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Best Tent Camping near Brooke, VA

542 Reviews

Tent campsites near Brooke, Virginia include several established options within state parks and along waterways. Lake Anna State Park Campground offers designated tent sites with varying degrees of shade and privacy, while Caledon State Park provides more primitive walk-in tent camping approximately 2.5 miles from the parking area along groomed gravel trails. Prince William Forest Park maintains backcountry tent camping at Chopawamsic with sites distributed around a 2.5-mile hiking trail.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. Caledon State Park sells firewood on an honor system basis and provides porta-potties near the camping area, but lacks water sources, requiring campers to pack in all drinking water. A camper noted, "No water on site and no reasonable source to filter water from so be prepared." Many sites are first-come, first-served, particularly along the C&O Canal where several hiker-biker overnight campsites accommodate tent campers. Most established sites have flat tent pads, though some areas at Lake Anna have been described as feeling close together with limited privacy between neighboring campers.

In warmer months, tent campers should consider shade availability when selecting sites. Lake Anna State Park provides access to swimming areas approximately 15 minutes by foot from the campground via designated trails. One camper shared that "the sites feel close together and many are exposed albeit a few seem sectioned off." For those seeking more seclusion, the backcountry tent sites at Prince William Forest Park offer greater privacy, though visitors should note the proximity to MCB Quantico means occasional sounds of automatic weapons fire during daytime hours. Walk-in tent locations along the Potomac River, such as Swains Lock, provide riverside camping with views of wildlife including waterfowl, but limited facilities beyond fire rings and pit toilets. These sites typically require a short hike from parking areas, keeping vehicle noise to a minimum.

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Best Tent Sites Near Brooke, Virginia (19)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Brooke, VA

35 Photos of 19 Brooke Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Brooke, VA

542 Reviews of 19 Brooke Campgrounds

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 11, 2023

    Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    Beautiful campground, and great for visiting DC

    Beautiful campground, fairly large with 4 separate loops. Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft. No hookups at any of the sites.

    There’s a dump station and drinking water fill in loop C (sorry tenters who wanted to avoid RVs). The water fill was a little annoying in that there’s a handle you have to hold down the whole time, but we used a rock to prop the handle down. 

    The bathhouses are ok, happy to have free showers with hot running water. Faucets allow you to control the temperature and there’s continuous running water (no button to push). There’s only one large shower per bath house, and you only have a curtain (no door and no lock). Sites vary in levelness, some are fairly level and some are on a mini hill. Driveways are all very narrow. Most have too much tree cover for solar or starlink, but some sites are more open and you might be able to make it work. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Cost is $20/night, must reserve on recreation.gov, and you can do that when you arrive and pick a site (no service fee for this site)

    Cell service is pretty good for Verizon and ATT. 

    No alcohol allowed in the park. 

    GETTING TO DC: There’s normally a walking path from the campground to the metro station that takes you into DC (the green line takes you to the National Mall), but as of Oct 2023 the bridge is out due to a storm, and by the looks of it it’s been out a while and it doesn’t appear that it will be fixed soon. So what we did, since we don’t have a tow car, and just have our 26ft motorhome, is we packed up and drove to the Greenbelt station about 5 miles away, parked there for the day, and took the green line into town. The lot there is huge and open and free on weekends. Weekdays it’s about $5/day if you take the metro, and about $9 if you’re just parking there. The College Park station is closer but is apparently a parking garage (can’t confirm because we didn’t go to that station). This worked very well for us. You can pay for the metro with an app or get a card, either way it costs you $2 to buy the card, and then $2 each way on the train. Everyone over age 5 needs their own card, no sharing one card. The train ride from the Greenbelt station to the national mall is about 30 min. Get off at the Archives station to be in the center of all the sites.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Small Country Campground

    Designed With Family In Mind

    This is by no means the biggest campground or the most modern but something which can be said for this campground is it feels like it was designed with family fun in mind. From the bouncing blob to the oversized chess set, from the lakeside beach to the swimming pool, it seems as though plenty of thought has been placed on how to keep a family entertained when in this area of Virginia.

