Little Bennett Regional Park offers a nature-break getaway not too far from sprawling suburbia. It is large enough that you can clock in your hiking mileage (easily ~10 miles) by walking through some preserved woods and folded watersheds with pristine streams. Due to the layout you might find yourself crossing some of the County roads that criss-cross this large natural area, but it doesn't feel urban. I've hiked plenty in West Virginia and prefer the seclusion and remoteness of the hills there, but it's awfully far away and a huge commitment of time. I'm happy to report that you can have a solid ersatz experience of nature and hiking in the woods, while stitching together a route by combining several different trails in Little Bennett Regional Park. The best part is, at the end of the day, you can drive back towards the city down I-270 and stop for some amazing food experiences that you will never have the opportunity to grab out in the West Virginia boonies. The County government biologists will tell you there are plenty of unique native wildflower colonies to be observed here as well as unique aquatic organisms such as frogs, salamanders and fish in the streams. Protect and enjoy this place! Park at one of several access points and make up a circuit hike using a map. This is the best map I have found: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/trailmap_pdfs/LittleBennett_trails.pdf read more

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I've really enjoyed each visit I have had at Little Bennett. If you need some fresh air and want to be in a peaceful environment but do not want to drive too far out of the city this is a great place to go. It is located pretty close off the highway which is convenient when coming here. They have nice camping grounds and plenty of hiking trails. If you expect to get a mountain peak picture or to see a waterfall this is not your place, it is just standard woods here. The trails are maintained well, you will not have to walk through any areas that have been overgrown with bush. The trails are pretty easy since it is not climbing a mountain. Highly recommend coming here if you live in the area. read more

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I would actually have given this 5 stars, but ... OK, the good? Beautiful grounds, spacious campsites, immaculate upkeep. Fun, free stuff for kids like the giant jump pillow and pedal kart track, plus some games (although one never happened, more later) and crafts. Lovely - and I do mean LOVELY - staff members. Not so good? The game that never happened - they have a thing called Gaga Ball, and we were told it would take place "around 3" on Saturday. We went and waited close to 45 minutes and the staff member never showed up. Luckily, DGD was happy to bounce endlessly on the Giant Pillow, but the short-staffed situation gives rise to disappointment. Secondly, the trails map!!! OMG what a disaster. We had the Montgomery County Regional Parks version, and the Little Bennett version, and they did not agree. Moreover, there are additional (?) trails that aren't shown, so it's really, REALLY easy to get mixed up. I'm a very seasoned hiker and still had trouble navigating to where we wanted to be. Also, we would never let my precious grandchildren ride their bikes here. Even on our loop, it wasn't especially safe, and on the main road? Forget it! Even if people actually drove the speed limit (yeah, right), the roads are narrow with not great visibility. Hence the one star deduction. I must say again, the campsites are spacious - I absolutely love that! But here are some tips, from just driving around to see everything: Loop B has no bathhouse/restroom facility. Really, those folks had to hike to Loop C bathhouse (where we were). The bathhouse on Loop A is located kind of close to the main road, so if you choose a site farther along the loop, you'll be hiking to go potty! Loop C was very nice, although weirdly the noise of the highway seemed especially loud at night. All in all, this is a very nice, very well maintained campground. The main reason we won't visit again is that the kiddos really need more to do, like fly kites, ride bikes, splash in water, etc., and this is not the place for those activities. read more

Little Bennett Regional Park - Setting up the tent... - Parks Near Me - Clarksburg, Maryland

