Best Dispersed Camping near Casanova, VA

Dispersed camping near Casanova, Virginia centers primarily in Shenandoah National Park and surrounding George Washington National Forest lands. Several backcountry sites exist within these public lands, including Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites, Veach Gap in GWNF, Compton Gap Backcountry camping, and Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed. Most sites require permits, especially within Shenandoah National Park boundaries where backcountry camping regulations are strictly enforced. The South Fork Shenandoah River also provides primitive camping access with designated dispersed sites along the riverbank.

Access to many sites involves hike-in trails rather than vehicle access, particularly for Compton Gap, Veach Gap, and Laurel Prong areas. Roads to trailheads may include gravel and dirt surfaces requiring careful navigation. Campfires are prohibited in many Shenandoah backcountry locations but are permitted at some sites in George Washington National Forest. Most areas lack amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities. According to reviews, "The hike to Veach Gap is about 4 miles up with no water after the first mile. Pack up all the water you will need for the day/evening/morning."

The backcountry experience varies significantly between locations. Veach Gap offers ridge-top camping with "breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains," as one camper noted. Wildlife encounters are common throughout the region, with black bears active in multiple areas. Laurel Prong campers reported, "Bears were constantly checking out our tent during night," emphasizing the importance of proper food storage. South Fork Shenandoah River provides easy river access but can experience seasonal flooding. Some sites, like Compton Gap, receive mixed reviews with campers noting it can be "buggy and damp" but functional for through-hikers. Little Fort Campground provides a more accessible dispersed option with basic amenities like vault toilets and designated tent pads, though no running water is available.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Casanova, Virginia (8)

    1. Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park

    15 Reviews
    Bentonville, VA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    "Night 1: Overall Run Camp: This is the third established site along the trail downhill from Overall Run Falls, near the junction of the Overall Run Trail and the Tuscarosa Trail."

    "There are a lot of dispersed camping spots in VA, Especially in this region! I’ve camped all over the area and have seen many amazing sights!"

    2. South Fork Shenandoah River

    6 Reviews
    Rileyville, VA
    37 miles

    "The very last car camping site on the road. We were right on the river, we swam and fished. There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours."

    "Plenty of firewood from downed trees, sites are dirt which makes staking down easy, but I can imagine it would be muddy if it rains."

    5. Little Fort Campground

    6 Reviews
    Woodstock, VA
    42 miles

    "The campsites have a fire ring, a picnic table, and a flat area to pitch a tent. They have parking spots next to them. There are permanent structure Vault toilets/ out houses."

    "Love staying here for just a night couple small trails around the area not any great views but it is very peaceful in the woods."

    6. Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site

    2 Reviews
    Bentonville, VA
    37 miles
    Website

    "You will want to drive in and park at the Veach Gap Trailhead which is listed on Google Maps, then follow the trail and make the left when it comes to the intersection."

    "Breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site. 1,200ft elevation difference from the trailhead to the site."

    7. Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Shenandoah National Park, VA
    41 miles
    Website

    "About as flat as you’ll get, the hike here was nice."

    "This campsite is another one we found on a list provided by Shenandoah’s park rangers and was listed as moderate hike and easy camping."

    8. Crisman Hollow Road Camp

    2 Reviews
    Mount Jackson, VA
    47 miles

    "A bit dirty but awesome spot near a creek"

    "There was one really nice hiking trail by the bridge. Cons: Some roads were closed. Some spots were full of trash."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Casanova, VA

29 Reviews of 8 Casanova Campgrounds


  • Jon N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 2, 2022

    Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site

    My favorite Hike in the area

    I've both day hiked this and backpacked here several times. You will want to drive in and park at the Veach Gap Trailhead which is listed on Google Maps, then follow the trail and make the left when it comes to the intersection. It is about 4 miles up, so not too bad, but there is no water after the first mile. I have seen a small trickle part way up the mountain, but don't count on it. Pack up all the water you will need for the day/evening/morning. 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. I've had good luck finding wood from dead trees at the top, but just make sure you're being safe and treating nature kindly. Follow the Leave no Trace rules so the next campers can enjoy this spot too.

