Summer Camping at Lake Fairfax Park, Reston Virginia

As rookie campers, our first camping adventure in the Airstream Flying Cloud 25-foot travel trailer took us to Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, Virginia. It was June of 2024. With temperatures soaring past 100 degrees, we found ourselves spending most of the time inside the camper, seeking refuge from the sweltering heat. Joining us on this trip were our son Brendan and our two loyal pups, Bailey, the playful Beagle, and Archer, the gentle King Charles Cavalier.

Lake Fairfax Park boasts a wonderful water park that immediately caught our attention—it looked like a blast! Unfortunately, we made the rookie mistake of waiting until the last minute to buy tickets. The water park sells out quickly, and to our dismay, we spent a couple of hours in line, hoping to snag same-day tickets. We were so close to getting in, but they reached capacity just before our turn.

The extreme heat made hiking impossible, but the park itself seemed like it would be a beautiful place to explore during cooler weather. We’ll definitely return to fully enjoy all its offerings when the temperatures are more forgiving!

The campground lacks full hook-up sites but offers a single sewer dump station and a shared water source for filling your tank. We filled our water tank as soon as we pulled into the campground. When we started running low on water, we used our funnels to add water using water jugs. As rookie campers, we didn’t know to bring 5-gallon water jugs and had only had 1-gallon jugs. It took a few trips to collect water, but we didn’t mind. It was a lesson learned.

Our daughter Sarah and our grandson Jayden joined us for a wonderful visit at the campsite. We enjoyed a delicious dinner together, complete with s’mores for dessert. Using our small charcoal grill, we cooked up hamburgers and hot dogs that everyone loved. At just 2 years old during this visit, Jayden was absolutely fascinated by the camper! He had a blast pressing every button within his reach and even took it upon himself to open the windows. It was such a joy having them with us and sharing these special moments at the campsite.

That night was a somber one, as it marked the passing of my Grandpa Jack. He was a truly remarkable soul, and we spent the evening reflecting on the profound loss of his presence in our lives. Though he is no longer with us, he will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

While staying in the camper, we filled our time with plenty of board games. Our favorites were Ticket to Ride and Postcards from America, which brought us moments of joy and connection. We also enjoyed unwinding with some TV time. Our son lounged up front in his bed, immersed in his favorite shows, while we relaxed in the back, watching TV in the cozy bedroom. Evenings were made more special by peaceful walks with our dogs around the campground. Strolling beneath the canopy of trees was a calming and refreshing experience.

Nearby, just across from the trash area, we spotted an impressive skateboarding park. It seemed like an ideal hangout for teenagers, buzzing with energy and excitement. Our campsite was nestled near another Airstream, whose occupants had spent the day exploring Washington, D.C. They had taken the metro into the city, conveniently accessible from the campground. There’s a metro station in Reston, just a short drive away, making urban adventures easy.

Before leaving, we packed up and made a quick stop at the dump station—a necessary part of camping that turned out to be surprisingly straightforward. Using the hose and the black tank flush to clean everything was far less daunting than expected. The journey back home went smoothly, as we live nearby, and we were already eager to plan our next getaway. Despite the sweltering heat and limited outdoor activities, our camping trip was a blast, leaving us excited for more adventures ahead!

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