Camping at Greenbelt National Park/Washington D.C.

I couldn’t have planned a better first camping experience. Greenbelt National Park is located just 13 miles from Washington D. C. in Greenbelt, Maryland and is  only 2.5 miles to the Metro station at College Park. If you have never ridden the metro, you would find it to be fast and efficient, and after a little explanation by a friendly passerby, very user friendly. After purchasing a Smart Card you can board different color lines to various parts of the city and attractions. The helpful pocket guide makes that easier too.
Greenbelt campground is wooded and although in the city, you get the feeling of being deep in the forest. Each campsite provides BBQ station, picnic table, fire ring but no electric or water hook up. My maiden voyage was a perfect test for dry camping. The pop up does have water storage, frig and furnace that runs off of propane or deep cycle battery and stove. My air conditioner was not needed, but on a few chilly mornings, I was thankful for the furnace, which did a great job.
Meeting people is part of this journey and my camping decision. The camp hosts at Greenbelt, Michael and Cheryl Sullivan became instant friends. They shared my fire and I shared their wine and we all shared hours of conversation. We will keep in touch and I will tell them about the mountains going to my next stop to West Virginia along route 68. I also met a great couple Jeff and Carrie, who were traveling in a 1983 Volkswagen hippie van, very cool and very cool people. Carrie shared her very impressive weight loss story and has devoted her life to telling others who are over weight. Carrie lost over 150 pounds, and I must say, looks quite good.
What can be said about out nation's capital that hasn’t been said before? It’s an amazing place that celebrates the red, white and blue with tributes to all that is American in its monuments, museums, and memorials.
Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Navy Museum, National Museum of American History (Smithsonian) Fords Theatre and Museum, Chinatown, FBI Building and the added pleasure of witnessing the Cherry Blossoms were just some of what I enjoyed, plus the excitement of just walking around with back pack adorned and really loving Washington, a great town that I really only scratched the surface of. Next stop Morgantown, West Virginia at the Chestnut Ridge Regional Park and Campground. Enjoy some pictures. TC…