11 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Oak Ridge Campground in Prince William Forest Park permits pets at all sites, maintaining clean facilities with hot water showers for campers traveling with animals. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the campground's spacious, shaded sites set within a beautiful oak forest. Prince William Forest RV Campground offers pull-through sites with full hookups for pet owners, featuring a dedicated dog park on property. Most campsites include picnic tables and fire rings where pets can rest alongside their owners. The paved sites accommodate various RV sizes, though leveling blocks are recommended as some spots have slight inclines. Bathrooms remained well-stocked and clean throughout camping season.
Hiking trails throughout Prince William Forest Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs on leash, with multiple trail access points from both campgrounds. The forest setting offers natural shade during summer months when pavement can become too hot for pet paws. Some sites at Pohick Bay Campground, approximately 20 minutes away, offer cabin accommodations that accept pets with additional fees. Campers should note that occasional training exercises at nearby Quantico Marine Base may produce loud noises at night that could disturb sensitive pets. Nearby stores in Triangle and Dumfries provide pet supplies if needed during extended stays. Oak Ridge's bathrooms on Loop B are more recently updated than those on Loop A, offering better facilities for campers needing to clean muddy pets after rainy weather.
"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."
"Oak Ridge NP unit in Prince Williams Forest Park: what a beautiful place to spend the fall day. It’s quiet, not very busy at all, and nice sites."
Available this weekend
from $26 / 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
"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."
"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 $34 - $90 / 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."
from $32 - $40 / 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."
from $27 - $65 / night
"And the host are very kind and very friendly, event near Rt. 95, not very loud noise with big tall trees, happy stay!"
"When we pulled in we were greeted by a friendly fat cat. We paid our fee, which was only around $15, and then another $5 for a bunch of firewood."
"Great for a weekend away from all the hustle and bustle. Very relaxing"
"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
ScoutLovely but busy spot. Campground A has hookups but you can also fit a camper into the standard sites. All sites have nice travel pads and fire rings. Campground b is basically an open field as of Nov 2026 recommend avoiding that area.
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.
TravelerSomething for everybody; long term slots, primitive camping, with electricity and water, with full hookups, day use ramps for Lake Anna, huge covered picnic area for large gatherings, rv sites in the woods and others on the edge of large field. Staff are great.
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.
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.
ScoutIt was a well maintained campsite. Clean bathrooms and great hikes to fossil beach.
TravelerBased on my stay 3 nights and what I read of Greenbelt Park (the other closeby to Washington campground) I would say this has to be much better and I will stay here again on a future visit. Campground sits inside of a much larger park with great trails, amenities and well maintained. Campground is quiet, lots of trees, forest and yet each space is very large with good spacing and privacy to adjacent sites. High tree canopy at your site so lots of room to spread out. Sites themselves are a little rustic - a mix of grass, gravel and dirt, but not muddy (it rained a good bit prior to my stay) - but in good condition. Shower/toilet block is clean and good hot water and good water pressure. Most sites are flat or near flat and the ones that aren't need minimal levelling blocks. Campground apparently is never full and there was only 1 other when I was there - really hard to believe. There is a neighborhood road up by the sites near the shower block but it is low speed and lightly travelled and I had no disturbance from it. Nice surrounding neighborhood. No signs of vagrants. Park police patrolled multiple times per day and report very little non-camper entry to ther facilities. I felt very safe.Easy access to Eashington - bus stop outside the campground to metro or just drive to the metro (free parking weekend, $6 midweek) and then train (about 8 per hour) into the sites - an hour or less total to get there. For more local people, this seems like a good escape "to the woods" without travelling forever.
Prince William Forest Park offers camping experiences within a mature oak-hickory forest at elevations from 200 to 500 feet above sea level. The park's 15,000 acres contain several streams and creeks that provide natural habitats for diverse wildlife, including over 38 species of mammals and 100 bird species. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from March through October when temperatures average between 50-85°F.
Disc golf adventure: Bull Run Regional Park features an 18-hole disc golf course perfect for beginners and experienced players. As Rachel L. notes, "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."
Fishing opportunities: Smallwood State Park provides excellent fishing access along Mattawoman Creek. "Smallwood State Park offers a more intimate setting for camping. There is only 1 circle for camping with tents and cabins intermingled. The sites are moderately separated giving some privacy. They are in short distance from the water," explains Teresa K.
