Tent campers visiting Norge, Virginia have several established campground options within driving distance. Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton offers primitive tent sites situated about a quarter-mile from the parking lot along a lakeshore trail. The park features 11 tent sites, including two group sites, each with sand platforms, picnic tables, and fire rings. Carter's Cove Campground provides basic tent camping facilities, while Wisteria Beach Hideaway offers a more secluded experience with beach access.
Walk-in tent sites dominate the camping landscape near Norge, with most requiring short hikes from parking areas to reach campsites. Sandy Bottom Nature Park requires campers to park and walk approximately a quarter mile to reach tent sites, which are positioned away from hiking trails for privacy. Sites typically include fire rings with grates, picnic tables, and nearby trash receptacles. Drinking water availability varies between campgrounds, with some like Wisteria Beach Hideaway providing access to water and shower facilities, while others like Big Woods WMA offer no amenities whatsoever. Most campgrounds permit fires in designated rings, though seasonal restrictions may apply.
The backcountry tent camping experience near Norge varies considerably between locations. Sandy Bottom Nature Park offers a natural setting despite its proximity to Highway 64, which creates consistent background noise. The park compensates with recreational opportunities including hiking trails, fishing, and boat rentals. For more secluded primitive tent setups, Brewer's Point in Belle Isle State Park provides hike-in or boat-in access to tent sites. Wisteria Beach Hideaway offers a blend of comfort and seclusion, with one camper noting that "the provided insect screen kept us well protected" and that "the site is very private" with hammocks and fire pits enhancing the experience. Most tent campgrounds in the area maintain a natural setting with mature trees providing shade and habitat for local wildlife.
"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
from $15 - $18 / night
TravelerA beautiful campground. Nice wooded sites with decent space between sites. Bathroom and laundry were clean. Showers were just ok. Nice trails and the walk along the James
river was nice. Will definitely stay again.
TravelerDO NOT WAIST YOUR MONEY! THIS IS A SCAM!! Our 3 campsites flooded with 6 inches of water within an hour of arriving before high tide. Very difficult to get ahold of staff due to limited hours of business. I have requested a refund for failure to render services due to unusable campsites. I have left several voicemails and sent emails with attached pictures. Management has been avoiding my phone calls, will not call back. Very unprofessional. I received one call from"management" at 7:20 pm to tell me that he received a message to call me, but he hasn't looked into why he needs to call me and he will call back the next day. I never heard back from him and that was a week ago. I have followed up daily with phone calls without a return phone call. My family makes several camping trips through the year, will never return here.
TravelerGenerous sized sites but only semi-private. Excellent facilities
ScoutThis 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.
GuideEnjoying this campground. Close to all the attractions. Incredible staff, super friendly. Pool and game room are wonderful.
TravelerNote 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.
TravelerThe 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.
GuideOur 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.
ScoutWe 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.
Tent camping near Norge, Virginia offers a range of options from primitive sites to more developed campgrounds. The area sits within the coastal plain region at relatively low elevations, typically below 100 feet above sea level. Summer humidity levels regularly exceed 80%, creating challenging camping conditions from June through August, while spring and fall bring more moderate temperatures.
Kayaking and boating: Sandy Bottom Nature Park provides rental equipment for water activities. "Lots of hiking trails to walk & turtles in the lake!! Plus you can rent boats for a cheap price which we will probably go back to do," notes camper Gracie B.
Wildlife viewing: Belle Isle State Park attracts birdwatchers and nature photographers year-round. The primitive campground at Brewer's Point serves as an excellent base for wildlife observation, with over 30 species of birds documented in the immediate area.
Fishing: Big Woods WMA permits fishing with valid Virginia licenses. Anglers must bring all equipment, as no rentals or bait shops exist within the wildlife management area. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged for conservation purposes.
Privacy between sites: Campers at Wisteria Beach Hideaway appreciate the secluded nature of the camping area. "Terrific campsite we found on HipCamp. Super close to a few different beaches. The bug screen and hammock that are part of the site was so appreciated," reports reviewer RL.
Tent platforms: Sandy Bottom Nature Park provides sand-based tent pads that improve drainage during wet weather. A camper notes, "The sites 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."
Beach access: Several campgrounds offer proximity to undeveloped shorelines. At Wisteria Beach Hideaway, "the beaches were surrounded by pine, wetlands, and tall grasses - it felt remote and not overdeveloped," according to Kat H.
Reservation policies: Most tent campgrounds near Norge require advance bookings, but Sandy Bottom Nature Park operates differently. "Sites are first come, first served. Must reserve in person. Visitor's center is open 9-6," explains camper Liz J.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. At Sandy Bottom Nature Park, "The biggest negative was that no matter where you were in the park, there was significant noise from the highway. Horns honking, sirens blaring, the general rush of cars going by."
Insect protection: Biting flies can be problematic in certain seasons. "Due to a lack of wind, flies were bad on the beach. I would recommend bringing an insect screen if you have it," advises one Wisteria Beach Hideaway visitor.
Bathroom planning: Most walk-in tent sites require a hike to reach bathroom facilities. At Sandy Bottom Nature Park, "The bathrooms were flush toilets and running water faucets and located behind the parking lot, so a bit of a hike in the dark if you need to go."
Educational opportunities: Big Woods WMA offers primitive camping near one of Virginia's most significant red-cockaded woodpecker habitats, providing learning opportunities for children interested in endangered species conservation.
Equipment transport: For walk-in sites, plan for efficient packing. "The sites were located about 1/4 mile from the parking lot down a trail," explains a Sandy Bottom Nature Park camper, suggesting families bring wheeled carts for gear transport.
Limited RV options: Carter's Cove Campground provides one of the few RV-accessible options near Norge. "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," reports N I.
Electric hookups: Carter's Cove offers both 30-amp and 50-amp connections, but availability is limited. The campground does not accept advance reservations for short-term RV stays, requiring campers to call ahead to check current availability.
Level sites: RVers appreciate that sites at Carter's Cove are "level with some spacing," reducing the need for extensive stabilization equipment when setting up camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Norge, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Norge, VA is Carter's Cove Campground with a 1.0-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Norge, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Norge, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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