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Tent Camping near Damascus, VA

6 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    Damascus, Virginia offers a range of tent camping options within the surrounding mountains and forests, from free primitive tent campsites to drive-in dispersed sites with direct trail access. Washington & Jefferson National Forest provides dispersed tent camping areas along Bear Creek, with large, shaded sites surrounded by mountains. These primitive tent campsites are free and don't require permits, making them popular for backcountry tent camping enthusiasts. Scales Trailhead Basecamp offers another dispersed camping option with drive-in and hike-in access specifically for tent campers. Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area in nearby Tennessee provides free tent-only camping with water access, though reviews note significant road noise during busy periods.

    Most tent campsites near Damascus are primitive with minimal amenities. Washington & Jefferson National Forest dispersed sites have fire rings but no drinking water, picnic tables, or toilets. Campers must bring water filters to use creek water or pack in their own supplies. Cell service is nonexistent at most sites, with reception only available in Damascus town or from higher elevations. The area experiences typical mountain weather patterns with cool nights even in summer. Tent campers should practice Leave No Trace principles, as several reviewers mentioned trash issues at the dispersed sites.

    The tent camping near Damascus offers excellent access to outdoor recreation. According to reviews, the Washington & Jefferson National Forest sites provide easy access to the Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail, both just minutes away. One visitor reported, "Most campsites are large, very shaded, along a beautiful treelined road, and surrounded by mountains." The area also offers opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling on White Top Laurel Creek. For tent campers seeking more amenities, established campgrounds are available within driving distance, though the dispersed sites offer more seclusion and direct access to nature. Damascus itself serves as a supply point with a grocery store, gas stations, and restaurants.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Damascus (56)

      1. Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

      4.1(9)5mi from DamascusTents

      "The Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail are just minutes away, as well as some easy whitewater paddling fun on the White Top Laurel Creek."

      "Only downside was the spot I set up camp was very close to the road and headlights from passing cars would light up the spot. However the road was quiet most of the night."

      2. Royal Oak Campground — Hungry Mother State Park

      4.7(42)23mi from Damascus11 sitesTents, Glamping

      "Most cabins also have covered porches, exterior picnic tables, and exterior fire rings. The Creekside Campground loop has water and electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings."

      "It has 11 car camping platforms for tent only camping . There is no electric or water at each site. There is a bath house for the 11 sites."

      Campground full this weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $27 / night

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      3. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

      4.8(27)24mi from Damascus4 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."

      "We had a neighbor nice enough to give us his site because he was leaving early and I would have stayed another night there. It was C3 backed into the woods on level ground. It made for a cozy morning."

      from $25 - $136 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Scales Trailhead Basecamp

      4.3(3)17mi from DamascusTents

      "Once reaching the off road trail my partner got nervous, feeling as if our Forrester wouldn’t make it up. My advice… come prepared. I got. Flat on the way up and was able to make it to my campsite."

      5. Elk Knob State Park Campground

      5.0(3)21mi from Damascus7 sitesTents

      "Primitive camping and a perfect uphill 1.9 mile hike to the top of the world! If you're going in the winter I recommend hiking poles for hiking in the snow."

      "This park is just north of Boone, NC near the Tennessee state line. Great primitive sites at the bottom of the 5,520 ft mountain."

      Campground full this weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $17 - $47 / night

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      6. Mountaineer Campground

      4.0(1)18mi from DamascusTents

      "Lansing, NC is located in Ashe County and has some very good fly fishing nearby. The campground is run by the city of Lansing and is located 1 mile north of Lansing, just off highway 1353."

      from $20 - $25 / night

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      7. Iron Mountains

      Be the first to review11mi from DamascusTents

      8. Bellebrook Acres

      5.0(1)22mi from Damascus1 siteTents

      from $50 - $70 / night

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      9. Dark Ridge HideOut (Adults Only)

      5.0(6)29mi from Damascus14 sitesTents

      "Excellent parking spot with plenty of room to set up a 3-person tent. Also, delivery of homemade pizza. I recommend the Jalapeno & Cheese."

      "Very attentive and has some great stories to share. The property is well kept and the provided toilet & shower were a very welcome after a couple days in the tent."

      from $20 - $45 / night

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      10. New River Alleghany Access Primitive Paddle-in — New River State Park

      4.7(3)26mi from Damascus1 siteTents

      "My family went to tent camp and enjoyed our stay. We discovered others with campers that had wonderful campsites. The bathroom facilities are new and very clean. We enjoyed hiking."

      "Sites with full hookups: 3, 7, [8, 12, 13, 14, 15 near bath house] 18, 19, 20 Bath house was nice and clean. Canoe up camp sites right along the River."

      from $17 / night

      Check Availability

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    Tent Camping Reviews near Damascus, VA

    991 Reviews of 56 Damascus Campgrounds

    • Windy W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful Place, Ugly host, Oct 2026

      Let me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time.   With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price

    • Bonnie H.
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Kylie T & Andrew W. Review not accurate

      My husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.

      The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.

      Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.

      These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.

      I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"

    • Kyle T.
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Unprofessional hosts that ruins a place with good potential

      We brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back

    • A
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful place ruined by unprofessional ownership

      Our group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.

    • SThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 18, 2026

      Wytheville KOA

      From check in to our stay, large big rig drive through lot. Quiet and clean park. Even had pizza and delicious wings delivered right to our coach. Next time through we hope to stay again.

    • Juliana J.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 14, 2026

      Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

      Epic Spot Near Iron Mountain and Rush Trails

      I wandered a bit and took a left up a gravel road near where the sites indicated were located and just drove for a few miles. Found an awesome spot with a fire pit and lush surroundings. The road was unpaved (but as are all to the best spots) and there were definitely some large rocks and potholes to navigate. Would suggest higher raised vehicle. Saw nobody else and felt like I had my own slice of paradise.

    • April V.
      Oct. 11, 2026

      Lakeview RV Resort

      Nice little campground

      Clean nice little campground for the weekend.

    • CThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2026

      Raccoon Branch Campground

      Great Off-Grid Camping

      This is a small campground but the sites are very spacious. Our site (6) backed up to the creek and trail. There is no power or water on this side of the campground, but there is a water spigot by the bathrooms. There is also a water hose for filling tanks by the dump station and trash dumpster. *Word of caution, bring your own water because it was yellow/brown while we were there. The bathrooms were clean, but on our last day there one of the toilets and the sink was clogged in the ladies room. There are two bathroom buildings at this site.

    • RThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 25, 2026

      Stony Fork Campground

      Hidden Gem

      What a great find! Private sites, nice walking areas, and great hosts. Top it off with clean bathrooms with great showers and this was a win for us. It may not be suitable for bigger rigs but for our 22’ van, it was perfect.

    Guide to Damascus

    Tent camping around Damascus, Virginia provides access to diverse mountain ecosystems along the Virginia-Tennessee-North Carolina borders. The region sits at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 5,520 feet, creating notable temperature variations even in summer months. Nights at higher elevation campsites often drop into the 40s during spring and fall, requiring adequate sleeping gear regardless of season.

    What to do

    Fishing the New River: Dusty Trails Outfitters offers excellent river access for anglers, with one camper noting, "The river was GORGEOUS! Our site was both shaded and sunny - so if you were wet from river play, you could warm up and dry easily."

    Mountain summit hiking: Take the Summit Trail at Elk Knob State Park Campground where you'll climb to 5,520 feet with panoramic views. "This trip was in fall and the leaves were beautiful, but this park stays open year round and I would love to go back in the winter," reports one visitor.

    Wildlife watching: At Scales Trailhead Basecamp, wild ponies frequently visit nearby salt licks. As one camper explains, "Our favorite parts are the beautiful views, wild ponies, & it's (usually) relatively quiet!"

    What campers like

    Private campsites: Blue Bear Mountain Camp stands out for its well-spaced sites. "The campsites are very spaced out. The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat," shares one visitor, highlighting a key benefit of mountain camping.

    Natural light shows: Riverside camping at Dusty Trails Outfitters delivers unique evening experiences. A camper described, "As darkness set in, the fireflies across the river began to light up, like festive lights. Not just a few hundred, but thousands of them, in the most amazing natural light show I have ever seen."

    Cooler temperatures: Blue Bear Mountain Camp provides relief from summer heat with one camper reporting, "Not only is the weather so much cooler in the summer there (70-80 in July!), it's just a wonderful, down to earth place to be."

    What you should know

    Road conditions: Scales Trailhead Basecamp requires appropriate vehicles. "The road in is....rocky. High clearance 4wd needed. Not ADV friendly, unless you're very adventurous," warns one visitor, while another adds it takes "probly 45 mins from the road to the campground."

    Personal safety considerations: Some dispersed sites attract various visitors. At Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites, one camper cautioned, "Be aware of your surroundings and always carry something on you to protect yourself!"

    Bear precautions: Several campgrounds report bear activity. At Elk Knob State Park Campground, visitors note, "This is in bear country so be sure to bring the proper equipment!"

    Tips for camping with families

    Accessibility planning: New River Alleghany Access provides conveniences for families. "There are a few buggies provided at primitive camp sites to help with loading in and out," reports one visitor, making gear transport easier with children.

    Connectivity options: Families needing to stay connected have options. At New River Alleghany Access, a camper shared, "The location also had four bars of Verizon LTE. Amazing!" and another noted being "cell phone dependent. Good service on the river, and very clean."

    Weather preparation: Temperatures fluctuate significantly with elevation. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, campsite selection matters: "C1-C3 are completely shaded. C3 is the best by far! But you have to book early because C3 is very popular!"

    Tips from RVers

    Water management: Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area requires planning for water needs. "There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared," warns one RVer, emphasizing the importance of bringing sufficient supplies.

    Site topography: When selecting the best tent camping near Damascus, Virginia, consider ground conditions. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, a visitor observed, "The campsites are small and close together. We were lucky to only be sharing the property with 1 other group. The constant light breeze and lack of mosquitoes is a treat."

    Equipment limitations: Many dispersed areas have restricted access. For Scales Trailhead Basecamp, a visitor recommends, "Access by horseback would be my #1 pick," indicating the challenging road conditions for larger vehicles or trailers.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Damascus, VA is Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites with a 4.1-star rating from 9 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 56 tent camping locations near Damascus, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.