prince William Forest isn't too far from where I live but its far enough and quiet enough for a weekend getaway," reports Clara K. about Oak Ridge Campground. The park features several interconnected trail loops through mature forest.
Fishing access: Multiple campgrounds provide bank fishing or pier access to local waterways. Smallwood State Park offers "several docks for strolling and fishing, and quite a few boat slips available as well," according to Jen V. The park store sells fishing essentials and bait for visitors trying their luck on Mattawoman Creek.
Wildlife observation: Eagle watching opportunities exist at several waterfront camping areas. "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites," reports Kathie M. about her experience at Pohick Bay. Bald eagles maintain nesting territories throughout the Potomac watershed and can often be spotted from waterfront campsites.
What campers like
Convenient location: The proximity to Washington DC while maintaining natural surroundings ranks highly among campers. "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 Bull Run Regional Park.
Clean facilities: Campground bathhouses and comfort stations receive positive reviews at most locations. "Very nice staff and clean facilities. Water park is great," says Glen W. about Pohick Bay Campground. The facility offers newly renovated bathhouses with hot showers and dishwashing stations.
Family programming: Scheduled activities for children enhance the camping experience at several parks. "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," reports Ben G. about his family's stay at Pohick Bay.
Site spacing and privacy: Variable site layouts provide options for different privacy preferences. "The sites are all very wooded and spread out; nice amount of trees and separation between each site," notes one camper about site configurations at Smallwood State Park. Many sites feature natural vegetation barriers between camping areas.
What you should know
Noise levels vary: Aircraft noise affects several campgrounds in the region due to proximity to military installations and civilian airports. "We could hear activity at Quantico. Lots of air noise too, from both airplanes and helicopters," reports Tracy R. about Oak Ridge Campground. Weekend camping tends to be busier and noisier than weekday stays.
Seasonal considerations: Water attractions operate on limited schedules during camping season. "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer," mentions Anne K. about the seasonal attraction at Pohick Bay. Most water features operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the region require advance reservations, especially for weekend camping. Sites at Fort Belvoir Travel Camp require military credentials for access but offer "super clean, very well maintained" facilities according to Katia G.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature moderate to significant slope on tent pads and RV sites. "Some sites seemed entirely too close, others spread apart. At times, sites seemed backwards," notes Tracy R. about the layout at Oak Ridge Campground. Bringing leveling blocks for trailers is recommended.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sites near playgrounds provide convenient supervision of both children and pets. "There is a playground, bathhouse, and historical buildings that are accessible to campers," mentions Teresa K. about family amenities at Smallwood State Park. Multiple camping loops often contain separate playground areas.
Educational programs: Several parks offer ranger-led activities focused on local ecology and history. Burke Lake Park provides "a paved path to walk around the lake (about 5 miles) and a fantastic playground. There is a carousel and a kiddy train, frisbee golf," according to Alexis, making it ideal for family outings.
Weekday camping benefits: For families with schedule flexibility, midweek camping provides a more relaxed experience. "We found a few other people there mid-week, and it was quiet and comfortable," shares Paul A. about his experience camping with his 4.5-year-old daughter at Oak Ridge Campground during a less crowded period.
Water activities: Multiple options for swimming and water recreation exist during summer months. "The park has a beautiful lake with a 5-mile gravel walking/running/biking trail around the lake's perimeter. You are not supposed to swim in the lake but you can take out boats," explains Sarah M. about recreational options at Burke Lake Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Campground layout significantly impacts the RV camping experience. "Look at the park map and try to get a site at the end of a row. The sites are pretty close together but on the ends at least you only have a neighbor on one side," advises Scott C. about maximizing privacy at Cherry Hill Park.
Utility availability: Water, electric and sewer connections vary widely between campgrounds. "Our site had water and electric which was nice," reports Ben G. about Pohick Bay, where some sites offer partial hookups but others provide tent-only camping.
Access limitations: Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV length or access roads with tight turns. "Not all sites are level (half)," reports Robert P. about Pohick Bay Campground, suggesting larger RVs should call ahead for site recommendations and leveling requirements.
Weather preparation: Drainage issues can affect camping comfort during rain events. "While we were here, there was a fairly heavy day of rain. Couple inches, I suppose, but nothing Biblical. The mouths of the metal culverts in our loop were bent downward from campers driving over them, which obstructed the flow," reports Stuart O. about conditions at Bull Run Regional Park that led to standing water at campsites.
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