Best Tent Camping near Ruther Glen, VA

Tent campsites around Ruther Glen, Virginia provide access to scenic lakefront and forested camping experiences. Lake Anna State Park Campground, approximately 14 miles west of Ruther Glen, offers established tent sites with varying levels of shade and privacy. Caledon State Park provides primitive tent camping with sites positioned along the Potomac River, requiring a 3-mile hike to reach the camping area. Several smaller private properties like Phantom Hill Forest Farm and Cloverdale Farms also offer tent camping options within driving distance.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with variations in privacy and facilities. Lake Anna's tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, with accessible showers and bathrooms nearby. The more primitive Caledon State Park offers tent pads, a porta-potty, and firewood available through an honor system, but requires hikers to carry in their own water supplies. Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience, with Lake Anna becoming particularly busy and hot during summer months. A visitor noted that "it was insanely hot when we went. Something like 100% humidity and 93°F in the day. It only got down to 74°F at night which meant we were constantly sweating."

The backcountry tent camping experience varies significantly between locations around Ruther Glen. Lake Anna offers a more developed camping atmosphere with hiking trails connecting to swimming areas, though sites can feel close together with minimal privacy between campers. For more secluded tent camping, Caledon State Park provides a genuine backcountry experience with limited facilities but greater solitude. Sites at Phantom Hill Forest Farm provide more privacy for tent campers seeking a quieter experience. According to one review, Caledon State Park offers "a nice 3 mile hike to the campsite which is right by the Potomac river! The beach is beautiful and we saw the most gorgeous sunset."

Best Tent Sites Near Ruther Glen, Virginia (13)

    1. Lake Anna State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Mineral, VA
    24 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!"

    3. Caledon State Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    King George, VA
    34 miles
    Website

    "7 or 8 tent pads. Wood for sale at the site for $4 honor system. Porta pottie right next to wood pile. You’re not supposed to setup anything outside of the “tent pads”."

    "It was my first hike in primitive camping experience. We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River."

    4. Phantom Hill Forest Farm

    1 Review
    Mineral, VA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 894-7901

    "The sites are large and primitive. We had no trouble getting down there in the jeep. We appreciated the dishes/kitchen set up, games, and the adorable outhouse!"

    5. Leesylvania State Park Campground

    6 Reviews
    Dumfries, VA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 730-8205

    $15 - $18 / night

    "Good for a day use, parking is full most of the time but have a lot of space to park you may have to walk but you will find one spot..."

    "Close to me so theres nothing new"

    6. Cloverdale Farms

    3 Reviews
    Cumberland, VA
    43 miles
    +1 (804) 346-7306

    $40 / night

    "You just set up camp wherever you feel like it on her little farmette and enjoy the peace and quiet and privacy that you don’t get in a campground."

    "This historic property has gently rolling hills, with a little creek amidst a couple acres of cleared, open, secluded woodland perfect for pitching a tent and listening to nature."

    7. Lovers Lane FarmStay

    1 Review
    Barboursville, VA
    44 miles
    +1 (571) 888-6278

    $35 - $55 / night

    "Ashley here with The Dyrt, we're happy to welcome this new listing to the platform. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love!"

    8. Goodwill Cabin — Prince William Forest Park

    1 Review
    Dumfries, VA
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 221-5843

    $70 / night

    "Sites have extras like fire rings with seating, swimming ponds, hiking trails, grassy playing fields, etc. but I’m not sure they all have all of these. They’re all among the trees and shady."

    10. Happyland Cabin — Prince William Forest Park

    1 Review
    Dumfries, VA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 221-5843

    "If you're a NoVa person just like me this is a great close place to get away from it all"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Ruther Glen, VA

400 Reviews of 13 Ruther Glen Campgrounds


  • Stephanie J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Powhatan State Park Campground

    Peaceful and well-maintained campsites, just a short drive from the city

    Powhatan State Park is a relatively new addition to the VA State Parks system; the park itself has only been open since 2003. The primitive, canoe-in campground opened with the park, and the loop with electric and water hookups opened in 2016.

