Top Tent Camping near Free Union, VA
Looking for the best options for tent camping near Free Union? Find the best tent camping sites near Free Union. You're sure to find the perfect tent campsite for your Virginia camping adventure.
Best Tent Sites Near Free Union, VA (25)
1. Canoe Landing Group Campsite — James River State Park
28 Reviews•90 Photos•9 SavesCanoe Landing Group Campsite (one primitive site) - There's a group site near the canoe landing. The site accommodates up to 42 people - no hookups, tents only. It's near a restroom and features a fire ring with a flip grill, picnic tables and a pedestal grill. There's a $30 fee for canceling a group-camping reservation.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Picnic Table
$15 - $80 / night
2. Lake Anna State Park
20 Reviews•76 Photos•165 SavesCamping Lake Anna Campground offers sites with and without water and electric hookups, centrally located restrooms with hot showers, fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders. Half the sites may be specifically reserved; the rest are assigned upon arrival. A table showing site-specific sites can be found here (PDF). Click here for pictures of the sites. Bunkhouse One bunkhouse - No weekly requirement. The park rents a camping lodge (bunkhouse) that's next to the bathhouse in the north camping loop. The bunkhouse is not a full-service lodge. The north loop's bathhouse includes the only restroom facilities for your stay. It's a two-room trailer with seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a coffee pot and an air conditioner. The bunkhouse also has a charcoal grill and deck outside. Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside the lodge. Five vehicles are permitted with rental of the lodge; the daily parking fee must be paid for additional vehicles. Yurts Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, it's a cross between a tent and a cabin. Lake Anna has four yurts in the back section of the campground and tucked neatly into a wooded area for privacy and extra shade. Each yurt has a large wooden deck and includes a ground-level picnic pad with a picnic table, fire-ring and separate cooking grill. Reservations are required. Parking for two cars per yurt is at the beginning of the "yurt village," and carts are available for moving items from there to the yurts on a gravel trail. Those with more than two vehicles must pay a daily parking fee and park in overflow lots located throughout the campground. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. The rental season begins on the first Friday in March and ends on the first Sunday in December. Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply. There is a two-night minimum rental during the rest of camping season.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
3. Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm
6 Reviews•10 Photos•51 SavesI grow mushrooms and sell them at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market. The camping area is about an acre and is beside the house. Park under a canopy of red cedar trees which are bug resistant so very few mosquitoes. Two fireplaces, first come first serve. No neighbors yet close to Harrisonburg. Free firewood. No curfews. Tent camping and conversion vans only. No RV's.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
$25 - $30 / night
4. Walnut Grove — James River State Park
11 Reviews•38 Photos•5 SavesCamping reservations are highly recommended, and all campgrounds are site-specific - call 1-800-933-7275. The park has five campgrounds. Three of them, Branch Pond, Walnut Grove and Canoe Landing, are open year-round for primitive camping. There are primitive restrooms at those campgrounds. Drinking water is unavailable in the primitive campgrounds, but potable water is available at five of the six picnic shelters. Canoe Landing is the only campground on the river. Please note that primitive sites do not have electricity.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
$15 - $18 / night
5. Braley Pond Camping & Day Use Area
11 Reviews•6 Photos•404 SavesBraley Pond Day Use Area is a very popular access to multiple trailheads including Ramsey's Draft Wilderness. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy this universally accessible area perfect for family picnics, or plan to stay overnight in the adjacent dispersed camping site.
- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
6. Branch Pond — James River State Park
9 Reviews•32 Photos•3 SavesCamping reservations are highly recommended, and all campgrounds are site-specific - call 1-800-933-7275. The park has five campgrounds. Three of them, Branch Pond, Walnut Grove and Canoe Landing, are open year-round for primitive camping. There are primitive restrooms at those campgrounds. Drinking water is unavailable in the primitive campgrounds, but potable water is available at five of the six picnic shelters. Canoe Landing is the only campground on the river. Please note that primitive sites do not have electricity.
Branch Pond - Seven primitive sites in a wooded area about two miles from the river (BranchPondPrimTent). Tents only. Each site has a tent pad.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
$15 - $18 / night
7. Hazeltop Summit Dispersed Camping
1 Review•5 Photos•8 SavesBack-country Permit Required - https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/bc-permit.htm
Each year thousands of people spend a night or more in the Shenandoah’s backcountry. While visitors seek the backcountry for isolation, the cumulative actions of everyone in these areas can have dire effects on the resources we seek to enjoy. We can mitigate these effects by following Leave No Trace principles, as well as observing park backcountry regulations. The following regulations exist to keep Shenandoah's wilderness wild and untrammeled for you and for future generations of hikers and campers.
