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Best Tent Camping near Stafford, VA

542 Reviews

Several parks and natural areas provide tent camping options within an hour's drive of Stafford, Virginia. Primitive tent camping is available at Sky Meadows State Park with hike-in sites about a mile from the parking area, while Caledon State Park offers backcountry tent camping along the Potomac River. Prince William Forest Park, located just northwest of Stafford, provides backcountry camping through their Chopawamsic permit system.

Tent pads at most sites consist of either packed dirt, gravel, or designated platforms designed specifically for tent setup. Sky Meadows features tent pads with pea gravel, while some sites at Prince William Forest Park require campers to use only designated tent areas. Portable toilets or vault toilets are common at most tent camping areas, though shower facilities are rare at primitive sites. Most locations operate year-round but may have seasonal restrictions during extreme weather or hunting seasons. Fire regulations vary by location, with some sites offering fire rings and others prohibiting open flames entirely. According to one visitor at Sky Meadows, "Each site has a bear box, fire ring, picnic table, tent pad with pea gravel, and a lantern pole."

The terrain surrounding tent sites in the Stafford region ranges from dense forest to riverside locations with varying levels of privacy. Most tent-only areas provide more seclusion than developed campgrounds, with sites spaced farther apart. Many primitive tent locations require hiking gear since supplies must be carried in. Sites at Caledon State Park sit directly on the Potomac River and require a 2.5-mile hike on groomed gravel trails to reach, offering solitude for tent campers. The Chopawamsic backcountry area features tent sites along a 2.5-mile hiking trail with proximity to a reservoir, though campers should note that open fires are prohibited and all water must be carried in. A visitor to Caledon noted, "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."

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Best Tent Sites Near Stafford, Virginia (19)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Stafford, VA

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Tent Camping Reviews near Stafford, VA

542 Reviews of 19 Stafford 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 🪁💙

  • 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!

  • Reba H.
    May. 2, 2023

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Please don't treat this like car camping

    I understand why people are lugging wheeled carts a mile into this campground, but it is technically not allowed. This is a backcountry/backpacking experience. Most of the hike-in is on Hadow Trail, which is dirt, not gravel. It is technically an equestrian trail too, but there's no way a horse could make it without breaking an ankle right now; the trail is so worn down by wheeled cart usage that the park has created a service project on the American Hiking Society's website calling for volunteers to do restoration work on Hadow Trail on this year's upcoming National Trails Day.

    I hiked in while it was raining, and the mud wasn't as bad as I'd feared. However, the worn down parts of the trail attracted rainwater drainage, and the runoff narrowed the trail significantly. When I got to Boston Mill Rd Trail, which is gravel, the hike was easy, until the spur turning into the campground, when the trek goes uphill. If your site is further back, you will be hiking up and down many hills throughout the campground. The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, I think most of the sites would still feel shaded and private because of how they're dispersed throughout the hills. 

    My site bordered the buddy site and scout group sites at the beginning of the campground, so there was noise from loud kids but not as bad as I thought it might be. I was still able to enjoy peace and quiet, as the group respected quiet hours and was busy hiking the rest of the state park during the daytime, so don't shy away from this site if it's the only one available. The group sites also have their own latrine at the beginning of the campground, which pleasantly surprised me because this meant there were two latrines fairly close to each other, just to accommodate projected usage. There are many thoughtful details like this throughout the design of the campground facilities. 

    For a backcountry campground, I was SO impressed with how stocked and clean everything was. Firewood is $8 (honor system), but there was some leftover at my site already. My firepit had a quality grill gate too. There are LOTS of bear trash cans available, and having a bear box at my campsite to store my food/trash/toiletries was so much easier than hanging a bear bag. If it hadn't rained, I also would've been able to use the hammock posts at my site (you could use these to hang a clothesline too if you wanted). When I talked over the phone with a ranger, she told me that only a few campsites didn't have hammock stands. If you think a lantern is worth its weight to carry in, there's a lantern post on the tent pad. I loved how level the tent pad was even on a hill. I couldn't figure out how to use the potable water pump, but there are plentiful creeks you can filter water from.