  • John R.
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park

    Love this National Forest!

    There are a lot of dispersed camping spots in VA, Especially in this region! I’ve camped all over the area and have seen many amazing sights! This pinned location doesn’t take you to a specific campground tho!

    You’ll have to do some digging (google free camping VA) and you’ll find plenty of spots! Many spots say they charge a fee but don’t as well so be on the look out!

    One of my favorite spots isn’t on The Dyrt but it’s free and in the Bath County area, It’s called Blowing Springs Campground, located near Covington VA. I also recommend seeing Falling Spring Falls almost a 100 Foot waterfall!

    Very hilly roads leading out to this part of the state but beautiful none the less! No cell service but plenty to see!

  • Jacqueline F.
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park

    Amazing drive and lots of wildlife

    We only stayed one night, but wish we could have stayed more! The campground offers so many different trails and breathtaking scenic overlooks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As soon as we got there, we saw several deer. I’d almost say they were friendly :) No electric hookups, but the weather was beautiful! We hiked part of the Appalachian Trail which gets pretty steep. I didn’t use the bathrooms or the coin operated showers as we have them in our RV, but they had the services available. It is a drive through the mountains to get to the campsite, but very well worth it for us!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Beautiful spot!

    Our site was amazing! The very last car camping site on the road. We were right on the river, we swam and fished. There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours. Unfortunately there was a decent bit of trash we cleaned up. The road was a little rough, but our 92 ford camper made it, just go slow

  • Amanda D.
    May. 9, 2019

    Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park

    Beautiful views, well-maintained trails, variety of amenities

    I recently led a large group of Scouts to the Mathews Arm Campground in SNP. We spread out over 4 RV/camper/tent sites as our base camp. There was definitely a lot less privacy/space between sites here at SNP than I’ve noted at other parks across Virginia. I suppose it’s because it’s a national park, with a big draw and higher volume of visitors. The roads were well-marked and paved nicely. The bathrooms were okay, I’ve been in better-maintained/cleaned ones and worse ones, so I’m not going to complain. They were quite prevalent though. The staff that circulate around the park were quite friendly! We had a lovely hike to a nearby waterfall that was gorgeous. We even took a group out hiking across the AT and did some backcountry camping. I was impressed by how well-maintained the trails were! We had a really nice time and I look forward to returning again soon. I will note that our original reservation was for the Southern Section, but because of the winter storms, there was a lot of storm damage which caused them to close down quite a bit of Skyline Drive and they automatically shifted our reservation (with the option to cancel) to the Northern Section of the SNP. So, we didn’t hike what we expected to, but we still had a nice time, regardless. Plus, a couple days before our trip they did open the Southern Section, but we left our reservations and plans alone.

  • TJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2023

    Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site

    Amazing Campsite

    Breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site. 1,200ft elevation difference from the trailhead to the site. Cell service at the top (not during the hike or on the road to the trailhead so prepare directions). Went up in November with beautiful weather, fall leaves changing and great company. Couldn’t have had a better experience.

  • M
    May. 17, 2018

    Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park

    Great backpacking

    There are so many trails to hike throughout the park and with a backcountry permit, you can find countless campsites. I stayed in the area of overall run falls. Make sure to hang your food. There are plenty of black bears in the area.


Guide to Casanova

Primitive camping near Casanova, Virginia occurs primarily on public lands at elevations ranging from 700 to 3,500 feet, with seasonal temperature variations affecting site availability. The region experiences heavy spring runoff that impacts creek crossings from March through May, with summer humidity making bug protection essential at lower elevation sites. Many campsites require advance preparation as drinking water sources are limited throughout George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park.