    The sites themselves are not just average tent and RV sites. Instead they have various types of cabins which you can rent in addition to these. The tent sites are grouped in the same area and while there are only a handful of them, they are well shaded, nicely spaced and pretty even. The rolling hills of the area do not seem to effect the layout of these spaces.

    My site was equipped with a picnic table however I did not have a fire ring or lantern post. They do have some upgraded sites for tents which include these or even have electricity. I enjoyed the location and when I was visiting there were not many people staying in this area.

    I do wish I hadn't been traveling alone because it would have been a bit more fun with all the activities had I have had a travel companion. This is one of those places where it pays to have a buddy!!

    TIPS:

    • If you will be staying on a weekend call in advance to book because of limited tent sites.

    • During summertime this place is like one of those dream summer camps with lake toys including blobs and inflatable obstacles. Try to visit during this time of year to fully take advantage.

  • Kristy R.
    Nov. 13, 2020

    Cherry Hill Park

    Great Family Fun

    Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice. My grandchildren live it there. We will return to a premium tent site soon.

  • Margaret D.
    May. 3, 2023

    Lake Fairfax Campground

    Comfortable sites

    Campground has mostly level gravel lots with fire rings, picnic tables. No water at site. Bath house is reasonably clean. Dump station is adequate.

  • Justin G.
    Sep. 14, 2016

    Cedarville State Forest

    Cedarville State Forest (Tornado)

    I took my girlfriend car camping in Cedarville State Forest. The camping trip turned more into a stay in the tent the whole trip. We set up camp and ate dinner only to be hit by a tornado watch in the area. I spent most of the trip adjusting the water proofing so we stayed dry. When the rain did calm down Cedarville state forest offered some very serene and peaceful views. Which is surprising due to the forests location.

  • K
    Jul. 4, 2019

    Final-Lee Here

    Ranger Review: LiquidI.V. Hydration Multiplier at Final-Lee Here Campground

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Nestled within the beautiful greenery of Huntingtown, Maryland, this campground offers heart, scenery, and access to numerous adventures. The grounds are a short drive to Washington D.C. parks and museums, as well as the Chesapeake Beach Water Park, or North Beach's beautiful new pier and Friday night Farmers Market including local art vendors and food trucks. Kings Landing Park is just a few minutes from Final-Lee Here, which offers hiking and equestrian trails, picnic areas, disc golf, swimming pool, fishing, and a launch for kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards.

    Final-Lee Here Campground offers its own beauty. As a long planned and awaited dream coming true, Connie and Ken Lee are using their gorgeous property to harbor a love for the outdoors in their family as well as those who visit. The land is well groomed with grassy, shaded tent sites, RV sites, tall, privacy-offering bamboo, evergreens (it's a tree farm), and forested trails to a soothing, water-trickling creek.

    The campground has several tent sites, and some are big enough to hold multiple tents for bigger gatherings. Sites offer tables, chairs, and a fire pit. Hot showers are available in a very nice outdoor tent set up. A potty chair, along with wet wipes and trashbags are available for use, or you can just use the outdoorsman's method ;). The Lees gave us plenty of firewood, offered dry wood after storms came through, and even offered to bring us fresh eggs from their chickens. (The rooster brought smiles as it welcomed our mornings with hearty salutes.) There is a small zip line for kids and you may request games such as cornhole, horseshoes, or Yardzee to play. The Lees also rent and transport single and double kayaks or canoes to Kings Landing for a minimal fee.