    Overall, this is a fantastic campground for a beginner backpacking experience in the real backcountry. Use the Avenza Maps app that the park has its map uploaded into, and you won't get lost finding the overnight parking/self check-in station like I did. Know the gate code of this area before you go. The gate takes a hard push and pull. If you're prepared for all this, you'll arrive at camp before dusk when the wild animals come out. At night I saw white-tailed deer and heard owls and cattle! During the day I saw/heard SOOO many birds on the South Ridge Trail and found a bear track after the Cpt. Morgan Trail on the creek side of Hadow Trail!! If all this sounds awful rather than exciting to you, just drive in for the day and stick to the historic areas rather than venture into the park's backcountry areas.

  • Amy S.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Sky Meadows State Park Campground

    Great hike in campground

    It's about a mile hike in to the campground, which sits in the woods in the park. Firewood is available for sale and there are fire rings with grates and a picnic table. Sites are large enough for three one person tents. Pit toilets, no showers, cell service. Make sure you bring a bear bag or box with you.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 11, 2023

    Greenbelt Park Campground — Greenbelt Park

    Beautiful campground, and great for visiting DC

    Beautiful campground, fairly large with 4 separate loops. Loop A is for organized groups/youth/scouts, Loop B is for tents and RVs under 30 ft, Loop C is for tents, and Loop D is for tents and RVs under 35 ft. No hookups at any of the sites.

    There’s a dump station and drinking water fill in loop C (sorry tenters who wanted to avoid RVs). The water fill was a little annoying in that there’s a handle you have to hold down the whole time, but we used a rock to prop the handle down. 

    The bathhouses are ok, happy to have free showers with hot running water. Faucets allow you to control the temperature and there’s continuous running water (no button to push). There’s only one large shower per bath house, and you only have a curtain (no door and no lock). Sites vary in levelness, some are fairly level and some are on a mini hill. Driveways are all very narrow. Most have too much tree cover for solar or starlink, but some sites are more open and you might be able to make it work. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Cost is $20/night, must reserve on recreation.gov, and you can do that when you arrive and pick a site (no service fee for this site)

    Cell service is pretty good for Verizon and ATT. 

    No alcohol allowed in the park. 

    GETTING TO DC: There’s normally a walking path from the campground to the metro station that takes you into DC (the green line takes you to the National Mall), but as of Oct 2023 the bridge is out due to a storm, and by the looks of it it’s been out a while and it doesn’t appear that it will be fixed soon. So what we did, since we don’t have a tow car, and just have our 26ft motorhome, is we packed up and drove to the Greenbelt station about 5 miles away, parked there for the day, and took the green line into town. The lot there is huge and open and free on weekends. Weekdays it’s about $5/day if you take the metro, and about $9 if you’re just parking there. The College Park station is closer but is apparently a parking garage (can’t confirm because we didn’t go to that station). This worked very well for us. You can pay for the metro with an app or get a card, either way it costs you $2 to buy the card, and then $2 each way on the train. Everyone over age 5 needs their own card, no sharing one card. The train ride from the Greenbelt station to the national mall is about 30 min. Get off at the Archives station to be in the center of all the sites.

  • 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.

  • Kristy R.
    Nov. 13, 2020

    Cherry Hill Park

    Great Family Fun

    Great camping amenities, soft cushioned sites, with power and water close by. DO NOT GET BASIC TENT SITES AS THEY ARE NEXT TO HIGHWAYS AND VERY NOISY!!! Premium tent sites would be a better choice. My grandchildren live it there. We will return to a premium tent site soon.

  • Margaret D.
    May. 3, 2023

    Lake Fairfax Campground

    Comfortable sites

    Campground has mostly level gravel lots with fire rings, picnic tables. No water at site. Bath house is reasonably clean. Dump station is adequate.

  • Justin G.
    Sep. 14, 2016

    Cedarville State Forest

    Cedarville State Forest (Tornado)

    I took my girlfriend car camping in Cedarville State Forest. The camping trip turned more into a stay in the tent the whole trip. We set up camp and ate dinner only to be hit by a tornado watch in the area. I spent most of the trip adjusting the water proofing so we stayed dry. When the rain did calm down Cedarville state forest offered some very serene and peaceful views. Which is surprising due to the forests location.

