Best Tent Camping near Rixeyville, VA

State parks and national forests surrounding Rixeyville, Virginia offer diverse tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Sky Meadows State Park, located about 25 miles northwest of Rixeyville, features tent-only walk-in sites that require a one-mile hike from the overnight parking area. Little Fort Campground in George Washington National Forest provides free primitive tent camping with a self-registration system. South Fork Shenandoah River offers riverside tent camping with basic amenities, while Veach Gap in George Washington National Forest provides backcountry tent sites accessible via a 4-mile hike with breathtaking ridgeline views.

Most tent campsites in the region feature dirt or gravel tent pads with varying levels of amenities. Sky Meadows provides bear boxes, fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern poles at each site, with non-potable water available via hand pump. Little Fort Campground offers vault toilets and designated tent platforms, though campers report the surface can be too hard for tent stakes. Backcountry sites like Hazeltop Summit require permits and have strict no-fire policies. Campers should pack in all water for sites without reliable water sources, particularly during summer months when streams may run dry. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most primitive tent camping locations.

In early spring and fall, tent campers experience more solitude and comfortable temperatures at these sites. According to reviews, Sky Meadows offers exceptional privacy despite being a developed campground. One visitor noted, "The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, most sites still feel shaded and private." At Little Fort Campground, campers select sites by flipping a washer on a board from green to red, with each site featuring a fire ring, picnic table, and flat tent area. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers at Sky Meadows reporting deer visits in the mornings and owls at night. Most primitive tent campgrounds enforce quiet hours and follow Leave No Trace principles.

Best Tent Sites Near Rixeyville, Virginia (36)

    1. Lake Anna State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Mineral, VA
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 854-5503

    "For being a state park, Lake Anna is one of the best I've been to. Although we only tent camped, I noticed a lot of things about the campground that would welcome RVs as well."

    "Good site with excellent drainage. Unfortunately, at the time we were here, the dump station was not working! Will go back!"

    2. Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Paris, VA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 592-3556

    "It was a pretty flat walk from the overnight parking area to the campground."

    "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."

    3. South Fork Shenandoah River

    5 Reviews
    Rileyville, VA
    26 miles

    "Not too many spaces so it can fill up quick. There is a launch in the middle, so there is a bit of come and go."

    "There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours. Unfortunately there was a decent bit of trash we cleaned up. The road was a little rough, but our 92 ford camper made it, just go slow"

    4. #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp

    4 Reviews
    Luray, VA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 843-4232

    $45 - $225 / night

    "We are located on the Shenandoah River! Our waterfront unique kamp offers yurts and tent sites along with a well maintained bathhouse! Of course I feel we are 5 stars!"

    "River access, hiking near by and if you forget something town is 8 minutes away."

    5. Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    Shenandoah National Park, VA
    26 miles
    Website

    "It’s a decently private spot with the trail close by, bugs weren’t bad only gripe was bears were constantly checking out our tent during night, we had one beef stick (trash thrown in our hang bag of course"

    "This campsite is another one we found on a list provided by Shenandoah’s park rangers and was listed as moderate hike and easy camping."

    6. Little Fort Campground

    6 Reviews
    Woodstock, VA
    32 miles

    "The campsites have a fire ring, a picnic table, and a flat area to pitch a tent. They have parking spots next to them. There are permanent structure Vault toilets/ out houses."

    "There are 9 campsites, each with at least one fire ring, a tent pad and a picnic table, and there is a vault toilet in the middle."

    7. Hazeltop Summit Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Syria, VA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    "Found this spot from a recommended list provided by Shenandoah park rangers, and I’m glad we choose this one."

    8. Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site

    2 Reviews
    Bentonville, VA
    28 miles
    Website

    "I've both day hiked this and backpacked here several times."

    "Breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site. 1,200ft elevation difference from the trailhead to the site."

    9. Little Crease Shelter

    1 Review
    Bentonville, VA
    29 miles
    +1 (888) 265-0019

    "First, don't be confused by the drive down to the parking area. You'll go from asphalt to gravel road alongside private property. You're in the right place."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 36 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Rixeyville, VA

986 Reviews of 36 Rixeyville 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.

  • Mary S.
    Oct. 12, 2018

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Camping in the national park is the best!

    Loft Mountain was the third stop on our tour of Shenandoah National Park. First stop traveling south on Skyline Drive was Mathews Arm and second was Big Meadows at about the halfway point. Loft Mountain is at about the 3/4 mark. These parks are well spaced for viewing and hiking in between each campground.

    I'm a big fan of campgrounds in national parks. Why do I like this one? Pretty much the same reasons as I liked the other Shenandoah campgrounds:

    • All the basic needs are available in a scenic setting.

    • Generator-free sections (because I hate noisy generators)

    • About 75% of the sites are first-come, first-served sites so you should always be able to find a site if you arrive early.

    • The $15 price is a bargain and our Lifetime Senior Pass cuts the fee in half.

    • Hiking: There's a lot to keep you busy in the entire national park, but rainy, foggy weather kept us from exploring as much as we'd like. We'll be back!

    Things to Know About the Sites

    • Some sites have food storage boxes. Use them as an alternative to keeping food locked in your vehicle.

    • Walk-to tent sites: It's not a long walk to your site from a designated parking spot.

    • I was surprised to see that most sites (other than walk-to tent sites) have long, pull through parking pads, and most have a grass buffer (and possibly a few trees) separating the site from the road. These asphalt pads can accommodate RVs of all sizes and have a spacious area behind the pull through with a picnic table, fire ring and room for a tent. Great sites!