    On Friday, my teenage daughter and I took a trip to the Chesapeake Beach Water Park (I would recommend this for younger children, checking the internet for discounts) and we cruised the North Beach antique shops, pier and farmers market. Saturday was well planned for adventure, but out-of-the-blue storms hit hard. After breakfast, we kayaked the river and creek through beautiful marshlands where we saw caterpillars walk on water, a heron and bald eagles soaring above, turtles, a cove where thousands of tadpoles were amidst metamorphosis (having both tails and legs) scampering through and atop the water, and a multitude of dragonflies. We stopped at a Kings Landing dock, hydrated ourselves and ate our packed lunch. Dark clouds began rolling in and we paddled back to the boat launch, texting the Lee's to meet us for boat pick up. We had planned to hike and swim while at the park, but instead headed for our tent during the storm surges. Once the storms passed, we adventured onto the campground trails. One trail, though very well groomed, was steep, heading to the creek. We avoided it due to the wet conditions, and found other trails leading to the creek which were easier to maneuver. The creek was so peaceful. I would have loved to have more time here just taking it all in, but evening and another storm came upon us.

    I highly recommend this campground based on its heart and available opportunities. The Lees are absolutely wonderful and truly want their visitors to enjoy the outdoors and their stay. The only "con" I came across was the toileting situation. My teen daughter is not much on the outdoors, so the portable toilet and the natural method option were too weird and uncomfortable for her.

    PRODUCT REVIEW: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I receive products to test from time to time - during this trip, I tested LiquidI.V. Hydration Multiplier. It is an electrolyte drink mix you add to a water bottle or 16 oz. of water. We tried the sampler pack. My favorite flavor is acai berry, and my daughter enjoyed the lemon-lime. Though we tried to remain hydrated, setting up camp and kayaking in the heat left us truly parched. Adding the LiquidI.V. to our water seemed to rejuvenate. Both my daughter and I feel that a whole "stick" seem to be overwhelming in one water bottle, but using half to 3/4 of a packet brought tasty hydration. I'm very picky when it comes to aftertastes, hating all fake sweeteners; however, this is made with pure cane sugar, and leaves your mouth satisfied. That is pretty rare! (Note: the passion fruit flavor left a slight aftertaste to me.) Additionally, my girlfriend and son tried some of our LiquidI.V. and loved it as well. This was great to have on hand!

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2023

    Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    Close to DC, Quiet, and Pretty

    Greenbelt, MD: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4.5 Price: About $12 w our senior pass. Usage during visit: 50 % during week Site Privacy: Most inner loop sites are not very good. However, our inner loop site was very private. Most inner loop sites lack privacy. Pull Through” sites are more like pull over sites. The picnic table privacy is often not very good for the pull over sites. This is because the adjacent back in site is deeper with picnic table not blocked by the trailer.
    Site Spacing: Some are close. Check the map. Site surface: black top Reservations: Yes. We were able to change our site upon arrival on Rec.gov. Campground Noise: Very quiet.
    Road Noise: None Through Traffic: Not a problem if the site is in a loop. Electricity: No Water: Available at a few spigots and at the washbasins at the bathrooms Sewer: No Dump: Yes Generators: 6AM till 10PM Bathroom: Old but clean. Showers: Old but clean. Cirtains Pull Throughs: Some “pull over spots”. I have a pic or two of good ones in the D loop.
    Cell Service (Verizon): Great. Setting: 10 mins from subway for DC access. Great way to get to DC. Located in a deciduous forest serving as a pleasant getaway for locals.
    Weather: It was cool during our stay.
    Bugs: No problems yet. Solar: Most sites are not adequate.
    Host: They are friendly and very courteous. Notes: Amazing that there is such a pretty place so close to DC. This must be a great getaway for locals . …. We did not walk the park trails , but there are some.

  • R
    Oct. 4, 2021

    Cedarville State Forest

    Peaceful

    We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop. We could hear and smell horses when we got to our campsite, but it didn't last forever. 

    The site was mostly clean, had a few pieces of small trash scattered around when we arrived. The sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us. Our site was close to the restroom, it had a little path leading to the restroom, and it looked like there was little trail paths all around leading to the restrooms from the different parts of the loop. The path leading to the restroom from our site was gravel and easy to walk on. The restrooms were clean, but the floor was wet almost the entire time we were there (likely due to the showers).

    If you need to buy wood it is $5 for 8 pieces and you call a number given to you in your registration packet. The ranger will then drive by and drop off the wood at your campsite. The inner ring of this loop has electricity, and the electric box was just on the far side of the picnic table in the corner.

