Car Camping with Young Kids (4-5 year olds)

[Silence&Rage]

Some friends and I are planning a first car camping trip with our boys. They're all 4-5 years old. Do you all have any recommended DNR parks within a reasonable drive of MoCo?

I'm looking at Cunningham Falls or Greenbriar State parks. We want to do a bit of hiking, canoeing, fishing. Is either better or should I look at something different?

 

[pbharvey]

Cunningham Falls will be perfect

 

[llkoolkeg]

Cunningham Falls is very nice, especially with the hikes to the falls, fishing and swimming beach.

Greenbriar is decent so long as you speak Spanish fairly well.

 

[Devonian]

Check out Ft. Fredrick. I camped there a few times when I was a kid. Good fishing right from camp on the potomac. There is also hiking and the Fort to check out and I think you can rent canoes on the lake there.

 

[Flametamer]

I agree with Ft. Frederick, especially for the age group listed. Cunningham Falls and Catoctin Mtn. parks have great trails, but they are probably too rugged and steep for youngsters on their first 'big' adventure. Ft. Frederick has the towpath, easy access to the river, in addition to the fort. Young boys love it!

 

[Silence&Rage]

Thanks for the input. I'll look at Ft. Frederick

 

[willy]

yeah some of the trails are more like mountain climbing.

 

[pbharvey]

At Cunningham Falls walking to the falls is no problem. Climbing up on the rocks to get to the top of the falls may be a little much for 4 & 5 year olds. I took my 8 year old last fall and he did fine. If my wife was with us though, she probably would've freaked out a little.

 

[chale127]

Cunningham Falls will be perfect

+1

 

[sxs]

At Cunningham Falls walking to the falls is no problem. Climbing up on the rocks to get to the top of the falls may be a little much for 4 & 5 year olds. I took my 8 year old last fall and he did fine. If my wife was with us though, she probably would've freaked out a little.

Agreed...Cunningham Falls from the Lake is a 1/2 mile or slightly longer hike (each way), but you can take the lower trail and it's pretty easy. My kids were easily doing it at those ages. There's a longer more aggressive trail from the Ranger station or you can hike the upper trail along the rock outcroppings from the lake to the falls which is a bit longer than the lower trail, but shorter than the ranger station hike.

If you don't do Cunningham Falls State Park, check out Owens Creek Campground (Catoctin - nearby). Also, It's been many years since I've stayed there, but Crows Nest used to be a decent private campground. There is a fishing pond (fed by streams) right on the property there

 

[bkuether]

What exactly is car camping? You drive to the grounds and sleep next to the car? I have never heard this term before......

 

[AntiGun]

What exactly is car camping? You drive to the grounds and sleep next to the car? I have never heard this term before......

yup, in a tent within close proximity of your car

 

[protegeV]

yup, in a tent within close proximity of your car

Is there any other way to camp with a tent?

Next to a motor home?

 

[AntiGun]

Is there any other way to camp with a tent?

Next to a motor home?

actually I did that a few weeks ago

overflow camping at the rv park
tent between a car and motor home

 

[protegeV]

actually I did that a few weeks ago

overflow camping at the rv park
tent between a car and motor home

Lol, the only camping I ever did as a kid was in a 40' motor home. Now that I have kids and can't afford a motor home, I've had to rough it two times in a tent andmost recently in a crude cabin.

 

[Clark W. Griswold]

What exactly is car camping? You drive to the grounds and sleep next to the car? I have never heard this term before......

It's camping where you drive to the camp site. As opposed to back pack camping or back country camping where you hike or ride a horse to your camp site.

You should also look at Washington Monument State Park. We camped in the group sites with the scouts a couple years ago and really liked it. It's a short hike to the monument.

 

[mark71211]

Cunningham Falls will be perfect

+1
I used to go there twice a year and had a blast evey time.

 

[Mr H]

It's camping where you drive to the camp site. As opposed to back pack camping or back country camping where you hike or ride a horse to your camp site.

You should also look at Washington Monument State Park. We camped in the group sites with the scouts a couple years ago and really liked it. It's a short hike to the monument.

This is always a great option, IMO...

It's also right on the Appalachian Trail, so a half-day out and back is a possibility too.

But with the ages mentioned in the OP, Ft. Frederick may be a slightly better option. Plus, if the Suns are in town, you can also catch a ballgame

 

[Silence&Rage]

Thanks for all the feedback guys - we went ahead and reserved at Cunningham Falls. We're just doing a 1-night trial. If it doesn't work out - I'll check out the others for next time.

 

[mancheechee]

RockyGap is nice as well. Just avoid the holiday weekends...seriously avoid it. Ive invited first time campers and they were impressed with the facilities and amenities.

Its slightly cooler than cunningham in the warmer months. If you do decide to go when its warm, go up to deep creek or similar elevated parks. When it get around 90...its not fun.