9 Campgrounds Near DC to Go Camping with Kids

Enjoy a family fire at Cherry Hill Park campground in College Park. Photo courtesy of Cherry Hill Park.
Enjoy a family fire at Cherry Hill Park campground in College Park. Photo courtesy of Cherry Hill Park.
3/12/21 - By Meredith Kiryakov

Feeling cabin fever, but looking for something besides a hotel? We’ve got you covered with kid-approved camping destinations, all within less than a four hour drive of Washington, DC and at a range of price points to fit any budget.

These locations all have attractions that will appeal to kids and parents alike. Whether you’re an experienced, nature-loving outdoors family or glamping is more your speed, a weekend camping expedition at one of these destinations could be just what you need for a family reset. Let the kids run wild and experience the beauty of our region safely.

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Enjoy an enchanting stay in the Hobbit House at Treehouse Camp. Photo courtesy of Maple Tree Campground.

Family-Friendly Campgrounds in Maryland

1. Treehouse Camp at Maple Tree Campground — Rohrersville

Open year-round, The Treehouse Camp offers rustic camping in the woods with a little extra magic. The campground includes tent camping sites and unique cabin options, including tree cottages and tree houses. If you have a Lord of the Rings fan in the family, you can rent the Hobbit House, an underground cabin decorated with beautiful murals inspired by the books. None of the cabins have heat or AC, and the Hobbit House is the only one with electricity. All bathrooms are communal, so come prepared with supplies. The camp is located right next to the Appalachian Trail for hiking. It’s a 10-minute drive to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and the Brunswick Railroad Museum, among other attractions. There are also biking trails, river rafting and tubing, caverns, swimming, and fishing nearby. Buy supplies, food, and firewood at the camp shop.


Thrill to the splash park at Cherry Hill Park campground in College Park. Photo courtesy of Cherry Hill Park.

2. Cherry Hill Park — College Park

Just a 30-minute drive from DC, Cherry Hill Park offers camping year-round with fun activities and amenities that are all included in the cost of your stay. There are two pools and a splash park for little ones, a hot tub and sauna for parents to relax, a mini-golf course, multiple playgrounds, tractor rides, an arcade, a fishing pond, gem mining, and a dog park. There are also daytime and nighttime tours departing from the campground that stop at many DC memorials for an additional cost. Accommodations include RVs, tent sites, and a variety of cabins and cottages including glamping pods, yurts, premium log cabins with full kitchens and bathrooms, and cottage rentals that sleep up to 10.When hunger strikes, visit the camp grocery store or the on-site café offering dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

3. Sun Outdoors Frontier Town — Berlin

Your little cowpokes can enjoy a Wild West adventure at this campground located just a short drive from Ocean City and Assateague Island, open late March through late November. Camping options include tent sites, RV sites and rentals, cabins, and even a Conestoga wagon with a king bed and bunk beds. Campground guests can enjoy a pool, an arcade, nature trails, a dog park, playgrounds, a high ropes course, and more. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, guests also have free access to a water park with slides, a lazy river, and mini golf, as well as a replica western town complete with Wild West shows. You can also charter a boat or rent a jet ski or pontoon boat. At meal or snack time, visit the two on-site restaurants, the ice cream parlor, or the camp store.

Kids can splash around in Yogi Bear's Water Zone at Jellystone Park in Williamsport. Photo courtesy of Jellystone Park™ Williamsport.

4. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park — Williamsport

If you’re looking for more than the average camping trip, check out Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, open late March through late November. Camping options include tent sites, RV sites, and a range of cabin options from luxury to rustic. Upgrade your relaxation even more by renting a hammock for your campsite, a golf cart to get around, or a private cabana at the pool. Activities included in the cost of your stay are an on-site water park, mini golf, pony rides, playgrounds, archery tag, sports courts, and more. For an additional fee, kids can tackle a ninja obstacle course, play laser tag, go to the arcade, pan for gems, play Bingo, or make arts and crafts. You may even get to meet Yogi or Boo Boo! During peak season (June through August), the campground has various weekly events, including outdoor movies and live music.


