Park

Prince William Forest Park

Prince William Forest Park is a Park in Virginia. The NPS currently lists 1 active alert (1 closure), 10 campgrounds and 1 visitor center; entrance fees start at $10.

Virginia Park America the Beautiful pass accepted

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT · NPS Data API

An original 1930's sign for Chopawamsic National Recreational Demonstration Area — Historic Park Sign for Chopawamsic RDA · Photo: NPS Photo (via nps.gov)

About the park

“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.”

— National Park Service, nps.gov/prwi

Active alerts

Closures

Campgrounds

Visitor centers

Current alerts and closures

1 active NPS alert as of Oct 28, 2026: 1 closure, 0 danger, 0 caution and 0 information.

Closure

Parking Lot E Closed for Construction

Parking Lot E is closed for construction. The park is currently working to expand this parking area, and the lot will be closed while the expansion is being built. Visitors can still access the Mary Byrd Branch Trail and Quantico Cascades Trail by following trail reroute signs and parking vehicles in Turkey Run parking area. For your safety, please follow all closures and only park in designated parking spots.

Posted or updated Sep 1, 2026 ·Park conditions on nps.gov

Entrance fees and passes

A valid entrance pass must be presented or purchased to access the park. Vehicle, motorcycle, walk-in, and bike-in passes are valid for seven (7) consecutive days.

Entrance fees
Fee	Cost	Details
Entrance - Private Vehicle	$20	Valid seven (7) consecutive days. Buy online
Entrance - Motorcycle	$15	Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Buy online
Entrance - Per Person	$10	Valid seven (7) consecutive days. Buy online

Park passes
Pass	Cost	Buy
Annual Entrance - Park	$35	Recreation.gov

The interagency America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. This park is cashless — bring a card or buy your pass online. Fee details on nps.gov

Things to do

Hand holding booklet and pet tag in front of a brown and white spotted dog in the visitor center — Photo: NPS Photo

Become a B.A.R.K. Ranger at Prince William Forest Park

Help your pet become a B.A.R.K. Ranger by bagging your pet's waste and properly disposing of it, always leashing your pet, respecting wildlife, and knowing where you can go with your pet. Pick up a B.A.R.K.

10-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Junior Ranger Program

A visitor center building surrounded by trees — Photo: NPS Photo

Bike the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in Prince William Forest Park

Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret and bike along the park’s Scenic Drive.

1-3 Hours Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed

Biking

Biking in Prince William

For the on and off road cyclist, Prince William Forest Park is a favorite place for bicyclists. Over 12 miles of paved roads and 9.2 miles of gravel roads are available.

Year-round Fee applies

Biking

See all 7 things to do in Prince William Forest →

Activities the NPS lists for Prince William Forest.

Arts and CultureBikingMountain BikingRoad BikingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingRV CampingCompass and GPSOrienteeringFishingFreshwater FishingFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHands-OnVolunteer VacationHikingBackcountry HikingFront-Country HikingHunting and GatheringJunior Ranger ProgramPlaygroundWildlife WatchingPark FilmShoppingBookstore and Park Store

Operating hours

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

Prince William Forest Park Operating Hours
Day	Hours
Monday	Sunrise to Sunset
Tuesday	Sunrise to Sunset
Wednesday	Sunrise to Sunset
Thursday	Sunrise to Sunset
Friday	Sunrise to Sunset
Saturday	Sunrise to Sunset
Sunday	Sunrise to Sunset

Weather: Prince William Forest Park experiences all four seasons. Spring and fall are generally comfortable with precipitation possible.

Contact and directions

Phone: 703-221-7181
Email: [email protected]
Address: 18170 Park Entrance Road, Triangle, VA 22172
Coordinates: 38.5859, -77.3891· View on OpenStreetMap

Official park page on nps.gov Directions

Visitor centers

Visitor center	Standard hours	Phone	Passport stamp
Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center	Daily: 9:00AM - 5:00PM	7032217181	Yes

Campgrounds

Campground	Total sites	Reservable	First-come	RVs	Fee	Reserve
Cabin Camp 3 (Individual Cabins)	13	12	0	No	$50	Recreation.gov
Camp Goodwill (Cabin Camp 1)	1	0	0	No	$780	Reservation site
Camp HappyLand (Cabin Camp 5)	1	1	0	No	$900	Recreation.gov
Camp Mawavi (Cabin Camp 2)	1	1	0	No	$725	Recreation.gov
Camp Orenda (Cabin Camp 3 Group)	1	1	0	No	$550	Recreation.gov
Camp Pleasant (Cabin Camp 4)	1	1	0	No	$750	Recreation.gov
Chopawamsic Backcountry Area	8	8	0	No	Free	Recreation.gov
Oak Ridge Campground	100	95	0	Yes, up to 32 ft	$26	Recreation.gov
Prince William Forest RV Park	72	70	70	Yes	—	Reservation site
Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground	9	9	0	No	$65	Recreation.gov

Site counts and fees are from the NPS campground data. Fees show the first listed rate; availability is not shown here — check the reservation site.

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More parks in Virginia

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial Assateague Island National Seashore Blue Ridge Parkway Booker T. Washington National Monument Cape Henry Memorial Part of Colonial National Historical Park Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park Chesapeake Bay Civil War Defenses of Washington Colonial National Historical Park All in Virginia

Nearest other NPS sites

Sources

Park details, alerts, fees and passes, visitor centers and campgrounds: National Park Service Data API, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Official park page: https://www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm
Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.