If you love camping and live in the Largo-Kettering Upper Marlboro area, there’s a hidden gem almost in your backyard.  Watkins Regional Park is well known for its annual Festival of Lights during Christmas season, but relatively unknown for its camping opportunities.

Watkins Regional Park also boasts 30 primitive campsites.  Primitive meaning there is no electric, water, or waste hookups for recreational vehicles (RV).  However, there is a facility with restrooms and showers inside the campsite area.

According to the park’s website, pop-up tent/trailer campers and self-contained “Winnebago” are allowed.  A Winnebago is actually a recreational vehicle (RV), but the website says no RV’s.  Sounds very conflicting to me. 

I camped here with my family this past summer.  We rented two campsites for only $12 (each) per night for residents and $20 per night for non-residents.  We set up 6 tents on both sites.  It was very comforting seeing the Park Police and maintenance crews making their rounds every few hours.  Other than the racoons lurking at night and the daddy long-leg spiders, we had a great time!  Here are a few photos from our two night stay at the campground.