RV campsites in District of Columbia area--any recommendations?

[texanshatingbush]

My husband and I want to spend a couple of weeks doing the tourist bit in DC. We would be parking our pickup camper + trailer in a campground (private or public), and touring by subway into DC, or by motorcycle into the adjacent areas (Gettysburg, Monticello, etc)

Never having done something like this in an urban area, I am uncertain about safety of our equipment back at camp while we are at the Smithsonian or other venue.

QUESTION: does anyone out there have experience or suggestions? are some campgrounds "safer" than others? Just don't want to get ripped off in the middle of a long travel adventure up the East Coast.

Thanks for any help!

[elleng]

1. I have no independent knowledge, but there's this:

http://dc.about.com/od/daytripsgetaways/a/CampingMDVA.htm

Closest to DC:

Greenbelt Park
Greenbelt, Maryland. This 1100-acre park is located just 13 miles from the heart of Washington, DC and has the closest campgrounds to the nation’s capital. There are 174 campgrounds, 10 miles of hiking trails and three picnic areas. Reservations: [phone].

Have fun, and if you have general questions about the area, you may pm me.

[pamela]

2. Just saw this...

I don't know if you are still interested in this info but I'll tell you what I know. I haven't stayed at any of the ones I am about to tell you about but I have heard others discuss this and most people recommend Cherry Hill. http://www.cherryhillpark.com/index.cfm I think this recommendation is primarily based on the fact that it is the closest park to DC but everyone also says they felt safe there.

There is a KOA in Millersville, Md that is a bit further away but still close enough to drive to DC or to the metro. Also, it is closer to Annapolis and Baltimore if you were interested in visiting either of those.

If you are interested in Gettysburg, I would plan to break the trip up into 2 stays- one near DC and one in Gettysburg. There is a lot to see and do in Gettysburg and there are several nice parks there. The drive from DC to Gettysburg and back as a day trip wouldn't give you much time.

I read a fulltimer's blog of a couple who recently visited DC and they stayed at Little Bennett Regional Park. Here is their blog if you're interested. They were there to see family in DC and it sounds like they liked this park. http://laurieandodel.blogspot.com/2010/06/visiting-family-and-friends-in-dc-area.html I thought this park looked more private and woodsy than the commercial parks plus it is closer to Gettysburg if you do decide to try to do both from the same park.

Hope this helps.