The best camping near Baltimore-Washington Parkway

Expect funny looks when you tell people you’re camping on the Greenbelt Parkway. Tents and picnic tables aren’t what commuters expect on this major metro artery. But a hidden gem waits beyond the exit signs.

Just a stone’s throw from the parkway, an outdoor recreation area boasts 1,100 acres of pristine woodland. Greenbelt Park has 174 campsites and nine miles of trails. The sites are basic. You get a picnic table, fire pit, and a water spigot. But that only adds to the serenity of these sylvan forests. Deer can be spotted on the trails, along with turtles and raccoons. Amenities include bathroom facilities and showers with hot water. RVs are welcome, but the sites lack electrical hook-ups and water tanks must be filled at the dump station.

Reservations for camping are required. However, the rates are affordable, especially compared to lodging in the Baltimore or D.C. metro areas. The campground is open year-round, 24 hours a day, although the trails close at dusk.

Despite the proximity, you can’t turn off the parkway directly into the campground. Instead, visitors enter via the town of Greenbelt. Straphangers can take the Green Line to the Greenbelt Metro Station. The two-mile walk from the Metro station includes a hairy stretch along 193, so keep your eyes peeled.