Campgrounds and RV parks near Cherry Hill, VA

Prince William Forest Park is the main draw for hiking, biking, and paddling. The park's land was set aside during the Great Depression, and the Civilian Conservation Corps restored the previously over-farmed acreage, building trails, dams and cabins. Rangers run programs at the visitor center, and quiet forest loops make it a workable base for families with younger children. On the water, the Potomac River corridor supports boating, kayaking, and fishing for bass, catfish, and crappie. Smallwood State Park has a 50-boat slip marina, boat launch ramps, boat trailer parking, picnic areas, pavilions, playground, an amphitheater and nature trails, and Goose Bay Marina provides launch ramps and slips near the Port Tobacco River. Quantico, Fredericksburg, and the museums and monuments of Washington, D.C. are all reachable as day trips.

Cherry Hill sits in a humid subtropical zone. The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with no dry season, hot and muggy summer months, and cooler temperatures combined with substantial rainfall in winter. Precipitation is spread fairly evenly through the year rather than concentrated in a wet season. Oak Ridge Campground is open March through November and accommodates tents, RVs, and trailers, with reservations available up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov. Smallwood State Park offers two designated youth group camping sites, available from April through October, and family sites can be reserved up to 365 days in advance through the Maryland state reservation system. Reservations are not required, but are recommended especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for hiking and RV travel, with lower humidity and fewer bugs. Summer weekends and holidays fill fastest at both the National Park Service and Maryland state park campgrounds, so travelers planning a July or August trip should book well ahead.

Sites within Prince William Forest Park are wooded and quiet, with strictly enforced quiet hours. There are no electricity or water hook-ups at the Oak Ridge Campground, and there are restrooms with flush toilets and running water in each of the three loops, but only the B Loop restrooms have showers, which are open to all campers. An America the Beautiful pass covers park entry and provides discounts on some campsites. Prince William Forest RV Campground has full-hookup sites, modern restrooms, laundry, and a dump station. Aquia Pines is a wooded RV park with pull-through sites and a pool, though I-95 traffic noise carries at night. At Smallwood State Park, campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs up to 30 feet, each site has water and electric hookups, a table, fire ring and grill, and amenities include drinking water, restrooms with flush toilets and hot-water showers, and a dump station.