Thinking of taking the Kids to Wash. DC any suggestions?

There are three campgrounds that I know of that are fairly close to Metro stops:

Cherry Hill, as has been mentioned many times, is by most all accounts quite nice but relatively expensive.

Greenbelt NP, not far from Cherry Hill, is quite inexpensive and pretty quiet but offers no hookups. It's a large campground so sites are very rarely unavailable. I stayed there for a week a couple years ago (over Thanksgiving week) and it worked out very well for me, walking to the Metro station. It did not strike me as a particularly sketchy neighborhood after dark (or during the day).

Lake Fairfax County Park (in Reston, VA) is somewhat in between the others in terms of amenities and cost; there's a water park and partial hookups, and it's also within reasonable walking distance or a quick drive to a Metro station.

Here's good information on Cherry Hill RV and Washington, D.C., complete with photos.

https://wheelingit.us/?s=cherry+hill

This is what we did:




Go to Cherry Hill RV park.
CHERRY HILL RV PARK



Take this two day tour.
TWO DAY TOUR


Do not try to drive around in downtown Washington, DC

Another option, and if Cherry Hill is booked, is Greenbelt Park run by the National Parks Service. It's fairly close to Cherry Hill, and is about a 30 minute walk mostly thru the park to the METRO at Collage Park or 10 minute drive. It's camping in a forest setting , sites aren't services, but is only $20/day,
See more info here:

https://www.nps.gov/gree/index.htm

dotcommer wrote:
Any suggestions, about getting around in an RV, in DC?

I have nightmares just thinking about taking a RV into D.C..

Can't help with a campground but I would take the kids to see the Vietnam wall and the rest of the monuments and also take them to Arlington national cemetery and see the tomb of the unknown soldiers and changing of the guard. Enjoy your trip

We take our daughters every other year and they are 14 and 11. We usually stay outside the downtown area, but use the METRO to get around. If we are far out, we will take our car to the nearest car park. If we are in a campground, we will take the bus in to then get on the METRO. The METRO police/security are really good about directions and getting around. The time of day for the METRO also makes lots of difference in your comfort. We have never felt unsafe when we have used it, but we also did not use a couple of stations because the METRO security guard advised us against it. We have used it up until after midnight with no problem. Go with your gut....if it tells you something is off, it probably is.


DC METRO MAP

Bikeboy57 wrote:
...and taking public transportation

but not after dark. and don't stray too far outside the "tourist" areas or you and the kids might get a different education. when we were last in DC...admittedly many years ago...we stayed in a close by motel and rode our bikes into DC. the area was commercial and looked ok to us and our bikes were a great way to get around the city. we made our way back to the motel a bit after dark and it was a totally different feel to that area. lots of sketchy people hanging around the motel and in the immediate area...so much so that we stacked the luggage in front of the door and checked out the next morning...1 day ahead of plan. we'd go back to DC but would be sure to be back at the RV before dark.

dotcommer wrote:
We are currently in Connecticut, on our trek back to Arizona. My wife wants to take the kids to Washington DC. We are in a 37 foot coach. Any suggestions, about getting around in an RV, in DC? Are there some good RV parks etc.

You don't go around DC in an RV!
You stay in a campground, not far from a train station and do all your commuting from there. You'll have a map with the different lines in color and for going in every direction. Once you get off at the Smithsonian, you'll need to do some walking, even after the museums, cuz it's just one thing after the other and not worth getting back on the train. Again, you'll have a map of the area, that you'll pick up there and for seeing what I mean.
For a CG, I recommend this one and not all that far from Mt Vernon, but you'll need a toad or a rental for that. Don't miss the USMC museum, not far away from the Park, as well, if you're into that sort of thing.....

Prince William Forest Park
18100 Park Headquarters Rd
Triangle, VA 22172
Phone number (703) 221-4706

There's also this one, but for an extended stay, you'll have to keep filling your fresh water tank. Can't remember if there's sewer hookups or just a dump station, but it is a nice park.....

Little Bennett Campground
Campground in Montgomery County, Maryland
Address: 23705 Frederick Rd, Clarksburg, MD 20871
Phone: (301) 528-3430

Never stayed at Cherry Hill, but it does come highly recommended.
Thing is about the above, they're Gov. Parks, so the price is right.

Yep, Cherry Hill and either ride the Metro or drive into DC. NO RVing downtown!