    **Canoe-In Campground: **

    When we stayed, we stayed in the canoe-in campground, although we hiked in the approximate 1/4 mile from the parking lot, rather than coming in by boat. This is a quiet, beautiful loop, with 8 sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. There are composting toilets here and no potable water, so you will need to bring enough water for your trip or purification methods. Proper food storage is also essential back here; while this section of Virginia does not have the bear activity you’d find in the mountains, there are still raccoons and other wildlife who should not have access to human food. There are no bear boxes, so treat food storage as you would in the backcountry. 

    -Sites 7 and 8 are closes to the toilets, and back up to the woods leading towards the Turkey Trail; hikers are visible from site 8 and audible from site 7.  

    -Sites 4 and 5 back up to a very wooded area, and are further back from the gravel loop. Site 4 is closest to the boat ramp and is visible; site 5 is probably the most private in the loop. 

    -Sites 1,2, and 6 are in the center loop, but have more space between them than inner-loop sites usually have. Sites 1 and 2 are right against the River Trail however, so will have hikers walking directly past during the day. 

    The canoe-in loop sits against the James River; there is a rack to stow your canoe/kayak overnight, and a pay by honor-system pile of firewood. Due to the thick foliage there is no actual river-view during the warmer months, but it’s easily accessbile. When we stayed in early spring there were a lot of vines that served as “natural playground” for our kids; they used them as swings, monkey bars, and enjoyed getting their feet wet at the base of the canoe ramp, so much that they declined hiking or driving to the park’s man-made playground. This loop makes a great “trial run” site for anyone considering a future backcountry trip; the walk to the parking lot is short enough to make multiple trips if you need to, and you still have access to the park amenities if you don’t mind a walk/drive to get there.

    River Bend Loop

    The River Bend Loop has 29 sites with water and electric hook-ups, though very little privacy between sites. The surrounding trees give all but the first three sites decent shade and a wooded atmosphere, and this is a great loop for RVs or tent campers who enjoy being close to other sites. If you are looking for a feeling of isolation however, you would be better off minimizing your gear and walking to the primitive sites, or going to a different park altogether. The bathrooms here have electricity, flush toilets, and showers with hot water. Sites 1-14 are available for advance reservation, and sites 15-29 are first-come first-served. Site 25 offers the most privacy for tent campers, and it’s very large, but if the campground is at full occupancy all sites are going to have a crowded feel.

    There are several hiking trails at this park ranging from very easy to moderate, and a couple of them are horse-friendly; our kids enjoy seeing horses on the trail with them, but be mindful if you have kids/dogs who may be afraid of the horses. The park also has a playground, picnic shelters, and ranger activities on the weekends, and there are three yurts available to book.

    This is a very open, well-maintained park, and the camping options should appeal to a wide spectrum of campers, and my only reason for giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the lack of privacy in the drive-up campsites. It feels a lot like a hidden gem; the hookup campground fills up during warmer weather, but all of our visits here have been very quiet and peaceful. If you are looking for camping options near Richmond, I highly recommend this park!

  • Katie M.
    Oct. 2, 2020

    Powhatan State Park Campground

    Peaceful and quiet!

    We stayed here in March and it was very cold for tent camping, I think it got into the 20's at night! There were no other campers staying there while we were there in the canoe-in campground so it was very peaceful and quiet. This campground is primitive so there is no electricity or water. The sites include a picnic table and fire ring. Our tent pad was pretty level and pretty big! You could probably fit two small tents on there. There is a short .2 mile hike from a parking lot so we packed light and backpacked in. We stayed in site 4, which is towards the back of the loop. Not much privacy in the winter because there are no leaves on the trees. This campground has a pit toilet at the front of the campground and fire wood available for purchase near the canoe launch. 

    We loved this park! The trails are fun and love all the beautiful views. We saw some incredible sunsets over the James River. There are all sorts of fun, gnarly trees for the kids to play on at the campsite! They had so much fun!

