Best Tent Camping near Fort Monroe, VA
Tent camping options near Fort Monroe include both developed and primitive sites, with Sandy Bottom Nature Park providing walk-in tent campsites within a 456-acre wildlife facility. The park features 11 primitive tent sites located approximately a quarter-mile from the parking area along a lakeside trail. False Cape State Park, located south of Virginia Beach, offers remote beach and bay camping accessible only by foot, bike, or boat.
Walk-in tent sites at Sandy Bottom Nature Park include sand-bottom tent platforms, picnic tables, and fire rings with grates. Sites are well-spaced for privacy and include nearby trash receptacles. Flush toilets with running water are available, though they require a walk back to the parking area. Fire rings include cooking grates, and most sites have partial shade. According to one visitor, "The sites were spaced nicely apart and had nice sand tent platforms with a picnic table and a fire ring with a grate."
False Cape State Park provides a unique primitive tent camping experience that requires significant effort to access. Campers must hike or bike at least 4-6 miles through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge to reach the campground. Both oceanside and bay side camping options exist, with oceanside campers having the choice to set up directly on the beach or behind the dunes. One camper noted that "because of this, the Park is a serene oasis away from traffic, no RV's, not a lot of people. A great place to get away from it all!" The park prohibits campfires but allows small camping stoves. Water is available at designated points, and pit toilets serve the camping areas. Campers should prepare for insects, particularly in warmer months, and be aware that wildlife including snakes may be present in the area.
