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Washington DC Travel and Tourist Information

Greenbelt Park

Hike or camp and discover the urban oasis of Greenbelt Park. Greenbelt Park is a retreat from the pressures of city life and a refuge for native plants and animals just twelve miles from Washington, D.C.

Make plans to visit Washington, D.C. and stay at Greenbelt Park's campground for only $14 a night. The campground is on a first come first serve basis. Please check back to see if reservations are being taken for the Summer.

The Greenbelt campground is known for its safety, affordability, peaceful surroundings and National Park Service hospitality.

The campground includes hot showers, bathroom facilities, and use of the dump station for RV's. There are no electrical or water hookups. Cash and checks are taken at the campground fee booth. No credit cards can be used for payment on site. Please use self-registration envelopes when fee booth is closed. A Campground Host is available in the campground after hours for assistance.

Scouts- There is the A Campground Loop designated for Scouts only. Reservations are required for all scouts. Please call the park to reserve space in the Scout campground area.

Greenbelt or College Park Metro Subway Station (to Washington,D.C.) - 2 miles

Downtown Washington, D.C. (White House, Washington Monument, Smithsonian museums) - 12 miles.

Long before colonial settlers appeared here, trees and flowers covered these rolling hills and wildlife roamed the woodlands. Algonquin Indians hunted this land in competition with other smaller tribes. A balance existed between the land and its plants, animals, and native people. Then the colonists arrived and trees fell and forests gave way to farmland. Wildlife retreated to the frontier. For the next 150 years, people cleared the land, plowed the fields, and planted tobacco, corn, and other crops. The rich fertile soil returned high yields. The people did not give back to the land as much as they took. The land wore out, producing less each season and farming ceased. The land was left bare and defenseless. Erosion caused many scars before nature could slow the process with new growth. Since the early 1900's the land has been recovering. Today the mixed pine and deciduous forest testifies to the land's ability to recover. The land of Greenbelt Park was acquired by the National Park Service in 1950 under Public Law 643.

*** Attention Hikers and Walkers***** Portions of the Perimeter trail had to be closed due to damaged bridges. The park has closed the Perimeter trail on the western side of the park from the Blueberry trail (mile marker 3.8) to close near the park entrance (mile marker 5.2). The bridges are expected to be replaced this year 2006.

Facilities:

Sweetgum Picnic Area
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to Dusk

Holly Picnic Area
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to dusk

Laurel Picnic Area
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to Dusk

Campground
The 174 site campground is open all year round. There are no electrical or water hookups available. There are hot showers, bathroom facilities and a dump station available to registered campers. $14.00 per night $7.00 for Golden Age or Golden Access card holders. We take reservations Memorial Day through Labor Day. We have plenty of availability between Labor Day and Memorial Day. The campground rules and regulations are available in the Management Docs link located on the right side.

Information provided by the National Park Service nps.gov