Anybody got any suggestions for good camping sites within a few hours of DC?
Idea:
1) Campsites on or near lake/river/stream
2) Mountains to hike in
Seems like going West into the mountains is my best bet - I just can't figure out where. This is just a three day car camping thing, but we're all from Seattle - so the more 'mountainous', the better.
GUWonder
May 15, 06, 3:43 am
Anybody got any suggestions for good camping sites within a few hours of DC?
Idea:
1) Campsites on or near lake/river/stream
2) Mountains to hike in
Seems like going West into the mountains is my best bet - I just can't figure out where. This is just a three day car camping thing, but we're all from Seattle - so the more 'mountainous', the better.
Shenandoah Valley is quite popular for locals. If wanting water and just that, Chesapeake Bay is popular (but it doesn't sound like you are looking for that). Summer and/or fall is best for the former (although spring is fine too); the summer is good for the latter.
TMAYER
May 15, 06, 4:37 am
Agree on Shennandoah - its part of the National Park System (Appalachian Trail runs through it)
Here's a blog sort of site about camping in and near DC: http://www.title-3.com/DCCamping.htm
To search for other National Park Service locations: http://www.nationalparks.org/Planyourparktrip/ParkProfiles-select.asp
Shenandoah is a great thought, but there are more nearby.
National Forest campgrounds: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/
Virginia state parks: http://www.dcr.state.va.us/
Maryland state parks: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/sw_index_flash.asp
West Virginia state parks: http://www.wvweb.com/
etc for PA and DL.
slawecki
May 15, 06, 10:15 am
Try wolf gap on the va/wva border. quite high for around here, so quite cool. You can drive around the area, and wilderness camp if you wish.
Not much of a camper, but my boyfriend who is loves the Shenandoahs.
mymiles2go
May 18, 06, 2:52 am
It sounds like the Shanendohas are the way to go. For those of you who've done trips there - any particular campgrounds that you'd recommend?
bhatnasx
May 22, 06, 4:21 pm
Hey,
I grew up in the DC area & went to college in Harrisonburg (JMU - Shenandoah Valley) & I've spent many moons under the stars in the Shenandoah. Why kind of camping are you trying to do exactly? You say car-camping - so I guess my first question is what kind of a car?
I can give you some advice on some great campgrounds in the GW National Forest (GW = George Washington) that are about 2.5 hours from the DC area down 66/81 - however, you'd need to have a 4-wheel drive & for one of them, you can't be afraid to drive it through a river (which I've done in my pickup truck with no problems & I've seen 2-wheel drive Jeeps & pick-ups do it as well). It's all free camping too (no fees since its a national forest). There's a few places near Goshen, VA on the Calfpasture River which you can park & camp (for free) in a pine forest - it can be kind of dirty since locals tend to get trashed there during the summer - but there are some other places near there & it's a nice enough place to set up camp with a river to go swimming in & you're only 20 minutes from Lexington, VA. If you're looking for basic car camping, you can head over to Burke Lake Park in Fairfax, VA for the weekend - 30 minutes from DC. There's also Prince William Forest that has some decent sites.
Don't rule out state parks too - both VA & MD have great state parks - http://www.state.va.us/dcr/parks/ & http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/.
PM me if you want details on any of the off-road type camping near Harrisonburg...
Uniter
May 24, 06, 1:46 pm
Agree on Shennandoah - its part of the National Park System (Appalachian Trail runs through it)
Went camping here last weekend for the first time. The grounds were nice with a store with tons of supplies. We spent one night in a cabin, which was surprisingly great! The hikes rule, the mountains are beautiful, and it's about 90 minutes from DC. Can't beat it.