Best Tent Camping near Goshen, VA
Dispersed camping options around Goshen, Virginia offer primitive tent sites in scenic mountain terrain within George Washington National Forest. Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area provides multiple tent campsites in a mountain valley setting alongside a river, while areas like Hog Camp Gap feature spacious backcountry tent camping areas within hiking distance to scenic vistas. McClintic Point Primitive Campground offers lakeside tent sites with boat access, making it popular for campers seeking water proximity.
Most tent campgrounds near Goshen require self-sufficiency as amenities are minimal. Poor Farm Recreation Area provides vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies or treat water from natural sources. Dispersed sites off Forest Road 812 feature established fire rings but lack facilities. Walk-in tent sites at Hog Camp Gap require carrying gear from parking areas, with sites spread across an area "roughly the size of a Walmart parking lot including the store or three football fields," according to one visitor. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most backcountry tent camping locations.
The tent camping experience around Goshen varies with elevation and season. Many sites provide river access, with Poor Farm described as having "maybe 5-ish spots to camp next to a river in this mountain valley." Sites tend to be naturally spaced, offering privacy despite occasional weekend crowds. Breeden Bottom Campground features tent sites with direct river access that are "extremely private and spaced out; we couldn't see or hear anyone." Areas like Greenwood Point are accessible only by water, requiring paddling in with gear, but reward tent campers with secluded experiences. Wildlife sightings are common, with many campers reporting deer, rabbits, and occasional bears, making proper food storage essential at all tent campsites.