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Mount Solon, Virginia features a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping areas within the surrounding Shenandoah Valley region. Natural Chimneys Regional Park provides tent and RV sites directly in Mount Solon, while Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area offers free primitive camping approximately 10 miles west. The area supports various accommodation types including cabins at Shenandoah Valley Campground, tent camping at North River Campground, and dispersed options at Flagpole Knob. Most developed campgrounds maintain facilities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to potable water.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with some areas like Loft Mountain Campground operating only from mid-May through late October. The mountainous terrain creates variable road conditions, particularly for dispersed sites which may require careful navigation of gravel roads with occasional potholes. Several campgrounds provide sanitary dump stations and electric hookups for RVs, though primitive areas lack these amenities. Many sites accept pets, but regulations vary by location. Cell service can be limited or non-existent in more remote areas, especially at higher elevations. As one camper noted about North River Campground, "It is just remote enough. There's no service for Verizon, but if you have an emergency, you can drive a mile or two and send out a call."
Campers consistently mention the mountain views as a highlight of staying in the Mount Solon area. The Natural Chimneys formation provides a distinctive backdrop at the county park campground, while higher elevation sites offer panoramic vistas of the Shenandoah Valley. Mixed-use campgrounds throughout the region balance accessibility with natural immersion. Developed campgrounds tend to fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays, particularly those with swimming access. Visitors appreciate the proximity to hiking trails, with several camping areas serving as convenient basecamps for exploring George Washington National Forest. Many camping areas maintain quiet atmospheres despite their relative accessibility, making them suitable for families seeking peaceful outdoor experiences without extreme isolation.
"We spent 2 weeks at SVC while our trunk was in the shop(our travel trailer got towed there- highly recommend Good Sam Roadside policy). Everyone on staff was accomodating, helpful and friendly."
"It was clean, but had a trail of ants get into my belongings. Sites are close to one another and the cabins are not near the water. They are near the bath house though."
from $36 - $132 / night
Check Availability"This campground is perfect for those looking to just get away from things for a couple of days."
"We got a walk in site, so our tent was way far away from cars and other people. The site included a fire pit w/grill grate, picnic table, and metal bear box."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Car could be parked right next to us on site 2. Next to a creek, so good sounds and cool environment 3. Some walking trails 4."
"the pond has a great little trail you can walk around and at night the stars are gorgeous. the water is also stocked with fish!"
"The first camp sites are easy to get to are close to bathrooms and a creek if you keep going down the road the road does get pretty rough and I wouldn’t recommend any cars or less the 4 wheel drives at"
"Hiking,trout fishing & wheeling close by."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"The roads are paved up to the last mile, which turns to a well maintained gravel road, so no need for an off roading vehicle."
"Lots of bmx bikers, tucked far back in the woods so decent for privacy except that sites are basically in an open field."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"If you're lucky enough there might be some neat events nearby."
"Natural Chimmneys is on a river and has hiking trails."
from $23 - $44 / night
Check Availability"There’s plenty of camp spots close by with some cover from trees. Very spaced out. Everyone you run into is nice and welcoming."
"I drove to Switzer Lake first and from there stayed on the trail all the way to Flag Pole. The drive took a few hours but was a ton of fun."
"stayed here to be somewhat close to the national park. we ended up staying an extra night because we enjoyed the camp so much. staff was all around lovely. had a few trails around and a camp store. only"
"There are a couple of nice, short trails and the natural chimney formations are fascinating. Thanks to a tip from the office, a great bonus was eating at an Italian restaurant in nearby Bridgewater."
from $22 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road."
"Some things to note- the lake front campsites fill up quickly and they are not drive in. Since I sleep in my Jeep, I needed a drive in spot."
"You can fish in the lake though we didn't catch anything. Wifi is free and open so no password and therefore, not secure. Trash picked up each day."
"Good location close to I81 but little road noise. I did hear a train."
from $45 - $99 / night
Check Availability
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
ScoutShowers are well removed from the center of activity
Also the personalities at the office are extremely short
GuideThis is an awesome campground that is definitely worth the cost. The sites are really nice, there’s a decent bathhouse and you can walk to the brewery for beers and food. Plus the area is beautiful!