  • RL
    Sep. 6, 2019

    Christopher Run Campground

    We made it work

    To be fair, I only went the once but wasn’t impressed. The site was so tiny - barely large enough for my friend and I to each park and set up a tent. We were super close to the road and dump station, so avoid that site (I don’t recall the number). There was also very little privacy between neighboring sites. No established fire ring or fire area. We asked the store attendant if we could just build a fire ring with rocks and he said that was fine. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen a site like this haha. The small beach area is nice enough, but it is tiny. Would definitely recommend Lake Anna State Park over this one; they aren’t too far apart.

Guide to Brooke

Tent campgrounds near Brooke, Virginia range from primitive backcountry sites to established family-friendly options within an hour's drive. Located in Virginia's Piedmont region between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, this area experiences humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional snow. Fall camping is particularly popular when temperatures moderate to 60-75°F and colorful foliage creates natural windbreaks at many sites.

What to do

Water activities at Lake Anna State Park: The park offers swimming access via a designated beach area about 15 minutes from the campground. One visitor noted, "The swimming area is clean and very family oriented. It has great hiking trails and if you're looking for a relaxing fishing afternoon, they have some of the nicest fishing piers with ample sitting area."

Wildlife watching at Caledon State Park: Located along the Potomac River, this park provides excellent opportunities for viewing bald eagles and other native wildlife. "Caledon was an amazing adventure that's so close to Fredericksburg. The beach is beautiful and we saw the most gorgeous sunset," reports one camper.

Hiking at Prince William Forest Park: With multiple trail systems ranging from easy to moderate difficulty, this park offers hiking through old-growth forests. A regular visitor states, "If you're a NoVa person just like me this is a great close place to get away from it all."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: While some campgrounds have closely packed sites, others offer more seclusion. At Lake Anna State Park Campground, "It has spacious camp sites with a great amount of natural shade. Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery."

Natural features: Many campers appreciate the diverse landscapes available within short distances. One visitor to Caledon State Park shared, "It's a nice 3 mile hike to the campsite which is right by the Potomac river! The beach is beautiful and we saw the most gorgeous sunset."

Accessible options: Several parks offer ADA-compliant facilities. A camper at Lake Anna noted, "This campground is ADA accessible with the lantern hangers having lower hooks for those in wheelchairs, and at least one of the cabins has a wheelchair ramp."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "For being a state park, Lake Anna is one of the best I've been to. There were large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites. There was also a dump station."

Military proximity: Several campgrounds are near military installations with associated noise. At Lunga Park, visitors should note that "This park is located on Quantico Marine Corps Base. You must have a valid military ID to access the base before you can proceed to the park."

Water access considerations: When choosing sites for the best tent camping near Brooke, Virginia, check water availability. At Caledon, "Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile. You're not supposed to setup anything outside of the 'tent pads'."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. At Leesylvania State Park, "This park is ALWAYS full of family's having picnics and enjoying time together! There's playground and a beach area for kids and family to all enjoy."

Bike-friendly options: Look for campgrounds with paved or well-maintained paths. A Lake Anna visitor mentioned, "Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery."

Group facilities: For family reunions or larger gatherings, consider group sites. At Prince William Forest Park, "PWFP has a number of large group cabin campgrounds available to rent, with capacities of 75 to 200. Sites have extras like fire rings with seating, swimming ponds, hiking trails, grassy playing fields."

Tips from RVers

Site selection at Lake Anna: RVers should consider site locations carefully. "Although we only tent camped, I noticed a lot of things about the campground that would welcome RVs as well. There were large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites. There was also a dump station."

Seasonal considerations: Summer heat can be intense, making shade crucial. At Endeavor Point, "The campsites aren't dispersed and are pretty small but that's the only downside. The pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise."

Parking logistics: Some campgrounds have limited RV parking or require additional permits. One visitor mentioned, "The sites are fairly level, although some do have a slight slope. There is no water or electricity at any of the sites, but there are fire rings."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Brooke, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Brooke, VA is Caledon State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Brooke, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Brooke, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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