Craft Lodge at Camp Cabin 4 in Prince William Forest Park

There are five historic Cabin Camps available for rental at Prince William Forest Park. Cabin Camps consist of multiple sleeping cabins, a dining hall with a commercial kitchen, restrooms with hot showers, and craft lodges suitable for meetings and other activities. All Cabin Camps were built between 1935 and 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of the Chopawamsic Recreational Demonstration Area. Picture a youth summer camp that you have seen in any one of the many summer camp movies and TV shows and you have a good idea of what to expect. In fact, the original intention of the camps was to host inner city youths for the summer. The camps were segregated, with camps 1 and 4 being for black children and camps 2, 3, and 5 being for white children.

Cabin Camps 1, 2, 4, and 5 must be rented in their entirety. These can accommodate between 149 to 210 people, depending on the camp. Cabin Camp 3 has a group unit for up to 78 people plus individual cabins for families or small groups that sleep 4 to 10 people.

Cabin rental fees do not include the park entrance fee.

Pets, other than service animals, are not allowed at any of the camps.

GROUP CABIN CAMPS

Sleeping cabin at Camp Cabin 1 in Prince William Forest Park

Group Cabin Camps 1, 2, 4, and 5 are available for large groups of up to 210 people. The season is typically from mid-April through the first week in November, but exact dates change each year. Cabin Camp 5 is also available during the winter. The C Unit of Cabin Camp 3 is available for a group of up to 76 people. If more space is needed, the group can attempt to rent the other Cabin Camp 3 individual cabins, but there is no guarantee of being able to do so. These sleep anywhere from 4 to 10 people.

Group Cabin Camps are reserved by an application that is submitted in the fall for reservations the following season. You are not guaranteed a cabin camp but must include a $25 non-refundable application fee. Notification of whether your group got a camp is done by January 1^st. If any cabins remain available, applications for these will be taken anytime throughout the season. A Ranger told me the group camps are rented nearly every weekend for weddings, religious retreats, youth outings, etc. For current fees, season schedule, and an application, visit the National Park Service’s official Group Cabin Camping web page for Prince William Forest Park.

Dining Hall at Cabin Camp 4 in Prince William Forest Park

Each Group Cabin Camp comes with a dining hall that has a commercial kitchen with walk-in refrigerator and freezer, bathrooms that have modern plumbing and hot showers, craft lodges with fireplaces and tables, and a campfire circle with benches. Those wanting grills can rent them, otherwise all cooking is done in the kitchen.

Alcohol is prohibited in the camp without a valid Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) permit. An ABC approved permit must be filed with the Cabin Camp office no later than 10 days before the first day of the encampment. A $500,000 liability insurance policy must also be filed with the National Park Service named as the additionally-insured. The insurance policy must also be filed with the Cabin Camp office no later than 10 days before the first day of the encampment. Selling alcohol is prohibited.

Cabin Camp 4 at Prince William Forest Park

Sleeping cabins have cots with mattresses, closets, electric light, and ceiling fans. There is no air conditioning or heat. Guests must bring their own pillows, sheets, and blankets (or a sleeping bag). Guest are also responsible for cleaning the kitchen and restrooms upon leaving, and they must bring their own cleaning supplies.

Cabin at Prince William Forest Park

Each Group Cabin Camp has access to a large field that is suitable for all sorts of sports and games, as well as to a small lake that was created by damming a nearby creek. Fishing requires a valid Virginia fishing license for those 16 and older, and Virginia fishing regulations apply. See the Fishing web page for more details. Swimming is allowed only if the group hires a certified lifeguard to attend the outing.

Cabin Camp 1 (Camp Goodwill)

Download Cabin Camp 1 Map (PDF)

Cabin Camp 1 has 36 sleeping cabins with enough room for 205 guests. Cabins are divided into four groups of eight, and individual cabins sleep anywhere from two to ten people, with the majority holding four guests. Each grouping has its own restroom and craft lodge. Complete details can be found on the National Park Service’s Cabin Camp 1 web page.

Cabin Camp 2 (Camp Mawavi)

Download Cabin Camp 2 Map (PDF)

Cabin Camp 2 has eight 2-person cabins, twenty-four 4-person cabins, four 6-person cabins, and one 12-person cabin, which works out to enough beds for 148 guests. Complete details can be found on the National Park Service’s Cabin Camp 2 web page.

Cabin Camp 3 C Unit (Camp Orenda)

Cabin Camp 3 Map

The C Unit of Cabin Camp 3 holds up to 78 people. There are seven 10-person cabins and one 2- and one 6-person cabin. The group cabins are separate from the individual cabin rental area. There is a dining hall, infirmary, staff quarters, and two craft lodges. Complete details can be found on the National Park Service’s Cabin Camp 3 web page.

Cabin Camp 4 (Camp Pleasant)

Download Cabin Camp 4 Map (PDF)

Cabin Camp 4 can hold up to 200 guests. Cabins are arranged in five groups, with fifteen cabins holding ten people, and one each of a 2-, 4-, 8-, 9-, and 23-person cabin. The cabins were recently renovated with new roofs and windows. There are also two staff quarters cabins and an infirmary, plus a theater / gym. Complete details can be found on the National Park Service’s Cabin Camp 4 web page.

Cabin Camp 5 (Camp Happyland)

Download Cabin Camp 5 Map (PDF)

Cabin Camp 5 is the only one in the park with heating, which allows it to be open all year round. Heat is not in every cabin, so occupancy is only 104 people during the winter, half of its 210 occupancy for the rest of the year. The camp is comprised of four 2-person cabins, eleven 4-person cabins, two 5-person cabins, a 6-person cabin, four 10-person cabins, and eight 26-person cabins. All have heat except for four of the 26-person cabins. Complete details can be found on the National Park Service’s Cabin Camp 5 web page.

INDIVIDUAL CABIN RENTALS

Cabin at Cabin Camp 3 in Prince William Forest Park

You don’t have to be part of a large group to rent a cabin at Cabin Camp 3, which is located near the southeastern entrance to Prince William Forest Park. This is the only Cabin Camp that is available to individuals, families, and small groups of up to ten people. The seasons is typically from mid-April through the first week in November, but as with the group cabins, the exact season dates change each year.

There are three 4-person ($50/night), seven 6-person ($60/night), and three 10-person ($70/night) cabins. Guests must carry their equipment to the cabins from a common parking lot (wagons are available for use). All have cots with mattresses, closets, electric light, and ceiling fans. There is no air conditioning or heat or electrical outlets. Guests must bring their own pillows, sheets, and blankets (or a sleeping bag). Restrooms and showers are located in a common area, as is a craft lodge that is open to everyone. Each cabin has its own picnic table and grill. There are no locks on the cabins, so do not leave valuable items behind.

Individual cabins can be reserved up to six months in advance at Recreation.gov. The schedule and current fees are given on the reservation website. If you arrive without a reservation, you can still get a cabin (if any are available), but you must go online or call Recreation.gov and pay with a credit card. No payments are taken at the park.

For complete information about the individual cabins, visit the National Park Service’s official Rent a Historic Cabin web page for Prince William Forest Park.

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