TravelerVery nice spot, good tent setup pads and fire rings at all the sites, my one complaint is that it is right next to the road that while not frequently used, the occasional car can often take away from the remote experience. There are some sites a little further in but the diff is minimal. Overall very great, well maintained spot
TravelerThere were at least 12 numbered sites. Free dispersed camping. 14 day limit. Most sites had sun so you could have solar. Some sites were very private tucked far off the gravel road. All sites were very spaced out. Very quiet.
TravelerI used the coordinates and it took me to a campground that charges $15 a day. They weren’t private being right on the gravel road. There were tables,pits and the shepherds hook in each one. There were some that were on the river. There were toilets. I didn’t use them so I can’t say anything more about them. Not much sun thru the dense trees for solar. I kept driving around the forest on FR227 and came upon a whole nother set of labeled dispersed campsites that were very private and have open areas for solar. They were numbered. There were at least 12 that I saw.
ScoutThis KOA was quiet and perfect for a short stay. We enjoyed our time here. The staff was friendly.
GuideI chose Big Meadows to stay at because my traveling companion is definitely a bit bougie and was anxious about camping in the mountains of a NP. Due to this site having showers, toilets, a laundromat, camp store(s) and even a lodge/taproom, they felt more comfortable. We stayed at site D142, right near the entrance by the registration office and showers. I didn’t expect the site to be so nice and quiet and still feel quite private despite the location! We checked out the loops and besides the tent sites, I actually preferred our site. We stayed the week before Memorial Day weekend and I was pleased with how quiet it was. Quiet hours were strictly adhered without rangers having to ask, other campers were respectful toward each other and we had no issues. The NP staff were awesome and the concession employees for the showers, camp store, and the Wayside grill were genuinely friendly and obviously cared about their jobs, which I sincerely appreciate. Wayside grill with attached camp store was fun and had some great gift items as well as some pretty solid quality hiking and camping items. The grill even had a beyond burger which I greatly appreciated! The lodge was funky but not my cup of tea, the taproom was ok, although the employees were really nice.
It did rain half the time we were there with extremely heavy fog so we only did a few hikes but they were still a lot of fun. We didn’t see any bear either! The number one animal we had invade our campsite on the regular were birds. Two catbirds regularly tried to involve themselves in everything, including landing on a pot of oatmeal I was actively cooking and standing next to! We followed leave no trace of course but any chance the birds got, from catbirds, robins, brown thrashers, towhee, and even a redstart, they would try to investigate.
There is clean drinking water listed on the campsite maps, there are utility sinks for grey water (don’t use the bathroom sink!), bathrooms were always clean and bathrooms and showers are open 24/7 and are well lit. I didn’t buy the firewood so I’m unsure how much it is but the little camp store was open from 9-6 (right by the bathroom) for firewood, ice, and other various supplies.
Only downsides to the site are 1) showers are not cheap ($5 for 10 mins) and don’t stay warm for long so you’re showering in chilly water. Some stalls last a bit longer than others. 2) The biggest issue though was surprisingly the bear boxes. They are quite large and fit a lot of stuff which is great. However, you are expected to keep your cooler in them. I have a bear proof cooler (IGBC) so I’ve never had to experience this situation before. The bear box being made of metal, heated everything up in it which caused rapid melting of ice. Despite pre-chilling it and my ice usually lasting for days and days, we had to refill it daily. The camp store thankfully sold ice (10 lb bags for $5) but it was frustrating that there was no other option for bear proof items. I didn’t fight the rangers regarding it because it’s their rules, it’s for the safety of the bears and people, and the rangers and park staff have enough stuff to deal with.
All in all, I’ve never really glamped before so it was quite a luxurious trip even with the rain and fog for half the trip. I’ll most definitely be back and would even stay at the same site or a tent only site with no driveway.
ScoutBeautiful and secluded. Primitive camping area for boondocking or tent camping. Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses.
Camping opportunities near Mount Solon, Virginia range from roadside tent sites to higher elevation dispersed areas across the George Washington National Forest. The region sits within the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province at elevations between 1,100-4,400 feet, creating variable weather conditions throughout the year. Many campsites offer creek access with several locations requiring high-clearance vehicles to navigate unpaved forest roads.
