Date:         Mon, 6 Dec 2010 06:45:36 -0800
Reply-To:     Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      National Park camping inside D.C.'s Capitol Beltway
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Believe it or not, it's both doable and affordable.  We went up to see the Smithsonian's exhibit on the Origins of Man at the Natural History Museum and decided to try out the Greenbelt Park we'd read about.  It's in the NE sector, adjacent to the Beltway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway off Greenbelt Road.  There are four loops (only one open this time of year) with a total of about 175 spaces and costs $16/night.  With our annual parks pass we saved $8.  Such a deal!

Of course, it was pretty cold at night and, not having camped for a while, we'd lost our campin' groove so we were minus some gear and attitude, but it was very pleasant overall.  Heavily wooded campground and a much larger expanse of hilly, woodsy terrain than you'd expect to find that close to the White House.  If you decide to try it, there's Metro stop within a brisk walk (two miles, I think, though we did not verify this) of the campground so you need not break camp to tour D.C.

We saw a beautiful maroon Eurovan Weekender with PA plates staying there that we later saw trying to find parking near the Mall while we were doing the same thing.  Metered parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays and the going rate at nearby lots is about $7 for all day, if you're interested.  Van heaters and the trusty Mr. Buddy got us through the cold stuff and the exhibit was worth the trouble, though NoVa and D.C are among my least favorite places to drive.

Stephen