$5 / night

Camper submitted image from North River Campground - 1

Camper submitted image from North River Campground - 2

Nature

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Water

Camper submitted image from North River Campground - 4

Animals

Camper submitted image from North River Campground - 5

Camping

Established Camping

North River Campground

6 Reviews

About

National Forest

This open area campground was originally constructed as a CCC camp. Evidence of the original sites and logging trails still remain today. North River Gorge is a popular hiking, biking, and fishing area with a swinging bridge spanning the North River. Close proximity to Wild Oak National Recreation Trail, Stanton Dam Day Use Area and Elkhorn Lake provide multiple recreational options that are easily accessible within a few miles.

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Location

North River Campground is located in Virginia

Directions

From Staunton, VA, take US Rt. 250 west 17 miles to State Rt. 715. Turn right onto Rt. 715 and go 6.3 miles to Forest Rt. 95. Turn right on Rt. 95 and then left on Rt. 95 to Forest Rt. 95B. Turn right onto Rt. 95B and proceed to the campground.

Coordinates

38.33944306 N
79.20722055 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Available
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Available
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Big Rig Friendly

/ night

For information regarding reservations, contact this campground directly.

First Come - First Served

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Contact

General Info

Lucy P.

Ranger

Reviewed Mar. 22, 2024

Quiet and basic

Lots of bmx bikers, tucked far back in the woods so decent for privacy except that sites are basically in an open field.

Site5

Month of VisitAugust

Michelle B.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 3, 2021

Nestled in the woods

Great small campground with 9 sites and vault toilets up the mountain nestled by a stream. Quiet and relaxing!

Month of VisitDecember

Joanna M.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 21, 2021

A nice little campsite

I’d rate this campsite 3.5 stars if I could. It has a lot going for it. The roads are paved up to the last mile, which turns to a well maintained gravel road, so no need for an off roading vehicle. Look out for potholes though—the paved roads were sprinkled with large ones that come out of nowhere.

I bet the site is pretty nice during the spring and early summer. Several of the spots are right next to the river bed, which was dry by mid-September. Some spots also border a through road, so there might be some unappreciated traffic noise.

It is just remote enough. There’s no service for Verizon, but if you have an emergency, you can drive a mile or two and send out a call. There are toilets but no running water. The ground was level, and relatively free of rocks. Of the nine spots, only three were occupied on the weekend I stayed.

It’s 2.5-3 hours from the dmv area, and cheaper than Shenandoah. I don’t know why the website says Staunton or West Augusta is the closest town; Stockesville is a 10 minute drive from the campsite and has a well stocked general store that sells firewood at a decent price. Taking the directions from Staunton added an hour to our drive time. The address/gps coordinates this app provides got us there just fine using Apple Maps.

There is a small lake (Todd Lake) open for swimming, kayaking, and fishing, that is a mile or two away. Admission for the lake is $8/vehicle. There are also several trails within walking distance/10 minute drive.

I thought the campsite would be at a higher altitude and therefore a little cooler this time of year, but I was wrong—the weather app set for the Stokesville was pretty accurate. There were signs that say it is in a flooding zone, so I would avoid it after heavy rains.

The camp host was friendly towards me (I am white), but unfortunately vocalized open hostility toward Mexicans during a conversation. He does keep a close eye on the site and makes sure everyone pays the $5/night fee. He says it’s $180 fine if the Ranger sees that you haven’t paid.

Month of VisitOctober

Michael S.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 12, 2021

Great primitive camp

Stayed two nights. Great campground with no power, cell service, or potable water.

Thomas R.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 27, 2020

Wow

This is by far the best campground I've found within a few hours of DC. I've posted some pix, take a look.

Small, quiet, directly on two streams, one of which is trout-stocked. I stayed on a Tues-Wed evening during the summer, and was the only person there both nights. My campsite was the best one, right in the corner where two streams join together.

The streams were awesome...fast-flowing, ranging from ankle to knee deep. There are trails from the campground along the streams, with several crossings.

Campground is small--only nine sites total, seven of which are on the streams, two in the interior (about 40 yards from the streams). Clean cinder-block toilet. Bear-proof trash cans. First-come, first-serve, no reservations.

A couple of caveats about this place:

it is small, and according to the manager it is full pretty much every weekend during the summer, so don't count on getting a spot there--plan to arrive early and have a Plan B in case it is full.

2) For some reason alcoholic beverages are not allowed in this campground. Not sure how strictly it is enforced, but if you want to bring some beers you should probably be discrete about it.

SiteBack corner, furthest from road and manager RV

Month of VisitSeptember

(7) View All

Jay Z.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 19, 2019

Best primitive campground

Basic circular camp ground. No cell service, water or electric. Trail to hike along the river and Staunton dam a short walk down the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the max vehicle length at North River Campground?

North River Campground allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

Are fires allowed at North River Campground?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at North River Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does North River Campground have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, North River Campground does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at North River Campground?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is available, and T-Mobile is unknown.