Williamsburg and D.C. Campground recommendations

[terrytrailertra]

We are considering a trip where we will spend several days in each area, and we're hoping for recommendations. We generally prefer state/county/national parks to private cg's, but that is not a deal breaker. We have a 38 foot 5th wheel. We need at least 30 amps. We are traveling with 2 teenagers:E. Thanks in advance.

[jackbuck]

Williams burg==American heritage and Dc =cherryhill in college park md.

[GeoBoy]

Capital KOA in Millersville, MD., has a shuttle to the train.

[TyroneandGladys]

When we visited Williamsburg we were very pleased with Anvil Campground. The bus to Williamsburg stops at the front entrance.

[DrewE]

4runnerguy wrote:

While it means getting in the vehicle and driving, I hardily recommend the Udvar-Hazy Center south of Dulles Airport. It's a companion to the Air and Space Museum on the mall, but a much larger facility with room for big items. The Discover shuttle, a Concorde, an SR-71, and the Enola Gay are just some of the things on display. Worth the drive and dealing with the traffic.

I agree that this is a fabulous place to visit if you're at all interested in aviation. I spent a very enjoyable day there (a full day, at that). It's huge, and has a very impressive collection of aircraft and related items.

You can get there using public transit without overly much difficulty, if you don't care to drive: take the Metro to the end of the line at Whiele-Reston East, and then the Fairfax County connector bus number 983, which runs every 20 minutes or so. Eventually I understand they're extending the Metro line to the airport, but the project's completion is not exactly immanent.

[4runnerguy]

terrytrailertrash wrote:
Thanks DTA. Is it helpful to do it like Disney and be there 1/2 hour before “rope drop”?

We've found that visiting the lesser know attractions earlier in the day means avoiding some of the crowds at the major museums. Places like the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Castle and the Post Office Museum. Or visit some of the outside places like Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Memorial or the MLK Memorial. Later in the day while the major museums may be busy, the lines outside have slackened off a bit.

For instance we've been by the National Archives and seen lines out to the street in the middle of the day. But a couple of times we've gone in after 4:00 p.m. and waited less than five minutes.

As a side note, we were waiting at the Archives one time to see the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. It was late in the day and the 8 year old boy in front of us had obviously had enough. So he sighed and asked his dad what they were going to see. I chimed in and said that what he was going to see would make this the most important stop of his entire vacation.

Different places have different hours. For instance, check out the hours for the various Smithsonian buildings here. You'll have to look up some of the hours for other places you might want to visit like the Botanic Gardens or the various art museums. Check back as your vacation approaches as they often have extended hours (maybe until 7:00 p.m.?) in the spring and summer.

While it means getting in the vehicle and driving, I hardily recommend the Udvar-Hazy Center south of Dulles Airport. It's a companion to the Air and Space Museum on the mall, but a much larger facility with room for big items. The Discover shuttle, a Concorde, an SR-71, and the Enola Gay are just some of the things on display. Worth the drive and dealing with the traffic.

[4runnerguy]

terrytrailertrash wrote:
We generally prefer state/county/national parks to private cg's, but that is not a deal breaker. We have a 38 foot 5th wheel. We need at least 30 amps.

We also avoid private CG's whenever possible. Here are a couple of other options I didn't happen to see mentioned above.

Check out Pohick Bay Regional Park. 30 and 50 amp sites. Some FHU if you need them. Nice wooded location. Google Street view. We drove into the Franconia Springfield Metro Station and took the Blue Line in. Since the museums don't open very early, we were on the road after most of the rush hour was over.

We've also stayed at Greenbelt but no electricity there. Nice wooded sites.

At Williamsburg, we stayed at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, about 10 miles west of Williamsburg. Again, choices range from 30 amp electric to 50 amp FHU.

[blownstang01]

Another vote for Cherry Hill. The metro shuttle buss's every 15 or 30 min (can't remember which) is a huge plus for visiting the DC area.

[DrewE]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Another tip, lunches can be very expensive, so getting something from the many food trucks is a good choice. Also, at the bigger museums, there will be a snack bar with sandwiches, chips, and drinks, or a full buffet style lunch place, which will be unbelievably crowded. Go to the snack bar, get a good lunch and save time and crowds. Another great place for lunch is the Holocaust Museum. Great food, reasonably priced, and not crowded. If you are on the Metro at lunch time, get off at L'Enfant Plaza for a wide selection of food options. There you will competing with the office workers, so go a little early or a little late to avoid a big noon rush.