What to do

Riverside activities: At South Fork Shenandoah River, access to water recreation defines the experience. "The site was wonderful! Not too many spaces so it can fill up quick. There is a launch in the middle, so there is a bit of come and go," notes camper Heather. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with sites sometimes becoming unusable after heavy rain.

Day hiking from camp: Short trails from Little Fort Campground provide easy exploration options. "Nice flat camp site with picnic table and fire pit... Long and winding road to get there with no service so be cautious," reports Zack B. The area includes several small forest trails accessible directly from campsites.

Wildlife observation: Animal sightings are common throughout the region's dispersed sites. At Laurel Prong Trail, campers should prepare for encounters as one visitor observed: "Bears were constantly checking out our tent during night... after one bear sniffed that sucker out 15 minutes later while we were in our tent we heard the first one full sprint and slobbering to check it out."

What campers like

Ridge-top views: The elevation gain required to reach Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site rewards hikers with exceptional vistas. "Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site. 1,200ft elevation difference from the trailhead to the site. Cell service at the top (not during the hike or on the road to the trailhead so prepare directions)," shares TJ W.

Secluded campsites: Many primitive camping options near Casanova offer isolation. "There are 9 campsites, each with at least one fire ring, a tent pad and a picnic table, and there is a vault toilet in the middle. I arrive at 7:30pm on a Saturday in late August and thought I might be too late to get a spot but there were only two other groups there," reports Lindsay C. about Little Fort.

Off-season opportunities: Fall and spring camping provides unique experiences with fewer crowds. "Went up in November with beautiful weather, fall leaves changing and great company. Couldn't have had a better experience," notes a Veach Gap visitor. Spring brings wildflowers but requires additional layers as temperatures can vary significantly.

What you should know

Permit requirements: Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites require backcountry permits for overnight stays. "There are so many trails to hike throughout the park and with a backcountry permit, you can find countless campsites," explains Matt P. The $30 park entrance fee is separate from camping permits.

Water planning: Seasonal water availability affects trip planning. According to a Veach Gap visitor: "Pack up all the water you will need for the day/evening/morning. 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."

Site registration systems: Some dispersed camping areas use self-registration methods. At Little Fort Campground, "You select a campsite by flipping a washer on a hook on the board from green to red. Flip it back when you leave," explains one camper. Not all visitors follow these systems, potentially causing confusion about site availability.

Tips for camping with families

Accessibility considerations: When backcountry camping with children, consider the difficulty of hikes. One camper at Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed shared: "This campsite is another one we found on a list provided by Shenandoah's park rangers and was listed as moderate hike and easy camping... the easy camping might be a slight exaggeration."

Wildlife precautions: Teach children proper food storage protocols. Allan M. warns about Laurel Prong: "100% do not have food scents near your tent." Bear encounters are common throughout the region, making proper food storage essential for family safety.

Noise factors: Some primitive sites experience unexpected noise. At South Fork Shenandoah, a visitor cautions: "Dont disregard the warnings about noise like i did, constant speakers all the time until 4am." Similarly, Little Fort campers mention: "It is next to an off-road vehicle trail and there was a lot of action coming down until about 7 PM."

Tips from RVers

Road conditions: Access to Crisman Hollow Road Camp can be challenging for larger vehicles. "Some roads were closed. Some spots were full of trash," notes Waseem H. Seasonal road closures affect accessibility, particularly after heavy rains or winter weather.

RV limitations: Most dispersed camping near Casanova has significant RV restrictions. The South Fork Shenandoah River area accommodates smaller RVs, with one camper noting: "The site at the end of the road is beautiful. We stayed right at the end of the road, since we have a 30 foot RV, but there are sites you can walk to all the way down the river."

Self-contained requirements: No hookups exist at any dispersed sites, requiring RVers to be fully self-contained. Vault toilets at Little Fort Campground often lack supplies, as one visitor mentions: "Bathrooms had no TP so bring your own, and please remember to pack out your trash!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Casanova, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Casanova, VA is Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Casanova, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Casanova, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.