Retirement Trip

[klr650goldwing]

Once we are retired, we plan an extended stay in the Washington DC area to check out the Smithsonian and many other sites. Can any of you recommend a good place to park the 5er for such stay? We'd like to be pretty close to the heart of DC, but still be in a campground. Thanks.

[klr650goldwing]

Thanks everyone. This is great information; gives to us a place to start our research.

[LewBob]

If you don't need hookups, Greenbelt Park, a National Park facility, is ideally situated to the city and Metro stop (College Park).

[4runnerguy]

mjmaddox wrote:
Check out Pohick Bay Regional park in Lorton,Va. Much less expensive, great wooded private sites perfect for an extended stay. We used it as a home base for our week of site seeing and it worked perfectly. Drove our tow vehicle to the metro each day. Unlike what others may tell you, we had zero traffic issues during our April vacation..total commute time was about 45 minutes from the campground and we were able to keep our own schedule. After touring and crowds each day, coming back each night to peace and quiet was nice.. We did our own research and did not want to pay a premium for amenities we weren't going to use. One of our most favorite vacations. Good luck.

Sums up our experience also. Loved the wooded setting, the spacing between sites, and no traffic noise.

[GeoBoy]

The KOA in Millersville, MD has a shuttle that goes to the Metro into DC.

[NoVa_RT]

I haven't stayed at Cherry Hill, but have lived in Washington, DC/Northern Virginia for 40+ years, and the superior METRO access from Cherry Hill makes it the winner. They're geared up for tourists and provide lots of information, too. The reviews say it's a nice campground, if a little expensive compared to city/county/state parks.

There are some nice county parks on the Virginia side, but no easy bus from campground to METRO that I'm aware of. You can drive to METRO, but commuters fill up the lots early Monday-Friday, and it's another $4.50 for parking, IIRC. Unless, there is a reason to be on the Virginia side, I'd stay at Cherry Hill.

[mjmaddox]

Check out Pohick Bay Regional park in Lorton,Va. Much less expensive, great wooded private sites perfect for an extended stay. We used it as a home base for our week of site seeing and it worked perfectly. Drove our tow vehicle to the metro each day. Unlike what others may tell you, we had zero traffic issues during our April vacation..total commute time was about 45 minutes from the campground and we were able to keep our own schedule. After touring and crowds each day, coming back each night to peace and quiet was nice.. We did our own research and did not want to pay a premium for amenities we weren't going to use. One of our most favorite vacations. Good luck.

[Drbolasky]

It's been a while, but we also used Cherry Hill because of it's proximity to DC and access to the Metro. No, no wilderness "ambiance" but it doesn't sound like you plan to hang out in the CG all that much. Sites are snug, and there will be a bit of noise from the highways.

[2oldman]

DC in heading -posts in this forum

[edbehnke]

just google campgrounds around DC there are a few.

as for a campground that will take a '5th wheel', they all will. simply call if questions, like your 5th wheel is like 45 ft. or something unusual.

as for DC, if in the summer a must see is the marine corps silent drill team at 8th & I and the marine corps museum at quantio.

[mdcamping]

If your also looking for a place that has more of a campground feel to it might also consider Bull Run Regional Park, campground is 15 miles from the Vienna Metro Center Station.

Might also consider editing your topic title to something like DC campgrounds, you will get much more responses.

Mike

[Jim_Shoe]

Cherry Hill is the place to go. They have a shuttle to the Metro subway station. The only way to travel in D.C. The folks that live/work there drive with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the horn. There's actually a "city" beneath the city that's serviced by the Metro. A huge underground Shopping Mall. Last time I was there, several of the stores were closed for the observance of Jefferson Davis Day (June 6th this year) D.C. was carved out of Virginia and Maryland.

[mdcamping]

djgarcia wrote:

NCWriter wrote:
We had a good experience at Cherry Hill, a full service campground which is on a bus line for access to the city or Metro subway station. Daily briefings and loads of free briefings and information on transportation and sites you'll want to see. It's about the closest to the city, just at the Beltway.

X1, the location and accessibility of connecting transportation, i.e. city bus comes right into the RV park takes you right to the tram station which then drops you off right at the center of the capital and all the museums. Be sure and take the double deck bus tours to see and learn about the whole city.

X2 on Cherry Hill, as mentioned above they have a daily 4pm travel class at the campground community room which was very informative.

Mike

[MarkTwain]

NCWriter wrote:
We had a good experience at Cherry Hill, a full service campground which is on a bus line for access to the city or Metro subway station. Daily briefings and loads of free briefings and information on transportation and sites you'll want to see. It's about the closest to the city, just at the Beltway.

X1, the location and accessibility of connecting transportation, i.e. city bus comes right into the RV park takes you right to the tram station which then drops you off right at the center of the capital and all the museums. Be sure and take the double deck bus tours to see and learn about the whole city.

[gbopp]

I can't recommend a CG. But, while you're in the east, consider Gettysburg, Philadelphia and other historical areas. There is a lot to see outside the DC area.
Did you ever hear of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry?
DC has a lot to see but, there's a lot more to see if you're interested.
Do some research and make the best of your trip. 🙂

Congrats on your pending retirement.