Car-free family trip idea: Harpers Ferry

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Car-free family trip idea: Harpers Ferry

by Ken Archer • August 29, 2011 1:53 pm

If you have young children, and don't own a car, you know what a pain weekend trips can be. For a relatively painless alternative, Harpers Ferry fits the bill. In the foothills, just a short train ride from Washington, Harpers Ferry offers plenty for the whole family.

Photo by jacob.d.sutton on Flickr.

My wife and I have taken our 2-year-old to Harpers Ferry twice without a car, and we all had a blast. It's easily done without the hassle or expense of renting a car. All the locations mentioned below are on this Google Map.

Getting there: The Harpers Ferry train station is right in the middle of downtown, and everything is walkable from the station. The Amtrak Capitol Limited stops here once per day each way 7 days per week, and the MARC Brunswick line stops here multiple times each way on weekdays only.

It's faster than driving—only 70 minutes from Union Station or 45 minutes from the Rockville station, which is right next to the Rockville Red Line stop. And best of all: toddlers love big trains.

The lounge car on the Amtrak Capitol Limited.

We like to take the Amtrak line which leaves Union Station at 4:05 pm and arrives in Harpers Ferry at 5:16 pm—perfect timing for napping toddlers. The second time we did this trip, the conductor even remembered my son's name and gave him high-five, as well as a kid's book. My little guy was in paradise. Make sure to walk to the lounge car which has floor-to-ceiling windows for great sightseeing on your trip.

If you need to leave later in the day, the MARC train leaves Union Station at 4:55, 5:40, and 7:15pm. It costs less too, but isn't as fun.

Where to stay: You have two choices for accommodations with kids that don't require a car, the Town's Inn and the KOA Campground. We've stayed in both, and which one you stay in depends on whether you plan to spend most of your trip in town or at the campground.

The Town's Inn is the only hotel in downtown Harpers Ferry. You can walk there from the train station in 2 minutes. Best of all, it's in the middle of everything you will want to do.

The KOA Campground is a mile from the train station. You can either walk there or take a National Park Service bus. The walk is a pleasant one through Harpers Ferry and the next-door town of Bolivar, except for one crossing of a 6-lane expressway at an intersection with no walk signal. Most of the walk is part of the Appalachian Trail, so you'll see hikers. I walked to the campground, with my supplies in a big backpack and my little guy in a stroller.

NPS shuttles people in and out of town every 10 minutes.

Or you can take the NPS bus, which runs between downtown and the NPS Visitors' Center every 10 minutes. The NPS Visitors' Center is a pleasant 10 minute walk from the KOA Campground. The primary purpose of the bus is to shuttle visitors who drive from a vast parking lot at the Visitors' Center to downtown, which is great because this keeps cars out of downtown Harpers Ferry.

What to do downtown: There are basically 2 fun things for kids to do downtown. They can play in the Shenandoah River, and watch NPS reenactments of 19th century Harpers Ferry. Both are within a 5 minute walk. And pedestrians essentially rule the road, as there are few cars in downtown, so you can feel safe with your kids running around free.

View of Shenandoah from the shore.

The Shenandoah is a 3 minute walk from downtown. My 2-year-old built sandcastles on the banks of the Shenandoah while throwing rocks in the river for hours. And about every hour, a freight train goes by about 100 feet from the river which leaves the toddlers' mouths hanging open.

Making cider.

For the older kids, the NPS puts on a great show of reenactments throughout the day. Kids can write articles for an old-time newspaper, then churn butter and talk to a Union solder all before lunchtime. Older kids also love the ghost tours which depart from downtown most evenings.

Keep in mind that the downtown restaurants don't currently serve breakfast, as they make most of their money off of day trippers. Fortunately, the Town's Inn sells breakfast food and has refrigerators and microwaves. Also, the Country Cafe serves a fantastic breakfast, and is a 2/3 mile walk from downtown and 3 blocks from the fabulous Bolivar Public Playground.

What to do at the KOA campground: The Harpers Ferry KOA is a kids' paradise. A regular pool and kiddie pool, super pillow for jumping, playground, arcade and mini-golf make the day fly by.

Kiddie pool at KOA campground is a big hit.

And you don't have to bring a bunch of food to cook, because there are free pancakes on weekends for breakfast and a fully-stocked convenience store on site.

For the parents, a coffee shop and wine store has daily wine tastings on the campground. Anytime you want to go back into town, the NPS bus stop at the Visitors' Center is a 10 minute walk away.