I camped alone for 2 nights at Little Bennett Campground in Clarksburg, MD. It was awesome! The campground had several trails and nearby parks. When I arrived, I checked in at the camp store. The staff was really friendly. I bought firewood and 2 fire starters from the camp store and headed to my yurt in loop C. I was the only person in my entire loop so I enjoyed the freedom of solitude. The yurt only costed $90/night but this campground also has tent sites (cheaper) and deluxe cabins (more expensive). My site had space for 2 vehicles and was only a few steps away from a water spigot and bathhouse. It also had an electrical outlet on the outside patio (no electricity inside) as well as a picnic table and fire ring w/ grill. The yurt had 2 windows, a locked door, and a sunroof. Inside the yurt housed a table, 2 small benches, small trash can, broom/dust pan, and 2 bunk beds(queen at the bottom and twin at the top). I brought my own bed linen and also set-up a projector and movie screen inside of my yurt for movie night . Though the campground had a bathhouse for each loop, I didn't use it. There weren't a lot of people there so the bathroom was pretty much unused, however, I would still prefer to use my own portable shower and toilet because it just simply wasn't up to my standards. I set-up my 2 room, utility tent onsite. One side was used as a portable toilet and the other side was used as a portable shower. I used the luggable loo portable toilet with double doodie bags. I used the ozark trail portable camp shower (holds 5 gallons of water) for my shower . Please see the video for more info on the shower tent. Overall, I had a great time at the yurt. I loved that the site was so close to hiking, biking, and kayaking nearby. Cooking on the open fire was new for me but lots of fun. I heated some pre-made food but also used the open fire to make tacos and white chocolate s'mores. . I enjoyed listening to the birds, watching squirrels build a nest, and observing tiny chipmunks hut for food. I also enjoyed some guided mediation, reading, and sunrise stretching. I realllllly feel like a boss after accomplishing this alone . I gave 4 stars because the bath house could have been a little cleaner. Novice Yurt Tips: * bring an extension cord or portable generator for power inside of your yurt * bring disinfectant spray and chlorox wipes * use chlorox wipes to clean lugaloo seat and portable shower floor prior to packing it away * create a hand washing station (bring handsoap) * don't leave trash behind (especially plastic) * bring flashlights/lanterns/fans * bring bug spray/sunscreen and use it often * bring utensils, plates, containers to cook on open fire * Turn all of your batteries around when not in use to prevent draining the batteries * Drain your cooler often to prevent your food from sitting in water (also use extra strong ziplock bags for your food to prevent water from entering the bag) * The front door window doesn't have a curtain or blinds. Bring a blanket, sheet, or towel to cover the door for privacy. * Enjoy nature read more

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This review addresses camping from the perspective of a very novice camper. This park is pretty popular and reservations for camping can be made online after you create a userid and password. It took a bit to understand how the system was displaying what was available because I couldn't figure out how to sort it according to date or according to site #. Each day requires a separate reservation, so if you're staying more than one day, you'll need to find the same site# on subsequent dates. There's discounts for seniors under some circumstances. Upon arrival, you park and pick up your pass and purchase firewood if you desire. The camping areas, despite near constant use, are clean and welcoming upon arrival. There are 5 camping circles and not all of them have a bathhouse, so you may want to scope out a map ahead of time for nearness to a bathhouse. They have a nature center building which has crafts in the afternoon, rootbeer floats for sale on some evenings, guided nature walks, and sometimes a movie on the lawn. The D ring has electricity -- so handy in the morning for boiling water for caffeine. read more

Little Bennett Regional Park - Bacon and eggs for breakfast - Parks Near Me - Clarksburg, Maryland

We went mid-morning on a Saturday. We parked near the Kingsley trail and we walked portions of the Kingsley Trail, Purdum Trail, and Logger's Trail. The trails we saw were mostly gravel and natural surfaces, but a little portion was paved. We found the trails we used to be well marked. Purdum Trail is not nearly as steep as Sugarloaf Mountain, but it is a hill. With regard to the noise from I-270 and other nearby roads, I would describe it as distant and not obtrusive. I rarely visit trails where I can hear loud traffic such as the Capital Crescent Trail; the area of Little Bennett I visited was not in that category and I would gladly go again. We saw and heard a few common birds such as blue jays, woodpeckers, and cardinals. As others have said, we saw very few other people walking nearby during our visit, and I hope the same is true the next time we go. read more

This is a very very close-in and convenient park. My major complaint is that it is so close to I-270, that you hear highway traffic all night long (and all day) and even many of the hiking trails, though further from the highway than the campground, are still easily within earshot of the highway. There is nothing they can do about this, obviously... but it is an annoyance. My other complaint is that the bathrooms are a bit far apart (we were in the B-loop and there is no bathroom in the B-loop... which is a bit difficult when you have a 3 year old who really has to go). Other than that, the camp ground staff was very nice; the sites themselves are nice--great tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. The hiking trails were also nice... I'd definitely go back and hike some of the trails a bit further afield. If I was in a pinch and wanted to camp just one night or so, I'd return for that as well; you really can't beat the convenience of it. read more

Had a 3.8 mile loop hike the first time from Prescott Road trail head parking lot, along Dark Branch Trail, Sidewinder Trail, Hyattstown Mill Road, Western Piedmont Trail, and Pine Grove Trail back. A mild hike through beautiful terrains and woodland. Winter open views through the woods, Sugarloaf Mountain view along the ridge, Little Bennett creek, a quiet, peaceful, joyful experience on a cool sunny day. read more

