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Prince William Forest Park

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Prince William Forest Park

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Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers. Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret!

Activities: Arts and Culture · Backcountry Camping · Backcountry Hiking · Biking · Bookstore and Park Store · Camping · Car or Front Country Camping · Compass and GPS · Fishing · Food · Freshwater Fishing · Front-Country Hiking · Group Camping · Guided Tours · Hands-On · Hiking · Hunting and Gathering · Junior Ranger Program · Mountain Biking · Orienteering · Park Film · Picnicking · Playground · RV Camping · Road Biking · Self-Guided Tours - Walking · Shopping · Volunteer Vacation · Wildlife Watching

Published entrance fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle

$20 · Valid seven (7) consecutive days.

Entrance - Motorcycle

$15 · Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

Entrance - Per Person

$10 · Valid seven (7) consecutive days.

Published passes

Annual Entrance - Park

$35 · The Prince William Forest Park annual pass provides unlimited entry to the park for one year through the month of purchase (example - a pass purchased on January 1, 2022 will be valid through January 31, 2023). The pass covers admission for the passholder (who must be present) and all individuals in a single vehicle, or for the passholder and three adults who walk into the park. The pass can be purchased at the visitor center or entrance station (when in operation).

Published operating hours

Prince William Forest Park Operating Hours · Prince William Forest Park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset for recreation use.

Fees, facilities and activities are the 2026-10-03 NPS snapshot. Historical visitation describes recorded visits, not crowding forecasts or present conditions.

Plan your visit

Prince William Forest Park experiences all four seasons. Spring and fall are generally comfortable with precipitation possible. Summers can be hot and humid with average temperatures in the high 80s and with sudden thunderstorms possible. July and August are the hottest months. Winters can be cold with average temperatures in the winter of 41 degrees with variable precipitation. The main park roads can close due to snowy conditions, though cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing are permitted.

Campgrounds (10)

• Cabin Camp 3 (Individual Cabins)
• Camp Goodwill (Cabin Camp 1)
• Camp HappyLand (Cabin Camp 5)
• Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2)
• Camp Orenda (Cabin Camp 3 Group)
• Camp Pleasant (Cabin Camp 4)
• Chopawamsic Backcountry Area
• Oak Ridge Campground
• Prince William Forest RV Park
• Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground

Official NPS information and current conditions ↗