    There are some great breweries nearby and only a short drive from Richmond and Charlottesville!

  • RL
    Nov. 17, 2020

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    Lovely November Trip 🔥

    Camped on a Friday night, had site 106. It was a really nice site: set back a bit from the road, fairly wooded, not a long walk to the bathhouse water/electric hook-ups, and a long back-in driveway. Nice fire ring with grill (that had been cleaned), lantern/trash pole, picnic table. Pea gravel tent pad. Honor pay wood.

    After a neighboring camper left we noticed they were disinfecting the campsites very well. Picnic tables, electric/water areas, fire pit areas, poles, etc. were all getting sprayed down between campers.

    Walked around the trails on Saturday. The trail around Beaver Lake was a really nice 2.5 mile loop. Gorgeous in November. Like most weekends, a bit busy on a Saturday. Everything’s open right now, and masks are required in common areas, bath houses, etc.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2018

    Small Country Campground

    Designed With Family In Mind

    This is by no means the biggest campground or the most modern but something which can be said for this campground is it feels like it was designed with family fun in mind. From the bouncing blob to the oversized chess set, from the lakeside beach to the swimming pool, it seems as though plenty of thought has been placed on how to keep a family entertained when in this area of Virginia.

    The sites themselves are not just average tent and RV sites. Instead they have various types of cabins which you can rent in addition to these. The tent sites are grouped in the same area and while there are only a handful of them, they are well shaded, nicely spaced and pretty even. The rolling hills of the area do not seem to effect the layout of these spaces.

    My site was equipped with a picnic table however I did not have a fire ring or lantern post. They do have some upgraded sites for tents which include these or even have electricity. I enjoyed the location and when I was visiting there were not many people staying in this area.

    I do wish I hadn't been traveling alone because it would have been a bit more fun with all the activities had I have had a travel companion. This is one of those places where it pays to have a buddy!!

    TIPS:

    • If you will be staying on a weekend call in advance to book because of limited tent sites.

    • During summertime this place is like one of those dream summer camps with lake toys including blobs and inflatable obstacles. Try to visit during this time of year to fully take advantage.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 9, 2023

    Colonial Pines Campground At Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center

    Great place to recharge

    I will admit I was a little hesitant about coming to an RV park located within a Christian Retreat Center. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we came anyway because the price through the Passport America discount was right ($20/night for a FHU site with the discount on off-season rates, so, $40 without the discount). I was happy we came, the office staff person was so friendly and so nice and welcoming, and the campground was just great. There’s plenty of activities here- there’s a playground, a gaga ball pit, basketball court, frisbee golf course, pool, soccer field, baseball field, and some really nice walking trails in the woods (some of these might be restricted to use by retreat guests, not sure). Some basic snacks and knick knacks and clothing available for sale in the office.

    There’s laundry here, but the set up was a little awkward- there’s one washer/ dryer in the hallway of the lodge, which is a hotel-like building. It’s kind of a far walk from the campground, and there’s no place to hang out and wait for your laundry. It’s $5 for a load (wash& dry) and you can pay by credit card in the office or drop $5 in the box by the machines. Firewood available for sale here for $5, pay by venmo, at the office, or in the honor box. No alcohol allowed in the park. 

    Cell service for Verizon and ATT was pretty decent, and they have great free wifi. Showers are good and clean and free, continuous water running (no button to push).

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2018

    Hidden Acres Campground

    Quiet nights at Private Campground

    Stopped off at this campground after finding it while passing though just before Labor Day weekend. While it was the last weekend for the pool before its closure and while they were in the process of working on some of the plumbing at the campground, it was a well put together campground which was very impressive.

    Located somewhat remotely from the larger community and near several places of interest along the road, this camp was a great stop for a tent camper like myself. They offer a basic tent site for $26 with nice bath houses. For full connections the price does rise slightly offering both both 20/30 amp and 50 amp connections for RVs.

    The roads around the camp are gravel and a little bumpy but the sites themselves were pretty level and grassy for tents which was pretty nice. Sites are located far enough off the road that road noise is minimal.

