Best Tent Camping near Shenandoah National Park
Tent campers seeking backcountry solitude near Shenandoah National Park can choose from several dispersed camping options along hiking trails. Laurel Prong Trail Dispersed and Hazeltop Summit Dispersed Camping offer primitive tent sites accessible by hike-in or walk-in trails. South Fork Shenandoah River and Crisman Hollow Road Camp provide additional tent camping opportunities with riverside locations, while established campgrounds like Emerald Pond Primitive Campground offer more accessible tent sites.
Most dispersed tent camping areas near Shenandoah require permits and prohibit fires, particularly at higher elevations like Hazeltop Summit and Laurel Prong Trail. Campers should bring their own water, as most primitive sites lack drinking water access. Sites typically consist of ungraded dirt clearings with minimal amenities. Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm provides a unique alternative with drinking water, electric hookups, showers, and toilets for tent campers seeking more comforts. Rock Tavern River Kamp offers amenities like picnic tables and trash collection for tent campers, though it comes with a fee.
Emerald Pond Primitive Campground features a spring-fed pond that allows swimming in summer months. Sites here have multiple clearings that can accommodate several tents, with established fire rings and nearby water source. A review noted that "it's a sweet spot with wild blackberries everywhere" in summer months. Hazeltop Summit dispersed camping provides spectacular ridgetop views but requires careful site selection. "The spot was perfect in every way, secluded, a great view and full of wildlife," mentioned one camper, though they cautioned it was "not an easy find." Bear activity is common throughout the region, with reviewers emphasizing proper food storage is essential, particularly at Laurel Prong where bears have been reported checking tents during nighttime hours.
