Turkey Run Ridge Group
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- Right now
- OpenThe agency lists it open
- Sites
- 9All of them booked ahead
- Season
- Year-roundOpen year-round
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 6 notices
In the agency’s own words
Prince William Forest Park is located 35 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., the park's land was set aside during the Great Depression. In 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began restoring the previously over-farmed acreage, converting it to recreational lands for public use. The CCC built trails, dams, and cabins, making the park a wonderful place for recreation and relaxation. Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground has nine (9) reservable wooded group campsites which can accommodate a maximum of 25 to 40 people per site. The campground has on-site restrooms (no showers), access to hiking trails, and a first come first served amphitheater with campfire ring. Parking is limited at Turkey Run Ridge Campground; it is recommended that visitors carpool when camping at this location. Keep reading
Recreation
The park offers many recreational activities, including hiking, biking, orienteering and fishing. Hikers enjoy exploring the park's 37 miles of foot trails. Bicyclists will find 21 miles of paved roads within the park, including the 12-mile Scenic Drive. Little traffic and a 25 m.p.h. speed limit make this a popular biking spot. A 3-mile, family-friendly paved bike lane leads to the Oak Ridge campground. Mountain biking is also available on 10 miles of gravel fire roads. The park boasts 30 orienteering courses within a forested setting. Orienteering is a 19th century Scandinavian sport primarily used as military training. The courses were developed in 1972 and continue to provide hours of entertainment and exploration for park visitors. Approximately 18 miles of streams and two small lakes are open to the public for fishing. The water quality of Quantico Creek supports numerous fish species and other aquatic life. The most common fish species are bluegill, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass, and channel catfish.
Facilities
Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground, open year-round, is a camping facility for organized groups of seven or more people. It is the perfect place for scout troops and school groups. Six campsites hold up to 25 campers, and three campsites accommodate up to 40 campers. The campsites accommodate tents only. Each site has picnic tables, fire pits and a lantern post. Restrooms feature sinks and flush toilets. There is no shower facility. Water spigot availability is limited to the warmer months, specifically when nighttime temperatures consistently remain above freezing. During colder periods, spigots may not be operational. If camping during the winter or early spring, anticipate needing to fill your water bottles at the restroom sinks. Other water sources may be turned off during the colder months. Parking is limited for each site. Park in designated parking spots only. Carpooling is highly encouraged due to limited parking. An amphitheater with bench seating and a large fire ring is available on a first come, first served basis. No overnight camping is permitted. Between dusk and dawn, the amphitheater is for use by those with a valid camping reservation only. Access to the amphitheater is limited to walking and the use of assistive mobility devices only. Vehicles are not allowed to be driven to the amphitheater. NOTE: Due to the amphitheater's proximity to a critical wastewater pump station, you may unpredictably experience an odor during certain weather conditions. An alternative gathering site is located at the campfire circle adjacent to the main parking area near the NPS office building. Access to the alternative campfire circle is best by the bulletin board close to the building.
Natural Features
Prince William Forest Park preserves approximately 15,000 acres of Piedmont forest covering a major portion of the Quantico Creek watershed. The park represents one of the largest parcels of undeveloped land in the area and is the third largest unit of the National Park System in Virginia, the largest example of a Piedmont forest ecosystem in the National Park System, making it a significant natural resource. Various geologic outcroppings, winding creeks, gentle rolling hills and man-made lakes make wonderful destinations for any venturing visitor. The park is home to 38 species of mammals, 24 species of amphibians, 27 species of reptiles, more than 100 species of birds, 23 species of fish and an unknown number of invertebrates. More than 700 plant species exist in Prince William Forest Park. From the smallest wildflower to the tallest tree, each species has a special role to play in this forest ecosystem. From tree bark in winter, wildflowers in spring, canopy cover in summer, and autumn colors in fall, Prince William Forest Park offers beautiful scenery year-round.
Nearby Attractions
Prince William Forest Park is centrally located, with easy access to all of the attractions the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., area have to offer. From the park entrance, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the main gate of the United States Marine Corps Base Quantico are just a mile away. The park is located directly between historic Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and Manassas National Battlefield Park.
What the agency tells you
You are responsible for complying with all laws, regulations and policies. In addition to the rules listed here, Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the Superintendent's Compendium apply. For further information or to ask questions, please contact the park's visitor center at 703-221-7181.
Entrance Fee. Prince William Forest Park charges an entrance fee separate from camping fees. You may pay the fee upon arrival at the entrance station or purchase in advance. The park also honors valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes (also known as an interagency passes, e.g., Senior, 4th Grade, Military, etc.). Visit the park's Fees & Passes web page. Group leaders, please advise all vehicles in your party about this entrance fee.
Campfires. Campfires must be completely contained within established fire rings and attended at all times. Campfires must be completely extinguished and cold to touch before leaving your campsite. Campfires are prohibited during periods of high fire danger.
