Greenbelt Park Custom Search Greenbelt Park is a retreat from the pressures of city life and a refuge for native plants and animals just twelve miles from Washington, D.C. Greenbelt Park has a 174 site campground open all year round. The staff of Greenbelt Park salute all the police, firefighters, and rescue personnel involved for their hard work and dedication. Long before colonial settlers appeared here, trees and flowers covered these rolling hills and wildlife roamed the woodlands. Algonquin Indians hunted this land in competition with other smaller tribes. A balance existed between the land and its plants, animals, and native people. Then the colonists arrived. Trees fell and forests gave way to farmland. Wildlife retreated to the frontier. For the next 150 years, people cleared the land, plowed the fields, and planted tobacco, corn, and other crops. The rich fertile soil returned high yields. The people did not give back to the land as much as they took. The land wore out, producing less each season and farming ceased. The land was left bare and defenseless. Erosion caused many scars before nature could slow the process with new growth. Since the early 1900's the land has been recovering.. Today the mixed pine and decidious forest testifies to the land's ability to recover. The land of Greenbelt Park was acquired by the National Park Service in 1950 under Public Law 643.     CONTACTS Email - kevin_barry@nps.gov Fax- 301-344-1012 Write to 6565 Greenbelt Road Greenbelt, MD 20770 Phone Headquarters - 301-344-3948 Visitor Information - 301-344-3944 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The Park Headquarters is open Monday - Friday 8 -4. The Winter hours for the Ranger Station: Open Seven days a week 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Getting There PLANE - National Airport is 17 miles away. There is a Metro subway stop at the airport. Baltimore-Washington Airport is 21 miles from the park. There is no public transportation available to the park. CAR - Take Exit 23 (Route 201)Kenilworth Avenue South to (Route 193)Greenbelt Road East. The park is a quarter mile on the right. The park address is 6565 Greenbelt Road (Route 193). PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - The University of Md/College Park Metro station is a 2.5 mile walk to the campground. The F-6 bus headed toward the New Carrollton Metro station runs on weekdays only. Tell the driver to let you off near Parkdale High School. There is a entrance with parking area. Take the paved trail to the chain linked fence and take a left. The Ranger Station is two hundred yards on your right. The Greenbelt Metro station is 3 miles from the park. It has a very large parking lot. We recommend that you drive to the Greenbelt Metro instead of driving to Washington, D.C. because of the lack of parking especially on weekdays. Accessibility The greenbelt campground has handicapped parking spaces and are near the handicapped accessible bathroom. Each bathroom in the park including campground and picnic areas is handicapped accessible. CAMPING Greenbelt Park Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year The 174 site campground is open all year. There are no electrical or water hookups available. There are hot showers, bathroom facilities and a dump station available to registered campers. FACILITIES HOLLY PICNIC AREA Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to dusk Phone - 301-344-3948 Location - The Holly Picnic Area is located near the entrance of the park. When entering the park, proceed to the stop sign. Make a left turn and the holly picnic area is on your right hand side. Available Facilities - The Holly Picnic Area can accomodate up to 200 people. There are 99 parking spaces. There are picnic tables and a bathroom. A Recreation Fee is charged according to the number of particpants. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park. Amplified music and loud use on any audio device is not permitted. The park does not provide electric power and portable generators are prohibited. Amusements such as pony rides, any type of balloons, and moon bounces may not be used in the park. If you plan any special activites that require equipment, please discuss it when reserving the area and have the activity wriiten on the permit. Refunds will only be allowed if the permitee notifies the park in writing atleast fourteen days prior to the reserved date. Refunds will not be made for rain or inclement weather. There are no covered pavillions in the picnic area. The park encourages everyone to come see the area in person before reserving it. LAUREL PICNIC AREA Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to Dusk Phone - 301-344-3948 Location - The Laurel Picnic area is just past the Holly Picnic Area. When entering the park, proceed to the stop sign. Make a left turn at the stop sign and drive past the Holly Picnic Area. The entrance to the Laurel Picnic Area is located on the right hand side of the road. There is a sign stating 'Laurel Picnic Area'. Available Facilities - The Laurel Picnic Area can accomodate up to 100 people. There are 99 parking spaces. There are picnic tables and a bathroom. A Recreation fee is charged according to the number of participants. