6 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Tent camping near Chilhowie, Virginia ranges from drive-in dispersed sites along Bear Creek to hike-in primitive sites deep in the mountains, with options across the Jefferson and Washington National Forests. Scales Trailhead Basecamp provides primitive tent camping with hike-in access, while Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites feature drive-in and walk-in tent sites along Bear Creek. These areas serve as convenient bases for exploring the Appalachian Trail and nearby mountain terrain.
Tent sites in this region typically lack amenities, with most dispersed camping areas providing only basic fire rings. Campers should bring all necessary supplies including drinking water, as most locations have no potable water sources. A visitor commented that "there is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared." While some areas like Chestnut Knob Shelter have fire pits and wooden sleeping platforms for hikers, most tent camping locations require self-sufficiency. The primitive nature of these sites means campers must practice Leave No Trace principles, as trash accumulation has been noted as an issue at several locations.
The tent camping near Chilhowie offers significant natural rewards despite the rustic conditions. Many sites provide creek-side camping with opportunities for water filtering and cooling off during warmer months. One camper noted that their "site had a good fire ring, and was on the edge of a creek that we could filter water from with ease." The surrounding mountains offer excellent hiking, with the Appalachian Trail accessible from several tent campsites in the area. Tent campers particularly appreciate the seclusion of walk-in sites, which provide greater privacy and natural immersion than developed campgrounds. Fall and spring typically offer the most comfortable tent camping conditions, with summer bringing higher temperatures and winter requiring cold-weather gear. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most tent camping areas, allowing for a true disconnect from daily routines.
"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!"
"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
"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
"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
"We stayed in the camping cabins located on the hill behind the store. It was so quiet & offered a beautiful view of the river from the picnic table."
from $25 - $55 / 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
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.
ScoutOwner is friendly, people staying here consist of workers and retired people for the most part so the people are very quiet, beautiful river running through the end of the campground and a nice little hiking trail and a wide open area for kids to run and play. Only “bad” part is the road noise you are about 200 yards off that highway and can here it all day and night! But if your like me and don’t mind you will love it here!
Dispersed tent camping near Chilhowie, Virginia offers primitive camping experiences with direct access to mountain trails. Located in southwest Virginia at approximately 2,000 feet elevation, campers find cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands, especially during summer months. Access routes often require high-clearance vehicles, with several remote locations being accessible only via unpaved forest roads.
Creek exploration: At Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites, campers can enjoy streams perfect for cooling off. One visitor 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."
Mountain hiking: The trails surrounding Scales Trailhead Basecamp connect to extensive path networks. A camper shared, "It's right on the AT, so there are lots of through hikers that you'll see stop in for a night. That also means that there's lots of great hiking options!"
Wildlife viewing: Several camping areas provide opportunities to observe native wildlife including wild ponies. "The salt lick for the ponies wasn't far so if you're looking for a weekend getaway with great sites, a little adventure and a whole lot of beauty this campground is for you," mentioned one visitor at Scales Trailhead.
Fishing: Local creeks and lakes near tent camping areas offer fishing opportunities for small trout. Many campsites have water access, and one camper noted finding "a nice creek and we caught a trout in the pond right away."
Isolated settings: Tent camping Chilhowie appeals to those seeking separation from crowds. A camper at Dusty Trails Outfitters described their experience: "As we pulled down the gravel road, we noticed each site had their own port-a-potty, hand washing station, campfire ring, picnic table and trash can. The only other group we could see over 150 feet away."
Natural sounds: Creek-side camping locations provide soothing background noise. One camper at Washington & Jefferson National Forest stated, "Overall this was a great little spot right off the road. The sound of the creek was lovely all night."
Night sky viewing: Minimal light pollution allows for exceptional stargazing at most tent camping areas. "Thousands of fireflies, in the most amazing natural light show I have ever seen," reported a visitor at Dusty Trails Outfitters.
Cooler temperatures: The elevation provides relief from summer heat. A camper at Blue Bear Mountain Camp mentioned, "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat."
Road conditions: Access to remote camping sites requires careful planning. A visitor to Scales Trailhead Basecamp warned, "The road in is 'rocky'. High clearance 4wd needed. Not ADV friendly, unless you're very adventurous."
Facility limitations: Most dispersed tent camping areas have minimal amenities. A visitor at Chestnut Knob Shelter shared practical advice: "There is a shelter at the top; this location is located along the Appalachian Trail and has wooden bunks and single platforms for pads and sleeping bags."
Water sources: Bring containers to filter stream water. One camper mentioned, "We stayed at this camp for 3 weeks during the pandemic shutdown and it was a perfect place to ride out this crazy storm and decompress from some anxiety."
Cell service: Most camping areas have limited or no connectivity. A Washington & Jefferson Forest camper reported, "Absolutely no verizon service," while another noted, "you have to go into town or hike a local mountain to get service up high."
Safety awareness: Be mindful of other forest users. One camper cautioned, "Be aware of your surroundings and always carry something on you to protect yourself!"
Site selection: Choose locations with adequate flat space for family tents. A visitor at Cavitts Creek Park noted, "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."
Entertainment options: Look for sites with natural play features. One camper shared, "The kids were happy playing in the babbling brook through our site and the river was GORGEOUS!"
Weather preparation: Mountain weather can change rapidly. A visitor at Blue Bear Mountain mentioned, "The constant light breeze and lack of mosquitoes is a treat," highlighting one of the benefits of higher-elevation camping.
Local attractions: Plan day trips to nearby points of interest. A visitor noted, "Close to Boone. The state maintained gravel road used to access campground was narrow and would be difficult to get a large camper up there."
Size limitations: Many forest roads cannot accommodate large RVs. One camper reported, "The RV parking was a gravel lot with large RVs packed in tight," suggesting that established campgrounds work better for larger vehicles than dispersed sites.
Off-grid preparation: Bring extra water containers and solar power options. A camper at New River Alleghany Access stated, "My family went to tent camp and enjoyed our stay. We discovered others with campers that had wonderful campsites."
Level sites: Scout for relatively flat parking areas. A visitor mentioned, "Very nice setting. Beautiful camp spots in an open area on top of a mountain," indicating some sites can accommodate smaller RVs despite primitive conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Chilhowie, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Chilhowie, 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 Chilhowie, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Chilhowie, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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