Best Tent Camping near Herndon, VA
Tent camping options near Herndon, Virginia center primarily on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which offers several primitive tent sites along the towpath trail. Marsden Tract Group Campsite, located approximately 15 miles from Herndon, provides a secluded tent camping experience with fire rings and picnic tables. Swains Lock Hiker-biker Overnight Campsite offers riverside tent camping with five designated sites that are first-come, first-served and located close to Washington DC.
Most tent sites in the region require walk-in access, with parking available a short distance from camping areas. Marsden Tract requires a moderate hike to reach the campsite with no nearby parking, water, bathrooms or electricity. The C&O Canal campsites feature basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and seasonal water pumps that provide iodine-treated water. Portable toilets are available at most sites but can vary in cleanliness. Campers should bring their own water filtration systems as many sites have limited or seasonal water access. Sites are generally flat with dirt or grassy surfaces suitable for tent setup.
Areas along the Potomac River provide scenic tent camping with varying levels of privacy. The C&O Canal towpath experiences regular foot and bicycle traffic during daylight hours, making riverside campsites less secluded than traditional backcountry camping. Morning fog over the river creates atmospheric conditions appreciated by tent campers seeking nature photography opportunities. While sites close to DC like Swains Lock offer convenience, they tend to fill quickly on weekends, especially during summer months. A camper noted, "If I lived in Washington DC, this is where I would ride my bike to every weekend. Bring the family, bring the fishing poles and forget that there is a hyper uptight city just a few miles away." Visitors should be prepared for train noise at some canal campsites, with one reviewer recommending "bring earplugs" for sites near active rail lines.