Everything else this campground posts · 3
Firewood. Firewood is not available in the campground. If you bring your own firewood, it must be USDA certified 'bug-free' firewood or collected within 50 miles of Prince William Forest Park.
RVs. Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground is restricted to tent camping only. RVs and travel trailers (no hookups) are permitted at Oak Ridge Campground. Full hookups for RVs are available at Prince William Forest RV Campground, 3 miles north on Route 234 off exit 152.
Age Requirement. Campground permits may not be obtained by persons under 18 year of age.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 9 · 9 group
- Hookups
- None
- Accessible sites
- None listed
- Campfires
- Allowed, barring fire bans
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Toilets
- Flush Toilets - year round
- Showers
- None at this campground
- “The campground has on-site restrooms (no showers), access to hiking trails, and a first come first served amphitheater with campfire ring.”
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Stay limit
- 30 nights
- recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Around the campground
- On the water
- Lake, Creek
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Visitor center
- Fall color · reported 7 days ago, 38 km away
- Near peak
Full this Saturdayread 15:25 UTC
How full the weekend is nationally.
OpenBooked
Every one of the 9 sites on offer is taken this Saturday. 9 are free on Mon, Oct 19. read 15:25 UTC Why the weekend fills and the week doesn’t
Watch for a cancellation
Watch this campground
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 16
What you actually pay
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 5
recreation.gov availability, read 15:25 UTC · rules read Oct 1, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
10 records · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 9 mapped sitesAll 10 records
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 9 of the 10 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| Turkey Run | A | group standard nonelectric | 95 ft | 622 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | B | group standard nonelectric | 95 ft | 542 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | C | group standard nonelectric | 131 ft | 728 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | D | group standard nonelectric | 89 ft | 597 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | E | group standard nonelectric | 89 ft | 572 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | F | group standard nonelectric | 267 ft | 693 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | G | group standard nonelectric | 192 ft | 687 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | H | group standard nonelectric | 159 ft | 558 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | I | group standard nonelectric | 159 ft | 430 ft | $65–$80 |
| Turkey Run | Turkey Run Amphitheater | day use | 819 ft |
The agency files 1 more record here that isn’t a site for the night. It files it as day use. It’s in the table above, marked for what it is, and it isn’t counted as a site.
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Camp Pleasant (Cabin Camp 4)Prince William Forest Park · 1.2 mi
Cabin Camp 1 (By Reservation Only)Prince William Forest Park · 1.4 mi
Cabin Camp 3Prince William Forest Park · 1.5 mi
Camp Orenda (Cabin Camp 3 Group)Prince William Forest Park · 1.5 mi
Prince William Forest RV ParkPrince William Forest Park · 1.9 mi
Camp HappyLand (Cabin Camp 5)Prince William Forest Park · 2.2 miGPS devices will sometimes try to take you on closed gravel service roads to the campground. The only vehicle entrance to the campground is through the main park entrance on VA 619/Joplin Road. Try using 18511 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172 to get to the main park entrance and following signs in the park to the campground.
From Washington, D.C., and points north, take I-95 south to exit 150-B toward VA Route 619/Joplin Road. The park entrance is the second right. It is an additional 5-minute drive from the park entrance to Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground.
From Fredericksburg, Virginia, and points south, take I-95 north to exit 150 toward VA Route 619/Joplin Road. Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp and continue on VA Route 619 West approximately 1/4 mile to the park entrance.
Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport are approximately a 45 minute drive from Prince William Forest Park. Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Richmond International Airport are 90 minutes away.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Montclair, VA
Typical weather
Typical October night 50°F, day 69°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical January night 28°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
what threatens it · who answers for it · a letter you can send
What threatens this place
You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.
Who answers for this land
Turkey Run Ridge Group is in Virginia’s 7th congressional district. Its representative, Eugene Vindman (D), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: B. See every public-lands vote →
Who can change it · 4
Two offices, two different asks. The draft to the agency asks it to set aside a published share of the sites here for whoever drives up. The draft to Congress asks why that share is zero and presses for a published minimum at the campgrounds it funds.
- The office that runs itPrince William Forest ParkNational Park Service unit
- The member who votes the moneyEugene Simon VindmanU.S. Representative · Virginia’s 7th district
- Your senator, on the same appropriationMark R. WarnerU.S. Senator · Virginia
- Your senator, on the same appropriationTim KaineU.S. Senator · Virginia
Read the draft, or change the wording
For the camper who turned up, or tried to book, and couldn’t get in. Every draft is written from this campground’s own record (its agency, its unit, its site count and its own weekend) and the buttons above copy whichever wording is selected here.
Asks the National Park Service to set aside a published share of the sites here for whoever drives up, and to post what that share is.