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I hiked 8 miles here this weekend with my friend and my dog. There are at least 10 trails in the park, most interconnect at some point, and they are all very well marked. Print the map on their website before you go so you don't lose your way. We saw a total of 7 people while there for over 3 hours, so it is quite deserted. It was a beautiful day too - I don't think a lot of people know about this park. Maybe I shouldn't be writing a review about it to keep it that way... We parked at the Hyattstown mill parking area. There was one other car in the lot. The trail is just up the street, past the mill and a historic house. The hike isn't very difficult overall. The longest trail (Western Piedmont) is gravel and good for beginners. The tobacco trail and the timber ridge trail had the steepest elevation of all the trails we are on and it also brings you through a really nice meadow. Timber ridge was a beautiful walk through a heavily wooded forest. There is a campsite in the park - we stumbled upon it during the hike. We didn't see any tenters at all, but the sites looked nice - each had a firepit, picnic table, and a nice squared off even area for pitching the tent. Tip #1: Horses are allowed on the trails and there is a nearby stable. So, watch out for huge piles of horse poop! Tip #2: Wear waterproof boots. We had to cross a few streams. There are also a few muddy areas due to "beaver activity" upstream (so the sign said) All-in-all, it was a lovely, remote hike. It's so close to DC too, just south of Sugarloaf Mountain (which is also a great hike, but a bit more strenuous than this one). Exit 18 off 270. read more

Lovely park in Montgomery County! Stopped by yesterday - was with a group for a hike and was really blown away by the tranquility of this park. Very peaceful & quiet and lots of trails - there are various places to park & access the trails so that can get a bit tricky. They offer complementary maps for visitors and the trails are marked well. No drinking fountains for restroom facilities (at least I didn't see any) so I'd suggest planning accordingly. Parking can be limited but good news is that there isn't an entry fee :) read more

We live in Montgomery County and wanted somewhere to take young children close to home in case it all went downhill. I can't emphasize how much we enjoyed this campground. The only way it could have been better is if we'd left the kids home. For families: Great site. The sites are not on top of each other and there was plenty of room for our two tents - a 10 person tent and a 6 person tent. There was a small modern playground area on our loop as well as the larger playground at the fire ring. The shower houses are very clean. The paths are quite wide. Because the campground was in the county we were even able to drive a few minutes to the county pool and swim. For singles/couples: As long as my kids aren't there, you will enjoy the tranquillity and peace. Camp staff came through regularly but there wasn't constant automobile traffic. This will be our new last minute getaway and kid camping training ground. read more

I absolutely love LBRP. We come here pretty often with our dogs. There are several places to park, and living so close, we have hiked from almost all of the trail heads. The trails are well-marked and clear. There are plenty of streams and creeks for the dogs to get a drink or lay down and cool off in. Trails are pretty easy to hike and if you get there before noon, you can walk around without seeing another hiker. read more

Little Bennett Regional Park - Easy hike. - Parks Near Me - Clarksburg, Maryland

I spent a couple of hours hiking the Bennet Ridge and Antler Ridge combo. Even though the trail was wet, it was not too slippery or muddy. It was overcast the day I went but a significant amount of this trail is open meadow/open sky, so I think it would be a bit hot on a sunny day. The mound building ants have repurposed grass clippings along the trail, which I thought the grass cutters did before reading other reviews here. Campground E was totally deserted when I went (it is at end of Bennet Ridge). I used the bathroom there, and there is a water fountain that works too- seemed very nice and clean as stated in other reviews. My whole loop (parked at playground on Hyattstown Mill Rd and 355) was about 4.5/5 miles. I took Antler Ridge on return- saw a box turtle!! read more

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This is a great campground. I deducted one star bc the full hookup sites aren't paved. I know that's asking a lot. Our site was treed, private and quiet. There was good drainage during a two day heavy rain storm. The laundry facilities were modern and the camp store was nice. Lots of things to do on the weekends for kids. Verizon hotspot had good reception and I never dropped when I was working. read more

I went tent camping here this past weekend with my boyfriend and another couple. Upon arriving we were pleasantly surprised by how well kept the grounds are and how easy it was to find our particular site. Even better was the bathroom which was extremely clean, well maintained and equipped with flushing toilets and hot water...major plus!!! My only problem with this campground is that the tent sites are very close together. Luckily for us this past weekend it rained off and all the whole time which wasn't that bad but it kept the rest of the campers away and the park stayed pretty quiet. However I would not have enjoyed my stay as much had the park been as full as it was supposed to be this weekend. read more

