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Best Tent Camping near Midland, VA

914 Reviews

Tent campers near Midland, Virginia can find multiple campgrounds in nearby state parks and forest lands, many offering walk-in tent sites and primitive camping options. Sky Meadows State Park provides backcountry tent camping about a mile hike from the parking area, while Little Fort Campground in George Washington National Forest offers secluded tent-only sites with basic amenities. Prince William Forest Park also maintains several tent camping areas within reasonable driving distance.

Most tent sites in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Sky Meadows requires a one-mile hike to reach the campground, with tent pads featuring pea gravel surfaces. Sites typically include bear boxes, fire rings with grates, and access to vault toilets. Little Fort Campground provides fire rings and picnic tables at each site with vault toilets centrally located. Water availability is limited throughout the area, with most tent campgrounds lacking potable water sources. Campers should bring all necessary water or equipment to filter from nearby streams when available.

Walk-in tent camping areas offer more seclusion than drive-in sites, particularly at Sky Meadows where campsites are dispersed throughout wooded hills. The terrain provides natural separation between sites, creating private camping spaces even when the campground is full. Little Fort uses a simple reservation system where campers flip a washer from green to red on a board to claim their site. Wildlife sightings are common at many primitive tent locations, with deer frequently spotted near camping areas. According to one visitor at Sky Meadows, "The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, most of the sites would still feel shaded and private because of how they're dispersed throughout the hills." Tent campers should note that cell service is unreliable or nonexistent at most primitive camping locations in the region.

Map showing campgrounds near Midland, VirginiaExplore the Map

Detours Nearby

A World Away Farm LLC

A World Away Farm LLC

15 min away

Watercress Inn at Landon Farm

Watercress Inn at Landon Farm

42 min away

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Best Tent Sites Near Midland, Virginia (33)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Midland, VA

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Tent Camping Reviews near Midland, VA

914 Reviews of 33 Midland Campgrounds

  • RL
    Apr. 13, 2021

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Great views, primitive camping

    We hiked the one mile into the campground and stayed for a night. It was a pretty flat walk from the overnight parking area to the campground. In the campground there is one bathroom facility with two vault toilets (although one of the doors was locked while we were there, which was unpleasant with a full campground). No running water or showers in the bathhouses. Non-potable water pump is near the restroom. Boil water at least three minutes before consuming. There are two areas with firewood (purchase when you check in or pay $6 cash at the kiosk - honor system). Each site has a bear box, fire ring, picnic table, tent pad with pea gravel, and a lantern pole. Definitely will be back!

    The park has wide open rolling hills and mountain views. Lots of families picnicking and flying kites 🪁💙

  • Nick C.
    Jul. 25, 2022

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Centralized spot in Shenandoah - hot showers!

    I stayed in the tent only / non generator sites which is definitely the way to go. My site was actually a walk in. So I had to park and lug my gear up some steps about 200 feet. The site was shaded with a nice spot for a hammock. Including a fire ring and grill grate, picnic table and a bear box. You are close to the road, so you get noise and headlights in your tent sometimes. Deer and skunk walk through camp all the time. Heard some owls at night. Whooooooo

  • Corey B.
    Jun. 15, 2018

    Little Fort Campground

    Great Stay

    Small and simple campground with a handle full of sites. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Sites are semi secluded from each other. Some sites have direct access to the Peter's Mill Run OHV complex. Vault toilet for all sites to share. No water, no electricity. Have to pack trash out. Sites were first come first serve. Free to camp.

    We camped so we could spend two days on the OHV Trails with the Jeep. Had an incredible time. We'll be back.

  • Terri S.
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Beautiful , well maintained

    Big Meadows Campground was wonderful. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Bear box for food storage. Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Fire ring with grate was available. Large site size. We had site 23. Highly recommend!

  • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 19, 2025

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Full campground, but a happy overnight

    I tent camped for one night at the start of Easter weekend. Lots and lots of folks about, but still enough space to NOT feel encroached upon. Level grass spot for a tent, fairly level paved parking area if car camping, picnic table, fire ring with grill grate. I was on the no generator loop, but in a non electric site (vs tent walk in type). Warm bathrooms, utility sinks in several, pay hot showers, lots of greenery. I will visit again! NO Verizon cell service at all!