Union Station also has a nice large food court and is a good place accessible by Metro to get lunch...and probably also be competing with the professional set.

If it were me, I would be getting metro passes for everyone. The weekly pass is a good deal if you'll be around for several days. It's very nice not having to worry about how much money is on the card for the metro and the freedom to use it for whatever little jaunt is great.

[ependydad]

Here are DC options:
http://learntorv.com/washington-dc-campground-round-up/

[DownTheAvenue]

terrytrailertrash wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:

terrytrailertrash wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Spring Break is an especially busy time in Washington DC. Expect to wait in lines for admittance to the more popular museums. Also, expect to walk many miles after getting off the Metro. With that in mind, walking great distance to the Metro from a campsite makes for a miserable return back to the camper. Save your self a lot of agony, and stay at Cherry Hill park while visiting DC. A Metro bus stops at the campground. Easy as can be.

How long are the waits you are talking about? We might re think this if the place will be working alive.

It depends on which museum. The more popular like the Air and Space, American History, and the Natural History could have an hour wait just to get inside, and quite crowded to see everything. Security to get in like the airport but no shoe removal. To see the Capitol, make arrangements with your Congressman for a private tour. It will be busy, but DC is one of the major tourist destinations of the world. People are friendly and helpful. Go, do it, just know that you will not be the only one there!!!

Thanks DTA. Is it helpful to do it like Disney and be there 1/2 hour before “rope drop”?

If I remember right, the museums don't open until 10AM so getting early is easy to do. Another tip, lunches can be very expensive, so getting something from the many food trucks is a good choice. Also, at the bigger museums, there will be a snack bar with sandwiches, chips, and drinks, or a full buffet style lunch place, which will be unbelievably crowded. Go to the snack bar, get a good lunch and save time and crowds. Another great place for lunch is the Holocaust Museum. Great food, reasonably priced, and not crowded. If you are on the Metro at lunch time, get off at L'Enfant Plaza for a wide selection of food options. There you will competing with the office workers, so go a little early or a little late to avoid a big noon rush.

[terrytrailertra]

DownTheAvenue wrote:

terrytrailertrash wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Spring Break is an especially busy time in Washington DC. Expect to wait in lines for admittance to the more popular museums. Also, expect to walk many miles after getting off the Metro. With that in mind, walking great distance to the Metro from a campsite makes for a miserable return back to the camper. Save your self a lot of agony, and stay at Cherry Hill park while visiting DC. A Metro bus stops at the campground. Easy as can be.

How long are the waits you are talking about? We might re think this if the place will be working alive.

It depends on which museum. The more popular like the Air and Space, American History, and the Natural History could have an hour wait just to get inside, and quite crowded to see everything. Security to get in like the airport but no shoe removal. To see the Capitol, make arrangements with your Congressman for a private tour. It will be busy, but DC is one of the major tourist destinations of the world. People are friendly and helpful. Go, do it, just know that you will not be the only one there!!!

Thanks DTA. Is it helpful to do it like Disney and be there 1/2 hour before “rope drop”?

[DownTheAvenue]

terrytrailertrash wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Spring Break is an especially busy time in Washington DC. Expect to wait in lines for admittance to the more popular museums. Also, expect to walk many miles after getting off the Metro. With that in mind, walking great distance to the Metro from a campsite makes for a miserable return back to the camper. Save your self a lot of agony, and stay at Cherry Hill park while visiting DC. A Metro bus stops at the campground. Easy as can be.

How long are the waits you are talking about? We might re think this if the place will be working alive.

It depends on which museum. The more popular like the Air and Space, American History, and the Natural History could have an hour wait just to get inside, and quite crowded to see everything. Security to get in like the airport but no shoe removal. To see the Capitol, make arrangements with your Congressman for a private tour. It will be busy, but DC is one of the major tourist destinations of the world. People are friendly and helpful. Go, do it, just know that you will not be the only one there!!!

[terrytrailertra]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Spring Break is an especially busy time in Washington DC. Expect to wait in lines for admittance to the more popular museums. Also, expect to walk many miles after getting off the Metro. With that in mind, walking great distance to the Metro from a campsite makes for a miserable return back to the camper. Save your self a lot of agony, and stay at Cherry Hill park while visiting DC. A Metro bus stops at the campground. Easy as can be.

How long are the waits you are talking about? We might re think this if the place will be working alive.

[Johno02]

Only problem with Anvil are the trains that come through on the edge of the campground. Not really loud, but you know when they come through. Weekday commuter trains are especially often and fast moving.