Guide to Stafford

Tent campsites near Stafford, Virginia range from primitive riverside spots to established state park grounds within a 60-mile radius. The region experiences humid subtropical climate with average summer temperatures reaching 85-90°F and winter lows around 30°F. Most campgrounds in this area sit within the Piedmont geographic region where rolling hills transition from coastal plains to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

What to do

Fishing and crabbing access: Endeavor Point on the Potomac River provides excellent fishing opportunities from their pier. "We went for labor day weekend and had a great time... the pier was perfect to fish or crab off of and the beach had great views of the sunrise," reports one camper at Endeavor Point.

Horseback riding trails: Lake Anna State Park offers equestrian trails throughout the park. "Wonderful place, very beautiful! Of courses, horses loved It too!" shares a visitor who enjoyed the riding paths at Lake Anna State Park.

Water activities: Lake Anna provides multiple water recreation options beyond just swimming. "Always come here for fourth of July and it is quite a show there are a bunch of activities to do," mentions a regular visitor about the lake festivities.

Nature program participation: Some parks offer educational programming for visitors. Leesylvania State Park runs regular nature programs and has "playground and a beach area for kids and family to all enjoy," according to a reviewer.

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Sky Meadows State Park offers secluded tent camping with thoughtful amenities. "The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, I think most of the sites would still feel shaded and private because of how they're dispersed throughout the hills," notes a camper at Sky Meadows State Park.

Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds offer opportunities to see native animals. "At night I saw white-tailed deer and heard owls and cattle! During the day I saw/heard SOOO many birds on the South Ridge Trail and found a bear track," reports a Sky Meadows visitor.

Historic elements: Several campgrounds include historical features. Prince William Forest Park's cabin camps "were made by the CCC and even used by the then-CIA during WWII. They are extremely rustic and you should expect to see lots of bugs, snakes, etc. during your stay, and it adds to the experience in a great way," explains a camper at Goodwill Cabin.

Clean facilities: Well-maintained amenities receive consistent praise. "The bath house was clean, and I especially liked the privacy of individual shower rooms," mentions a visitor to Lake Anna State Park.

What you should know

Access restrictions: Some campgrounds have limited public access. "This campsite is only open to residents of the gated community and their guests," warns a visitor about Lake Land'Or General Campground.

Required hiking gear: For backcountry sites, proper equipment is essential. "It's about a mile hike in to the campground, which sits in the woods in the park... Make sure you bring a bear bag or box with you," advises a camper about Caledon State Park.

Military base status: Certain campgrounds have military connections. "This park is located on Quantico Marine Corps Base. You must have a valid military ID to access the base before you can proceed to the park. However, the park itself is closed indefinitely," reports a visitor to Lunga Park.

Crowd levels: Popular parks become busy during peak times. "Very nice, plenty to see and do, but very crowded and noisy, even after quite time," notes a visitor about Lake Anna State Park.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Multiple parks offer play areas for children. "My son and I really enjoy spending time here! This park is ALWAYS full of family's having picnics and enjoying time together! There's playground and a beach area for kids and family to all enjoy," shares a visitor to Leesylvania State Park.

Bike-friendly options: Some campgrounds accommodate cycling activities. "Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery," notes a Lake Anna visitor about the family-friendly paths.

ADA accessibility: Certain campgrounds offer inclusive facilities. "This campground is ADA accessible with the lantern hangers having lower hooks for those in wheelchairs, and at least one of the cabins has a wheelchair ramp," explains a visitor about Lake Anna State Park.

Privacy considerations: Family groups may prefer certain camping areas. "We weren't excited about being so close to so many people & the bathroom door needs to be fixed because every time some went to the bathroom we would hear the door SLAM shut all hours of the night," cautions a family that stayed at Lake Anna.

Tips from RVers

Site size limitations: Some campgrounds have space restrictions for larger vehicles. While Lake Anna State Park has "large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites," other campgrounds like Caledon State Park are described as "not big-rig-friendly" in their amenities list.

Dump station availability: Lake Anna State Park provides "a dump station" for RVers, which isn't available at most primitive camping locations in the area.

Electric hookup locations: Most backcountry and primitive sites don't offer electrical connections. "Campers can choose sites with or without electricity," notes a Lake Anna State Park visitor, making it one of the few options for powered sites near Stafford.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Stafford, VA is Leesylvania State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

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TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Stafford, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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