  • Lucas B.
    Jul. 2, 2017

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Awesome foray into backpacking

    Came here for the first time in February 2017 to do a shakedown on some new backpacking and camping gear. Super friendly staff and easy check in process. Parking is in a locked lot steps away from trail head which leads to campsites about a mile away. Campsites are in a wooded area of park well away from other park attractions so it's very quiet. Sites are spaced far apart and come with tent pad, picnic table, fire pit and lantern pole. Non potable water is available via hand pump near rest rooms. Rest rooms are very nice and clean. No showers. This was one of my favorite camping experiences ever and I will definitely be back!

  • Jon N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 2, 2022

    Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site

    My favorite Hike in the area

    I'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.

  • M J.
    Jun. 15, 2021

    Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Wonderful location in Shenandoah

    More quiet than the Big Meadows area (less people for sure!). Simple campground, with all you need to experience a wonderful time in Shenandoah. In the more northern area of the park, and we found that with a Thursday-Sunday time frame there was so many less people. Bathrooms are simple, and no showers. Our site B125 was not huge (are any sites here huge? I didn't see one!), but we had space for our larger North Face tent on the tent pad (just barely!). Our site had a fire ring and picnic table, though no bear box. Seems like some sites had the boxes, and others did not. Be sure to lock up your food and anything questionable here. Policy was pretty strict about that. B125 was tucked against a hill and woods (and man those woods are right at the edge of your site). Across from us was a handicap site, and next to us was a handicap site as well. It meant we had basically no neighbors for our early June weekend camping. Saturday night was quite full all around (still no neighbors for that spot). Some spots at Matthews Arm are reservable, others are first come first serve. It's cheap! You can park some trailers here, but it probably depends on your set up which spots would be best for that. There are a number of trails that you can get to either from campground, or sorta close. We hiked out near the group site and could get to Overall Run Falls (which I believe is the tallest in the park). As with all Shenandoah hikes, a good amount of up and down on this one. We really enjoyed our visit here and will definitely be back! 

    Don't forget to wait for full dark, and then look up. Breathtaking. 

    So. Many. Stars.

  • Ellen C.
    May. 30, 2019

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Simply Amazing!!!

    As a youth I camped in Big Meadows for two weeks every summer with my parents, and this was my first trip back in nearly 30 years. We booked walk-in site number 35, which is the first site off the parking area. Despite being so close, it was secluded and well shaded. This site does not include a bear box due to its close proximity to your car, which is a minor hassle when preparing meals, but you absolutely must adhere to the rules regarding food storage when not in use within your vehicle or bear box (where available).

    During the week of our stay we saw bears daily, hunting for acorns in the forested areas surrounding the sites that were slightly further back from ours. I've attached some photos I'd captured of them, as well as, some deer that paid us no mind as they meandered right through our site several times a day. The bears were active mid afternoon to shortly before sunset and are very skilled at climbing trees. When we left the site to run errands and such we would check the trees before we walked in, as one afternoon we were sitting by the fire and unbeknownst to us one had climbed up a tree during our absence. He decided to high tail it out of there after we settled in. The tree was a mere 40 yards away in a nearby site. They generally want nothing to do with us humans but if cornered they will feel threatened and become aggressive.

    The showers are absolutely the best I have ever encountered in all my years of camping, so I happily paid the $1.75 for 5.25 minutes. The water is hot and the stalls are clean and much nicer than my own bathroom at home.

    The laundry facility is $1.00 for each unit and the washer takes :30 minutes to complete and the dryer cycle is about the same, although I had only done a small load towards the end of our trip, and it was completely dry in :15 minutes.

    The wood sold at the shower building is hit or miss, they sell two types one in yellow nets and one red. According to the attendant they were the same kiln dried wood but just from different manufacturers. The wood in the yellow burned better and sold out faster during our trip for whatever reason. The Walmart in Luray sells wood (which is okay to use in the park, provided it has the USDA symbol on the packaging) and at nearly half the price burned a lot longer and better.