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Dispersed
8. Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
10 Reviews•57 Photos•407 SavesThis colossal lake is a sight to behold. The surrounding forested mountains appear to just drop into the lake, making for scenery reminiscent of majestic paintings by the late Bob Ross. The lake should be checked during migration and winter for waterfowl. At other times of the year, it could host great blue and green herons and, on occasion, a bald eagle or osprey may drop in to pick out a bass for dinner. The neighboring hillsides are heavily wooded and host many woodland birds. Pileated woodpeckers can be heard as their loud raucous call reverberates across the lake. American goldfinch twitter overhead and ruffed grouse and wild turkey stalk the roadsides. Careful exploration is sure to reward the butterfly enthusiast; tiger and spicebush swallowtail, question mark, silver-spotted skipper, and American painted lady have been spotted here. There is little reason to doubt why they frequent this site as Black Eyed Susan, milkweed, wild columbine, and Queen Anne’s lace abound. Note that because this lake serves as the main water supply for surrounding towns, swimming and gas motorboating are prohibited. Camping is restricted to areas further down Skidmore Fork Rd/Switzer Lake Rd with less accessible sites past the second river crossing. Be sure to secure any food overnight as black bears are known to frequent campsites in this area.
- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
9. Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed
1 Review•2 Photos•6 SavesA free back country camping permit is required: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/bc-permit.htm
Shenandoah National Park has 196,000+ acres of backcountry and wilderness and over 500 miles of trails to explore. Backcountry camping is, by its very nature, a primitive experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and challenge of Shenandoah's wild side. Before you head out on your trip, however, be sure that you understand all of the information below so that you'll be prepared to safely discover a brand new world beyond the pavement!
Each year thousands of people spend a night or more in the Shenandoah’s backcountry. While visitors seek the backcountry for isolation, the cumulative actions of everyone in these areas can have dire effects on the resources we seek to enjoy. We can mitigate these effects by following Leave No Trace principles, as well as observing park backcountry regulations. The following regulations exist to keep Shenandoah's wilderness wild and untrammeled for you and for future generations of hikers and campers.
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Dispersed
10. Phantom Hill Forest Farm
1 Review•12 Photos•10 SavesRetreat in our forest! Great for couples, families, and groups! No camping gear? No problem. Sites are stocked with kitchen essentials including dishes, utensils, pots and pans, a grill with propane, insect screen, chairs, hammocks, and much more! We have games you can borrow and a recreation area. Just bring a tent, sleeping bag, and food.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
Showing results 1-10 of 25 campgrounds
Recent Tent Reviews In Free Union
898 Reviews of 25 Free Union Campgrounds
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Sarah C.
Guide
Rivers Edge Campground
Lovely little spot
Family camping trip and we tagged along in our tent. We’ve been priced out of our area so pleased to find this hidden gem. A small, comfortable, family run campground that has enough amenities to keep the littles entertained and adults relaxing. We stayed in the tent area, which we had all to ourselves. Our site was on the river and able to pull our motorcycles right up. I do think if the tent area is full it will feel crowded. There’s a small bathroom attached to back of camp store nearby. Then the larger bathhouse down the way. The RV sites were flat, clean, in an open area. We will, for sure, be back.
SJ W.Guide
Little Fort Campground
Nice spot, but noisy ATV/OHV site
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. The only thing is it is next to an off-road vehicle trail and there was a lot of action coming down until about 7 PM. Wouldn’t have bothered me, but it did bother my dogs. 😅
- Missi N.
Scout
Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views
Don’t come here if you actually want to camp
The tent sites are ON TOP of each other. No trees. Zero seclusion. This is an rv resort.
- WWessel D.Scout
Oronoco Campground
Great!
Loved this little campground. Nice and quiet, toilets available (though not very clean but good enough). Only thing is that there’s a dog, we think from a property nearby, that acts aggressive towards campers. Luckily it went home around 18h, so we had a great night, but it was back the next morning and immediately had aggressive behavior. So watch out and be careful with your food!
nancy B.Scout
Waynesboro North 340 Campground
Aftermath of the hurricane
My Rv sustained damage from a tree. The staff were awesome but the owner wasn’t. She wouldn’t even acknowledge me or say how sorry she was. Then she had me assigned to the worst site in the park. I have never been treated so terribly. She was only interested in her revenue and not the people.