Getting back: The only real challenge to visiting Harpers Ferry without a car is taking the Amtrak train back to DC. The train is supposed to stop in Harper's Ferry 7 days per week at 10:55am, stopping next at Rockville at 11:40am and Union Station at 12:40pm. But it's always late—2 hours late on my first trip and 4 hours late on my second.

The Amtrak trip to Harpers Ferry is generally on time, because the Capitol Limited route is beginning its Union Station to Chicago journey. Coming back to DC, though, it can have been delayed by Norfolk Southern (between Chicago and Pittsburgh) or CSX (between Pittsburgh and Washington). Fortunately, Amtrak has a great mobile site and iPhone app which provide real-time status updates so you can enjoy downtown while waiting for the train.

If you're returning on a weekday and are willing to leave early, MARC is also an option. Trains leave at 5:51am and 6:56am.

Know any other car-free family trip destinations? Mention them in the comments.

Correction: The original version of this article spelled the name of the town incorrectly as "Harper's Ferry" in some places. The correct name has no apostrophe.

Update: The article mentions the lack of breakfast options downtown. The owner of the Town's Inn contacted us with the good news that a shuttered downtown restaurant, the Town's Pub and Eatery, has reopened with service from breakfast through dinner. I haven't tried it, but initial online reviews are positive.

46 comments

Tags: Amtrak, car dependence, families, Harpers Ferry, MARC, NPS, recreation, West Virginia

MARC shares more information including on-time issues (Oct 8, 2010)
MTA and CSX explain lousy MARC Brunswick performance (Oct 25, 2010)
The eternal question: New York via train or bus? (Aug 3, 2010)
Virginia rail service has successful first day (Oct 2, 2009)
Metro trip planner suggests riding a bus in a loop (Aug 27, 2009)

Ken Archer is CTO of a software firm in Tysons Corner. He commutes to Tysons by bus from his home in Georgetown, where he lives with his wife and son. Ken completed a Masters degree in Philosophy from The Catholic University of America.

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Are there any tourist-oriented buses, shuttles, etc. for day-trippers when autumn is in full swing? I abhor the drive out to the mountains & would dearly love to hop the train to WV and catch a car-free trek to the foliage.

by Bossi on Aug 29, 2011 2:00 pm • link • report

Can you bring a bike on the train and bike back??

by Aaron on Aug 29, 2011 2:19 pm • link • report

The biking back idea sounds great, its about 60 miles to Bethesda

by Matt R on Aug 29, 2011 2:21 pm • link • report

Not Bethesda but Georgetown, though the extra trip to bethesda would only add about 6 miles.

by Matt R on Aug 29, 2011 2:21 pm • link • report

Yeah, but only if bikes are allowed on the train ...

by Aaron on Aug 29, 2011 2:24 pm • link • report

@Aaron

Amtrak was slated to have roll on/off bicycle service on the Capitol Limited. I last checked with Amtrak in February and got this response:

As of this moment, no information is available on the introduction of Roll On/Off bicycle service in 2011 on the Capitol Limited Route between Washington DC and Pittsburgh. Please check back for further updates.

by ErikD on Aug 29, 2011 2:28 pm • link • report

Great post. Hoping this is a recurring series by whomever's got the goods on similar regional trips like this. Always a bit of a learning curve to do things like this, and info like this is a big head start. Thanks, Ken and GGW.

by Steve D on Aug 29, 2011 2:44 pm • link • report

Philly, Baltimore, and NY are obvious choices for car-free travel, but I took Greyhound to the Eastern Shore last year and was amazed how easy and quick the trip was. The stop in Annapolis seems pretty centrally located, while in Easton (where I met a friend who had a car) it would probably be necessary to call a cab or van, ride a bike, or stay someplace that provides a shuttle.

by sb on Aug 29, 2011 2:57 pm • link • report

Great post! Thanks! One of the best and most helpful posts I've seen.

by Pat on Aug 29, 2011 3:05 pm • link • report

My family and I are biking from our house in Fairfax, to Lock House 6 over Labor Day weekend. I could imagine staying on a little farther would also be fun.

by Mike Essig on Aug 29, 2011 3:07 pm • link • report

Sounds like a great trip, but for people wanting to do a day trip on weekends, the train is simply not an option, with no MARC service, and Amtrak's sole option heading out too late in the day.