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park. Amplified music and loud use on any audio device is not permitted. The park does not provide electric power and portable generators are prohibited. Amusements such as pony rides, any type of balloons, and moon bounces may not be used in the park. If you are planning any special activities that require equipment, please discuss it when reserving the area and have the special activity wriiten on the permit. Refunds will only be allowed if the permitee notifies the park in writing atleast fourteen days prior to the reserved date. Refunds will not be made for rain or inclement weather. There are no covered pavillions in the picnic area. The park staff encourages everyone to come see the area before reserving it. SWEETGUM PICNIC AREA Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to Dusk Phone - 301-344-3948 Location - Sweetgum Picnic Area is located near the entrance of the park. Upon entering the park, proceed to the stop sign. Make a right hand turn and the Sweetgum Picnic Area is the first left. Special Programs - Any SPECIAL programs should contact the park headquarters for permit and prior approval. Available Facilities - Sweetgum Picnic Area is a first-come first serve picnic area. There are two sets of playground equipment, a baseball field with backstop, and a large field . There is a limit of 4 tables and 24 people per group so that everyone may enjoy this area. There are picnic tables and a bathroom in this area.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Greenbelt Park.   Campgrounds Near Greenbelt Park: Cherry Hill Park, College Park, 4 miles away Scotts Cove Campground, Howard County, 7 miles away Sports International, Columbia, 11 miles away Duncan's Family Campground, Lothian, 16 miles away Millersville KOA Kampground, Millersville, 17 miles away Patapsco Valley State Park, Ellicott City, 17 miles away Cedarville State Park, Brandywine, 19 miles away   Marinas Near Greenbelt Park: James Creek Marina, Washington , 12 miles away Seafarers Boat Club, Washington , 12 miles away Washington Marina, Washington , 12 miles away Leatherbury Point Marina, Crofton , 13 miles away Herrington Harbour Marina, Upper Marlboro , 13 miles away   Hotels Near Greenbelt Park: Holiday Inn WASHINGTON D.C.-GREENBELT MD, Greenbelt , 1 miles away Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/Greenbelt, Greenbelt , 1 miles away Residence Inn Greenbelt, Greenbelt , 1 miles away Courtyard Greenbelt, Greenbelt , 1 miles away Greenbelt Marriott, Greenbelt , 1 miles away Best Western Capital Beltway, Lanham , 2 miles away Red Roof inn Washington DC Lanham, Lanham , 2 miles away   Trails Near Greenbelt Park: White Horse Trail, District of Columbia County , 11 miles away Valley Trail, District of Columbia County , 11 miles away Western Ridge Trail, District of Columbia County , 12 miles away Rock Creek Park Bike Trail, District of Columbia County , 12 miles away Swamp Trail, District of Columbia County , 14 miles away   Beaches Near Greenbelt Park: Bathing Beach, District of Columbia County , 12 miles away   Ski Areas Near Greenbelt Park: Ski Liberty, Pennsylvania , 53 miles away, 620 foot drop, 8 lifts, 16 runs Ski Roundtop, Pennsylvania , 60 miles away, 600 foot drop, 11 lifts, 15 runs Blue Marsh, Pennsylvania , 93 miles away, 315 foot drop, 5 lifts, 9 runs   Whitewater Near Greenbelt Park: Anacostia River, Prince Georges County , 6 miles away, Class I - 10 miles long (Highway 3 to Potomac) Anacostia River - Northwest Branch, Prince Georges / Montgomery County , 10 miles away, Class I-III(V+) - 8 miles long (US Route 29 to Hyattsville) Little Patuxent River, Howard County , 11 miles away, Class I-IV - 7 miles long (US Route 29 to US Route 1) Rock Creek, n / a County , 12 miles away, Class II-III+(V) - 4 miles long (Above Military Road to Pierce Mill Dam) Rock Creek, DC County , 13 miles away, Class I-III - 4 miles long (Military Road to Potomac River in D.)   Public Lands Near Greenbelt Park: Fort Washington Park, Fort Washington - MD , 15 miles away Glen Echo Park, McLean - VA , 17 miles away Great Falls Park, McLean - VA , 21 miles away Rosaryville State Park, Maryland , 12 miles away Cedarville State Forest, Maryland , 18 miles away George Washington's Grist Mill Historic State Park, Virginia , 23 miles away Patapsco Valley State Park, Maryland , 25 miles away   Golf Courses Near Greenbelt Park: Paint Branch Golf Course, College Park , 4 miles away Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Golf, College Park , 4 miles away University Of Md Golf Club, College Park , 4 miles away Cross Creek Golf Club, Beltsville , 5 miles away University Of Maryland Golf Course, College Park , 5 miles away   Lakes Near Greenbelt Park Greenbelt Lake, Prince George's County , 1 miles away Burba Lake, Anne Arundel County , 11 miles away Triadelphia Reservoir, Howard County , 14 miles away Tridelphia Reservoir, Montgomery County , 14 miles away Lake Needwood, Montgomery County , 18 miles away