- Ioan P.
Legend
Shenandoah River Outfitters Camp Outback
Nice
Present! Lytle noise..
- hheather
Traveler
Camp Roosevelt
Great overnight spot!
Camped here as a plan B, but it was still a great time. The lookout over the mountain about 5min drive from the campground was breathtaking. As far as camp went, it is a bare bones site with two port a potties (well maintained) and a couple water spouts that didn’t work. The sites are right next to a road, so expect some noise all night. Maybe because of rains there were flying bugs everywhere. Sites were spacious and level, no large rocks. Fire pits were very large and have grates for cooking. First CCC site ever made so there is some cool history if you’re into that.
Rob O.Traveler
Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Excellent campground especially as a base for hikes
Reservations are made through the National parks service "recreation.gov" website. Arrived for tent camping for 2 nights and found that my original planned site wasn't very hospitable to tent camping due to the slope, Conferred with park ranger who easily changed my site to a better one with no fee. My stay was quiet and the bathrooms were clean and well stocked. This is a great base camp for getting out to hike the Appalachian trail and the local water falls in the area. Firewood and some camping supplies can be obtained onsite and there is a park wayside store and cafeteria a short distance away (i highly recommend the honey breaded chicken).
- CChalang R.Traveler
Hone Quarry
Great for mid week
If you live in Harrisonburg, Bridgwater and any surrounding area, this place is amazing. Fair warning, this place is DARK DARK, but your campers, so. The campsites are clean, $5 a night will get you a place to stay. Payment box upfront. There’s a pond up the road to fish.
- hheatherTraveler
South Fork Shenandoah River
Great site, bad timing?
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. The real issue was the land directly across the river that had 20+ people playing loud music at almost all hours. Docked one star for that but everything else was great. Bathrooms had no TP so bring your own, and please remember to pack out your trash! 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.
EDIT: I went back early October to possibly camp again, shortly after the hurricane rains had passed. The sites were underwater or filled with river mud, making them completely un-campable. Just keep this in mind when you go out.
- WWaseem H.Guide
Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
Quiet peaceful place
I didn’t find and good spots, but it was quiet and peaceful. I drove from there to flag pole. The trail was really fun and moderately difficult.
- BBobby B.Scout
Endless Caverns
Beautiful Resort
The resort is beautiful. Pulling up and checking in, a host takes you to your site. Sites are spacious and there's lots to do! We loved our site because we are the only one on the right side of the hill. I did not get any info email though which I had to contact about. Other than that, everything was great. Drove around the campground to see which other sites I would like to try and get! I def would return.
- SSarah C.Guide
Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Meh
Wanted an overnight close to home and have never been to Mathew’s Arm so off we went. Campground easy to access off the SNP parkway. Since we didn’t book ahead we had a choice of the first come, first serve sites. Seemed odd that we could not pick any site that wasn’t reserved. The sites were all small and very close together. Some had bear boxes, some did not. All sites able to pull up to but not all sites had a decent spot to pitch a tent. No tent pads. Grass overgrown in many areas. Light not working in women’s bathroom, guess that’s how come you travel with a headlamp. Overall, glad we went, once.
- MMarty T.Traveler
Bennie’s Beach Campground
Cool spot by the creek
Bennies has a cool spot by the creek for tent camping. I was the only one there - after having driven through the aging RV neighborhood. Check-in was mystical, but finally reached the groundskeeper by phone and left money in a mailbox. "$40 cash money..." Way overpriced considering the unsanitary (gross) showers and restrooms. I think I felt cleaner before the shower. If you don't need a shower and don't mind dropping $40 for a place to pitch your tent then Bennies may be for you.
Nicole S.
Ranger
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray
Yogi Bear for the win!!!
