We had a good experience at Loft Mountain earlier this year. The sites are relatively kid friendly, grassy and surrounded by bushes and trees, we saw many bunnies. The best part was the hike to Doyles River Falls, from the trailhead down the road it is only 3 miles RT or you can hike from the campground but add some mileage. Big Meadows is also fine, you can go to Dark Hollow Falls, walk around the meadow, there is a small playground and the lodge dining room if you want to play board games or don't feel like cooking.

We just went camping at Pohick Bay and had a great time there. It is very close too which was a plus. We've also had a fun time at the KOA in Harrisonburg and Harper's Ferry. Before kids, we went to places like Dolly Sods or just off into the forest, but I am trying to ease my kids into camping with lots of fun stuff for them like playgrounds, nature center, mini golf and not scare them away with - hey let's go hike up this mountain for fun! That doesn't appeal to them yet unfortunately.

OP here. Thanks for the helpful comments.

Dolly Sods is not a family friendly place to camp. Rains all the time, lots of water running through the area, streams can get really swollen and impossible to cross as a child. I would not cross carrying a child when swollen.

You need to find a family friendly car camping place to camp. There are lots of state parks in MD. Prince william Forest Park in VA, Catoctin Mtn Park, Greenbelt Park. Dolly Sods is not for young children.

If not at one of the state park campgrounds, then maybe a vacation rental in Timberline or Canaan Valley? Or maybe Five River campground, or Red Creek Campground? I have not been, but did a lot of research last year while trying to figure out a place to stay for a long ski weekend. The houses at Timberline with jacuzzis looked nice!

Dolly Sods at the very top is a tundra here in the mid-Atlantic that's why the vegetation looks the way it does. The elevation is pretty high for this area of the country. I think it is pretty cool. You can enter the area at a lower elevation and you will get lush vegetation, streams and waterfalls.

Are you planning to hike with kids to camp? Dolly Sods is wilderness. Backpackers have set up campsites on flat areas in the wilderness but there aren't any facilities in Dolly Sods itself.

We go there all the time and stay at the Bright Morning Inn in Davis. It isn't fancy but it is clean, dog friendly and serves a great breakfast included with your room. The owner of the Inn has a friend that runs a doggy day care out of her house where you can drop off your dog for the day for $20. The dog is well taken care of for the day and comes back exhausted. (We take our dog hiking but not mountain biking)

Blackwater Falls State Park has cabins and a lodge, I believe. It has been a long time since I stayed there.

The area is great for hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and downhill skiing (such that it is here in the mid-Atlantic). We go there year round.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found it a little bleak and cold - not my favorite area.

Bleak, how? Barren, depressing, too light on the mini golf .... Can you elaborate? The pictures look pretty from afar

High altitude, very, very windy, stubby vegetation, lots of rocks...it's not lush like the Shenandoahs. It didn't help that it was snowing when I went one September (and it was not a cold September elsewhere).

Anonymous wrote:I found it a little bleak and cold - not my favorite area.

Bleak, how? Barren, depressing, too light on the mini golf .... Can you elaborate? The pictures look pretty from afar

Black water Falls State Park?

I found it a little bleak and cold - not my favorite area.

I am looking for a nice weekend camping spot with DH, 4yo and 7yo. Would really appreciate any tips on camping with small kids in this area and suitable hiking trails. Thanks.