Dispersed camping near Earlysville, Virginia ranges from hike-in backcountry sites to drive-in riverside and open-field campsites, with free and low-cost options across multiple public land areas. A backcountry permit is required for overnight stays in Shenandoah National Park's dispersed sites. Most locations have minimal amenities, with no toilets or drinking water available. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with some sites prohibiting fires entirely.
The Laurel Prong Trail dispersed site requires a hike-in approach and accommodates tent camping only. According to one visitor, "It's a decently private spot with the trail close by," though they cautioned about bear activity: "bears were constantly checking out our tent during night." Other hikers noted difficulty finding suitable flat ground. South Fork Shenandoah River offers drive-in riverside camping but experiences noise issues from neighboring areas, with a recent review noting "constant speakers all the time until 4am."
James River Wildlife Management Area provides more remote dispersed campsites approximately 45 minutes south. This area requires purchasing either a daily or annual access pass from the Department of Wildlife Resources. A camper reported, "After turning onto Midway Mills Lane from the northern end, there is a gravel access road about .5 miles down that is well-maintained. It immediately opens into an open field where large rigs of any size can fit."
"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."
"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!"
"This a US Forest Service site. Campsite is primitive: no facilities aside from vault toilets. Bring water treatment system."
"Car could be parked right next to us on site 2. Next to a creek, so good sounds and cool environment 3. Some walking trails 4."
"Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road."
"Some things to note- the lake front campsites fill up quickly and they are not drive in. Since I sleep in my Jeep, I needed a drive in spot."
"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."
"However, one of the benefits of this place is that it is also open to dispersed campers!"
"Nothing special but access to the river makes it great if you are fishing or kayaking. You will need a fishing license or access pass and must register that you are camping here. "
"They Said , you need a high clearance vehicle, I cleared my throat. They said, you need 4 wheel drive, I SAID "ILL SEND YOU PICTURES!!!""
"This site requires a 4x4 vehicle with clearance. The trail leading to and from camp can be a bit tricky for some."
"The views from atop Spy Rock are some of the best in Virginia, and the campsite is one of my favorites. You hike in and there is a decent sized area to set up tents."
"This place is amazing for primitive camping. Good trails to hike and overland"
"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."
"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."
TravelerAbout a half a mile down to gravel road to a very small boat launch and a loop where there are some fire pits but this is not really dispersed camping in the traditional sense. I saw a few fire pits on the other side of a guardrail where you could pitch a tent alongside the road. Noticeable highway noise in an otherwise scenic location
TravelerGreat place if you want to off road a little and have an amazing view to wake up and go to sleepp too. Would definitely do this again!
TravelerYou read that right. All the plans to arrive earlier went out the window and I pulled into the road well after sunset. Able to navigate well enough with recent rainfalls so road was pitted and rocky. Somewhat drove past lake and found pre-utilized spot. Nice ground for set up and plenty of room for vehicle in/egress. The 2:20am howl of the eastern coyote caught me off guard; definitely inside a mile. He traveled because at 2:40am he met his buddies and had a howl-fest in the far distance. By day light I was able to explore and see some great lake sites you would enjoy. Highly recommended. No cell service.
ScoutIt was a great spot for a little fire and outdoors camping. No permit needed and there are some places around where u can easily rent a kayak to go on the river. You can also park your car easily at this spot.
GuideAs we got through Shenandoah Nat’l Park, we learned that all the campgrounds were full. So we ended up getting a backcountry camping permit in the southern district between Ivy Creek and Loft Mountain along the Appalachian Trail. It was so difficult to find a good spot in this specific area. If you have a 1-2 person tent, it may be easier. We ended up “hiking” about a quarter mile from the Loft Mountain Camp Store on the Frazier Trail to the A.T. Set up right there at the corner on the flattest spot we could find. Ended up being a great night! It gets super windy up there and some of the trees creak deeply. Thankfully no downed trees!
TravelerThe road to drive down to the lake is really rocky and not paved, make sure you have a good car (we did not)! There are multiple campsites that are all beautiful, the forest is really fun to explore. You can see lots of stars if the night sky is clear, which to me is always such a plus! Overall a great low-key campsite with great nature and easy set up! Also if you go camping bring a trash bag from home and collect your trash littering is not okay. There was lots of litter around the campground but we had brought a trash bag and collected the litter that had been left there. Be kind to nature!!
LegendWe have camped here a couple of times. Nothing special but access to the river makes it great if you are fishing or kayaking. You will need a fishing license or access pass and must register that you are camping here. Other then the needed pass or license there is no camping fee.