    I did also notice they have cabin rentals available and a pretty nice little store with lots of options for those who didn't bring everything with them.

  • RL
    Sep. 6, 2019

    Christopher Run Campground

    We made it work

    To be fair, I only went the once but wasn’t impressed. The site was so tiny - barely large enough for my friend and I to each park and set up a tent. We were super close to the road and dump station, so avoid that site (I don’t recall the number). There was also very little privacy between neighboring sites. No established fire ring or fire area. We asked the store attendant if we could just build a fire ring with rocks and he said that was fine. It’s the only time I’ve ever seen a site like this haha. The small beach area is nice enough, but it is tiny. Would definitely recommend Lake Anna State Park over this one; they aren’t too far apart.

  • Derek E.
    Aug. 20, 2018

    Lake Anna State Park Campground

    Good weekend getaway outside of the summertime

    The campground is well off the main road which means you have very little noise and light pollution. We camped in our smaller tent and had the rain fly off so we could stare at the stars all night. It was awesome.

    The sites feel close together and many are exposed albeit a few seem sectioned off. We came in the summer and those trees helped create a cozier feel, but we could definitely see people and hear everyone else's conversations. In fact, there was a lodge about 400' away from our campsite and we could hear them until around 10pm. Seemed like a younger crowd, so no harm no foul.

    It was insanely hot when we went. Something like 100% humidity and 93 F in the day. It only got down to 74 F at night which meant we were constantly sweating unless we were in front of our little battery powered fan. Oh, that sweet little fan paid for itself. Honestly, it was so hot I think we could have easily called it quits after the first night.

    The lake is a 15 minute walk down a clear trail called Campground Walkway Trail. There is a pretty intense climb that is much harder coming back, so probably best to leave the flip flops and go shoes or hiking sandals. The trail takes you to a semi-private beach. It is close to the main beach, but it is separated by a wall. The real treat is if you take the loop along the water called the Railroad Ford Trail. It's 1.5 miles that takes you along a gentle slope along the water. That's where I took my pics hanging the hammock.

    The boat traffic was LOUD and could be heard all the way at our camp site. They really know how to start early and stay late.

    Wildlife is minimal including snakes. The campground host said a woman was bit by a copperhead recently on her exposed big toe. There are quite a few spiders since you are so close to the water, but the insects were not bad within the campground. A couple got into the tent, but I didn't dare tell the wife.

    The campground hosts checked in frequently and were VERY nice. The showers were free and expansive. There was even a coke machine with many outlets for people to charge their devices.

    Overall, this was a good campsite that will be better suited to Spring/Autumn weather conditions. If you are going to get in the water, try and stay somewhere else unless the weather cools down while you are there or you have a way to escape the heat.

  • Eric S.
    Aug. 18, 2022

    Oak Ridge Campground — Prince William Forest Park

    Decent place

    Former girlfriend and I stayed here end of May 2022. Not a terrible place. Unfortunately I don’t remember the site number. Think it was in the section B. The park seemed well kept. Only issue we had when arriving. We had no clue where to find firewood. Apparently there’s a 7-11 down the road that sells wood. We lucked out, because there was some left from other camper’s. Overall it was nice. Only downside I can think of right now. The water spigot should have some stone or something around it to avoid a mud puddle.


Guide to Ruther Glen

Tent camping near Ruther Glen, Virginia, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With well-maintained facilities and access to beautiful landscapes, these campgrounds cater to all types of campers.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The Lake Anna State Park Campground features electric hookups, drinking water, and clean restroom facilities, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • At Caledon State Park Campground, campers can enjoy picnic tables and firewood for sale, perfect for evening gatherings around the campfire.
  • Phantom Hill Forest Farm offers a unique experience with large, primitive sites and a charming outdoor kitchen setup, ideal for those looking to connect with nature.

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

Activities to enjoy while camping

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ruther Glen, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ruther Glen, 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 Ruther Glen, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Ruther Glen, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.