About this campground
The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a network of locally managed trails in a corridor through the many contrasting landscapes in the region between the mouth of the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands. Over 830 miles of existing and planned trails are recognized as segments of this National Scenic Trail. The BLM Eastern States manages sections of the trail as it crosses Douglas Point in St. Charles County, Maryland, and the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) on the historic Mason Neck Peninsula in Northern Virginia. These areas located near to the Maryland and Virginia shorelines of the Potomac River, and host diverse plant and animal populations among historic sites dating back to the 18th century. The trail itself is a history lesson. A boundary between northern and southern states, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail also pierced the west into the North American interior. This trail has been a crossroads of opportunity, diversity, and conflict, including portions of the Underground Railroad, which carried escaped slaves across the Potomac River into freedom. Flickr Album
Getting there
From Interstate 95 South: Exit 163 to Lorton. Turn left onto Lorton Rd, continue under second overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St. Continue approximately 1.5 mile U.S. Route 1. Proceed straight through intersection with Route 1, when the road name changes to Gunston Rd. Continue for Ѕ miles; the Mason Neck Gateway is on the right, which contains the Potomac Heritage trailhead. From Interstate 95 North: Take exit 161 to Lorton, U.S. Route 1 North. Proceed about 1.5 miles to first stop light. Turn right onto Gunston Rd. Go about Ѕ miles, and the entrance on right.
Activities
- BIKING
- HIKING
- HORSEBACK RIDING
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
- PHOTOGRAPHY
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Cabin Camp 3Prince William Forest Park9 mi
- Cabin Camp 3 (Group Site By Reservation Only)Prince William Forest Park9 mi
- Prince William Forest Park Visitor CenterPrince William Forest Park9 mi
- TELEGRAPH PICNIC PAVILIONPrince William Forest Park9 mi
- Cabin Camp 1 (By Reservation Only)Prince William Forest Park11 mi
- Cabin Camp 4 (By Reservation Only)Prince William Forest Park11 mi
Explore more Virginia camping
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Virginia campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Virginia camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.