Best Dispersed Camping near Daleville, VA

George Washington National Forest offers several free dispersed camping sites near Daleville, Virginia. Forest Road 812 provides access to numerous primitive sites along creeks with established fire rings. These sites are typically drive-in with some requiring short walks. Multiple reviewers note finding 6-8 different sites along FR 812, with most located creekside. The road is manageable for standard vehicles, though some spots require modest clearance.

Dispersed camping is also available at Johns Spring Shelter along the Appalachian Trail, accessible only by hiking in. This basic shelter lacks a nearby water source, with the closest water approximately 3 miles north on the trail. The Reservoir Road area provides additional dispersed camping options along the Pedlar River, though reviews mention it requires navigating about 5 miles of questionable dirt roads. A recent visitor commented, "nice camping spots on the pedlar river in Amherst county." Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, and campers should pack in drinking water as most sites do not provide this amenity.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Daleville, Virginia (5)

    1. Johns Spring Shelter — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    2 Reviews
    Salem, VA
    9 miles
    Website

    "I stayed at this AT shelter when I was doing a section hike with some friends. It's not bad as far as shelters on the AT go. There is not a water source too close to the shelter."

    2. George Washington National Forest off 812

    13 Reviews
    Glasgow, VA
    32 miles
    Website

    "Unexpectedly found this site after planning on doing some primitive camping off the road. There's 2 sites that I saw on the road with pits."

    "You are off the road of the national forest so cars come by but nobody bothers you and it stays quiet. Will definitely be back soon!"

    3. Dispersed Camping Site off FR 812

    3 Reviews
    Glasgow, VA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    "Large open space with several flat areas for tents. There are several spots on this road, maybe 6 but this is the furthest off the road. There are hiking trails and easy access to the stream."

    "Best boondocking we've done in VA. The sites were clean, along a gentle stream, and all had huge fire pits. Highly recommend."

    4. Sherwood Lake WV

    1 Review
    Covington, VA
    39 miles

    "Around a dozen sites with Rick fire rings, some are RV sized others are tent only. These are located along the road to Lake Sherwood in Neola WV off Rt. 92. First come first serve."

    5. Reservoir Road Dispersed Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Buena Vista, VA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    "Went in August and it was very buggy, also had someone park pretty close which when I drive down a really long dirt road that is questionable for my van, i want it to be private and this was about 5 miles"

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Daleville, VA

20 Reviews of 5 Daleville Campgrounds


  • Mark M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    George Washington National Forest off 812

    Peaceful remote camping

    Unexpectedly found this site after planning on doing some primitive camping off the road. There's 2 sites that I saw on the road with pits.

    There's access to the App Trail on the road so you might see some hikers but it was real quiet otherwise. Pretty nice scenery (you're smack in the middle of the forest) so if you want to get out and away from people this is a great site.

  • Lucy P.
    Mar. 24, 2024

    Johns Spring Shelter — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Cute but very basic

    As far as AT shelters go this is pretty basic, except for the lack of a good water source. However, it's a decent spot to stay the night especially if it's not crowded! There's a few other shelters and stealth sites in the area that are also great options though.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2024

    George Washington National Forest off 812

    Anniversary Trip!

    We had the absolute best time. It was so peaceful being by the creek and just relaxing. You are off the road of the national forest so cars come by but nobody bothers you and it stays quiet. Will definitely be back soon!

  • SJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2024

    Reservoir Road Dispersed Campsite

    Very long road to get there

    Went in August and it was very buggy, also had someone park pretty close which when I drive down a really long dirt road that is questionable for my van, i want it to be private and this was about 5 miles of dirt road to get to it.

  • Ryan L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 24, 2022

    George Washington National Forest off 812

    Secluded

    I stopped here for a night while traveling across the country. It is a hilly drive down back roads off of 81. You loose cell service a couple miles from the site. The site itself is nice, perfect for car camping. Fire ring and river are right there, no toilets. I didn’t see anyone else near this site when I stayed.

  • Sam M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2018

    Johns Spring Shelter — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    nice little AT shelter

    I stayed at this AT shelter when I was doing a section hike with some friends. It's not bad as far as shelters on the AT go. There is not a water source too close to the shelter. The closest one is about 3 miles North. The sites aren't bad though, pretty flat. There is also a wooden shelter maintained by the AT, but those aren't my favorite to sleep in. Seemed nice as far as they go though.

    I was hiking a little section that includes Mcafee Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the AT. This spot is really awesome. It can also just be done as a day hike, so I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a 8ish mile hike. Another cool thing about this area is that there's some fairly nice bouldering to be found near the top. Some of the routes are a little under maintained and mossy, but there are some fun ones. Lugging a crash pad all the way to the top isn't the most fun, but worth it if you want to get some cool bouldering in.

  • Katrina L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2024

    George Washington National Forest off 812

    Labor day weekend

    August 31, 2024, Labor Day weekend camping trip. Spent a night here camping with my younger sister.  She could only do one night, as she lives up north and had to be back up by Monday to go back to work on Tuesday. We arrived around 10:30am, we got everything set up before we ventured out. Very nice spot we found, very quiet except for nature. Best sounds ever. We visited the Natural bridge, which was about 20 minutes or so from the camp site. It did some light rain from around 8p til sometime after midnight, but stayed comfy and dry.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 14, 2024

    Dispersed Camping Site off FR 812

    Great Option

    Large open space with several flat areas for tents. There are several spots on this road, maybe 6 but this is the furthest off the road. There are hiking trails and easy access to the stream.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Dispersed Camping Site off FR 812

    The best so far

    Best boondocking we've done in VA. The sites were clean, along a gentle stream, and all had huge fire pits. Highly recommend.


Guide to Daleville

George Washington National Forest offers several free dispersed camping sites near Daleville, Virginia, with the most reviewed locations found along Forest Road 812. These primitive sites feature established fire rings and creek access, but lack facilities like toilets or trash service. Multiple spots are available along the road, some suitable for drive-in camping and others requiring a short walk from parking areas.

The dispersed site off FR 812 provides a spacious group area with room for multiple vehicles and tents. According to reviews, "It is a very rocky path, about 50 feet long, to get into the campground, but then it is smooth and well laid out." Most sites include fire rings and proximity to streams for water (filtration required). Another option is Reservoir Road Dispersed Campsite, though reviews note it requires navigating "about 5 miles of dirt road" to reach. Johns Spring Shelter on the Appalachian Trail offers a hike-in option but lacks nearby water sources, with the closest water approximately three miles north along the trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Daleville, VA is Johns Spring Shelter — Appalachian National Scenic Trail with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 5 dispersed camping locations near Daleville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.