Trout fishing access: Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area provides stocked fishing opportunities just west of Mount Solon. "The pond is stocked with trout in season, check DGIF site for dates," notes Paul P., who appreciates the off-grid experience. Another visitor mentioned, "I got to hike a nearby trail that while challenging was rewarding. I highly recommend this first come first serve campground."
Mountain biking trails: North River Campground attracts cyclists with nearby technical routes. "Lots of bmx bikers, tucked far back in the woods so decent for privacy except that sites are basically in an open field," reports Lucy P. The campground sits within minutes of multiple trail systems connecting to the broader Shenandoah Valley network.
Waterfall hikes: Hone Quarry serves as a trailhead for waterfall access routes. "We went to the first site after the lake and it was fairly flat and open. And we were right by the trail that goes to the waterfall. The creek was a few minute walk away as well," explains Breanna M. The trail network offers moderate difficulty hikes ranging from 2-5 miles.
Privacy between sites: Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping offers secluded spots away from crowds. "There is a huge variety of spots, starting from huge ones right on the lake to more secluded, smaller spots deeper in the woods along the creek," reports Adam G., who has camped there multiple times. These dispersed sites require self-sufficiency as they lack facilities.
Seasonal program activities: Loft Mountain Campground provides ranger-led programs during summer months. "We drove to the visitor center at the Big Meadow. They had very cool programs and really good food. I enjoyed a blackberry shake, which is kinda famous for the area, and it was delicious," shares Katrin M. The Appalachian Trail passes directly through the campground, offering day hiking options.
Wildlife encounters: Many campers report dawn and dusk wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the region. "We were certainly surprised to have a deer family join us during dinner. The mountain remained fogged in for most of our stay, but hikes on the AT and Doyles Falls were stunning," writes Cindy M. about her Loft Mountain experience.
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to Flagpole Knob requires appropriate vehicles. "This site requires a 4x4 vehicle with clearance. The trail leading to and from camp can be a bit tricky for some," advises David B. The unpaved roads become particularly challenging after rain.
Limited mobile connectivity: Cell service disappears quickly at higher elevations and in valley bottoms. At North River Campground, "It is just remote enough. There's no service for Verizon, but if you have an emergency, you can drive a mile or two and send out a call," explains one camper.
Seasonal closures affect availability: Several campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Loft Mountain Campground only welcomes campers "mid May to late October," according to official listings, while others like Switzer Lake become difficult to access during winter months when roads may not be maintained.
Swimming options: Shenandoah Valley Campground offers multiple water features for hot days. "They have a store, a grill, a game room, and a big swimming pool. And large beautiful fields. You can even have a tent right on the river. Across from a beautiful waterfall," explains Joy A. The river provides natural wading areas with graduated depths appropriate for different ages.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy the resident wildlife at some campgrounds. "My kids loved all the bunnies, the river, pool and putt-putt," reports Ryan Z. about Shenandoah Valley Campground. The semi-tame rabbit population creates memorable experiences for young campers.
Pack extra clothing layers: Temperature swings of 30+ degrees between day and night are common in the mountains. Mike C. reports from Switzer Lake: "Average Daily Temp: 61, Average Evening Temp: 30," highlighting the need for proper preparation even during warmer months.
Site size constraints: Consider your RV dimensions when booking. "The one problem is the camper section is very tight, whereas the tent sites look more roomy," notes Ryan Z. about Shenandoah Valley Campground. Sites with full hookups tend to be closer together than more primitive options.
Limited number of full-hookup sites: Walnut Hills Campground offers various utility options but requires advance planning. "Not all sites have full hookup. It was separated from the site on one side and close to the site on the back side," reports Laure D. Weekends typically fill well in advance during peak season.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds provide dump services without sewer hookups at individual sites. "They pick up trash each morning and have propane refill, if needed," notes DK S. at Walnut Hills. Smaller campgrounds like North River maintain sanitary dump stations but lack other RV amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mount Solon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mount Solon, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 161 campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Solon, VA and 32 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mount Solon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mount Solon, VA is Shenandoah Valley Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Solon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 32 free dispersed camping spots near Mount Solon, VA.
What parks are near Mount Solon, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Mount Solon, VA that allow camping, notably George Washington & Jefferson National Forests and Shenandoah National Park.
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