C
Christopher P.
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TravelerChippokes State Park Campground
Generous sized sites but only semi-private. Excellent facilities
Tent Camping near Norfolk, VA
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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State parks and wildlife refuges surrounding Norfolk, Virginia provide diverse tent camping opportunities, from coastal beaches to inland forests. False Cape State Park Campground in Virginia Beach offers primitive tent-only camping with both oceanside and bay side options. Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton features 11 primitive tent sites, including two group sites, all requiring a short walk from the parking area. Merchants Millpond State Park, though in North Carolina, is within driving distance and offers canoe-in and backpack tent camping in a unique swamp environment.
Tent campsites at False Cape State Park require significant effort to access, with a 5-6 mile hike or bike ride through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge from the Little Island Park parking lot. Campers must carry all supplies, though drinking water is available at the park. Sandy Bottom's walk-in tent sites feature sand platforms, picnic tables, and fire rings with nearby trash cans. The bathrooms with flush toilets are located near the parking area. Merchants Millpond's primitive tent sites are accessible by canoe or kayak, with some sites requiring a 4.5-mile paddle. Bug spray is essential at all locations, particularly during summer months when insects can be abundant.
According to reviews, False Cape State Park provides exceptional solitude for tent campers. One visitor noted, "Even on the Fourth of July weekend, with every campsite booked, this place was quiet and felt very removed from the beaches several miles north in Virginia Beach." Oceanside campers can choose between sites tucked in live oaks or directly on the beach. Sandy Bottom Nature Park campers report highway noise as the primary drawback, with one camper stating, "No matter where you were in the park, there was significant noise from the highway." The park compensates with convenient access to hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and boat rentals. Backcountry tent camping at these locations offers varying levels of privacy, with False Cape providing the most secluded experience.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Norfolk (8)
1. False Cape State Park Campground
"We hiked in on the East Dike trail through Back Bay, about 5.4 miles, with everything for the weekend on our backs."
"False Cape is a primitive campground that can only be accessed by walking or biking through the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge along the southern coast of Virginia."
19 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $21 / night
2. Wisteria Beach Hideaway
"Loved the location - the beaches were surrounded by pine, wetlands, and tall grasses - it felt remote and not overdeveloped! This campsite is comfortable!"
"Super close to a few different beaches. The bug screen and hammock that are part of the site was so appreciated. Also, having a shower was great - it felt like we were glamping! Went in September."
from $35 - $50 / night
3. Carter's Cove Campground
4. Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"We did the canoe-in camping and brought out Hobie kayaks (beware if you bring them our mirage drive seemed to find every downed tree or cypress knob under the water 😜) Buoys marked the different routes"
"We were looking for a reasonably quick (one overnight) camping trip that was different, but within a 2ish hour drive."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 - $57 / night
5. Bennetts Creek Canoe In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"The campsights are pretty close together so don't expect privacy on a busy weekend. The scenery is TOP KNOTCH!"
"My group and I stayed at the Benett’s creek high ground primitive camp sites 1-3. It was a 4.5 mile paddle to the site, then roughly 1.5 down to the dock with a staged vehicle."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 / night
6. Merchants Millpond State Park Backpack Campground
"Around 7pm because we had a late start. Unfortunately we didn't stay because our site was hike in and I thought I did drive in. So we ended up getting a hotel instead."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 / night
7. Merchants Millpond Group Walk-In Sites — Merchants Millpond State Park
Check Availabilityfrom $72 / night
8. Big Woods WMA
Drive Time
- 1 hr 22 min from Richmond, VA
- 3 hrs 5 min from Lexington Park, MD
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Norfolk, VA
12 Photos of 8 Norfolk Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Norfolk, VA
673 Reviews of 8 Norfolk Campgrounds
- AAngela C.
ScoutKiptopeke State Park Campground
Camping in high winds
This campground was very enjoyable. I spent a lot of time at the fishing pier, learning to ID birds I had never identified before. Brown pelicans were everywhere near the sunken ships. I also talked to the Hawkwatch people for a bit.
