Mason Neck State Park
Notice: Due to a mechanical issue drinking water and bathroom facilities are not available. We… — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per vehicleAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dcr.virginia.gov(703) 339-2385
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Due to a mechanical issue drinking water and bathroom facilities are not available. We…Due to a mechanical issue drinking water and bathroom facilities are not available. We apologize for any inconvenience.Due to an ongoing construction… (more)
Due to a mechanical issue drinking water and bathroom facilities are not available. We apologize for any inconvenience.Due to an ongoing construction project, Marsh View Trail and the adjoining parking lot will be closed. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Mason Neck State Park is a 1,848-acre park in Fairfax County, about 10 miles northeast of Dumfries.
The park supports canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, hiking, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 a.m. - dusk.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Pets
'Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas of our parks.' 'Leashes may be no longer than 6 feet.' 'Pets are not permitted in yurts.' 'There is a $20 additional nightly charge per pet for cabin stays. There is no additional charge for pets in campgrounds.'
Statewide rule from Virginia's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Standard | $10 |
| Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Weekends (Apr–Oct*) | $10 |
| Boat Launch and Equestrian Fees – In addition to Daily Parking Fee Year-Round Per Trailer – Boat | $3 · day |
| High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Standard | $20 |
| High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Weekends Apr–Oct* | $20 |
| High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – Buses 16 or more Year-Round | $40 |
Official wording
Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Standard: $10 Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Weekends (Apr–Oct*): $10 Boat Launch and Equestrian Fees – In addition to Daily Parking Fee Year-Round Per Trailer – Boat: $3 High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Standard: $20 High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Weekends Apr–Oct*: $20 High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – Buses 16 or more Year-Round: $40
Virginia park passes
- Naturally Yours Passport — $85. Parking and admission for 12 months to all State Parks (admission for up to 4 at Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum) Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport — $40. Parking and admission for 12 months, age 62+ Details
- Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $180. Parking plus boat-launch / horse-trailer fees for 12 months Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $145. As above, age 62+ Details
From the Virginia state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Virginia State Parks reservation system (reservevaparks.com)
- Phone
- 800-933-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
None - day-use park. For information on the availability of other parks' overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
Although Mason Neck has no overnight facilities, you can learn about other parks' rental rates for cabins and camping. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, offering and park. Rates are subject to verification by DCR's state parks reservations staff (1-800-933-PARK). First determine the season, which varies by park, then the rate. Click here for park fees.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingHikingPicnicking
Trails
Hiking, biking and self-guided trails. More than six miles of unpaved hiking trails and three miles of paved multi-use trails wind through the park providing a glimpse of nature by the bay. Elevated walkways allow visitors to explore some of the marsh areas in the park. The Friends of Mason Neck State Park’s Accessibility Project has documented four trails as accessible or partially accessible. Please visit the accessibility section for links to detailed information and photos.
Swimming
There are no designated swimming areas.
Boating and paddling
Fresh and brackish water fishing are available in Belmont Bay only. Fishing from designated hiking trails is prohibited. Must have a valid Virginia or Maryland fishing license. Car-top boat launch facilities available; no facilities for trailer launching.
Equipment rentals at the Visitor Center offer opportunities to explore Belmont Bay or Kane's Creek and a great way to see eagles. Children under the age of 6 may not use rental equipment. Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are available seasonally, except when poor weather prevents safe use.
Unsafe Weather Conditions
- Combined water and air temperatures below 120 degrees
- Water temperatures below 60 degrees
- Sustained winds at or above 15 mph, or gusts at or above 20 mph
Fishing
Unsafe Weather Conditions
- Water temperatures below 60 degrees
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Parking
Water
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
- Beach or all-terrain wheelchairs
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Beach or all-terrain wheelchairs
- Accessible trails
- An All-Terrain Wheelchair is available for both children and adults. Please visit the All-Terrain Wheelchair page.
- Those with vision impairments can use the RightHear app on their phone to navigate the visitor center and hear the exhibits. For more details, check out RightHear’s official website: right-hear.com
- Picnic area: There are two accessible parking spaces in the unpaved lot at the picnic shelter. One of the picnic tables is wheelchair accessible. Restrooms are available in the picnic area. A 6-foot wide cement walkway leads to the restrooms.
- Playground is fully accessible.
- Visitor center/park office: There is one accessible parking space near the entrance to the Visitor center. The visitor center and park office are accessible. A 6-foot wide cement walkway leads to the entrance of the visitor center/park office. The visitor’s center has two accessible restrooms.
- Trails:
Read more from the park
Mason Neck State Park identifies four trails as accessible or partially accessible. Click on the links below to see photos and information about the accessibility of each trail.
- Dogue Trail (green blaze, accessible)
- High Point Road Multi-Use Trail (no blaze, accessible)
- Marsh View Trail (maroon blaze, accessible)
- Osprey View Trail (formerly Beach Trail; green blaze, partially accessible)
- More information on trail accessibility in the park and throughout the country is available from Birdability, a non-profit organization that works to ensure the birding community that the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. Birdability has partnered with the National Audubon Society to create a crowd-sourced map that describes in detail the accessibility features of birding locations throughout the United States. While the map was created with birdwatching in mind, the information about trails shown on the map is useful to anyone who has an interest in the accessibility of trails. You can get information on trails all over the United States, here.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 7301 High Point Rd.
Lorton, VA 22079 - Nearest town
- Dumfries — about 10 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.6544, -77.1841
- Phone
- (703) 339-2385
- MasonNeck@dcr.virginia.gov
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is in southern Fairfax County, about 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Access to the park is via U.S. 1, then five miles east on Route 242 (Gunston Road) to the park entrance. Its address is 7301 High Point Road, Lorton, VA 22079-4010; Latitude, 38.654365. Longitude, -77.184114. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, half an hour (park is in Northern Virginia); Washington, D.C., 45 minutes; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, three hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Roanoke, four hours.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Oct 21, 2026
- Virginia State Parks 'Find a park' list (HTML, one 'Name (CODE)' link per park)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology