Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Prince William Forest Park
Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers. Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret!
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
Oak Ridge Campground ↗
Oak Ridge Campground is a 100-site campground with bathrooms, grills and picnic tables, and drive-up campsites. Leashed pets are welcome. Both tents and RVs are welcome in A Loop and B Loop, though there are no hook-ups for RVs and maximum RV length is 32'. C Loop can be reserved for tents only. Reservations are required for all campsites. Make a reservation on recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. The campground is closed for the winter on December 1 and re-opens on March 1.
Reservations: Reservations can be made by visiting recreation.gov or calling 877-444-6777. There are no walk-in sites available, however same-day reservations are possible when the campground isn't full.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Trailers and fifth wheels are limited to up to 26 feet in length and 12 feet in height and motor homes up to 32 feet in length and 12 feet in height. Check out time is 12:00 p.m. Hook-ups are not available. Full hook-ups are available at the concession-run Prince William Forest RV Campground, located three miles North on Route 234 off exit 152. For information on the Travel Trailer Village, please call 703-221-2474 or 888-737-5730. NPS lists an RV maximum of 32 feet. Trailer maximum: 26 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Fires must be contained in park provided or personal grills. No fires can be left unattended. Extinguish all fires before retiring for the night or leaving the area. Leave extinguished ashes in the grills. If not camping, wood within the park will not be cut, collected or removed for any reason, unless under an approved Special Use Permit. If camping, dead and downed wood less than six inches in…
Site rules: As a unit of the National Park Service, Prince William Forest Park is governed by various laws, policies,and regulations. Each park is shaped by its enabling legislation, or the law passed by congress that specifically created or designated the area as a unit of the National Park Service. Various other laws, policies, and regulations affect how parks operate. Here are some of the laws and policies that govern Prince William Forest Park. The Superintendents Compendium defines park specific regulations.
Prince William Forest RV Park ↗
Prince William RV Park is a concessioner-operated campground within Prince William Forest Park, offering year-round RV camping with full-hookup and water-and-electric sites. Facilities include restrooms with showers, laundry facilities, and a seasonal swimming pool. For current rates, site information, and reservations, call (703) 221-2474. Reservations are handled directly by the concessioner. It is Virginia's closest RV camping to Washington, D.C. Open year-round.
Reservations: Prince William Forest RV Campground is run by a private concessionaire. Call 703-221-2474 for more information about reservations
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: No firewood from outside allowed. Firewood for sale available on site.
Site rules: Code of Federal Regulations and the Superintendent's Compendium apply to the park. Quiet hours are 10:00pm to 7:00am. Camp and park only in designated areas; keep wheels on pavement and gravel.
Cabin Camp 3 (Individual Cabins) ↗
Individual cabin rentals and a small group site are available in Cabin Camp 3. This forested camp was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cabin Camp 3, A and B Units can be reserved by families or small groups. In A Unit, there are 3 cabins that accommodate up to 4 people and 7 cabins that accommodate up to 6 people. In B Unit, there are 3 cabins that can accommodate up to 10 people.
Reservations: Reservations can be made by visiting recreation.gov or calling 877-444-6777 from April to early November. There are no walk-in sites available, however same-day reservations are possible if there are cabins available.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: There are no RV hook-ups in the Cabin Camps. RVs and trailers are not allowed. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: Firewood purchased or brought from outside of the park must be USDA certified pest-free firewood. Campers may use downed and dead wood of less than 6 inches in diameter and no longer than the length and width of the provided camping grill. Electrical appliances (Stoves, AC Units, heaters, etc.) are prohibited. Portable gas stoves are allowed.
Site rules: Reminder that the check-in time is 3:00 pm and the check-out time is 12:00 pm. All pets are prohibited in the cabin camp area, cabins and camp buildings (except service animals). Smoking is not permitted in any of the cabins or buildings. Cabins should be swept and free of trash upon departure. Quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Please be considerate of fellow campers. Keep your cabin area and the comfort stations free of trash and personal belongings. Please recycle using the proper container located within the camp. To prevent animal and pest problems, please place trash in…
Camp Goodwill (Cabin Camp 1) ↗
Camp Goodwill was the first camp in the park completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's. It sleeps 205 visitors. Stone foundations, fireplaces and whole log supports showcase the rustic architecture and beautiful native materials used by the CCC. The sleeping cabins in this camp host 2 to 10 campers per unit and are newer construction (circa 1980s). Some cabins in the D unit have ramps to the doorways. This camp is not available to rent as it is used by NPS park partner, NatureBridge.
Reservations: Camp Goodwill (Cabin Camp 1) is not available for reservation as NatureBridge, a National Park Service (NPS) partner for outdoor educational programs, has exclusive use of the camp under agreement with the NPS.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: There are no RV hook-ups in the Cabin Camps. RVs and trailers are not allowed. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: Firewood purchased or brought from outside of the park must be USDA certified pest-free firewood. Campers may use downed and dead wood of less than 6 inches in diameter and no longer than the length and width of the provided camping grill. Electrical appliances (Stoves, AC Units, heaters, etc.) are prohibited.
Site rules: Remember that check-in time is 1:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am. The permittee must be present for both. A park staff member or designee will inspect the facilities for damage and cleanliness. All pets are prohibited in the cabin camp area, cabins and camp buildings (except service animals). Smoking is not permitted in any of the cabins or buildings. Cabins should be swept and free of trash upon departure. Quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Please be considerate of fellow campers. Keep your cabin area and the comfort stations free of trash and personal belongings. Please…
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
NPS lists RV access at Oak Ridge Campground. Trailers and fifth wheels are limited to up to 26 feet in length and 12 feet in height and motor homes up to 32 feet in length and 12 feet in height. Check out time is 12:00 p.m. Hook-ups are not available. Full hook-ups are available at the concession-run Prince William Forest RV Campground, located three miles North on Route 234 off exit 152. For information on the Travel Trailer Village, please call 703-221-2474 or 888-737-5730.
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Hiking, Backcountry Hiking, Front-Country Hiking. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Arts and Culture, Biking, Mountain Biking, Road Biking, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Group Camping, RV Camping, Compass and GPS, Orienteering, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Food, Picnicking, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Hands-On, Volunteer Vacation, Hiking, Backcountry Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Hunting and Gathering, Junior Ranger Program, Playground, Wildlife Watching, Park Film, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
From Washington, D.C. and points north: Take I-95 south to exit 150-B (VA Route 619/Joplin Road). The park entrance is the second right. From Fredericksburg and points south: Take I-95 north to exit 150 (VA Route 619/Joplin Road). Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp and continue on VA Route 619 West approximately 1/4 mile to the park entrance. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
Prince William Forest Park experiences all four seasons. Spring and fall are generally comfortable with precipitation possible. Summers can be hot and humid with average temperatures in the high 80s and with sudden thunderstorms possible. July and August are the hottest months. Winters can be cold with average temperatures in the winter of 41 degrees with variable precipitation. The main park roads can close due to snowy conditions, though cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing are permitted.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Farms to Forest Trail in Summer
The Farms to Forest Trail is a favorite among visitors.
Credit: NPS Photo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Cabin Camp 3 in Spring
Spend a night in the park's historic cabin camps!
Credit: NPS Photo. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.