My campsite was far enough from the bathroom I couldn't hear the door slam, but since I was the only one in the F loop, that wouldn't have mattered. Since the loop was so empty, it was an absolute pleasure.
Had the campground been full, I would have felt too close to the people in tents in the sites next to me.
One great thing was that there weren't tent pads so we didn't have to worry about how to fit two tents on to one tent pad.
- JJonathan B.
GuideThousand Trails Williamsburg
Nice amenities
Enjoying this campground. Close to all the attractions. Incredible staff, super friendly. Pool and game room are wonderful.
Diane R.TravelerMachicomoco State Park Campground
Beautifully Quiet
Note to Self: No Primitive Site reservations...EVER. I love this park. It's situated far enough from the busy traffic noise...beautiful Virginia city of Hayes. When I arrived, it was such a scorching day and there wasn't nearly enough tree cover to shield my tent from the "son of Hades". Suffered heat exhaustion almost to the point of death...Literally. Night was my only respite. If it hadn't been for the wonderful camp attendants who came to my rescue, it would've been an utterly failed experience. Bless their hearts. Other than that, this was a great training experience for an old Novice camper. Now that I'm a bit more practiced, I'm going back 😁, armed with knowledge and more confidence.
- CChristopher P.Traveler
Machicomoco State Park Campground
Nice Campground
The good: super clean and new restrooms / showers. The entire parking immaculate. Stayed at site 12. Offers water views and shade. Site 13 is similar and is probably the most ideal site.
Cons: zero privacy. The sites are basically scattered around an open grassy area and fairly close together.
Be aware: sites are not vehicle accessible. Need to carry your kit 50-75 yards.
Jeremy R.GuideNewport News Park
Beautiful scenery
Our stay is going to be the 21 days that are allowed. In that time, I have been on many nature walks with my dog. Very enjoyable, very well maintained. The only thing I did not like is the bathrooms. I have seen a cleaning lady come through, but I think it is primarily for the sinks and toilets. The shower curtains are moldy, lots of spiders. The shower pressure and temp are great. All in all, it is affordable and very peaceful.
- AAlexandra S.Traveler
Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA
Holy DRAMA
This is a long one! Here we go. My partner and I travel for work, we went out of our way to move to this location based on reviews saying this is a great place. We have paid in full for the whole stay which is about little over 2 months. We have been here approx 2 weeks give or take. We work night shift. No activity during the day. Simple easy. Not our first campground by any means. At first, we were excited to experience the amenities and such. Now we’re uncomfortable to try anything out. Why you ask? Situation: first day we move in, we end up next to what seems like the literal only other long term or possibly even permanent resident on the grounds. My service animal alerted me to a trigger, which she left the front door of the camper before we walked out. Recalled her to me once we saw that the perm resident (our neighbor) had what presented as an aggressive dog. (Husky maybe?). Within not EVEN 5 minutes of this event, someone was at our door- instead of asking what is going on we were immediately accused of her running around off leash I guess? We had just woken up from sleeping and it was evening time, time to go to work. Instead of arguing or even offering up ANY facts related to the situation I simply said got it thanks and the interaction ended. I’m thinking to myself well damn. Okay. A week or so maybe goes by? Leash in hand VISIBLE -at the door my dog steps out, I step out behind her- same time same situation. She walks ahead of me to where she will relieve herself, I ask for her to come back next to me, she recalls- neighbors dog loses its mind again. I look up at neighbor and say “just go ahead and call man, I get it”. She calls. This time THREE employees are driving on carts to our site, at this point we’re already leaving for work. I knew it was coming, figured they would for sure ask what’s going on this time. They don’t. The older woman accompanied by two men behind her- simply says “you have been told before you need to leash your dog”. We reply yes we understand. Nobody asks for a description of the events, what’s going on, or if this even happened. The female voice is raised and hostile presenting towards both of us. The man behind her approaches our car and peers into the vehicle I’m not sure if to intimidate or what, but that action was also very ineffective in diffusing the situation and instead very intimidating. And now making us both VERY late to work as this is an extra 15 minute drive to the hospital in which we work at. Seemingly, the word of this permanent resident