If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Harrisonburg, look no further. Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Harrisonburg, including sites, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find the perfect campsite for your Virginia tent camping excursion.
This 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.
I 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.
$25 - $30 / night
"Glamping at it's finest!" "Vacation In the Round" alongside the beautiful, legendary Shenandoah River in Luray, Virginia. Campers all around the world, experience true serenity when you vacation in one of our ONE-OF-A-KIND YURTS! Offering tent sites and yurts! #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp's riverfront campsite settings and yurts are just perfect for groups; relax with family and friends at this beautiful, In addition we offer two totally primitive tentsites in the pines diagonally across the road from kamp. The 1947 Rock Tavern Retreat cabin (luxury) is diagonally across the road from kamp. Groups can reserve in advance the entire camp and cabin - special pricing. #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp has on-site tubing,kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and local firewood is available.#1 Rock Tavern River Kamp is central to your camping vacation in Luray: you'll be hiking in GW National Forest within minutes! When you vacation at our camp, you're within **20 minutes of the entrance of Shenandoah National Park.**The famed Luray Caverns is within 7 minutes. Super convenient, the Walmart is a 10-minute drive from the#1 Rock Tavern River Kamp, and if you don't feel like cooking while you camp, Anthony's Pizza Delivers! Horseback riding just 12 min away. Cooter's "Dukes of Hazzard" Museum is 15 min away. River Hill Distillery is only 5 min- wine tastings, corn whiskey and bourbon all made on the horse farm.
$45 - $225 / night
Back-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.
A 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.
$10 / night
Scout
This place is amazing!!!. If your into primitive camping at it's best this place is it. This is where me and wife went on are first tent camping trip and ever since we compare every other tent site to Spruce Knob. As of know nothing has compared.
Legend
This campground has an awesome location between Harrisonburg and Luray/Shenandoah. It has great amenities like a pool and playground, a camp store and lots of friendly and helpful employees. I love that they will pick up your trash and deliver firewood. We stayed in a non-electric grass tent site in loop D. The sites are great! Nice and flat and shady. They come with a huge fire pit and a picnic table. There is only one bath house in the campground that has plenty of bathrooms and showers. A very nice stay!
Guide
This is one of Virginia’s best kept secrets for Cabins, RV or Tent camping.
The location is awesome; close to some great hiking spots, very accessible & well laid out.
The kids are guaranteed to catch something in the fishing hole & the camp store has EVERYTHING!!
Love this place! It is a great spot to go tent camping.
Call and speak with the staff about the best dates to go. They helped is pick a day when there were NO other people there.
Such a great spot.
Traveler
We absolutely loved it! We stayed in the tent camping area. The bathrooms were the cleanest we’ve experienced at any tent camping site. It’s relatively close to the Shenandoah NP. Would recommend this place. Definitely returning.
Traveler
Beautiful river access directly from tent site! Lots of amenities from hot tubs, fishing pond and a heated pool. Staff was friendly and site was well maintained. Bathrooms were clean. Only complaint is that tent sites are really close together.
Legend
Sherando Lake is a well-maintained, popular campground located in the George Washington National Forest near Lyndhurst, VA. Convenient to both Richmond and Charlottesville, it brings people in for camping and day-use alike.
There are three camping loops here; a standard non-electric loop (loop A/White Oak Loop), and two RV loops (B and C). Both of the RV loops are very flat and open, with little shade or privacy between sites. They have electric hookups and drinking water available, but do not have water hookups. The tent loop is the oldest loop in this campground, and is heavily wooded, with sites along both meadow and backing up to the mountain. These sites do not have any hookups, but most have driveways large enough for campers and RVs 28' in length or under. All tent sites have fire rings, utility poles, and large picnic tables, and tent pads that are raked clear by campground hosts between guests.
The biggest benefits of this campground are its location, and the recreation area. It's about an hour and a half west of Richmond and only thirty minutes from Charlottesville, making it a great weekend trip without having to take time away from work. And as for recreation, it's wonderful. There are two lakes--the lower lake is the largest at 25 acres, and and while the beach can get crowded during peak season, it's an easy walk from the campground, with a large swimming area roped off. Canoeing is available at the lake, and there are several hiking trails, ranging from the easy lakeside trail, to more difficult trails that connect to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and other trails in George Washington National Forest. Fishing is available at both lakes with the proper licensing. There are several large picnic areas right on the lower lake, and a few smaller creekside spaces with picnic table and grills.
All that said; for RV campers this is an excellent campsite. While the loops with hookups are lacking in shade and privacy, having an RV or camper will afford you what the site itself lacks, and the location and activities make this a great basecamp.
For tent camping, it's good if you live in one of the nearby cities and want the shorter drive time, or if you like tent camping but still want all the benefits of front-country camping. As a place to set up camp and enjoy spending time near your tent, Sherando is exceptionally maintained. There is not a lot of opportunities for foraging for firewood, which means purchasing heat-treated wood nearby, and while the sites are very shady, there is little underbrush between sites to offer a privacy barrier. Many of the sites are staggered, with one or more levels of steps leading from the driveways. Because of all there is to do this is a great site for older kids, but we learned that, especially with toddlers, the steps around the campsites can turn a relaxing trip into one of constant vigilance.
Enjoyment of this campground will largely depend on what type of camper you are. If you are mainly looking for a place to get outside of the city, where you can set up for the night and have easy access to hiking, fishing, swimming, or boating, this is a great campground. This is where we typically chose to take friends if they were new to camping, as the bathrooms are well-lit, the road is paved, and the sites are so well-maintained. Plus at $20 a night, while it's more expensive than its neighbors in Shenandoah National Park or Cave Mountain Lake, it's a shorter drive from the neighboring cities, and doesn't have the additional NPS fee. However, if you want something that feels more rugged, or with campsites that offer a greater feeling of privacy, it would be better to skip this one.
