Touring Washington DC

[DadScout]

Does anyone have any ideas for campsites near Washington DC? Our Scouts want to head down there in the Spring and I'm looking to see if I can do this without hotels. So far I've found Camp William Synder (Scoutcamp) in Haymarket VA and Greenbelt National Park just off the beltway. However, I don't know much about these camps/parks so any first hand knowledge or ideas would be appreciated.

[ronin718]

Camp Snyder is the local Cub camp, but it's built out really well and can accomodate multiple styles of Scout groups. They have tent camping like any regular summer camp, but they also have cabins available with bunks and full facilities if your group wants to go that route. Here's the link for more info on Snyder...

http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/openroste ... rgkey=1933

You might want to look into Prince William Forest down in Dale City, VA. They have great cabins, may also be able to provide tent sites, and have one of the best orienteering courses in the area.

If you give me a mileage radius you're looking to stay within and how primitive you want to get, I can give you more ideas.

[DadScout]

I was trying to make it easy to get in and out of Washington and somehow make it easy to
get out and back up to NY. So I was looking to be say 45 mins out of Washington on the MD
side. Seems everytime I've had to take the beltway I'm stuck for 2 hours getting around
Washington to VA. Could just be my luck and being from NY I should be immune to it but I'd still
rather avoid it if I can.

As far a facilities, tenting is fine. Would hope there were showers but could survive
without them.

[Quailman]

The Baltimore Area Council has Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation, but it's about 80 miles form the White House. When you go, though, you'll want to find the first Metro station you come to and ride the rest of the way.

Cedarville State Forest (MD) has youth group camping. I think it's near Brandywine.

[PaulSWolf]

The Scout area at Greenbelt National Park is quite nice, and a short distance fom the College Park Metro Station. Many troops have used it and found it very convenient. Near the U of Md, and shopping, too.

See: http://www.nps.gov/gree/planyourvisit/s ... ations.htm

[ronin718]

I was trying to make it easy to get in and out of Washington

OH MAN!!! We've got a comedian in our midst!! There's no such thing as an easy in and out of Washington.

I'm not too familiar with the MD side of the river within 45 min of DC. If you got out further, you could look at a couple camping places along the C&O Canal in Brunswick, MD. If you were here during the week, you could take the commuter train from Brunswick into Union Station.