Anyone with experience camping near DC?

[Maligator]

This year I got a few extra days off work so we will try something new and stop in DC for three days of camping at the Cherry Hill grounds. According to their site, they have bus service hourly to the city. I was wondering if anyone can comment on this campground or suggest another close to the city that will make it easy to get in and out of DC so my kids can see all the places. We aren't towing a car with our class A so we will rely on the metro system. Thanks!

 

[Nan P]

We have stayed at Cherry Hill Park campground and found the staff there friendly and very willing to help. They know you probably want to check out all that's available for tours and visits to the Smithsonian, etc. and are very helpful with information. We did take a bus from Cherry Hill to the subway and took that into DC. It was really easy to get around. Lots of walking in the city, but worth it. We also took a tour of the monuments and museums and much more on a bus that left from the campground at sundown. That was great to see the city and monuments all light up at night. They cater to the tourist, but are still a comfy campground to spend a few days with nice swimming pools, hot tub and sites. I think they are the closest to DC. Have fun.

 

[FtW Mike]

Maligator you found the resort I was thinking about referring you to. Be fore warned that base on our experience parking in DC is a bear. Nan P suggestion of taking the subway very worth considering
We have considering going here and doing the same but before we will book it need to clarify with them to pet policy

 

[Luv2Camp]

We camped at Cherry Hill a number of years ago and loved it! It's a really nice campground. We found DC's subway system very easy to navigate. Have fun!

 

[Maligator]

Cool. Thanks for the reviews of Cherry Hill. Makes my decision easier. I have been to DC before w/ DW but it was before we had the kids. We took the metro everywhere and had no problems other than DW complaining about the heat and walking up capital hill toward the Supreme Court when we went.

How long is the bus ride from the campground to the train station? Any tips on buying the Metro pass? Years ago when we went, you could buy an all day unlimited ride ticket. Not sure if they still have that.

 

[North of Mouse]

This year I got a few extra days off work so we will try something new and stop in DC for three days of camping at the Cherry Hill grounds. According to their site, they have bus service hourly to the city. I was wondering if anyone can comment on this campground or suggest another close to the city that will make it easy to get in and out of DC so my kids can see all the places. We aren't towing a car with our class A so we will rely on the metro system. Thanks!

Before seeing you will have no car, I would have referred you to Prince William Travel Park south of DC on I 95.
We always stay there to avoid driving in any of the DC traffic with our MH, then drive to the southern point of the Metro at Springfield, VA - very stress free.

Oops, just noticed you are in MA - guess a campground south of DC would not have helped you anyway!

 

[jbgard]

We have stayed at Cherry Hill and found it very accommodating. The bus from the campground is not express to the metro station and make lots of stops, especially on the way back late in the afternoon. We ended up driving our tow vehicle to the metro station most of the time. Once at the metro station, navigating is quick and easy to figure out.

The staff knows the scoop and will guide you.

Bring comfortable walking shoes.

 

[jbrostek]

I never stayed at Cherry Hill Campground, but I do know the area well. The bus as stated is not an express shuttle. It is a Metro transit bus and runs down US1 to Greenbelt Metro Station. From there its relatively easy to get around much of the city tourist attractions.

Metro stopped doing paper tickets, so you have to buy RFiD cards now called the Smart Trip card. Each card costs 10 dollars and has 5 dollars value on it. They are generally easy to reload at any metro station, I have never looked into order them ahead of time and I am not even sure how you could go about adding a full day pass to them. You may want to go to www.wmata.com and read up some on their recent changes to the fare card system.

If you park at Metro during the week there usually isn't a parking issue, but it will cost you 4.50 a day for parking, except on holidays and weekends. Then metro parking is free (at least in most locations.)

 

[peg110]

Thanks.... Because of this thread, I am now actually considering a trip to this camp ground. I think it's a great way to get out with the family AND to see DC.

Now I just need to figure out the Metro card "thingy".

 

[jbrostek]

I found the info you are looking for, I think. This Link you can read up on fare cards and they do passes. You can even order the smart trip online prior to your trip.

 

[TXWAC]

Cherry Hill is great. Show up early enough to go to one of their 'how to tour DC' sessions. Tons of insider info.

 

[Maligator]

Thanks for all the great info. We decided to hit DC this month when the kids have vacation instead of in July on our way down to the Fort. We booked a spot at Cherry Hill last night!

 

[IngmarP]

I live in the area and all the positive comments about Cherry Hill and using Metro are correct. One bit of advice is to book campground reservations early if you are going any time other than winter--this place is very popular.

 

[5kidsmommy]

We have camped outside of DC a few times but we have always stayed at Bull Run state park. We will be traveling there for a week this summer. We usually just drive to a local metro station and take the metro in. But I'm a little weary now of taking the metro because it's having some major safety issues, they are even talking about shutting it down for several months very soon. We may have to rethink our summer plans. I can't even imagine the logistical nightmare of the metro being down.

 

[Pstecker]

We have camped outside of DC a few times but we have always stayed at Bull Run state park. We will be traveling there for a week this summer. We usually just drive to a local metro station and take the metro in. But I'm a little weary now of taking the metro because it's having some major safety issues, they are even talking about shutting it down for several months very soon. We may have to rethink our summer plans. I can't even imagine the logistical nightmare of the metro being down.

Have you guys stayed at Pohick Bay at all? We live 1hr south of DC so have thought of staying there. How is Bull Run? My DH works at home 100% now but couldn't imagine a commute to work without the Metro working.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Have you guys stayed at Pohick Bay at all? We live 1hr south of DC so have thought of staying there. How is Bull Run? My DH works at home 100% now but couldn't imagine a commute to work without the Metro working.

We have not, we come in from Ohio so tend to stay pretty far west of the city. Bull Run is a nice 6 hour drive for us so we've just stuck to it.

 

[PrincessMom98]

We have been hoping to plan a long weekend at Cherry Hill this summer. I was looking at the Smart Trip cards. Can anyone that has used them tell me if I can buy one card and load it for the whole family or if each person will need their own card? TIA

 

[TXWAC]

We have been hoping to plan a long weekend at Cherry Hill this summer. I was looking at the Smart Trip cards. Can anyone that has used them tell me if I can buy one card and load it for the whole family or if each person will need their own card? TIA

You would have to pass them back and forth and such. Don't remember, but they didn't cost anything to get. Cheapest souvenir you will buy on the whole trip.

 

[drdisneygirl]

We just recently stayed at the Washington, DC KOA campground off of Rt. 97. It was a small quiet campground and worked well for us. We drove to the New Carrollton METRO stop and took the METRO into the city to see the cherry blossoms and tour the museums.

 

[jbrostek]

you need a smart trip card per person. It would not let you pass the card and enter the gate again without an exit.

I would not get too worked up on the metro stuff, yes they are having issues. But 2 electrical fires 6 months apart is what spurred a full 18 hour shut down mid week on the metro system. It was crazy, but they did it. The system is still running as well as it has been for the past 5+ years but they need to work on reliability and repairs more otherwise its just going to go into the dumps even further.