I have to say this campground had plenty of staff working, the grounds were kept clean and maintained. They have 3 pools, watersides, and a splash pad, which were very busy but kept clean. They offer tons of other adventures like laser tag, arcade, mini golf movie theatre, gem mining, playgrounds, jumping pillows, ziplines, and then tons more to do in the craft center. They had plenty of appearances of Yogi or Cindy bear at activities and just driving around the park on a golf cart. The store had everything in it you would need, and the snack bar had so much to offer from wraps to ice cream. I thought the sites were a little close, and some didn't have enough trees for my personal liking, but also, you need to pick your site wisely. I liked that we had a nice concrete pad, which was above the grade in case of some rain it wouldn't flood. They offer golf carts for rental, so you can roam anywhere and have tons of cabin options. The staff were friendly and great and only stepped in when absolutely necessary. They weren't overbearing or annoying and let people have fun. The campground itself was very quiet at night, and of course, the kids lived on the playgrounds after the pool was open, but the noise was not ever excessive but just expected. The bathrooms were clean and all in working order. The app can be accessed, or you can pick up a paper schedule to see all the activities for the day. The cell service and wifi left a lot to be desired, but for me, I like to not be glued to my phone when away, especially camping. The area had fun things to go to explore, like Shenandoah National Park and the Luray Caverans, if you do like to chase some natural beauty.
- MMicah B.Scout
Powhatan State Park
Camping and remote work
Like most Virginia state parks the River Bend campground is well spaced out and great for RV camping. Verizon service was stable enough to work all week with a Jetpack without the need for a directional cell booster
- MMicah B.Scout
Red Oak Campground — James River State Park
Camping and remote work
Nice campground in line with expectations for most Virginia state parks. Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work
- SSarah C.Guide
Brandywine Lake Campground — Shenandoah Wildlife Management Area
Drive on up to site!
Clean, comfortable campground with spacious sites. Some of the sites are very private, others are a little less. Some have bear boxes and some are a lot closer to bath house than others. There is a large overflow lot available and set up for campers. However, we went on a Monday night and only shared the campground with 4 other groups of campers. Hosts are on site and both friendly and informative. Hiking trails nearby and some start at campground. Lake is low but still good for swimming or floating. We had a very peaceful night, even with the rain. Recommend!
- NNick A.Scout
Devil’s Backbone Camp
Robbery
$150 per night is crazy. Nothing special about the campground except proximity to devils backbone. This is a parking spot in a field with no trees and the sewer likely on the wrong side. There are no amenities. We’ve stayed many times but plan to go elsewhere going forward.
Martin T.TravelerBig Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Great Facilities, Easy Access to Many Parts of Park
We loved our 4-night stay in Big Meadows. I definitely recommend booking a site on the outer part of the loop, or one of the walk-in sites, if you are tent camping. A lot of the interior sites seemed very close together, but the farther out you get, the more spaced out they seemed to be, we could see a couple of other campsites from ours but generally felt we had plenty of space and privacy.
Campsite facilities seemed pretty clean and well-maintained, and there is the campstore at the front of the campground with necessities, laundry and shower (for a fee). And if you need more the Big Meadow visitor center, and Wayside souvenir store/snack bar are just a mile or so from the campground where it meets Skyline Drive. They even have a gas station there. We went and did several hikes, including Dark Hollow Falls, and spent a late evening in the Big Meadow on a picnic blanket stargazing, all very close to the campground.
Bear boxes are big and sturdy, fire pits are on the smallish side but fine. Honestly this place is pretty tough to beat in terms of facilities, value, and proximity to a lot of beautiful and fun national park hikes and sights.
Jeremiah S.Guide
Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA
KOA Newbie
This was our first KOA experience. I liked the pool, camp shop, and proximity to Massanutten water park. I also liked the size of site.
My wife didn’t care for the lack of grass (mostly gravel) or the guy who took us to site that worked there talking over her when she was helping me back in.
Most people know this but if a couple is backing in just let them figure it out.
Other than price and backing in annoyance, I thought it was good place and would go back.
Chaz M.Ranger
Misty Mountain Camp Resort
Fun for the family
This campground was really great for a family with small children. There were events the entire time we were there and the staff were awesome. The only detractors were that our site (52) was tiny so it was a tad stressful having kids running around right beside the road, the smell of weed that was prevalent (not the campground’s fault) and the motorcycle noise from the nearby interstate.
- PPete K.Scout
Creekside Campground
Glad we stayed here
We were camping with our rooftop tent and spent two nights here. The campground was nicer than anticipated. We had a large grass space with water and power on the edge of a beautiful creek and enjoyed the sounds of it both nights. There were a variety of birds who frequented the stream and were fun to watch. The bath house was close by with two flush toilets and one shower, all of which were clean. The one staff person we talked with on several occasions was very friendly and welcoming. We would stay here again if we are ever back in the area.