Every year I ask Santa for more and better train service.

by Michael on Aug 29, 2011 3:09 pm • link • report

The Virginia Bicycling Federation recently posted something about the lack of movement on allowing bikes on the Capitol Limited: http://www.vabike.org/bikes-amtrak-ordeal/

It seems to me to be a no brainer to make the necessary updates to the cars used on that route to permit bikes. Since Harper's Ferry is an unstaffed station, you don't even have the option of checking your bike in a box. I did recently, however, find that there is a new shuttle that takes people AND bikes from the HI Hostel in DC to the HI Hostel in Harper's Ferry via Baltimore. It's 20 bucks from DC to HF, and 10 bucks from HF back to DC. It's not daily, but you could go up Saturday afternoon, bike 20 miles, camp along the canal and finish your ride on Sunday. Check it out here: http://www.hostelhiker.com/

by Drew on Aug 29, 2011 3:10 pm • link • report

Great timing on the article, last weekend I took the MARC train up to Harper's Ferry to meet up with my brothers (they drove there). Biked to Union Station via CaBi, hopped on the 5:40 MARC and was there by 7:15.

I'll echo what a lot of other commentors want, roll-on, roll-off bike service. I would love to take a train up and ride back to Georgetown as a quick overnight trip. Are you listening Amtrak?

by Will on Aug 29, 2011 3:19 pm • link • report

I'm planning a car-free trip to Richmond this weekend-- going on Megabus, which stops at the train station near historic Shockoe Bottom, and walking everywhere. There are lots of kid-friendly attractions in Richmond, but I don't know if a family with a bestrollered toddler (or an older nonstrollered kid) could handle the walking. My parents definitely wouldn't have tried it when we were little, but they weren't too adventurous, either!

by Miriam on Aug 29, 2011 3:21 pm • link • report

This is a great post, and I agree it should become a series. I don't own a car, and I bike commute and otherwise use my bike (and sometimes public transit to get everywhere). That being the case, I love planning weekend trips like this.

Amtrak also goes south-west of DC to a number of interesting points. Charlottesville has plenty going for it in a weekend. Staunton, a little further out, is also an interesting town with the Woodrow Wilson Library and American Shakespeare Theatre's full scale replica of Blackfriar's Theatre. Even further out, Amtrak serves Clifton Forge and White Sulphur Springs, located respectively adjacent to the Homestead and Greenbrier Resorts.

On the Maryland side, you can, as this post suggests, take a train along the Potomac. There are a few other cities along the rail line that are not serviced. You can take Greyhound to Hancock, MD, which isn't far from Berkeley Springs State Park, and nearby Cacapon State Park where you can stay while visiting the springs (maybe take a taxi?).

Also if you do take your bike to Harper's Ferry, you can visit Antietam Battlefield. There is a NPS campground on the canal between the battlefield and the town of HF (several miles to either) available for $10 or some free ones on the canal in the area that are not car accessible and are therefore free. Tubing on the Potomac is also a great summer activity in HF.

by Drew on Aug 29, 2011 3:27 pm • link • report

A few years back my then GF and I biked out to Harpers Ferry on the C&O and then back on the W&OD. To get her to do the trip I lied about the milage - saying it was "oh, about 50 miles". She nearly killed me during the trip and, even though we're not still dating (just friends now), I'll be paying for that "rounding error" for the rest of my life...

There's quite a few nice overnight or short (2-3 day) bike trips out of DC. And, coupled with a return by train/bus, even more. Not so sure how tough they'd be with a Burley.

by EZ on Aug 29, 2011 3:31 pm • link • report

Regarding Amtrak, Charlottesville is a great one-two day destination and great for families. 2.5 hour trip, train drops off in the heart of downtown. Getting to Monticello though; that will require a cab. No public transit to or from the site.

by Tim on Aug 29, 2011 3:35 pm • link • report

I second the Richmond suggestion. I've done that a couple of times to meet a friend half-way (living in VA Beach).

VA Beach is not too bad, either, on either Megabus or Amtrak (have to get a connection for the last leg on the train, though). The stop is, sadly, not in a great, accessible location, but every time I've been there have been tons of taxis, etc. The bus works better for a normal weekend (a bit faster), the train is great for something a bit longer.