Subject Hold back a share of sites at Turkey Run Ridge Group for campers who drive up
To the National Park Service, Prince William Forest Park: I tried to camp at Turkey Run Ridge Group in Virginia and couldn’t. All 9 sites at Turkey Run Ridge Group are reservable, and the agency's own record lists none held back for somebody who drives up. On Saturday, October 17, all 9 sites recreation.gov was offering there were already booked. 1,623 of the 7,647 federal campgrounds in this country still keep at least some sites for whoever arrives first. Turkey Run Ridge Group keeps none, and that’s a choice somebody made rather than a rule. I’m asking for one specific thing: set aside a published share of the sites at Turkey Run Ridge Group as first-come, first-served, and post what that share is so it can be checked. Somebody who drives up has no way in, and no way to find out whether they might have had one. Sent about Turkey Run Ridge Group (Prince William Forest Park, Virginia) via campanac.com
Asks them to put the question to the agency in writing, and to press for a published minimum share of walk-up sites across the campgrounds they fund.
Subject Walk-up camping at Turkey Run Ridge Group, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia
Dear Eugene Simon Vindman, I’m a constituent in Virginia’s 7th district. I tried to camp at Turkey Run Ridge Group, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia, and couldn’t. All 9 sites at Turkey Run Ridge Group are reservable, and the agency's own record lists none held back for somebody who drives up. On Saturday, October 17, all 9 sites recreation.gov was offering there were already booked. 1,623 of the 7,647 federal campgrounds in this country still keep at least some sites for whoever arrives first. Turkey Run Ridge Group keeps none, and that’s a choice somebody made rather than a rule. I’m not asking you to run Turkey Run Ridge Group. I’m asking you to put it to the National Park Service in writing: why is the share of first-come sites there zero, and what would a published minimum share cost? Please press for that minimum at the federal campgrounds you fund. The people who open these campgrounds, collect the fees and keep the water running are seasonal positions. At GS-5, base pay plus the government's own 36.25% benefit factor, one costs about $47,414 a year. One percent of the $13.3 billion the USS Gerald R. Ford cost to procure would pay for about 2,800 of them for a year. Both figures are the government's own (a Congressional Research Service report and an OPM pay table), and I’m glad to send them. Sent about Turkey Run Ridge Group (Prince William Forest Park, Virginia) via campanac.com
Asks them to put the question to the agency in writing, and to press for a published minimum share of walk-up sites across the campgrounds they fund.
Subject Walk-up camping at Turkey Run Ridge Group, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia
Dear Mark R. Warner, I’m a constituent in Virginia. I tried to camp at Turkey Run Ridge Group, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia, and couldn’t. All 9 sites at Turkey Run Ridge Group are reservable, and the agency's own record lists none held back for somebody who drives up. On Saturday, October 17, all 9 sites recreation.gov was offering there were already booked. 1,623 of the 7,647 federal campgrounds in this country still keep at least some sites for whoever arrives first. Turkey Run Ridge Group keeps none, and that’s a choice somebody made rather than a rule. I’m not asking you to run Turkey Run Ridge Group. I’m asking you to put it to the National Park Service in writing: why is the share of first-come sites there zero, and what would a published minimum share cost? Please press for that minimum at the federal campgrounds you fund. The people who open these campgrounds, collect the fees and keep the water running are seasonal positions. At GS-5, base pay plus the government's own 36.25% benefit factor, one costs about $47,414 a year. One percent of the $13.3 billion the USS Gerald R. Ford cost to procure would pay for about 2,800 of them for a year. Both figures are the government's own (a Congressional Research Service report and an OPM pay table), and I’m glad to send them. Sent about Turkey Run Ridge Group (Prince William Forest Park, Virginia) via campanac.com
Asks them to put the question to the agency in writing, and to press for a published minimum share of walk-up sites across the campgrounds they fund.
Subject Walk-up camping at Turkey Run Ridge Group, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia
Dear Tim Kaine, I’m a constituent in Virginia. I tried to camp at Turkey Run Ridge Group, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia, and couldn’t. All 9 sites at Turkey Run Ridge Group are reservable, and the agency's own record lists none held back for somebody who drives up. On Saturday, October 17, all 9 sites recreation.gov was offering there were already booked. 1,623 of the 7,647 federal campgrounds in this country still keep at least some sites for whoever arrives first. Turkey Run Ridge Group keeps none, and that’s a choice somebody made rather than a rule. I’m not asking you to run Turkey Run Ridge Group. I’m asking you to put it to the National Park Service in writing: why is the share of first-come sites there zero, and what would a published minimum share cost? Please press for that minimum at the federal campgrounds you fund. The people who open these campgrounds, collect the fees and keep the water running are seasonal positions. At GS-5, base pay plus the government's own 36.25% benefit factor, one costs about $47,414 a year. One percent of the $13.3 billion the USS Gerald R. Ford cost to procure would pay for about 2,800 of them for a year. Both figures are the government's own (a Congressional Research Service report and an OPM pay table), and I’m glad to send them. Sent about Turkey Run Ridge Group (Prince William Forest Park, Virginia) via campanac.com