    • Generator-free sites in loop F and part of G are reservable sites. If you want one of these sites, I recommend a reservation. See the site map photo.

    Amenities

    • Restrooms with a utility sink outside some of them

    • Potable water and trash/recycling stations are spread throughout the park. These are all shown on the site map photo.

    • Camp store with ice, wood and limited food choices is a short walk from the campground entrance.

    • Showers: $1.75 for 5.25 minutes. These are located in a restroom near the campstore and look new. There is a handicapped accessible shower/bathroom combination.

    • Laundry facility near the camp store

  • 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!

  • Cindy D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2019

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Shenandoah National Park

    We did not have a reservation and were lucky to get a site. It is a large campground with 200 sites for RV's & tent campers. The site we had was primitive, no water or electric, but had a picnic table, fire ring, & a bear box. Although the sites were close, they were situated to maximize privacy. The campgrounds had plenty of restrooms with flush toilets & sinks. The camp store has laundry facilities and showers that you must pay for, $1.75 for 5 minutes. The grounds and facilities are very clean. An added bonus, you can access the Appalachian Trail right from the campgrounds that provides amazing views

  • 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!

  • Elliott B.
    Jul. 11, 2017

    Dundo Group Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Very open group campground

    Very large and very open group campground situated on either side of the picnic area road back out. Each of the campsites provides plenty of tent space, a couple picnic tables, fire pit with grills, bear boxes, potable water, and a shared vault toilets in the middle of the sites and nearer to the picnic area and parking for up to five vehicles at each site. Firewood, ice, laundry, showers and camp store are available three miles north at the Loft Mountain Camp Store.


Guide to Rixeyville

Tent camping areas near Rixeyville, Virginia offer distinctive terrain and seasonal patterns that campers should prepare for. Summer temperatures in this part of Virginia can reach 90°F during day and drop to 65°F at night, while spring brings variable conditions with frequent rain showers. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 500-1,000 feet, the region features mostly hardwood forests with numerous stream crossings that can become challenging after heavy rainfall.

What to do

Fishing at shoreline spots: Lake Anna State Park Campground provides excellent fishing opportunities with dedicated platforms. As Jennifer G. notes, "It has great fishing piers with ample sitting area. The sunsets over the water are priceless."

Hiking established trails: Sky Meadows State Park Campground connects to the Appalachian Trail and offers numerous day hikes. According to Russ L., "We didn't get to check out the Appalachian Trail - but it was only a few miles from the campsites."

Exploring historic sites: Many campgrounds in the area offer access to Civil War sites and colonial-era attractions. One visitor at Sky Meadows mentioned, "When we were there they were having a historical reenactment near the visitors center that was so cool!"

Swimming in natural settings: #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp provides direct river access for swimming. Matthew G. shared, "We could not have asked for a nicer location! Our tent was about 20 feet from the river and the campground had everything we could have asked for."

What campers like

Private, well-spaced sites: Many tent campers appreciate the privacy at various campgrounds. At Lake Anna State Park Campground, Myron C. observed, "For being a state park, Lake Anna is one of the best I've been to... There were large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites."

Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness stands out in reviews. A visitor to Rock Tavern River Kamp mentioned they had "spotless bathroom and shower facilities," which many primitive camping areas lack.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening wildlife sightings enhance the camping experience. Jennifer G. at Lake Anna shared, "Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery."

Self-registration systems: Little Fort Campground offers a unique site selection method. As one camper explained, "You select a campsite by flipping a washer on a hook on the board from green to red. Flip it back when you leave."

What you should know

Water availability varies: Many backcountry sites have limited or seasonal water sources. At Sky Meadows, Alexander H. advised, "Make sure to have cash to simplify paying for things such as firewood (you can pay upfront)."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity is unreliable at most tent sites. Regarding Little Fort Campground, a camper warned, "Long and winding road to get there with no service so be cautious."

Reservation systems differ: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. For Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site, Jon N. shared, "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."

Tent surface challenges: Some designated tent platforms can be problematic. At Little Fort Campground, Zack B. noted the "tent pad but surface is too hard to use pegs."

Tips for camping with families

Choose accessible sites: For the best tent camping near Rixeyville with children, select campgrounds with minimal hiking. Jennifer G. commented that Lake Anna "has spacious camp sites with a great amount of natural shade. The swimming area is clean and very family oriented."

Pack for variable weather: Spring and fall temperatures can fluctuate dramatically. At Sky Meadows, a reviewer cautioned, "We came in August and it was super hot, but that is just Virginia."

Plan water activities: South Fork Shenandoah River offers river access that children enjoy. Sumner C. described it as having a "great view on the river" with "about a dozen spots to camp. Each site had its own fire pit."

Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds remain active after quiet hours. Beth S. shared about Lake Anna, "We were camping when every single site was filled so it was busy. We prefer a lot more privacy."

Tips from RVers

Site length limitations: Most tent camping areas near Rixeyville have limited space for larger vehicles. Myron C. observed at Lake Anna, "Although we only tent camped, I noticed a lot of things about the campground that would welcome RVs as well... There were large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites."

Dump station availability: Few primitive campgrounds offer sanitary dumps. According to reviews, Lake Anna "has a dump station" while most backcountry sites require pack-in, pack-out waste management.

Power options: Electric hookups are rare at most tent-focused sites. At Lake Anna, j A. mentioned, "Great space for rvs and tents. Cabins and yurts available, bath house clean."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rixeyville, VA is Lake Anna State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 21 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 36 tent camping locations near Rixeyville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.