Also, Philadelphia is a great weekend trip via train.

by Elle on Aug 29, 2011 3:35 pm • link • report

A modification of EZ's trip that is shorter is to bike out to White's Ferry via the canal and then return via the W&OD trail, which is about 75 miles. You can tack on a trip to Sugarloaf Mountain or do one of the Billy Goat hikes on the Potomac.

by Drew on Aug 29, 2011 3:36 pm • link • report

You could probably do a similar trip to Baltimore ... and check out Fells Point and Little Italy. Or for the more adventurous ... stay on the train till you get to Philly and then vacation is the older part of Philly ... visiting South Street and going for a cheese-steak in South Philly. Also, downtown Richmond is unbelievably walkable as well. Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe (sp?) Slip ... OR ... take Amtrak to Va. Beach (it requires a transfer to an Amtrak Shuttle bus in Newport News but once there there's everything you need in the walkable 'Oceanfront Area'.)

Just don't try to bring the family pet with you on any of these vacations ... as I don't think Amtrak allows them ....

by Lance on Aug 29, 2011 3:39 pm • link • report

Regarding roll-on bikes on Amtrak:

I want clarify about the difficulty in implementing roll-on service.

Baggage Car
The baggage cars Amtrak uses on most routes were built in the 1950s. The newest among them was built in 1955. In fact, Amtrak inherited them from the various railroads that operated before Amtrak came into being in 1971.

Now, that’s not to say that Amtrak could not modify them with bike racks. But the cars are about to be replaced, so there’s little incentive to spend a lot of money on them.

Currently, Amtrak is having new baggage cars built. They should begin to replace the older cars within the next 2 years. I believe that some of these cars may have bike racks installed from the get go.

Platforms
Unfortunately, the solution cannot be to just build a raised platform. That would not be cheap, since Amtrak has over 500 stations, most of which currently have low platforms.

And it is not possible anyway. On any route where Amtrak shares the track with freight trains, the platforms have to be low. The reason for this is because freight cars are wider than passenger cars. Since the freight railroads own the tracks, they get to say “no” to high platforms.

And there’s another problem…

The railcars
Amtrak operates several different types of passenger cars. For the purposes of this discussion, they can be divided into 2 categories: (1) High-Platform equipment and (2) Low-Platform equipment.

The high-platform equipment is capable of using a high platform (like the DC Metro or stations like the Amtrak station at New Carrollton, MD). These platforms are about 4 feet above the rail, and allow customers to walk (or roll) directly onto the train without stepping up.

Almost all of the high-platform equipment can also accommodate low-platforms. The Acela Express is the exception. It can only platform at high-platform stops. For the rest of the equipment, at a low-platform station, the same door is used as would be used at a high-platform station, but a staircase drops down. Passengers on the low platform (rougly even with the rails) have to climb 4 steps up into the car.

The second category, low-platform equipment can ONLY serve stations with low platforms. The Surfliner in California (which has roll-on service) is an example. Those trains have low platforms. The platform is even with the rail in height, and the door is a few inches above that, just one small step up. All of the cars that are low-platform only are double-decker trains. The pass through between cars is on the second level. It can’t be on the lower level because the trucks (wheels) of the car are in the way.

The Capitol Limited uses Superliner equipment only capable of platforming at low-platform stations. But the baggage car is a high-platform piece of equipment. Amtrak does not expect riders to lift their bikes over their heads to place them in the baggage car.

The best solution would be to have a space in a Superliner car for bikes. But the problem is that the lower level is small, and is generally where the bathrooms are located and also where the mobility-impaired seating is located. There are some Superliner cars that have a baggage compartment in part of the lower level, but there are only a few of those cars, and they’re used on routes where a full baggage car is not used (meaning that the space is for checked baggage).

So, as you can see, there is no easy solution:

Most baggage cars are high-platform only.
High platforms can’t be installed on the freight lines.
On the few low-boarding baggage/coaches, bag space is at a premium.

The Surfliner (and California) cars were purchased with money from California. California wanted bikes to be permitted, and since they were spending the money, they got to specify about bikes.

Amtrak is going to receive (in 3 years or so) new cars based on the Surfliner design for the Chicago-hub network.

For the high-level trains in low-level territory, there really is no easy solution. Bikes will either have to be carried up (in boxes, by baggage handlers) or new off-line stations (on sidings off the main line, like at Greenbelt, MD) will have to be built with high-platforms, where riders could roll bikes on.

by Matt Johnson on Aug 29, 2011 3:48 pm • link • report

SB, if you see this: Did you take the Greyhound that is a straight shot, or go via Baltimore? Was wondering if those routes have newer buses with Wi-Fi?

by spookiness on Aug 29, 2011 3:51 pm • link • report

Aren't the 130 new rail cars that Amtrak has ordered single-level only? They won't be replacing the Superliner cars on the Capitol Limited, will they?

