Not many activities get you closer to nature and your family like the way camping does. Camping gets you away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday city life.
Camping in Northern Virginia can be back-to-basics primitive, on well-developed tent sites with electric and water hookups, or on RV sites with resort-style amenities, such as cable TV!
Northern Virginia welcomes you, your family, your friends and even your beloved pets to experience fresh air, woodlands, mountain streams, rolling surfs, wildflowers, star-studded skies, critters, crackling campfires and glowing marshmallows on a stick. So here are our top 10 places to camp in Northern Virginia.
1. Lake Fairfax Park Campground
Lake Fairfax Park is a great site to camp in Northern Virginia, especially if you're planning a trip to Washington, DC. The campsite is conveniently located about 22 miles west of DC, near the Weihle Reston East metro station. Campers may also use park pathways to walk or cycle to the metro.
The campground has a nice mix of wooded and open sites for tent and RV camping. Lake Fairfax park has 72 sites, most with electricity, plus group sites, RV camping open year-round, tent camping March 1 - November 30, online reservation strongly recommended, leashed pets are also welcome. Lake Fairfax also offers hiking and biking trails, a popular water park, a small lake for fishing, seasonal pedal boats and carousel, athletic fields and a skate park. There are also excellent restaurants, breweries, and fun things to do nearby in Reston and Vienna. The park is also a good base to see cherry blossoms in Virginia, DC and Maryland.
Sites on the western side and back are the most wooded. Sites in the center are in an open field and popular with RVs. There is a skate park across from the campground entrance so noise could be a factor at some sites.
2. Wilderness Presidential resort
If you’re looking for the best place to go camping in Northern Virginia, you can’t go wrong with Wilderness Presidential Resort.
Located in the heart of Spotsylvania County near Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Wilderness, and just an hour’s drive from Washington DC, Wilderness Presidential Resort is a good pick if you want a large range of activities to choose from while camping.
Whether you’re looking for a tent site, RV site, or cabin rentals near Washington DC, Wilderness Presidential Resort has something for you on its 600 acres of beautiful woodland and lakes.
You’ll have a large selection of activities to choose from during your stay. Zipline through the adventure park, learn to shoot in an archery lesson, or try the escape room. Play mini golf, disc golf, Knockerball, tennis, or basketball. Swim in the indoor or outdoor pool, or lounge at the lakeside beach. And just a short drive from the resort, you can explore the area’s Civil War attractions or visit Old Town Fredericksburg.
Whether you come for adventure or relaxation, Wilderness Presidential Resort will give you a fun and authentic camping experience with your family.
3. Bull Run Campgrounds
Bull Run Campground is an excellent starting point for visiting Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. The campground is located in Bull Run Regional Park and is close to major attractions such as Great Falls and Prince William Forest Park. It is also the closest campground to Manassas Battlefield Park. The Washington, D.C. metro orange line is less than 15 miles from the campsite. This is ideal for day visits to the nation's capital to see the monuments.
Bull Run Regional Park, in addition to being close to these Northern Virginia attractions, has a lot to offer. Bull Run Regional Park is set against a landscape of beautiful rolling farmland flanked by woodland and the meandering Bull Run. Many hiking routes in the park may be reached easily from the campsite. The Occoquan Water Trail runs through the park, and there are canoe and kayak pathways as well.
Another big feature on the property is the Atlantis Waterpark. There are two major waterslides and several pools in the waterpark. The park also has a skeet shooting range and a disc golf course. Bull Run hosts a variety of special and seasonal events throughout the year.
The park has around 140 campsites, including tent sites and RV sites with full hookups. Most big motorhomes can fit in the RV sites, which are huge pull-throughs. These are 50 amp and 30 amp sites with full hookups. Over 100 tent sites are available, many of which are smaller and more isolated. These places might range from having electricity and running water to having no utilities at all. The typical fire pit, charcoal grill, and picnic table are available at all tent and RV sites. There are also group campsites available.
The campsite has nine rustic cottages available for rent. The cabins are equipped with power, air conditioning and heat, as well as a microwave and a small refrigerator. A bunk bed, a double bed, a sofa (with pull-out bed), and a table and chairs are located within the cabin. Outside the cabin, the tent sites include all of the usual conveniences. All of the cottages include porch swings, which are ideal for relaxing in the evening.
The campsite has two full-service bathhouses in strategic areas. Firewood, ice, snacks, and other camping items are available in the camp shop. A playground, picnic shelters, and a huge group fire pit with surrounding benches are among the other features.
4. Pohick Bay Regional Park
Pohick Bay Regional Park's location allows campers to enjoy the natural beauty of the Mason Neck Peninsula and Pohick Bay as well as the numerous nearby attractions of Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. A network of trails leads walkers to the waterfront, mini golf, boat rentals and Pirate's Cove waterpark. A one-mile trail connects the family campground to Gunston Hall Plantation, home of George Mason. The camp store has limited groceries and camping supplies including ice, charcoal, lighter fluid and firewood. Comfort stations have hot showers, sinks, toilets and laundry.
