Thanks, all!!

So excited to get some trips on the calendar and lots to google now.

if you really want some wilderness with vehicle access, look into the rapidan tract in VA

https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wma/rapidan/

Pohick was our first camping with kids destination. Close enough to bail if it's really awful or you encounter dangerous weather (we would wait out storms in the car pre-kids; I'd just haul out with kids).

We went to the KOA at Harpers Ferry last September with 2 4yo's and we all enjoyed it. There is a jumping pillow there and a sandy area with some trucks in it that kept our kids amused for just an hour in the sand alone.
Bathrooms are clean and its very family friendly.

We camped with our kids to at Harpers Ferry when they were Little, which was great. Went on a hike one day and explored Harpers Ferry the next. Great trip, beautiful scenery, and heaven if you have a kid who likes trains (you can walk on a bridge next to the train tresses over the river and onto the C&O canal trail.

Last year we took our 5&6 year olds backpacking at Catoctin which was a good starter backpacking trip. You can reserve an adirondack shelter which is only a couple miles in if you park in the right spot, so we didn't need to carry a tent (freeing DH and I up to carry everything else).

We've also been to Jellystone by Lurray Cabins, which they loved, but is a very different experience than backcountry camping!

re: Pohick bay, it is in Lorton, Va. It's also near Mason Neck state park, which has some easy toddler-friendly hiking trails along the river.

You could try Pohick Bay regional park. It's on the Potomac, has a little playground, large wooded camping area, mini golf, even a water park.

Swains Lock on the C&O canal. 15 minutes from northwest DC

Anonymous wrote:Turkey Run!! - its near woodbridge, it's clean, it's close, and it's not like camping in a big back yard with no trees or on a parking lot like some other local spots like in Reston or Cunningham Falls in Md.

https://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/turkeyrunridge.htm

Oops I meant Oak Ridge Campground - same forest, I think they are adjacent or really close there. https://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/oakridge.htm

Turkey Run!! - its near woodbridge, it's clean, it's close, and it's not like camping in a big back yard with no trees or on a parking lot like some other local spots like in Reston or Cunningham Falls in Md.

https://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/turkeyrunridge.htm

I think Seneca Creek Lake Park has camping sites, and they have a very nice playground and canoes or pedal boats to rent.

I also think that Watkins Regional Park has campsites. They have a fabulous Oz themed playground, plus a "farm" and a nature center with rescued wild animals (an owl with no depth perception, a turtle missing a foot, a falcon with talon arthritis ... like the island of misfit toys for wild animals).

The places on the AT, like Washington Monument State Park are within 2 hours, and close by to some cute towns that have ice cream shops and things like that.

Anonymous wrote:I'm living out in the shenandoah valley so my places are on the far side BUT I have a toddler and we love to camp! Places so far that I recommend:

Shenandoah national park- I forget the name of the one I stayed in but there are a few nice ones! It wasn't big meadows.

Absolute favorite is a little far for you guys but if you plan ahead and book a spot on the lake...it's incredible! If you have a boat and fishing gear, bring them. It's bolar mountain recreation area on lake moomaw.

Check the state park website too or reserve America! I would pick one with water and sand and I prefer ones with great views from the campsite.

I just remembered- loft mountain! Do tick checks, they are really bad!!

I'm living out in the shenandoah valley so my places are on the far side BUT I have a toddler and we love to camp! Places so far that I recommend:

Shenandoah national park- I forget the name of the one I stayed in but there are a few nice ones! It wasn't big meadows.

Absolute favorite is a little far for you guys but if you plan ahead and book a spot on the lake...it's incredible! If you have a boat and fishing gear, bring them. It's bolar mountain recreation area on lake moomaw.

Check the state park website too or reserve America! I would pick one with water and sand and I prefer ones with great views from the campsite.

this was recently asked with some goo dsuggestions:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/642546.page#10909002

If you want a really basic close to home spot to break kids in I would also recommend Burke lake and Prince William Forest.

Can anyone recommend some good places to take preschoolers camping? My husband and I were big hikers before kids so backpacked a lot but have finally gathered car camping gear appropriate for a family of four. We did a trial run close to home this weekend and it was great so are looking for some new spots to try. Places we used to like don't seem worth the drive given the kids aren't yet ready for big hikes (WVA mountains, sites along the AT). So any family friendly (but still pretty and as serene as possible) recommendations within 2 hours of DC would be great.