Best Tent Camping near Washington, VA
Tent campsites near Washington, Virginia offer several options within the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park region. South Fork Shenandoah River dispersed campground provides riverside tent camping with established fire pits and basic amenities. Sky Meadows State Park Campground offers backcountry tent sites approximately one mile from the overnight parking area, featuring tent pads, picnic tables, and bear boxes for food storage.
The walk-in tent sites at Sky Meadows State Park require a one-mile hike from the overnight parking lot, with tent pads covered in pea gravel to provide level camping surfaces. Most primitive tent campgrounds in the area provide fire rings and picnic tables, but visitors should pack in their own water or be prepared to filter from nearby streams. Little Fort Campground features a self-registration system where campers flip a washer from green to red to claim a site. Vault toilets are available at most established tent camping areas, though no running water or showers are provided. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most backcountry tent locations.
Tent campers seeking solitude can find secluded walk-in sites at Veach Gap in George Washington National Forest, accessible via a 4-mile hike with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. The effort rewards tent campers with panoramic views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Little Crease Shelter provides another backcountry option with established tent sites and a shelter containing four bunks. Areas farther from roads offer deeper seclusion and wildlife viewing opportunities, with visitors reporting deer sightings near their tent sites. According to one visitor, "Breathtaking views of the Shenandoah River and surrounding mountains. Very much worth the 4 mile hike up to the site."
