I highly recommend all Virginia state parks. They have nice cabins and yurts available too if you don't want to tent camp.

Camping near DC? Ugh. Ask the homeless.

I agree Burke Lake is just too exposed/busy.

I recently did a cub scout camp at Prince William and it was fine. The experience was different being with a count troop so I went in expecting people to be around.

Shenandoah Big Meadow if you can stand the drive.

Agree Greenbrier is really nice. And if you go that far north it will be a bit cooler for summer.

There's also Marsden Tract which is right off the beltway near River Road, off the Potomac. It says that it is walk in 1 mile from the parking, but there's actually a drop off spot very close, so you can drop off all the gear and the kids for a very short walk to the campground, and then have someone park the car at the actual parking lot.

Going to Assocteague is also a great camping experience -- you camp right on the dunes and there are wild ponies that wander through. (Don't pet them -- they are mean.) But there's a ton of bugs in summer so that's a better fall spot.

Watkins park is really a fun park, but I've never camped there. I can't think where the camping grounds are.

Camped in Germany, MD. Nice!

Little Bennet is nice. If you want to try the quieter side of Catoctin, you could camp at Owens Creek. Not as much to do there, but it’s smaller and much nicer IMHO.

Watkins regional park in MD is close to dc and is an easy place for car camping. The larger park has a nice playground and nature center for young kids. Was there with a big group but most of the spots were open.

I do not like Burke lake. It is so crowded with big groups of kids who are not supervised and poorly behaved.

Prince William can be nice, though I prefer the cabins you can rent there better. They are amazing and away from the normal campground.

We love Susquehanna state park and Shenandoah state park. In general the MD state parks have the best campgrounds followed by the Virginia state campgrounds.

We did several camping trips to Greenbrier State Park in MD with small kids -- you can walk to the lake from the camping loops and there are some easy hikes. (Also as much hiking as you want on the AT!)

Little Bennet

thanks! Little Bennett hadn't been on my list but it looks nice.

--OP

I came on to recommend Little Bennett as well

Try the KOA campground in Millersville, Md. It’s close to grocery stores, a nice campground. I also think Sandy Point has a campground.

Little Bennet is great with little kids. Lots of activities and families around. Instead of late night noise, there is early morning noise.

I've been to both Prince William Forest Park, Burke Lake. I didn't have a good spot at Burke Lake so it was super exposed, I don't think I would go back.

Prince William Forest Park is ok. We have had a good and bad spot there, where we were just on top of the neighbors. And its so spread out, you have to drive everywhere - no easy hikes from your spot. And then its 20 minutes of driving to go get ice or firewood. If you get a hike-in spot and are just lounging around a campfire for a day or two it could be ok.

Interested in people's thoughts on nearby campgrounds. I've tent camped at Catoctin and done the glamping pods at Cherry Hill. Does anyone have recent experiences in Greenbelt Park, Prince William Forest Park, Burke Lake, Bull Run (how annoying was the noise from the nearby gun range?), or Pohick Bay...or any other similarly close places I'm missing?

It would be for 1-2 nights with 2-3 adults and 2-3 kids: early elementary and possibly a toddler. This would be the kids' first camping experience so we're looking for something pretty simple and fun. Also, our group includes black and white people so if that would feel tense/awkward anywhere, definitely would appreciate knowing that!