Best Tent Camping near Norfolk, VA
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.