Best Tent Camping near Leesburg, VA
Tent campsites surrounding Leesburg, Virginia range from established state park grounds to primitive hiker-biker sites along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Sky Meadows State Park offers dedicated tent camping approximately 20 miles west of Leesburg, featuring a backcountry campground that requires a one-mile hike to reach the sites. Antietam Creek Campground provides riverside tent camping with walk-in access, while several hiker-biker campsites exist along the C&O Canal Towpath, including Swains Lock and Horsepen Branch.
Most tent-only sites in the region feature basic amenities appropriate for primitive camping experiences. Sky Meadows sites include tent pads with pea gravel, bear boxes, fire rings with grill gates, and picnic tables. Many sites require campers to pack in all water or filter from nearby streams, though some C&O Canal sites offer non-potable water pumps treated with iodine. Vault toilets or pit latrines serve most campgrounds, but shower facilities are extremely limited. Walk-in access distances vary from 75 feet at Antietam Creek to a full mile at Sky Meadows, with terrain ranging from flat paths to moderately challenging uphill sections with exposed roots and rocks.
The secluded nature of these tent campgrounds creates opportunities for wildlife viewing and quiet experiences. At Sky Meadows, tent sites are dispersed throughout wooded hills, providing privacy even when the campground is full. Campers frequently observe white-tailed deer, and bear precautions are necessary throughout the region. Proximity to the Potomac River at sites like Swains Lock and Antietam Creek allows for fishing and peaceful riverside camping. According to one visitor, "The sites are right off the C&O towpath, which is busy during the day with runners, walkers, and bikers, but becomes quiet in the evening." Another camper noted that Sky Meadows "was one of my favorite camping experiences ever" due to the well-spaced campsites and natural setting away from other park attractions.