Pohick Bay offers canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and jon boats for rent on the weekends. In addition to water activities the park also offers family and group camping, hiking, picnic areas and a large play area for children. For those of you interested in swimming, they also offer one of the largest, outdoor freeform pools on the east coast! you can contact the park about swim lessons for your family. Pohick Bay Regional Park, located on Mason Neck Pennisula is an ecologically fragile land that shelters an abundance of wildlife, including the bald eagle. Nature lovers can expect to see blue birds, osprey, heron, deer, beavers and rare sightings of river otters.
5. Burke Lake Park
Burke Lake camping is a convenient way to camp close to home without having to go too far. While it’s not the top camping spot nearby, it’s a good option if you don’t want to travel or if you don’t want to be fully immersed in the woods away from everyone and everything. Most of the camping sites are under the canopy of trees which keeps things cooler on hot days. It is close to the D.C Metro areas. Since it is not a long drive, it makes getting back and forth a breeze.
Imagine the relief of being able to go back home quickly if you forget an essential item (like a tent). There are a number of restaurants in the Burke Lake Park, making dinner prep a snap for those who prefer not to cook or bring their own meals. There are also several grocery stores and a Walmart within a 10-minute drive.
There are so many other activities you can do while camping at Burke Lake which keeps the kids entertained and adds some variety to camping. Or if you prefer to spend your time in nature, you can just choose activities such as hiking, swimming etc to enjoy your day. These really add to the experience.
Many other parks require a two-night stay during the summer weekends but Burke Lake does not. This is great for those that only want to go for one night and not pay for an extra night stay.
6. Prince William Park
If you’re looking for a campground with cabins close to Washington DC, check out Prince Wiliam Forest.
Tent, RV, and trailer camping is available, but the historic cabin rentals are perhaps the most interesting. Four of the five cabin camps are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built during the great depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps as summer camps, they were also used by the Office of Strategic Services as a spy training area in World War II.
While you’re there, hike through the park’s 37 miles of trails with creeks, wildlife viewing, and historic sites. Bike on paved and gravel trails, fish in 18 miles of streams and man-made lakes, and bird watch for rare species of birds.
7. Algonkian Regional Park
There are no tent or RV campsites at Algonkian Regional Park, but they do rent out numerous lovely cabins on the Potomac River's edge. Algonkian's riverfront cottages provide two to four bedrooms, furnished rooms, patios, grills, and other facilities.
The Algonkian cottages are an excellent location for exploring Loudoun County's vineyards, golf courses, and historic towns such as Leesburg and Waterford. The cabins are well-equipped, with hot tubs included in the four-bedroom premium variants. Algonkian Park is approximately 30 miles northwest of Washington, DC, and Maryland is just across the river.
Hiking trails, a golf course, a boat launch, fishing, a playground, and sporting grounds are all available at Algonkian Park. Dining and shopping may be found in old Leesburg. Take a picturesque journey to one of Loudoun County's many wineries, breweries, and farm stores. Explore some of Northern Virginia's nearby small communities, such as historic Waterford, Purcellville, and Bluemont. Bull's Bluff Battlefield is a historical hike.
8. Leeslyvania State Park
Leesylvania is nestled along the tidal shores of the historic Potomac River. Native Americans lived on this land for thousands of years. Capt. John Smith visited the area in 1608 on his voyage of discovery. Listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, Leesylvania offers many land and water activities, including hiking, picnicking, fishing, and boating. A universally accessible fishing pier, playground, boat launch, boat storage area, snack bar and store, visitor center, and gift shop are available. A 20-station fitness trail and canoe and kayak rentals also are available.
9. Sky Meadows State Park
Sky Meadows State Park has some of the greatest tent camping in Northern Virginia if you're looking for a more distant nature retreat. However, you'll need to pack your belongings and hit the trail because the park's rustic campsites are a mile away.
At Sky Meadows, you'll discover big, secluded campsites scattered throughout the woods. In this designated Dark Sky Park, enjoy the sky at night and hiking trails, including a section of the Appalachian Trail, during the day. It's the ideal spot for basic camping in Virginia without having to travel far from civilization.
10. Lewis Mountain Campground
Lewis Mountain (mile 57.5), the smallest campground in Shenandoah National Park, appeals to those who want a little more privacy while still staying within a close distance to many of the most popular destinations in the Park, including Big Meadows (7 miles away).
It is centrally located and the Appalachian Trail passes right next to it. There are only 30 sites at the park's smallest campground and they are all first-come first-served. In addition, there are 15 cabins for rent at Lewis Mountain.