The founding father of one of Washington, D.C.'s largest suburbs -- Silver Spring, Maryland -- may have been a horse. As legend has it, Francis Preston Blair, friend to President Andrew Jackson and editor of the "Washington Globe," was riding horseback looking for a bucolic retreat from the nation's capital when his mount, Selim, threw him and trotted away. The trusty steed was later discovered near a spring in which mica sand shone like silver -- thus the town's name. Although hotels, upscale shops, restaurants and office buildings have staked claims on Silver Spring's agrarian beginnings, those who yearn to sleep in a pastoral setting can find a few RV campgrounds within 30 miles of town.
Surrounded by suburbia, Greenbelt National Park is a green oasis 8 miles from Silver Spring that accommodates RVs up to 35 feet in length. The year-round, pack-in, pack-out campground has more than 170 primitive tent and RV sites, shared water access, toilets and hot showers on its heavily wooded acreage. Picnicking is big here, with grills and three shady picnic areas on-site, while a playground and 9 miles of trails add to the fun. Its budget-friendly rates and close proximity to D.C. attract crowds during the peak seasons, so make reservations early.
Cherry Hill campground is about 8 miles east of Silver Spring in College Park, home of the University of Maryland and a strip full of restaurants and bars. Campers can choose from 400 RV sites with full hookups, and more than 30 of them offer pull-through access and can accommodate big rigs. Nature trails, a sauna, hot tub, miniature golf course and playground are on the property, and two swimming pools are the cherries on top. When skies turn gray, curl up by the fireplace, play pinball or hop aboard a tour bus to view D.C.'s landmarks.
Across the Virginia state line, about 24 miles from Silver Spring, Lake Fairfax Park has partial hookup RV sites and can accommodate rigs up to 35 feet in length. The year-round campground has flush toilets, showers, shared water and a sanitary dump station, but what the park lacks in creature comforts, it makes up for in outdoor activities. A 20-acre lake is the primary attraction of this lush 426-acre property. Canoes and pedal boat rentals are available, and licensed fishermen can cast lines for trout. Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole, a 1-acre water park with sprays, flumes, slides and a lazy river, provides more wet entertainment, while trails, athletic fields and a concrete skateboard park keep land-lovers happy. Spring and fall bring lots of visitors to the campground, so reserve sites well in advance.
If you're looking for a quiet refuge away from the city but still close to urban attractions, then Duncan's Family Campground might fit your needs. About 30 miles from Silver Spring in Lothian, the year-round campground has about 300 sites for RVs. More than 150 sites have full hookups, and 220 pull-throughs easily fit big rigs. Amenities include a camp store, dump station, bathhouses and laundry facilities. Nature trails loop through the woods, over a small creek and around the park's enclosed dog area. A swimming pool, kiddie pool, playground and putt-putt are centrally located, and horseshoes, basketball, volleyball and shuffleboard courts are on-site.