I like this park a lot. There's not too much to say other than it's SO easy to mix up your hiking here. Hard, uphill, muddy...or easy peasy flat and easy. Get familiar with the park, and you can mix it up to your hearts content. I have been trying to get up there to walk my dog at least 2 times a week since discovering it. I am partial to the trails on the side that don't allow bikes and horses (though the bike tracks and horse crap you sometimes see tells me that certain idiots think they're above such petty rules, and I carry a stick to wave angrily at them). It's easy, like I said, to tailor your hiking. I will sometimes go and just do an hours worth. Some days, I like to pack a bag with lunch and water (and a bowl for the dog) and make a 3 or 4 hour long hike of it. One thing that creeps me out is Mound Builder trail...ugh. When I was a newb to this park I thought maybe it was an Indian reference. NOPE! It's a species of endangered ants. And for a portion of the trail the mounds are so thick that signs urge you to hustle through at a brisk pace. Oh, my! Despite ants, this is a solid park. Lovely and accessible all at once. Someday I hope to try out the campground (several hikes have found us wandering through there, scouting sites for future visits). read more

Beautiful, clean, quiet campground - even when booked totally full. We loved it on E loop. Excellent trails. Clean bathhouse. read more

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Coming from Virginia, this felt like it was distant enough to provide an out- of- DC hike and yet still an easy drive for a day hike. We did about 4-5 miles by combining a few loop trails. Pretty nice grassy area with old schoolhouse near parking lot. The week's rain made it a bit muddy, and we had to ford one stream, but it was a fun, moderate hike with only medium elevation gain. Meadows, pine forest and a bit of gravel- so it had something for everyone. read more

Little Bennett is a beautiful 3700 acre park, offering wonderful hiking trails and many different camp sites. Little Bennett Regional Park is a great place to escape from the troubles of everyday life as few people seem to know about it. Come here to relax and enjoy nature with your friends or family. read more

This is a beautiful regional park. We are very lucky to have it here so close to the Metro area. We parked at Kingsley, took the Western Piedmont trail, and turned up the Tobacco Barn trail. Unfortunately, the trail was closed shortly up the hill, so we turned off to the left on an unnamed trail. After walking for an hour in the December 30th cold, never finding another trail name marker, and believing ourselves to be lost, not knowing which way to turn, we were getting concerned. As it turns out, we came upon a very helpful 30-year veteran of the trails, Scott, who himself was somewhat thrown by the shutdown of the Tobacco Barn trail, and the lack of alternate signposts. But Scott led us back to civilization. We are writing this in the comfort of our warm home, rather than still shivering under the bare winter trees of Little Bennett. So....beware of the shutdown trails, especially Tobacco Barn, especially in December. Drop breadcrumbs, so you can get back. read more

We stayed in loop c and had a great time! Sites are large and wooded. They are close to each other so you can clearly see and hear your neighbors. Lots of trails to hike and a jumping pillow and hay ride. Bath house was clean and well it. Great place to camp with young kids. read more

Great hiking getaway with superior experience to nearby Sugarloaf. Trails are well marked and maintained. They provide maps and ample frequent signage noting trails. It was a beautiful fall colors excursion with the dog. Everyone leashed their dogs. Quiet peaceful hike on an early Saturday morning. The only people we saw were staying in a yurt on the grounds. Recommend this over Sugarloaf. read more

Campground is great. Nice roomy sites, bath houses are very clean. Highly recommend for a quiet, peaceful camping location.

I'm a city boy, and other than the loud screeching noise on my first night camping here, I faired out well. So well I try to go once a year. Ok...the screeching noise may have been my imagination running wild. This place is an inexpensive activity for one to be with nature. The camp ground comes with a fire pit and a place to pitch a tent. The bathrooms are pretty close by too. I've seen both families and couples camping here. Bring your bike so you can ride it along the trails. And they have nightly activities like root beer floats for the kids. Be prepared that It can get cold at night into the morning. Don't do like me and do "pretend" camping with an air mattress, propane stove for pancakes in the morning, and your mp3 player. If you are hardcore, you just bring your tent, matches and food. If you are worried about safety...don't. The place has patrol cars coming through quite often. Enjoy read more