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Best Tent Camping near Sumerduck, VA

802 Reviews

Tent camping near Sumerduck, Virginia centers primarily around Lake Anna State Park, which offers spacious walk-in tent sites with natural shade. Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Sumerduck, this state park provides access to Lake Anna with designated tent camping areas separate from the RV sections. Other options include Prince William Forest Park, which maintains several tent-friendly campgrounds with varying levels of accessibility and amenities.

Most tent sites feature dirt or gravel pads with fire rings and picnic tables, particularly at Lake Anna State Park. Walk-in tent locations typically require campers to park and carry gear a short distance to their sites, offering more privacy than drive-up options. Drinking water, showers, and toilet facilities are available at the main campgrounds, though some primitive areas have more limited services. Tent campers should note that summer weekends tend to fill quickly, with reservations strongly recommended between May and September. Lake Anna State Park maintains several tent-only camping loops with more separation between sites than mixed-use areas.

Tent camping experiences vary significantly across the region's campgrounds. Lake Anna's tent sites offer good tree cover and access to multiple hiking trails that connect directly to the lake. Prince William Forest Park provides more secluded backcountry camping options with quieter surroundings for primitive tent camping experiences. The Chopawamsic Backcountry area requires hikers to carry all gear to designated tent sites, but rewards with greater solitude. Sites near water tend to be more popular but can have higher humidity in summer months. As one visitor noted, "All of the sites are located around the 2.5 mile hiking trail. There is a pit toilet located at the parking area. You have to hike to your sites from there. No campfires allowed, and bring water."

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Best Tent Sites Near Sumerduck, Virginia (30)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sumerduck, VA

44 Photos of 30 Sumerduck Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Sumerduck, VA

802 Reviews of 30 Sumerduck 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 🪁💙

  • Nick C.
    Jul. 25, 2022

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Centralized spot in Shenandoah - hot showers!

    I stayed in the tent only / non generator sites which is definitely the way to go. My site was actually a walk in. So I had to park and lug my gear up some steps about 200 feet. The site was shaded with a nice spot for a hammock. Including a fire ring and grill grate, picnic table and a bear box. You are close to the road, so you get noise and headlights in your tent sometimes. Deer and skunk walk through camp all the time. Heard some owls at night. Whooooooo

  • Corey B.
    Jun. 15, 2018

    Little Fort Campground

    Great Stay

    Small and simple campground with a handle full of sites. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Sites are semi secluded from each other. Some sites have direct access to the Peter's Mill Run OHV complex. Vault toilet for all sites to share. No water, no electricity. Have to pack trash out. Sites were first come first serve. Free to camp.

    We camped so we could spend two days on the OHV Trails with the Jeep. Had an incredible time. We'll be back.

  • Terri S.
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Beautiful , well maintained

    Big Meadows Campground was wonderful. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Bear box for food storage. Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Fire ring with grate was available. Large site size. We had site 23. Highly recommend!

  • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 19, 2025

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Full campground, but a happy overnight

    I tent camped for one night at the start of Easter weekend. Lots and lots of folks about, but still enough space to NOT feel encroached upon. Level grass spot for a tent, fairly level paved parking area if car camping, picnic table, fire ring with grill grate. I was on the no generator loop, but in a non electric site (vs tent walk in type). Warm bathrooms, utility sinks in several, pay hot showers, lots of greenery. I will visit again! NO Verizon cell service at all!

  • 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!

  • Jon N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 2, 2022

    Veach Gap - GWNF - Backpacking Site

    My favorite Hike in the area

    I've both day hiked this and backpacked here several times. You will want to drive in and park at the Veach Gap Trailhead which is listed on Google Maps, then follow the trail and make the left when it comes to the intersection. It is about 4 miles up, so not too bad, but there is no water after the first mile. I have seen a small trickle part way up the mountain, but don't count on it. Pack up all the water you will need for the day/evening/morning. Once you get to the top there are several sites with little fire rings, and since it is on the ridgeline, the views are breathtaking. I've had good luck finding wood from dead trees at the top, but just make sure you're being safe and treating nature kindly. Follow the Leave no Trace rules so the next campers can enjoy this spot too.

  • M J.
    Jun. 15, 2021

    Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Wonderful location in Shenandoah

    More quiet than the Big Meadows area (less people for sure!). Simple campground, with all you need to experience a wonderful time in Shenandoah. In the more northern area of the park, and we found that with a Thursday-Sunday time frame there was so many less people. Bathrooms are simple, and no showers. Our site B125 was not huge (are any sites here huge? I didn't see one!), but we had space for our larger North Face tent on the tent pad (just barely!). Our site had a fire ring and picnic table, though no bear box. Seems like some sites had the boxes, and others did not. Be sure to lock up your food and anything questionable here. Policy was pretty strict about that. B125 was tucked against a hill and woods (and man those woods are right at the edge of your site). Across from us was a handicap site, and next to us was a handicap site as well. It meant we had basically no neighbors for our early June weekend camping. Saturday night was quite full all around (still no neighbors for that spot). Some spots at Matthews Arm are reservable, others are first come first serve. It's cheap! You can park some trailers here, but it probably depends on your set up which spots would be best for that. There are a number of trails that you can get to either from campground, or sorta close. We hiked out near the group site and could get to Overall Run Falls (which I believe is the tallest in the park). As with all Shenandoah hikes, a good amount of up and down on this one. We really enjoyed our visit here and will definitely be back! 