by Drew on Aug 29, 2011 4:03 pm • link • report

Does anyone know of a place to rent bicycles from in Harpers Ferry?

by BKDC on Aug 29, 2011 4:11 pm • link • report

http://www.rivertrail.com/bike-rental-c-o.php

and

http://www.harpersferryrafting.com/bike.htm

by Drew on Aug 29, 2011 4:14 pm • link • report

@Drew:
Yes. The 130 new cars (the Viewliner IIs) are single-level. They will not be replacing coaches or sleepers on the Capitol Limited. However, they will be replacing the Capitol Limited's baggage car.

by Matt Johnson on Aug 29, 2011 4:36 pm • link • report

I wanted to add that if you can get to an airport car-free (Metro to DCA, 5A to Dulles, B30 or Metro+MARC to BWI), there are plenty of walkable cities that are really doable for weekend trips. Basically every colonial city has a historic district and enough attractions/parks/restaurants/shopping to keep anybody entertained for 2 days. Providence and Charleston are each about a 2-hour flight away, for example.

by Miriam on Aug 29, 2011 4:42 pm • link • report

@Drew, yes, the 130 Viewliner IIs that Amtrak has ordered are single level cars consisting of: 1) 55 baggage cars for use throughout the fleet and 2) 25 baggage-crew dorms, 25 diners, and 25 sleeper cars for use on the eastern single level long distance trains. I believe the new baggage cars will all have bike storage racks, but can't confirm that. The Capital Limited will stay with bi-level Superliners, but Amtrak needs to order new Superliner cars to start replacement of the 30+ year old Superliner I cars and it is not clear where the funding is going to come from for the order.

@Matt Johnson, good summary but the common terminology is to refer to the cars as the (bi-level) Superliners (which require low level platforms) which are used in the Mid-West and West and single level cars (which can use low or high level platforms except for the Acela as you noted). The Superliners can not operate north of DC on the NEC because of clearance of the catenary and tunnnels on the NEC.

by AlanF on Aug 29, 2011 4:52 pm • link • report

As a Jersey guy, let me put in a plug for Princeton, which Amtrak hits a few times a day. Also, you can take Amtrak to Philly and switch over to NJTransit to get out to Atlantic City (though that's for the next GGW Series: Car-Free Bachelor Weekend Trip Ideas).

by Shipsa01 on Aug 29, 2011 4:58 pm • link • report

Well, I'm no train designer, but I don't see why adding what's depicted in the following link to the lower level of the superliner coaches would be that challenging. It's from the aforementioned Surfliner.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13033320@N03/2785550226/

by Drew on Aug 29, 2011 5:00 pm • link • report

@Drew:
That rack would probably fit where the downstairs luggage rack (for large carry-on items) is on Superliner coaches. But it would necessitate removing that area, which is probably a non-starter.

Remember, the Surfliner is mainly for short trips, with plenty of people without luggage (like San Diego to Los Angeles). The Superliner fleet includes plenty of people with large suitcases traveling long distances (like Seattle to Chicago).

by Matt Johnson on Aug 29, 2011 5:05 pm • link • report

I've done carfree day trips to both Richmond and Philly via Megabus. Richmond stops downtown so the Capitol is an easy stroll away, even in December. The State Capitol tour is great! Add to your carfree experience by doing segway tour!Philly is best done if you are willing to take a city bus or the subway to the tourist area. Neither are difficult.

by tour guide on Aug 29, 2011 5:12 pm • link • report

@ Tim

There are Zipcars at UVA in Charlottesville. The closest one is not a long walk from the Corner or the train station. We used zipcar to get to Monticello last winter. Just make sure to book it ahead of time. The most convenient one fills up weeks ahead.

by Andrew D on Aug 29, 2011 5:17 pm • link • report

It is several years off, but one future Amtrak trip that will connect to local transit options is the new service to Norfolk that is scheduled to start in 2013. The Norfolk service - going south of the James River - will terminate at a new Amtrak station at Harbor Park, a station on the new The Tide light rail line. Offers transit connection opportunities to the 7.4 miles of the current Tide route and wherever one can get to beyond it.

The Amtrak Norfolk will be extended NE Regionals, same as the two daily trains to Newport News (which will still run). The service will start with a single daily train, but the goal is to expand it to 3 trains a day to Norfolk.

by AlanF on Aug 29, 2011 5:21 pm • link • report

Thanks for writing this up, Ken. I actually looked into making this very trip with my train-crazy 3-year-old in August, and was very disappointed that Amtrak as well as Marc cater only to commuters. Now that I'm ready to try it again as an overnight trip.

