Searching for the best camping near Front Royal, VA? Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Front Royal, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Front Royal, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"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!"
"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."
"You will want to drive in and park at the Veach Gap Trailhead which is listed on Google Maps, then follow the trail and make the left when it comes to the intersection."
"Breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site. 1,200ft elevation difference from the trailhead to the site."
"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."
"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. I saw one other site before ours."
"The road leading to the camp site from Wardensville was in excellent condition all the way to the camp site. There are e total of 9 campsites."
"Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer."
"There was one really nice hiking trail by the bridge. Cons: Some roads were closed. Some spots were full of trash."
"But this one is right off the road, entrance is steep. Decent sized area, stone fire ring, plenty of firewood."
GuideI've both day hiked this and backpacked here several times. You will want to drive in and park at the Veach Gap Trailhead which is listed on Google Maps, then follow the trail and make the left when it comes to the intersection. It is about 4 miles up, so not too bad, but there is no water after the first mile. I have seen a small trickle part way up the mountain, but don't count on it. Pack up all the water you will need for the day/evening/morning. Once you get to the top there are several sites with little fire rings, and since it is on the ridgeline, the views are breathtaking. I've had good luck finding wood from dead trees at the top, but just make sure you're being safe and treating nature kindly. Follow the Leave no Trace rules so the next campers can enjoy this spot too.
GuideThere 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 pinned location doesn’t take you to a specific campground tho!
You’ll have to do some digging (google free camping VA) and you’ll find plenty of spots! Many spots say they charge a fee but don’t as well so be on the look out!
One of my favorite spots isn’t on The Dyrt but it’s free and in the Bath County area, It’s called Blowing Springs Campground, located near Covington VA. I also recommend seeing Falling Spring Falls almost a 100 Foot waterfall!
Very hilly roads leading out to this part of the state but beautiful none the less! No cell service but plenty to see!
GuideWe only stayed one night, but wish we could have stayed more! The campground offers so many different trails and breathtaking scenic overlooks of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As soon as we got there, we saw several deer. I’d almost say they were friendly :) No electric hookups, but the weather was beautiful! We hiked part of the Appalachian Trail which gets pretty steep. I didn’t use the bathrooms or the coin operated showers as we have them in our RV, but they had the services available. It is a drive through the mountains to get to the campsite, but very well worth it for us!
GuideHappy accident that we were able to stay at the park on a weekend. We drove up and they had availability. Nice & clean and it wasn’t crowded when we were there. No electric or water on our site. So it was pretty rustic camping.
RangerSites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer.
True boondocking, haul it in, pack it out. Evidence of a cat hole in the site we picked
Sites were quiet at night. Some traffic related to logging activity. Looks like a popular weekend camp spot for locals.
We camped during the week and had nobody else camping on weekdays.
GuideQuite a few miles down Squirrel Gap Rd. There is another sunnier sight a little before this one. But this one is right off the road, entrance is steep. Decent sized area, stone fire ring, plenty of firewood.
GuideThis place was $30 just to enter and it was super duper packed. We turned around and found a great boondocking site nearby.
TravelerBreathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site. 1,200ft elevation difference from the trailhead to the site. Cell service at the top (not during the hike or on the road to the trailhead so prepare directions). Went up in November with beautiful weather, fall leaves changing and great company. Couldn’t have had a better experience.
GuideI recently led a large group of Scouts to the Mathews Arm Campground in SNP. We spread out over 4 RV/camper/tent sites as our base camp. There was definitely a lot less privacy/space between sites here at SNP than I’ve noted at other parks across Virginia. I suppose it’s because it’s a national park, with a big draw and higher volume of visitors. The roads were well-marked and paved nicely. The bathrooms were okay, I’ve been in better-maintained/cleaned ones and worse ones, so I’m not going to complain. They were quite prevalent though. The staff that circulate around the park were quite friendly! We had a lovely hike to a nearby waterfall that was gorgeous. We even took a group out hiking across the AT and did some backcountry camping. I was impressed by how well-maintained the trails were! We had a really nice time and I look forward to returning again soon. I will note that our original reservation was for the Southern Section, but because of the winter storms, there was a lot of storm damage which caused them to close down quite a bit of Skyline Drive and they automatically shifted our reservation (with the option to cancel) to the Northern Section of the SNP. So, we didn’t hike what we expected to, but we still had a nice time, regardless. Plus, a couple days before our trip they did open the Southern Section, but we left our reservations and plans alone.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Front Royal, Virginia, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Front Royal, VA?
The Front Royal area offers several free dispersed camping options. Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site provides excellent dispersed camping about 4 miles up the trail from the Veach Gap Trailhead with breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and mountains. Another option is Squirrel Hollow Road Camping, which features multiple spots less than a mile from the paved highway, accessible by car or small trailer. For true boondocking experiences, search for sites in George Washington National Forest where dispersed camping is generally permitted. Remember to pack everything in and out, as these sites have no amenities.
What are the regulations for dispersed camping in the Front Royal area?
When dispersed camping in the Front Royal area, follow standard Leave No Trace principles. At Little Fort Campground, you must select a site by flipping a washer on a hook from green to red on the board, and return it when you leave. Most sites include a fire ring, picnic table, and flat tent area. For Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites, backcountry camping requires a free permit, and camping is only allowed in designated areas. Note that Shenandoah charges an entrance fee ($30 as mentioned in reviews). Always camp at least 200 feet from water sources, pack out all trash, and check for seasonal fire restrictions before your trip.
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Front Royal, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Front Royal, VA is Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Front Royal, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 dispersed camping locations near Front Royal, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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