Kayaking and canoeing: The Rappahannock River Campground offers direct river access for water activities. "Great spot right next to the Rappahannock River, plenty of place to set up camp. Had water on site with a fire pit and picnic table too! It was super easy to get down to the water and there was plenty of spots to explore," shares Nicholas S.
History exploration: The region contains significant Civil War sites and historical landmarks. Daniel S. from Oak Ridge Campground explains, "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."
Quiet midweek camping: Oak Ridge Campground offers peaceful weekday camping experiences with fewer crowds. Paul A. shares, "I took my daughter (4.5 yr old) for her first campout, at her request. We had a great time. Bill, the host on duty was wonderfully hospitable. We found a few other people there mid-week, and it was quiet and comfortable."
Stargazing opportunities: Burke Lake Park Campground provides clear night skies away from city lights. Derek E. from Rappahannock River Campgrounds notes the "stargazing through the hole in the trees was very nice," highlighting similar night sky viewing potential in the area.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. Kathie M. from Pohick Bay says, "Beautiful campground located near the National Harbor. Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!"
Free firewood: Some campgrounds offer complimentary or affordable firewood. Tracy R. mentions, "Free firewood is available behind the host's site" at Oak Ridge Campground, while Derek E. notes at Rappahannock River Campgrounds he "purchased 10 large pieces of wood for $5 which is a way better deal than any of the places where I live."
Seasonal weather considerations: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable camping temperatures. Summer can be hot and humid with occasional thunderstorms. Kaitlyn H. from Oak Ridge Campground reports, "Everything was fully operational at our campsite when we visited in early April. Bathrooms were clean and stocked. Sites were nicely kept. Be aware that they do not sell firewood on-site!"
Tick precautions: Several campgrounds report tick issues, especially in summer months. Tracy R. warns, "Ticks were really bad. We killed dozens and ended up taking at least one with us when we left... Only because of the ticks, we would not stay here again. We had Deep Woods Off, but seemed to do no good."
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby facilities or roads. Josh J. notes about Pohick Bay, "Nice and quiet here during winter more so during week than weekends," while Kristen M. mentions Prince William Forest RV Campground is "close to Prince William Forest which is a fantastic National Parks forest... Close to major road not far from the freeway."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. Some offer modern facilities while others are more rustic. Jon N. at Rappahannock River reports, "My biggest complaint is just that there isn't a whole lot to do in this area. Shenandoah and GWNF are about an hour drive."
Scheduled activities: Bull Run Regional Park offers organized family events throughout the camping season. Ben G. shares his experience at Pohick Bay: "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. This was music to our ears as we camp with our 3 and 1 year old."
Water features for kids: Several parks offer water recreation options during summer months. Anne K. notes, "Pirate's Cove waterpark is definitely a highlight in summer" at Pohick Bay Regional Park.
Pet-friendly trails: When camping with pets and children, look for trails that accommodate both. Bridget H. says about Bull Run, "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."
Playground access: Select campsites near playground facilities for convenience with children. Clara K. mentions about Oak Ridge, "The campground isn't too far from where I live but its far enough and quiet enough for a weekend getaway. The bathrooms were nice and clean throughout my stay and looked newly renovated."
Site leveling needs: Prince William Forest RV Campground has terrain variations requiring leveling equipment. Cheryl D. warns, "Caution though, the back row is steep. We were unable to get our Super C level. The rain created red clay mud so the dogs were a mess - actually became sort of comical. All in all it was a beautiful and clean location. Try and reserve row E if you need full hook up."
Pull-through accessibility: Several campgrounds offer convenient pull-through sites. Laura G. describes Prince William Forest RV Campground as a "Snug campground with nice, clean bathroom and pool. Adjacent to Prince William Forest, near shops and restaurants, and less than an hour away from Washington, DC. Good nature getaway from the city."
Cell service coverage: Connectivity varies by location. Kristen M. reports about Prince William Forest RV Campground, "Att coverage is good. Playground is nice," which is important information for RVers who need to stay connected.
Distance to DC attractions: Several pet-friendly campgrounds provide convenient access to Washington DC. Mike H. from Fort Belvoir notes it's "Handy to the DC Metro Transit system. Nice views of river. Eagle's nest were interesting. Some sites are a little unlevel, front to rear, but definitely manageable."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Prince William Forest Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Prince William Forest Park is Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park with a 4.6-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Prince William Forest Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 69 dog-friendly camping locations near Prince William Forest Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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