But - What did you do with your son during the long delays on the return trips? Did you have to wait at the platform all that time or were there signs indicating the delays?

by TJ on Aug 29, 2011 9:22 pm • link • report

Oops - a closer read reveals all. The Amtrak app's where it's at.

by TJ on Aug 29, 2011 9:23 pm • link • report

This is awesome. My wife and I are carless and would love to see some more of these suggestions!

by JMS on Aug 30, 2011 7:11 am • link • report

As someone who living carless, let me put my two cents in for making this a series if resources are available!

by Dave J on Aug 30, 2011 10:47 am • link • report

If a family doesn't own a car, they can still take weekend trips anywhere. Cause lots of car rental firms have weekend specials.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from taking the train for a weekend trip, but sometimes the choices presented wrt to becoming less autocentric are pretty stark. Carfree, rather than simply reducing the number of vehicles per household. Assuming car free means NEVER driving, rather than not owning a car but renting one for special occasions.

by AWalkerInTheCity on Aug 30, 2011 1:39 pm • link • report

@spookiness: the bus didn't stop in Baltimore--just went straight to Annapolis, Easton, and a couple other stops from there. I don't know if it had wifi.

by sb on Aug 30, 2011 5:03 pm • link • report

If you do want to take the Capitol Limited to Harper's Ferry or Cumberland or Pittsburgh be aware that CSX is doing track work (for the next year!) and the eastbound (AM) train may be canceled if the train is more than a couple of hours late (which isn't uncommon). I think they substitute a bus from Pittsburgh but I don't think it stops at Harper's Ferry or Cumberland, the service to those stops is just canceled.

by Ralph on Aug 31, 2011 6:49 am • link • report

@Ralph:
That's true about the trackwork. However because of it, Amtrak has been making an effort to get the Capitol out of Chicago on time. So far, since the trackwork started, the Capitol has missed the work window only once.

Also, if you're returning from Harpers Ferry on a Friday or Saturday, there is no work to interfere with the train.

by Matt Johnson on Aug 31, 2011 7:52 am • link • report

When I get out of the city for an outing, I don't want to just go to another city (Washington has plenty of urban marvels for me), I want to see rural landscapes with fields of corn waving in the wind. There is actually frequent service to Lancaster, PA, both train (via Philadelphia) and bus (via York, PA), and the Lancaster county bus system (Red Rose Transit) has routes that go deep into the surrounding Amish country and serve a number of the Amish B&Bs (but only limited service on Saturdays and none on Sundays). The Amtrak station in Lancaster is about a mile from the downtown transit center, so that is a bit of a pain to transfer modes.

by rock_n_rent on Aug 31, 2011 8:07 am • link • report

A while ago, we took the Vermonter up to St. Albans, VT on an autumn Saturday for some spectacular leaf-peeping from the train. We stayed overnight and took the train back in the morning.

It was wonderful, but - if we had it to do over again - we probably would have gotten off before dinner in southern Vermont, maybe Windsor - stayed at a local B&B or lodge - and picked up the southbound train late the next morning.

The lodges and B&B's will often pick you up at the train station.

They've suffered terribly with the flooding this past week, and will need all the help - and business - they can get to pull through.

by Mike S. on Aug 31, 2011 6:20 pm • link • report

I've done the Harper's Ferry train trip, and stayed at the KOA; it was wonderful. (BTW, I'm pretty sure the KOA rents bikes as well - though the weekend I went, no pancakes)

I wonder if folks might have other suggestions of transit accessible camping; I haven't visited Greenbelt Park yet - anyone been there? In particular, anyone gotten there by bus / foot / bike? I can't imagine it would be as fun as Harper's Ferry, but I'm guessing it's at least an opportunity to make s'mores and tell ghost stories.

by Lucre on Sep 21, 2011 7:57 pm • link • report

@Lucre:
Greenbelt Park's main entrance is off of Greenbelt Road just east of Kenilworth Avenue. You can get there on 2 bus routes: The Metrobus G13/G14/G16, which runs from Greenbelt Station to New Carrolllton Station and the Prince George's County TheBus route 16, which also runs between Greenbelt and New Carrollton.

Unfortunately, there is no bus service on Sundays. Greenbelt Metro is about 1 mile away, which is walkable/bikeable.

by Matt Johnson on Sep 22, 2011 8:45 am • link • report