12 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lake Fairfax Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate both tent and RV campers with electric hookups on mostly level gravel lots with fire rings and picnic tables. Bull Run Regional Park also welcomes pets at their tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites, offering full hookups including water, sewer, and electric connections. Most campgrounds maintain clean bathroom facilities with private shower stalls that are large enough to accommodate families. The skatepark near Lake Fairfax can get somewhat loud in the evenings with lights that remain on after dark, so pet owners may prefer sites further from this area for quieter camping experiences.
The trail system around Lake Fairfax provides excellent walking opportunities for dogs, with wooded paths that offer water access along many routes—particularly valuable during summer heat. Mountain biking trails double as dog walking paths throughout the park's forested areas. Most sites require pets to remain on leash at all times while in the campground and on trails. Several nearby options include Pohick Bay Campground and Burke Lake Park, both accepting pets with similar amenities. Campers should note that while bathroom facilities are generally well-maintained, sites can become crowded during peak seasons, with some visitors reporting other campers occasionally walking through occupied sites. The proximity to Great Falls National Park, just 3 miles from Lake Fairfax, provides additional dog-friendly hiking opportunities for a $10 per car entrance fee.
"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
"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
"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."
"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
"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
"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
"This place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September."
"We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. "
from $40 - $80 / 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
"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
"Awesome site tucked away in mature woods. Quiet. Easy paved access. Near C&O Canal, biking, hiking across street in Block House Park. Lovely attentive host."
from $45 - $55 / 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.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
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!
Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Sterling, Virginia offer quiet wooded sites with nearby hiking trails and water features. The area sits at elevations between 250-400 feet above sea level in the Piedmont region, with temperatures ranging from 30°F in winter to 90°F in summer. Most campgrounds maintain rules requiring dogs to be leashed at all times, with designated walking areas and trails that accommodate pets of all sizes.
Creek exploration with pets: Lake Fairfax Campground has mountain bike trails that double as dog walking paths through wooded areas. "Mountain bike trails (horses and walking, too); wooded hikes with water along the trails (great for dogs in the summer heat)," notes Amy B., who gives the park 5 stars.
Bird watching: Pohick Bay Campground offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities along its trails. "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" according to Kathie M. The area has particularly good bird watching in early morning hours when waterfowl are most active.
Visit historical sites: The proximity to Harper's Ferry allows for day trips to explore Civil War history. A reviewer at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA mentions, "The best part about this site is the location. We could walk or easily drive to Harper's Ferry NP visitor center, from where we could take a bus into downtown."
Clean, spacious bathrooms: Multiple campgrounds feature well-maintained bathroom facilities. At Little Bennett Campground, one camper notes, "Wonderful bath house" among their favorable comments, while another states the sites are "quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup."
Walking distance amenities: Campers appreciate not having to drive after setting up camp. At Pohick Bay, Ben G. writes, "There is boat rental a short walk down the trail from the campgrounds and the pool and disc golf course are another short trail walk away."
Shaded sites for summer comfort: The tree cover at many sites provides natural cooling. A camper at Oak Ridge Campground notes, "The sites were roomy and not too close. We saw lots of wildlife but had no issues with trash or food."
Traffic noise varies by location: Some campgrounds are affected by nearby roads. A reviewer at Greenbelt Park Campground mentions, "You can barely hear the traffic from the road outside the park," while noting the campground's convenient location.
Site levelness can be an issue: At Bull Run Regional Park, Drew M. notes, "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level." Similarly, at Little Bennett, reviewers mentioned some sites require leveling equipment.
Seasonal crowding affects experience: A Lake Fairfax reviewer explains, "This campground is nice for a quick weekend and does have pretty trails next to the campground. The sites are largely in more of a meadow and not many are very wooded." During summer months, campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends.
Water features for hot days: Burke Lake Park offers activities beyond just camping. "Nice spot with plenty to do with a little one. Train, carousel, fishing," says Glen W., highlighting the family-friendly amenities at this pet-friendly campground.
Look for campgrounds with scheduled activities: Bull Run Regional Park organizes family events. "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides. Great family friendly campground," writes Bridget H. about their family's experience staying in a cabin.
Consider cabins for first-time camping families: Several campgrounds offer cabin accommodations for those not ready to tent camp. Jason F. from Lake Fairfax shares, "As a first timer, I wanted to show my girlfriend a good time for her birthday weekend. This park had everything you could want while maintaining a good distance from civilization, which was a smooth transition for me."
Verify hookup types before booking: Full-hookup sites aren't available at all campgrounds. Ray & Terri F. note about Little Bennett Campground, "We stayed at site D72 for 4 days. 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."
Check site dimensions carefully: Many RV sites have specific size limitations. At Harpers Ferry KOA, Matt S. warns, "Heads up, big rig owners! Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site(#199) had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45' motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air."
Consider seasonal limitations: Some campgrounds have limited RV access during wet seasons. Sites can become muddy and difficult to navigate, especially in early spring and late fall when ground conditions are less stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Sterling, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sterling, VA is Lake Fairfax Campground with a 4-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Sterling, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 99 dog-friendly camping locations near Sterling, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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