Best Dispersed Camping near Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Several dispersed camping areas exist within driving distance of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Maryland, primarily in neighboring West Virginia and Virginia. Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area in West Virginia offers free roadside camping with basic toilet facilities, though no water or hookups are available. Squirrel Gap Road and Squirrel Hollow Road in West Virginia provide free primitive sites where visitors can drive in with tents or small RVs. One camper noted, "Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road."
Virginia's George Washington National Forest contains multiple backcountry options, including Little Fort Campground with established tent platforms, picnic tables and vault toilets. No registration or fees required, though the site uses a simple self-serve system. Veach Gap offers hike-in backcountry camping requiring a 4-mile trek with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. A visitor shared, "Once you get to the top there are several sites with little fire rings, and since it is on the ridgeline, the views are breathtaking." Shenandoah National Park also allows backcountry camping but requires permits, prohibits fires, and has limited facilities at areas like Compton Gap and Gravel Springs Hut.
