6 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Dispersed camping opportunities near Saltville, Virginia include several primitive tent sites in the surrounding Washington and Jefferson National Forest areas. These natural settings provide tent campers with creek-side locations and forest immersion without developed amenities. The nearby Chestnut Knob Shelter along the Appalachian Trail offers both tent sites and a rustic shelter option for hikers.
Tent sites in the Washington and Jefferson National Forest are typically positioned on ungraded terrain near forest roads and creeks. Most primitive tent camping areas feature established fire rings but lack drinking water, picnic tables, and toilet facilities. Campers should bring all necessary water or equipment to filter from nearby creeks. During peak seasons, arriving early helps secure desirable tent spots, as these dispersed areas operate on a first-come basis with no reservation system. Some sites are positioned close to forest roads, where passing headlights may illuminate tents at night.
The primitive tent camping experience in this region offers opportunities for solitude and direct connection with nature. Many tent sites are positioned near creeks, providing both ambient sound and water sources for filtering. Areas farther from established campgrounds typically offer greater seclusion and fewer crowds, particularly on weekdays. Tree cover at most sites provides moderate shade, though site selection can vary depending on the season. Several trails connect to these primitive camping areas, making them suitable basecamps for day hiking or backpacking. A visitor commented that "the sound of the creek was lovely all night" at one of the Washington and Jefferson National Forest dispersed sites, though they noted the proximity to the road meant headlights from passing cars would occasionally illuminate their tent.
"Most cabins also have covered porches, exterior picnic tables, and exterior fire rings. The Creekside Campground loop has water and electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings."
"It has 11 car camping platforms for tent only camping . There is no electric or water at each site. There is a bath house for the 11 sites."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 / night
"The Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail are just minutes away, as well as some easy whitewater paddling fun on the White Top Laurel Creek."
"Only downside was the spot I set up camp was very close to the road and headlights from passing cars would light up the spot. However the road was quiet most of the night."
"Once reaching the off road trail my partner got nervous, feeling as if our Forrester wouldn’t make it up. My advice… come prepared. I got. Flat on the way up and was able to make it to my campsite."
"It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."
"We had a neighbor nice enough to give us his site because he was leaving early and I would have stayed another night there. It was C3 backed into the woods on level ground. It made for a cozy morning."
from $25 - $136 / night
"There is a shelter at the top; this location is located along the Appalachian Trail and has wodden bunks and single platforms for pads and sleeping bags."
"Don’t make the same mistake I did and tent camp outside in a huge storm - just stay inside!"
"We camped in the "primitive loop" for a long holiday weekend. Tent sites were spaced a decent distance apart. Most were treed and had some shade during the day."
"Beautiful lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains, hiking, fishing and boating, amazing staff, very clean shower houses and laundry facility! Very family oriented and pet friendly!"
from $11 - $79 / night
"My family went to tent camp and enjoyed our stay. We discovered others with campers that had wonderful campsites. The bathroom facilities are new and very clean. We enjoyed hiking."
"Sites with full hookups: 3, 7, [8, 12, 13, 14, 15 near bath house] 18, 19, 20 Bath house was nice and clean. Canoe up camp sites right along the River."
from $17 / night
"Lansing, NC is located in Ashe County and has some very good fly fishing nearby. The campground is run by the city of Lansing and is located 1 mile north of Lansing, just off highway 1353."
from $20 - $25 / night
from $50 - $70 / night
"We met Dustin as he was packing up near his boat launch area. If you drive down Garvey Bridge road (past the bridge), you will easily see the shuttle bus labeled Dusty Trails Outfitters."
"Gorgeous location along the river."
from $20 / night
GuideNeed an overnight stay on 81/77 this is the place. Booked is call them complete the reservation via Campspot app which they use so I had to download it. Place had plenty of sites pull through which I didnt need but they were so accommodating. I had a perfect view of mountains and cow pasture Relaxation and sleep close to bathhouse and office. They also have propane fill for your camper
TravelerEasy to get to, cheap, good bathrooms.
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
ScoutWe brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back
ScoutOur group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.
ScoutFrom check in to our stay, large big rig drive through lot. Quiet and clean park. Even had pizza and delicious wings delivered right to our coach. Next time through we hope to stay again.
RangerI wandered a bit and took a left up a gravel road near where the sites indicated were located and just drove for a few miles. Found an awesome spot with a fire pit and lush surroundings. The road was unpaved (but as are all to the best spots) and there were definitely some large rocks and potholes to navigate. Would suggest higher raised vehicle. Saw nobody else and felt like I had my own slice of paradise.
GuideClean nice little campground for the weekend.
Dispersed camping options around Saltville, Virginia extend throughout the surrounding Jefferson National Forest at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 4,000 feet. The region features a typical Appalachian climate with humid summers averaging 80-85°F and cool fall nights that can drop below 40°F by October. Forest service roads access most dispersed sites, with the most remote locations requiring high-clearance vehicles.
Trail access to Appalachian Trail sections: Several dispersed camping areas serve as ideal basecamps for day hikes on the Appalachian Trail. Chestnut Knob Shelter, Appalachian Trail offers exceptional access with a fire pit located outside the shelter. As reviewer Brandon W. notes, "We've made this hike several times with our dogs. It is a great shorter hike with great views over Burkes Garden (nicknamed God's Thumbprint)."
Fishing in nearby streams: The best tent camping near Saltville, Virginia often includes access to small streams with native trout. At Dusty Trails Outfitters, campers can fish directly from their sites. One camper described, "The river was GORGEOUS! Our site was both shaded and sunny - so if you were wet from river play, you could warm up and dry easily."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The mountains around Saltville host diverse wildlife including wild ponies. At Scales Trailhead Basecamp, campers can often spot wild ponies at nearby salt licks. A reviewer mentioned, "Our favorite parts are the beautiful views, wild ponies, & it's (usually) relatively quiet!"
Creek sounds for sleeping: Many campers specifically seek out tent sites positioned near moving water. In Washington & Jefferson National Forest, sites along creeks provide natural white noise. A camper noted, "Loved this spot - we got lucky and parked right next to a swimming hole, had a gorgeous swim and enjoyed our time. No service, off-grid, really lovely."
Sites with natural elevation cooling: Several primitive camping locations near Saltville benefit from altitude-based temperature moderation. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, a camper observed, "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat." Another mentioned, "Not only is the weather so much cooler in the summer there (70-80 in July!), it's just a wonderful, down to earth place to be."
Firefly displays in summer months: Tent camping areas along river valleys feature spectacular firefly shows from late May through July. A Dusty Trails Outfitters camper described, "As darkness set in, the fireflies across the river began to light up, like festive lights. Not just a few hundred, but thousands of them, in the most amazing natural light show I have ever seen."
Road conditions for accessing sites: Many dispersed sites require navigating rough forest roads. At Scales Trailhead Basecamp, a reviewer warned, "The road in is...."rocky". High clearance 4wd needed. Not ADV friendly, unless you're very adventurous." Another noted, "Yes, the road in is rocky (& not short...probly 45 mins from the road to the campground), but anything with Subaru Outback ground clearance will be fine."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Saltville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Saltville, VA is Royal Oak Campground — Hungry Mother State Park with a 4.7-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Saltville, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Saltville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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