- GGabeGuide
Shenandoah Valley Campground
Nice place to stay
We spent 2 weeks at SVC while our trunk was in the shop(our travel trailer got towed there- highly recommend Good Sam Roadside policy). Everyone on staff was accomodating, helpful and friendly. Very nice campground ammenities- stocked fishing pond, big swimming pool, and really nice creek for tubing with waterfall to cool down on the hotter days, horseshoes, mini golf and more. The biggest negative is lack of cell service/internet. Luckily it's a short drive to get service. Weekends were packed(esp. Memorial Day), but much quieter during the week. Many sites are tight and no walking paths between rows so people regularly walk through occupied sites when it's crowded. Smaller negatives- some washer/dryers out of order and litter left by campers wasn't picked up. Overall, a nice place to stay.
- AAnn B.Guide
Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views
Amazing Views of Blue Ridge
A beautiful campground with everything a tourist could possible want for a spectacular vacation. Surrounded by dairy farms, the fields of grains leave open space that enables each campsite to have a view of the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance. Each evening, people would come out and turn the colorful patio chairs towards west and enjoy a spectacular sunset. During the day, there is so much to do at the nearby Shenandoah Nation Park, drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, or visit the caverns or the Artisan Trail businesses full of local handcrafts.
Sumner C.GuideBennie’s Beach Campground
Amazing spot on north fork Shenandoah
We were the only campers on a giant spot right on the river. The grounds are well maintained and stunning. Water is crystal clear and everyone is respectful
kyle M.ScoutShenandoah River Outfitters Camp Outback
Fun but with minimal staff
My wife and I booked this location as an opportunity to camp memorial weekend affordably. The site definitely had an old school feel to it, overall well maintained and clean. Our biggest concerns was there was 0 over site to those staying. There were 2 large family gathering going on which is fine, however blasting music, screaming all day and into the evening to include a megaphone is just not our type of fun. Our first night we were kept up until easily 2am due to this. We ended up leaving a full day earlier than planned.
If you are booking this location for easy access to the water from the campground be weary it’s overgrown and full of ticks.
Guide to Free Union
Camping near Free Union, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
What to do:
- Hiking: Explore the stunning trails in Shenandoah National Park. Many campers rave about the hiking opportunities, with one reviewer from Big Meadows Campground saying, "Hiking trails leave right from the campground."
- Fishing and Swimming: Enjoy the refreshing waters at Sherando Lake Campground. A visitor mentioned, "The lake has a swimming area and a beach," making it a great spot for families.
- Visit Local Breweries: If you enjoy craft beer, check out Devil’s Backbone Camp. One camper noted, "Just a short walk from the Campground is a very nice brewery with fantastic food."
What campers like:
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Loft Mountain Campground said, "Good clean campsites and showers."
- Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A visitor at Misty Mountain Camp Resort mentioned, "Only stayed one night, easy to access sites with large RV, flat site."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. A reviewer at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA said, "Nice people at the camp shop and camp sites were well kept."
What you should know:
- Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds in the area have poor cell reception. A camper at Sherando Lake Campground noted, "No Verizon or ATT cell service I could find and no WiFi."
- First-Come, First-Serve: Some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. A visitor at Lewis Mountain Campground advised, "Arrive early enough in the day to snag a better site."
- No Electric Hookups: If you need electricity, check ahead. A reviewer at Big Meadows Campground mentioned, "This is boondocking (no water, sewer, or electric hookups)."
Tips for camping with families:
- Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with fun amenities. A parent at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park shared, "They offer tons of other adventures like laser tag, arcade, mini golf."
- Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites to give kids room to play. A reviewer at Misty Mountain Camp Resort said, "The lower area is nice and open with close access to the activities."
- Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of noise levels, especially near playgrounds. A camper at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park noted, "If you are looking for a peaceful experience, do not book near any of the play areas."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Sherando Lake Campground mentioned, "The sites are nicely prepared," but also noted some challenges with larger rigs.
- Be Prepared for Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have full hookups. A visitor at Devil’s Backbone Camp said, "This is a parking spot in a field with no trees and the sewer likely on the wrong side."
- Plan for Generator Use: If you need power, check generator hours. A camper at Big Meadows Campground mentioned, "Generator hours are 08:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00."
Camping near Free Union, Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Free Union, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Free Union, VA is Canoe Landing Group Campsite — James River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Free Union, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Free Union, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.