    The camp store is well stocked with camping gadgets, canned goods, bread, snacks, toiletries and cleaning products. There is a small freezer section with individually wrapped meats, such as, burgers, steak and chicken breast which was a plus. They also had a nice beer selection. Prices are reasonable, similar to that of a convenience store. Gas was only .10 cents more than the valley which isn't too bad considering. We had a meal each at both the wayside and the lodge and they were both good and a nice change from prepping meals at the site.

    The rangers were great, helpful and informative. I was mildly worried after reading some of the reviews here, because our group included a few musicians and guitars were played and songs were sung. As long as you adhere to the quite hours you will have no issues.

    Ranger programs were offered every other day at the amphitheater and there were various presentations at the visitor center

    The utility sink near the bathrooms that are scattered throughout the campground is very handy for washing dishes but do not throw food out there. Scrape the food off your dishware/cookware into a bag and throw it out at the trash bins before washing. Twice over the first weekend the sink was clogged and completely unusable and had to be cleared by park maintenance. It can and WILL attract bears if left in that condition.

    Overall, this is a beautiful and well maintained place to place to pitch a tent and I highly recommend it.

Guide to Midland

Tent campsites near Midland, Virginia range from secluded forest spots to riverside locations with varying terrain and access requirements. The region sits within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations between 400-1000 feet, creating microclimates that affect camping conditions. Fall temperatures often drop below 45°F at night, requiring proper insulation for tent camping.

What to do

Explore riverfront areas: At Caledon State Park Campground, primitive camping spots sit directly on the Potomac River. "We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River. Gorgeous view and I was glad to be there after the long haul," notes Katie T.

Visit historical sites: Prince William Forest Park contains multiple cabin camp areas built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. "These camps were made by the CCC and even used by the then-CIA during WWII. They are extremely rustic and you should expect to see lots of bugs, snakes, etc. during your stay, and it adds to the experience in a great way," reports Dan N.

Observe wildlife: Many camping areas offer opportunities to see deer, birds, and occasionally bears. According to a visitor at Little Fort Campground, "It is very peaceful in the woods. The only thing is it is next to an off-road vehicle trail and there was a lot of action coming down until about 7 PM."

What campers like

Self-service systems: Little Fort Campground uses a simple reservation approach. "You select a campsite by flipping a washer on a hook on the board from green to red. Flip it back when you leave," explains one camper. This allows for flexible arrival times without formal check-in procedures.

Natural separation: The rolling terrain at Sky Meadows State Park Campground creates private camping spaces. "The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, I think most of the sites would still feel shaded and private because of how they're dispersed throughout the hills," notes Reba H.

Accessible water features: Lake Anna State Park provides beach access with swimming areas. "The swimming area is clean and very family oriented... if your looking for a relaxing fishing afternoon, they have some of the nicest fishing piers with ample sitting area," writes Jennifer G.

What you should know

Limited amenities: Most primitive sites lack running water. At Lake Anna State Park Campground, "Campers can choose sites with or without electricity. Since it is a state park, it lacks some amenities that privately owned campgrounds have, but camping in a state park is about enjoying the natural features of the park."

Water planning: Pack all water needs or bring filtration equipment. "No water on site and no reasonable source to filter water from so be prepared," warns a camper at Caledon State Park about the 2.5-mile hike-in site.

Hike-in logistics: Some campgrounds require significant walks from parking areas. Sky Meadows requires proper planning: "The campsites are about 1 mile from the overnight lot, which was a great hike-in if you don't overpack! We brought a wagon with extra gear with us, but we definitely took in too many items," advises Russ L.

Cell service limitations: Reception is unreliable across most camping areas. At Little Fort Campground, "On this app it says T-Mobile access, I'm a T-Mobile customer, no reception at all but drive 5 minutes back down the mountain and you're good to go."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Midland, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Midland, VA is Happyland Cabin — Prince William Forest Park with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Midland, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Midland, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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