Ranger
We legit loved this park! I took my grandkids tent camping and we had a wonderful experience. We brought our bikes and hit the trails. It was some great times. We had electricity and water and the bathrooms were close to our site. The park is on the Shenandoah River and there are multiple spots to put in and take out. There is primitive tent camping down by the river which looks fantastic. We definitely loved the trails with hiking and biking options. We will definitely go here again.
Traveler
Stayed in tent site 005, and while it wasn’t the smallest of the tent sites or least private, if was very close to the main look road and every car entering the camp loop passes right by the site up the hill within eyesight. Camp store didn’t allow dogs, and I didn’t feel good leaving my dog unattended in the park (which is their rule) I didn’t get to visit the store. One good thing was the view from the amphitheater
Guide
Great location for fly fishing & hiking. The tent camping area has a view of Seneca Rocks while the camper trailer/RV sites are wooded.
LegendBeautiful part of the SNP. I was unfortunately tent camping next to a loud RV, but that was my fault for booking the wrong site! Lovely hikes nearby.
Traveler
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).
Scout
Great site. Cement parking area and tent site is designated with log surround. Clean and airy.
Traveler
We stayed here in October 2020. Nice family campground with cabins, tent sights and RV slots. We tent camped and Steve (owner) took us down to the bank of the south branch of the Potomac. Perfect!
Scout
The tent sites are ON TOP of each other. No trees. Zero seclusion. This is an rv resort.
GuideIt’s has small sites, great for tent camping, but not great for a fifth wheel. Bath houses are available and a small amp store.great for overnight camping and some bear coolers are available.
Scout
Did two nights at Butterfly Camp while hiking Old Rag and other trails in Shenandoah. Great experience, site had everything you would need and more for tent camping and enjoying some peace and quiet.
Traveler
Great place to go tent camping and hiking. The sites are free and are first come first serve. Highly recommended you bring your own water or container to fill at the spring down the road.
LegendWest Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it.
Wanting to spend the a few days midweek in and around Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, we chose Seneca Shadows Campground as our basecamp. Aptly named, as views of Seneca Rocks can enjoyed from your tent site.
Smack dab in the middle of the Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Shadows Campground is part of the U.S. Forest Service, so if you are planning a weekend or popular vacation time stay, log onto (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/mapof_Seneca_Shadows/r/campgroundMap.do?page=map&search=site&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70322 ) and reserve your site.
If you are driving a big RV or hauling a Camper, you'll be parking on one of the 38 sites designed specifically for that purpose. There are a few large group tent sites on the same side of the park roadway before you reach the individual tent sites. Be astute, some have electric and some do not.
Forgive me for saying, but the tent sites appear designed by someone only interested in allowing as many tenters as possible, without regard for privacy...more like cattle in a feed lot (with the exception of 50-53). These are considered "walk to" sites. So I would not camp here during a weekend or holiday. Fortunately, weekdays see few tenters and we had it all to ourselves. Staying on somewhat of an elevated site (50) with some encompassing foliage. However, a roadway runs along the campground to the north, so we heard truck traffic early morning and late. Water and restrooms are located by the parking lot and adequate.
The views of Seneca Rocks were welcomed, when it wasn't raining (a common occurance is WV)...and only one mile from entrance to entrance with the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=7050)...and 14.3 miles/Half hour drive to Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak at 4,862 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7053). At the crossroads a mile away are a couple restaurants and a country store (with ice cream shop) for last minute needs.
While I prefer more isolated campgrounds and sites, this filled the need.
GuideI love the Shenandoah. Nice escape from city life. Tent sites vary. A couple trails near campsite but you must drive to good ones
TravelerA great, quiet campground with fewer sites than most. It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. Some drive up, some drive, park, and walk up. There is a single water source and I'd highly recommend boiling first. H20 does NOT taste good at all. There are a couple of outhouses, and no shower facilities.
Legend$25 + tax per night for a tent site, $2 more per person. Showers and bathhouses avail. RV accommodations. About 6 miles from the town of Culpeper.
ScoutHot clean showers, all the tent sites platforms were covered with mushrooms and map is labeled completely wrong. 3 stars for the high quality amenities available but needs site maintenance.
Traveler
Stopped here for a tent site. And the cost was almost $60 a night. They do offer discounts for some associations but I wasn’t a member of any.
LegendTent-camped here with a group of friends, and the site was plenty large enough for 2 tents, a makeshift tarp shelter, and vehicle. We ended up getting rained out, unfortunately, but not before we got to do a little hiking and relaxing by the fire :) Beautiful area, with lots of great hiking trails right near the campground.
Legend
Just went to book a site since I’m in the area, and it’s a two-night minimum to tent camp. This seems crazy for a Sunday night and the campground is not at all packed. It’s also $50/night, which is too high for primitive sites.
ScoutEnjoyed the area. Campground is nice and the facilities are very clean. Good place to roam around if you have a dog. Tent sites are somewhat close together but overall great place to camp.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. I want to welcome this partner to our platform. This is private land where you will be camping in the woods. Site is level and perfect for car or tent camping. Pack it in, pack it out. Book your stay today and leave them some love!
Harrisonburg, Virginia, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure and tranquility in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Harrisonburg, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Harrisonburg, VA is Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Harrisonburg, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Harrisonburg, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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