    Don't forget to wait for full dark, and then look up. Breathtaking. 

    So. Many. Stars.

  • Ellen C.
    May. 30, 2019

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Simply Amazing!!!

    As a youth I camped in Big Meadows for two weeks every summer with my parents, and this was my first trip back in nearly 30 years. We booked walk-in site number 35, which is the first site off the parking area. Despite being so close, it was secluded and well shaded. This site does not include a bear box due to its close proximity to your car, which is a minor hassle when preparing meals, but you absolutely must adhere to the rules regarding food storage when not in use within your vehicle or bear box (where available).

    During the week of our stay we saw bears daily, hunting for acorns in the forested areas surrounding the sites that were slightly further back from ours. I've attached some photos I'd captured of them, as well as, some deer that paid us no mind as they meandered right through our site several times a day. The bears were active mid afternoon to shortly before sunset and are very skilled at climbing trees. When we left the site to run errands and such we would check the trees before we walked in, as one afternoon we were sitting by the fire and unbeknownst to us one had climbed up a tree during our absence. He decided to high tail it out of there after we settled in. The tree was a mere 40 yards away in a nearby site. They generally want nothing to do with us humans but if cornered they will feel threatened and become aggressive.

    The showers are absolutely the best I have ever encountered in all my years of camping, so I happily paid the $1.75 for 5.25 minutes. The water is hot and the stalls are clean and much nicer than my own bathroom at home.

    The laundry facility is $1.00 for each unit and the washer takes :30 minutes to complete and the dryer cycle is about the same, although I had only done a small load towards the end of our trip, and it was completely dry in :15 minutes.

    The wood sold at the shower building is hit or miss, they sell two types one in yellow nets and one red. According to the attendant they were the same kiln dried wood but just from different manufacturers. The wood in the yellow burned better and sold out faster during our trip for whatever reason. The Walmart in Luray sells wood (which is okay to use in the park, provided it has the USDA symbol on the packaging) and at nearly half the price burned a lot longer and better.

    The camp store is well stocked with camping gadgets, canned goods, bread, snacks, toiletries and cleaning products. There is a small freezer section with individually wrapped meats, such as, burgers, steak and chicken breast which was a plus. They also had a nice beer selection. Prices are reasonable, similar to that of a convenience store. Gas was only .10 cents more than the valley which isn't too bad considering. We had a meal each at both the wayside and the lodge and they were both good and a nice change from prepping meals at the site.

    The rangers were great, helpful and informative. I was mildly worried after reading some of the reviews here, because our group included a few musicians and guitars were played and songs were sung. As long as you adhere to the quite hours you will have no issues.

    Ranger programs were offered every other day at the amphitheater and there were various presentations at the visitor center

    The utility sink near the bathrooms that are scattered throughout the campground is very handy for washing dishes but do not throw food out there. Scrape the food off your dishware/cookware into a bag and throw it out at the trash bins before washing. Twice over the first weekend the sink was clogged and completely unusable and had to be cleared by park maintenance. It can and WILL attract bears if left in that condition.

    Overall, this is a beautiful and well maintained place to place to pitch a tent and I highly recommend it.

Guide to Sumerduck

Tent camping near Sumerduck, Virginia, offers a variety of scenic locations and amenities for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.

Tips for tent camping near Sumerduck

  • For a well-reviewed experience, consider staying at Lake Anna State Park Campground, where you'll find spacious sites and well-maintained walking trails.
  • If you're looking for a more rustic experience, Caledon State Park Campground provides a peaceful setting along the Potomac River, perfect for hiking and enjoying nature.
  • Be prepared for a busy atmosphere at Leesylvania State Park Campground, which is popular for family gatherings and offers beautiful views of the river.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy fishing and swimming at Lake Anna State Park Campground, where the lake provides ample opportunities for water activities.
  • Explore the hiking trails at Prince William Forest Park, which is known for its natural beauty and tranquility, making it a great spot for a peaceful retreat.
  • Experience the charm of Goodwill Cabin, where you can engage in group activities and enjoy the rustic cabins surrounded by nature.

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

  • Visit the scenic Potomac River at Caledon State Park Campground, which is ideal for bird watching and enjoying stunning sunsets.
  • Take advantage of the amenities at Leesylvania State Park Campground, where you can picnic, hike, and enjoy family-friendly activities.
  • Experience the unique offerings at Lichtman Camp 1, which allows for various accommodations and features like electric hookups and picnic tables for a comfortable stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near Sumerduck, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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