is all they needed to full on accuse the two of us… of what? I am not sure. My animal has resided all over the country in countless locations, all while working and we have had no issues to date. At this point I am still remaining silent as the female worker continues to educate us on our alleged actions. My concern is that there has been ZERO questioning, only full on accusations. We’re highly uncomfortable at this point. They say “we will be speaking with the general manager tomorrow”, Which also felt threatening. I’d like to add that given the whole situation this wouldn’t matter but since this is happening: earlier that morning after work I had stopped by the front desk, to ask about a package I thought that I sent to the wrong place, but didn’t. The same female was there. I remember thinking wow she’s actually so rude. But I brushed it off. Now looking back she must have some kind of prejudice toward myself and my dog. I’ve never been threatened / accused so one-sidedly in my entire career such as what has been happening at this campground. Our resolution was to request moving sites, however nothing was asked of us WHATSOEVER. As stated we were not given any opportunity to speak on the situation. Will attempt to update review whenever we speak with management of this location. Warning is to be wary of implicit bias in staff, potential favoritism, and inconsistent / unfair conflict resolution, aggressive long term campers, and lack of communication from staff.
- JJoel D.Scout
Davis Lakes Resort
The Little Canping Gem of Suffolk
We stumbled across Davis Lakes Campground last year when we brought our camper down to visit our son and grandchildren. Originally, we planned to stay closer to Virginia Beach, but after finding Davis Lakes, we decided to give it a try. We were lucky enough to get site F28 right on the lake, and we enjoyed it so much that we came back this year—and even booked the exact same site.
After reading some of the other reviews, I wanted to share our experience because it was very different. Yes, there are some rules regarding dogs at the beach, but they never interfered with our stay. We enjoyed walking our dogs every morning around the campground and lakes, and it was a wonderful way to start each day.
The beach itself was clean, had plenty of nice chairs, and the AquaGlide was an absolute blast. We spent 5–6 hours a day swimming, and surprisingly, the beach never felt crowded.
One thing that really stood out was how fair the prices were. The campground store was stocked with essentials, and unlike many campgrounds, the prices were very reasonable. If you forgot a loaf of bread or wanted to grab a pool float, you didn’t feel like you were being gouged. They also have a cute snack shop, a spacious game room, and an impressive movie selection, making it a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.
The campground itself was clean and very well maintained. Although many of the sites are seasonal, they were neat, well cared for, and nothing like some seasonal campgrounds where sites become cluttered or run down. It was obvious that both the staff and the campers take pride in the campground.
The nightly rates were very reasonable, and while there is a visitor fee, we found it to be completely fair considering the amenities. We had an amazing time with our son and his family, and the campground played a big part in making those memories.
Davis Lakes isn’t a luxury resort, and that’s part of its charm. Its focus is on beautiful lakes, swimming, friendly service, and providing a relaxing camping experience. It reminded me of the kind of campgrounds I grew up enjoying—simple, welcoming, and centered around making great memories.
We’ll absolutely be back. If we lived closer, I’d seriously consider getting a seasonal site myself. In fact, my son is even talking about buying a camper just so he can keep it nearby and enjoy Davis Lakes more often. Many of the employees and seasonal campers are locals who return year after year, and I think that says everything you need to know about this place.
I K.TravelerFirst Landing State Park Campground
Very quiet all stuff are so earthy, very kind.
It was very nice visit.
Guide to Norfolk
Tent camping options near Norfolk, Virginia include a mix of coastal wetlands, inland forests, and swampy environments within a 1-2 hour drive. Overnight sites range from walk-in platforms at urban nature centers to remote beach locations requiring substantial hiking or paddling efforts. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 85°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
What to do
Paddling and boating: Sandy Bottom Nature Park offers affordable rentals for exploring the lake. "There are kayaks and paddle boats you can rent by the hour. This park has plenty of camping spots and also has some yurts that are available to rent out," explains Brandon W. in his review of Sandy Bottom Nature Park.
