Recommended Tent Camping Locations - Washington DC

Washington DC Tent Camping Trips

Download Recommended Tent Camping Locations - Washington DC

From the long green lawn at the National Mall to the imposing memorials, monuments and museums that dominate the surrounding landscape, America’s capital city, is a grand and welcoming Washington DC tent camping destination. In addition to DC’s wealth of historical and cultural features, the city’s abundant shopping, entertainment, and dining choices will keep you occupied from sunup ‘til sundown. And in case you do your best sightseeing by moonlight, DC’s nightlife is exceptional, too. Please note that the majority of Washington DC tent campgrounds are located on the outskirts of the city. In fact, Duncan's Family Campground in Lothian, MD offers a van to Metro DC tours.

The two-mile-long National Mall, readily accessible from Hwy. 1, serves as an outdoor oasis at the heart of the District of Columbia. The Mall’s pleasing green space stretches all the way from the white-domed U.S. Capitol Building to the towering presence of the Washington Monument.

The Jefferson Memorial includes an impressive 19-foot-tall statue of the third U.S. President, Thomas Jefferson. Excerpts from his legendary writings, including the Declaration of Independence, are engraved on the walls of the marble tribute.

From the magnificent Lincoln Memorial, you’ll gain great views of the Reflecting Pool, U.S. Capitol Building and Washington Monument. President Abraham Lincoln’s grand and noble statue is complemented by words from his eloquent addresses at Gettysburg and his second inauguration.

The FDR Memorial features ten bronze sculptures of President Franklin Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, and it illustrates significant events from the Great Depression to World War II. The outdoor gallery setting of the memorial is fully accessible to visitors in wheelchairs.

One effective way to honor all American armed forces personnel, past and present, is to visit Washington DC’s four military memorials. Veterans from World Wars I and II, the wars in Korea and Vietnam each have their own tributes, stationed around the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.

The Smithsonian Institution is undoubtedly America’s “museum central,” with the best of the best exhibited within its walls. Some top picks at the Smithsonian include its National Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History, the American Indian, National Portrait Gallery and Zoological Park. If possible, allow a few days for leisurely sweeps of these and other fascinating Smithsonian offerings.

The highly praised and emotionally charged Holocaust Museum utilizes photographs, films, and survivors’ oral histories to tell its compelling story. Some Holocaust exhibits require passes, which may be obtained free of charge (first come, first served) on the day of arrival or purchased online in advance.

The National Gallery of Art presents permanent and temporary exhibitions of fine paintings, sculpture, and multi-media works of art from America and all regions of the world.

At the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, you can take a guided tour to see 8,000 sheets of paper money being produced per hour. It seems like the folks there have figured out how to make a quick buck! After you watch money literally rolling off the presses, the National Archives is the place to go for close visual encounters with the original Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

Over in Georgetown, you can hop aboard a mule-powered boat on the famed C&O Canal to ride just like local citizens did back in the late 1800’s.

In an ultimate recycling project, DC’s old Post Office Pavilion was transformed into a shopper’s getaway, complete with specialty stores and plenty of restaurants with international flair. Take the ascending tour to the Post Office’s sky-high clock tower for panoramic views of Washington, DC.

Historically speaking, the 90-year-old Union Station (just a few blocks south of Hwy. 50), is a major transportation center for the nation’s capital. And it’s also tops for shopping venues, entertainment and tasty cuisine from every corner of the planet. Eateries such as Smith’s, Dubliner Pub and America Restaurant add to the fun of a trip to (or through) Union Station. Meals out and about in metro DC take on a 1940’s flavor at District Chop House & Brewery. There’s a decidedly local twist at Martins’ Tavern, which opened back in 1933, the day after Prohibition ended. And there’s a hint of cool in the air at Blues Alley Jazz, America’s 32-year-old (and longest-running) jazz supper club.

In the realm of theatrical entertainment, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts encompasses six superb theaters that present the cream of the crop in music, drama, and dance. Be sure to inquire about the center’s complimentary 6 p.m. daily performances. Washington’s Ford’s Theatre serves two important roles. It’s an historical monument to Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated here, but also a working theater hosting dramatic and musical productions that embody family values, underscore multiculturalism, and present the unique character of American life.

Cherry Hill Park is another recommended park local to Washington DC tent campgrounds that is actually located in College Park, MD.

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