Cabins are available year-round at Pohick Bay Regional Park. Photo by Nova Parks/CC BY-SA 2.0

Family-Friendly Campgrounds in Virginia

5. Algonkian Regional Park, Bull Run Regional Park and Pohick Bay Regional Park — Northern Virginia

Virginia’s beautiful regional parks offer some fantastic family camping options year-round at reasonable prices. Bull Run Regional Park and Pohick Bay Regional Park offer tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. At Algonkian Regional Park, you can rent a riverfront cottage that sleeps up to 10 people with a full kitchen, a furnished living area, and a private deck with river views. The deluxe four-bedroom cottage even has a hot tub. All three parks have water parks for the kids, hiking trails, and playgrounds. There are also golf courses at Algonkian and Pohick Bay, and Bull Run has a disc-golf course. Boating, kayaking, and fishing are also accessible on lakes or rivers in all three parks.

6. Wilderness Presidential Resort — Spotsylvania

Just a two-hour drive from DC, the Wilderness Presidential Resort offers year-round lakeside camping with lots of family-friendly activities. Budget-friendly camping options include tent and RV sites with hookups. You can also rent a vintage RV with AC and a kitchen, a lakeside cottage with a kitchenette and a bathroom (including some with hot tubs), or a log cabin with all the comforts of home, including cable TV and a Jacuzzi tub. Activities include a ropes course with a climbing wall, swimming pools, a beach on the lake, mini and disc golf, archery, tennis and pickleball, fishing, an escape room, and much more. A daily schedule of activities features arts and crafts, movie nights, and games. Annual events include a classic car show, a music festival, and holiday-themed activities.

7. Lake Fairfax — Reston

If you’re looking to camp close to home, Lake Fairfax Park is open year-round and is just a 30-minute drive from DC. There are tent sites with or without electric hookups, as well as RV sites with water and electricity. The campground has a bathhouse with hot showers. On the lake, you can rent a pedal boat or kayak, or fish from the shore or the dock. A beautiful antique carousel is located right next to the lake along with biking and hiking trails. The Water Mine water park is fun for all ages with its lazy river, water slides, and special splash park for babies and toddlers. There’s also a skate park where kids can learn new moves.


See the wild ponies on the beach at Assateague Island, near Chincoteague Island KOA. Photo by Lucie Mariage/CC BY 2.0.

8. Chincoteague Island KOA — Chincoteague

Open May-November

Chincoteague Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is bit more of a drive, but if your family loves the beach and/or horses it is well worth the trip. Chincoteague Island KOA is a great place to camp on the island, centrally located near many attractions and full of amenities right at the campground. Camping options include RV sites, RV rentals, tent sites, and cabins, including some with a full kitchen and bath. Interested in camping with style? Rent one of the Instragrammable safari tents, a canvas tent raised on a platform fully furnished with beds and a small living area, but no kitchen or bathroom. Amenities included at no extra charge include a pool, a jumping pillow, playground, and an activity room and community campfire where you can participate in themed group activities during the summer peak season. There’s also a complimentary trolley to the beach on Assateague Island, where you can go hiking, biking, climb the lighthouse and spot some wild ponies: Just remember the bug spray! KOA guests also get discounted access to Maui Jack’s water park next to the campground. If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Chincoteague and Assateague, you can rent a kayak and take a tour of the bay, go fishing, or rent bikes.


Hunt for shark's teeth on the fossil beach at Westmoreland State Park.Photo by Virginia State Parks/CC BY 2.0.

9. Westmoreland State Park — Montros

Westmoreland State Park is best known for its fossil beach, where kids can hunt for prehistoric shark teeth. But this state park also has camping and other great activities for families. Tent and RV camping sites are available from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December. Rustic camping cabins without heating or AC are available for rent from April 1 to mid October. Larger cabins with a kitchen, bathroom, and heating and AC are available year-round. The park has gorgeous hiking and biking trails, where you can glimpse bald eagles and other water birds. Other activities include fishing, boating, and playgrounds. During the summer, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand-up paddleboards are available for rent.

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