Wildlife viewing: The unique swamp environment at Merchants Millpond State Park supports diverse aquatic and woodland species. "Tons of wildlife to see. Turtles, gators, snakes. Not a place I'd go in the summer because I'd imagine you'd get carried away by bugs but definitely a place to check out in spring or fall," notes Heather R. about her experience at Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground.
Beach fishing: Campers at False Cape can fish directly from their beachfront sites. "The saltwater fishing in the area was great. My cousin even caught a few baby sharks," shares Sam M. in his review of False Cape State Park.
What campers like
Remote beach access: False Cape State Park offers isolation that contrasts with typical developed beaches. "Really there wasn't hardly anyone else out there, so it felt like we had our own private beach. We hiked out to our spot, but we saw some people biking into theirs," writes Sam M. in his review of False Cape State Park Campground.
Family-friendly amenities: Sandy Bottom Nature Park balances primitive camping with convenient facilities. "The sites were located about 1/4 mile from the parking lot down a trail. They were spaced nicely apart and had nice sand tent platforms with a picnic table and a fire ring with a grate. Trash cans were very close by, which was super nice," says liz J. in her review.
Unique ecosystems: The cypress swamp environment at Merchants Millpond creates distinctive camping opportunities. "The cypress trees, swamp flora and fauna are amazing. One of my kids caught a gar, we saw a bald eagle's nest, snakes, frogs, turtles, and lily pads everywhere," writes Becky E. about Bennetts Creek Canoe In Campground.
What you should know
Access challenges: Many of the best tent camping spots near Norfolk require significant effort to reach. "We've lived so close to this park for so long and I regret not coming sooner. This park is 5+ miles from the Little Island Park Parking lot, where you have to park if you're staying overnight. So, you have to hike, bike or boat into the primitive campground," explains Katie M. about her experience at False Cape.
Weather considerations: Coastal sites experience strong winds and variable conditions. "It was super windy at the beach but at our campsite under the trees it felt great. Spacious enough we weren't right on top of each other," notes Kailyn U. about False Cape State Park.
Navigation difficulties: The swamp environment at Merchants Millpond can be disorienting. "The kayak/canoe round was not easy to navigate so bring your 3rd party map/GPS. The maps they provide are almost useless because it outlines the terrain but because it's a swamp the terrain changes with the water level. Islands can appear out of nowhere," advises Mark N. in his review of Merchants Millpond State Park Backpack Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Choose accessible sites: Sandy Bottom offers the most convenient tent camping for families with young children. "This campsite and park is a ton of fun. We've never camped here but we lived about 5 minutes down the road from the park and absolutely loved it. There are miles of trails around the lake and through the woods you can follow. It is extremely dog friendly with a fenced in dog park as well," writes Brandon W.
Pack for the elements: Coastal sites require preparation for wind, sand and insects. "We came in mid-June and the weather was gorgeous - 80s during the day and 60s at night. There were some biting flies and mosquitos but nothing a little bug spray couldn't take care of," shares Katie M. about camping at False Cape.
Consider bike trailers: For remote beach camping with small children, bike transportation works well. "We're both in good shape, and on bike we made the trek in less than an hour. I rode my mountain bike, and my wife road her hybrid commuter bike without issue. We brought a collapsible 5 gallon jug that I had to ride back to the visitors center (about 2 miles from our campsite) to fill up," describes Tim R. about bringing children to Wisteria Beach Hideaway.
Tips from RVers
Limited options: True RV camping is scarce in the immediate Norfolk area, with most options being primitive or tent-focused. "More of a long term stay but there are a few spots for RVs. Laundry, trash, restrooms, picnic table, fire pit (day use only). Mature trees and over all space is very large. Sites are level with some spacing," notes N I. in a review of Carter's Cove Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Norfolk, VA?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Norfolk, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Norfolk, VA is False Cape State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 11 reviews.
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tent camping near
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Norfolk, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Norfolk, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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