|
|
| RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More Related Tips |
|
|
|
officergator
Central Florida
Full Member
Joined: 07/25/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
I am planning our next trip to Washington DC and plan to go probably the week before Easter in April. I am not a fan of commercial campgrounds and prefer to stay at State or National Parks Campgrounds. 1. They are cheaper. 2. I am already paying for them anyway, so why not. 3. They usually offer more space per site.
I could care less about hook-ups. Dry Camping all the way up to full hook-ups is fine with me.
I found Greenbelt National Park, which seems nice. Anyone have an opinion on that one, or opinions on parks in the area. We will be using the metro to go into downtown to visit the museums and monuments, and would like to be relatively close, but away from the crime and noise at night.
Thanks
2007 Dodge Ram 1500 ThunderRoad
1998 Coachmen Catalina Lite 24D
1 Beautiful Wife
3 Howling Beagles
|
SidKaye
Mt Dora Florida, Montreal QC for the Summer
Senior Member
Joined: 09/03/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Greenbelt NP is quiet, beautiful, no hookups, 2-3 miles from Metro. You MUST have a Metro Smart trip card to get out of the parking lot...no cash or credit card accepted. Check their website for details and if you are a senior, discounts. The senior discount card may be purchased at the Giant Supermarket between Greenbelt and the Metro station.
Sidney
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT,48RE, 4:10,Cummins HO Diesel,Quad Cab,LWB,SRW,PacBrake,Prodigy, X-Monitor Gauges,Line-X,Bedsaver
2002 Excel,Ltd,30RGW,Hughes Autoformer,Honda Eu1000i, Hughes Direcway HN7000S, Satmex5,
http://www.kayepics.com
|
junmy3
Warner Robins GA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/03/2004
View Profile
 Online
|
When DW and I went to DC several years ago, we stayed at Pohick Bay Regional Park. We would drive about 10 miles to the Franconia-Springfield metro stop. The park was inexpensive and was a nice place to stay. It is also near Mt. Vernon, which we enjoyed very much.
Jim & Junnie
2005 Sunline Solaris T-2553
|
LarryJM
NoVa
Senior Member
Joined: 11/09/2007
View Profile
|
junmy3 wrote:When DW and I went to DC several years ago, we stayed at Pohick Bay Regional Park. We would drive about 10 miles to the Franconia-Springfield metro stop. The park was inexpensive and was a nice place to stay. It is also near Mt. Vernon, which we enjoyed very much.
Bull Run CLICKY is another park here in NoVa that has camping facilities. There is a park and ride Metro about 3 miles away at US29 and Stone Rd. in Centreville, Va.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
ALL TRAILER MODS>>ETERNABOND INSTALL>>RAINKAP INSTALL
|
maximus
Marion, Il. USA
Full Member
Joined: 06/20/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
SidKaye got it right.
Greeenbelt all the way. 17 days there last summer. Clean, quiet, safe, close, cheap esp. with the senior pass (It's federal). Just a few miles to good eats, good shopping and your ace in the hole--- Metro. (We camped in a slide-in and the battery got recharged every time we drove. No AC but it wasn't needed in the intense shade of the park.)
The metro was scary for a dude who has barely been on a city bus but they have helpers who are very busy, so you won't be the only one who appears to be dumb. The ride is about 20 minutes to town. Select your stop carefully and pay attention lest you overshoot your stop.
Wear good walking shoes. Take your time. Try to see everything. (Most of it is clustered.) Go to the less visited FDR Memorial-WW2 Memorial -all the Smithsonians-The Indian Museum-Ford's Theater-Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington monuments. Go to the Falls of the Potomac. Get a good guidebook. Buy a GPS for the vehicle. Carry a bottle of water and ibuprophen. Try to take someone under 18.(Maybe the greatest gift we've ever given the 10 y.o. grandson was this trip).
Anyway, this trip should be at the top of every American's bucket list. A great, international city that is revered by most of the world. Let's not take it and it's institutions for granted.
proud American,
Don
|
|
|
goforjoe
Pennsylvania
New Member
Joined: 10/01/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
If you have Military or govt ID, Camp AP Hill has a camp ground driving distance to DC. Been there once, Will work in a pinch.
|
mdcamping
Mansfield, CT
Senior Member
Joined: 03/04/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
As posted earlier try Bull Run Regional Park close to DC, about 15 miles from the metro station.
Large wooded state campground that you wouldn't know you were in a metro area while at the campground. Very family friendly, zero tolerance alcohol policy, Decent campground store. Manassas National Battlefield down the street
Mike
2007 Toyota Tacoma, Double Cab 4x4 Max Towing 6,500lbs GCWR 11,100lbs
1999 21' Aerolite RBH, Pro Series 800lb Weight Distributing Hitch
Husky Sway Control Bar, Prodigy Electronic Brake Control
McKesh Mirrors
States we've camped in so far...
|
BBear64
Pennsylvania
New Member
Joined: 06/08/2009
View Profile
|
officergator wrote:I am planning our next trip to Washington DC and plan to go probably the week before Easter in April. I am not a fan of commercial campgrounds and prefer to stay at State or National Parks Campgrounds. 1. They are cheaper. 2. I am already paying for them anyway, so why not. 3. They usually offer more space per site.
I could care less about hook-ups. Dry Camping all the way up to full hook-ups is fine with me.
I found Greenbelt National Park, which seems nice. Anyone have an opinion on that one, or opinions on parks in the area. We will be using the metro to go into downtown to visit the museums and monuments, and would like to be relatively close, but away from the crime and noise at night.
Thanks
Greenbelt is a great choice. Just remember during the off season it's first come first serve and they do not accept credit cards as payment...only cash or check. You shouldn't have any trouble getting a site, however, it does get somewhat crowded for the time frame you've chosen since it is in the midst of the Cherry Blossom Festival. If you haven't already visited the website for the Cherry Blossom Festival here it is:
National Cherry Blossom Festival
It's a great site for information about everything going on during the festival...just click a date on the calendar at the top and it will tell you all of the festivities going on for that particular day.
If you are going to be there the Saturday before Easter, I would highly suggest you check out the concert and fireworks at Waterfront Park...they're phenomenal!
Hope you have a great trip to DC!
|
Snoop Dog
near Tampa, FL
New Member
Joined: 06/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I stayed at this place a few years back.
http://www.traveltrailervillage.com/location.htm
It was only a few miles off of I-95, and very easy to get to coming from the south. The park is very peaceful inside and is well maintained.
Since we were going to DC everyday, you can take I-95 north from this place about 15 minutes to the Metro. I don't remember which Metro station it is but it is the line that comes south out of DC and it deads ends there.
Anyway, I have stayed at Cherry Hill and think it is a bit too urban for me, and coming from the south, you have to drive thru DC to get to it, which is no fun.
Just a suggestion!
2005 Crossroads Paradise Point 32RL
2007 Dodge 3500 Diesel Quad cab DRW 4x4
|
Snoop Dog
near Tampa, FL
New Member
Joined: 06/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Another link!
http://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/ttv.htm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