LegendWe have camped here a couple of times. Nothing special but access to the river makes it great if you are fishing or kayaking. You will need a fishing license or access pass and must register that you are camping here. Other then the needed pass or license there is no camping fee.
ScoutSwitzer lake has a lot of campsites to choose from, however this is a popular destination so I would recommend securing a site as early as possible. Due to the conditions of the road I would not recommend taking a car with a low clearance. Preferably a car with at least AWD is recommended. As others have pointed out some sites get trashed by ne’er-do-wells, but besides that it's a very beautiful area.
Dispersed camping areas near Earlysville, Virginia provide primitive overnight options in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Elevation in these camping areas ranges from 700 to 3,400 feet, offering varied terrain from riverside sites to mountain summits. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer nights remain mild even when daytime temperatures reach the 90s.
Fishing opportunities: The South Fork Shenandoah River offers drive-in riverside camping with good fishing access. One camper mentioned, "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."
Hiking trails: Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping provides access to multiple trails. A visitor noted, "I've camped here probably 12 times over the past 2 years and I seem to always find another awesome spot every time I go. There is a huge variety of spots, starting from huge ones right on the lake to more secluded, smaller spots deeper in the woods along the creek."
Rock scrambling: Spy Rock requires a moderate hike with a rock scramble at the summit. According to a camper, "Spy Rock is this awesome hike about an hour away from Charlottesville, Va. It is a great hike with a small rock scramble at the top for an extra bit of fun. Not only that, but the top has almost 360 degree views of the Shenandoah Valley."
Established sites: Little Fort Campground offers more structured free camping near Earlysville. A reviewer explained, "Great established free campground! We got the last spot around 7pm. Site had a fire pit, table, parking spot, and tent platform. We used one of the sign in slips but many of the other campers did not. Bathrooms and bear proof trash was provided."
Solitude: Flagpole Knob provides remote camping options for those seeking isolation. One camper shared, "If you really wanna be alone this is the spot. Camped up there with just my dog and I doubt there was a single person for miles around. The sunset and sunrise views are insane."
Riverside camping: Braley Pond offers creek-side camping in a natural setting. A visitor reported, "We spent two nights camping here and it was awesome. Nice size clearing, plenty of flat space, big stone fire ring (we used our little solo stove) and a great stream that runs right by the site. Plus you're only a quarter mile from the pond which was really nice."
Permit requirements: Unlike Shenandoah National Park, James River Wildlife Management Area requires purchase of a daily or annual access pass. A camper confirmed, "I never saw another person camping, but I did get out of my rig and ask a couple of people that were using brush hogs to mow with and they said Yep come on down here and just park wherever you want to as long as it's not within 300 feet of the boat put in."
Road conditions: Many dispersed sites require driving on rough roads. At Switzer Lake, one reviewer cautioned, "The road is a mix of gravel but also dirt so it can become muddy during rain. If you follow the road, there is a river crossing that will take you to additional camp spots. The road beyond the river can get more tricky for low clearance vehicles."
Wildlife concerns: Bears are active in these areas. A Switzer Lake camper advised, "There are bears here, so lock up your food in the car. We have encountered a bear at or around the campsite 3 times."
Established amenities: Braley Pond Day Use Area works well for families new to dispersed camping. A visitor shared, "I brought my boys out to camp this past weekend, and this place was perfect for our first dispersed campsite experience. The day use area is close enough to use the bathroom (just an open pit toilet, nothing fancy). The pond is stocked with trout, so small groups of fisherpeople came and went."
Flat camping spots: For families with multiple tents, look for larger clearings. At Spy Rock, one camper described, "Basically, at the top before you do the rock scramble, there is a little clearing meant for camping. Sure you have to cart all of your crap to the top with you, but TOTALLY worth it once you catch that sunrise from the top of the mountain."
Creek exploration: Children enjoy wading in the shallow streams. A Braley Pond visitor mentioned, "Though you can't swim in the lake, we did wade the stream, which was cold and clear and beautiful. We'll be back!"
Access limitations: Most dispersed sites near Earlysville restrict RV access. At Crisman Hollow Road Camp, a visitor noted, "It a quiet area with many spots on right on the water. There was one really nice hiking trail by the bridge."
High-clearance vehicles: South Fork Shenandoah River accommodates some smaller RVs but requires caution. A camper advised, "The road was a little rough, but our 92 ford camper made it, just go slow."
Site selection: For larger rigs, choose sites carefully. At South Fork Shenandoah River, one visitor noted, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Earlysville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Earlysville, VA is Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Earlysville, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Earlysville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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