Oronoco Campground

From all the reviews on this site, we thought it would be more dispersed/private than it is. If you’re ok with seeing and hearing strangers as you sit in front of your own campfire, then this is the spot for you. Not for those who want privacy and true connection with nature and surroundings.

We have camped here a couple times when it was empty and had a really peaceful experience. It’s a simple, no-frills national forest campground with a nice open grassy area and a small creek running next to it. Plenty of room to spread out. 

We didn’t have any issues during our stay. It was quiet, clean, and easy to access. I can see how it might feel different depending on timing, though, during the hunting season there are usually a lot more people around. Most of the time when we’re in the area, we actually camp about 2 miles up the road where there are 5 dispersed campsites that offer a bit more separation.

I love this campground, it’s 5 to 10 minutes from BV, right on the river, primitive with bathrooms, which is fine with me, I sleep in my forerunner with my two dogs, plenty of land and trails, it’s perfect for what I need👍

Less than 10 campsites, all with fire circles and a public bathroom site. each campsite is on the river, very beautiful.

Loved this little campground. Nice and quiet, toilets available (though not very clean but good enough). Only thing is that there’s a dog, we think from a property nearby, that acts aggressive towards campers. Luckily it went home around 18h, so we had a great night, but it was back the next morning and immediately had aggressive behavior. So watch out and be careful with your food!

Nice sites in a pretty open area. This area is designated as a national forest campground, but didn’t have a fee or closure dates like others. Creek runs through. Pit toilet bathrooms were open when we visited in early march. Not a huge area, maybe 10 sites or so. 2 other people camping midweek in March so I’d imagine it would fill up in warmer months. No cell service for AT&T or T-mobile. Great location, 5 minutes from the BRP. Easy access for small vehicles, backed my sedan into the site.

I camped here on a Friday night, January 14th. I was the only one in the campsite. There was a nice little stream and several fire rings with plenty of places to park. There were some outhouses, but they were locked, presumably for the winter season. No problem if you bring your own TP and walk a hundred feet into the woods.

My biggest complaint is that I could see/hear cars on the road that is only about 200 yards from the campsite. I was alone and with no cell service(T-mobile), so there was a bit more fear as anyone could pull off and cause some trouble. I never have this concern when backpacking as it becomes a lot more work for someone to go that far out.

The forest road from the campsite goes up to the Blue ridge Parkway, but you'll prob want to have a car with some clearance, and 4WD if it's wet or snowy/icy.

I will def be coming back here with some friends and family in the summer months.

Me and my boyfriend went up for the weekend and it was great! Not a lot of spots, but they were spaced nicely for privacy. It was completely free too. Great primitive camping spot!

The trails around the campground are great

Clean. Sites along stream. Pit toilets. Old CCC camp from 1930s. No cell at all. Primitive.

Very crowded with full timers. No service and not many spaces. If you travel up the mountain you can find some primitive spots if that’s more up your alley.

This campground being only about 25 miles from home has been one we’ve used several times over the years. It has seen increasing use the last few years and does seem to attract a wide range of people, including some regulars whose rigs more or less stay all summer. Free boondocking places east of the Mississippi are rarer than out west, and this is a good one, for a place with multiple campers. 

It should be noted that the warning about water moccasins posted previously is inaccurate as there are no water moccasins in this part of Virginia. There are eastern timber rattlers and copperheads as our only venomous snakes, as well as several non-venomous water snakes that are often mistaken for both moccasins and copperheads, along with the usual ticks, yellow jackets, wasps, and bears among the fauna one might encounter in a relatively wild place. All of which simply say PAY ATTENTION when you are out in the woods.

I've stayed here 3-4 times when coming out to explore the mountains. Like others have said, it can get busy and people often leave trash. The area itself is beautiful and there are many small streams that you are able to park near and set up camp.

Didn't enjoy staying here too much, gotta give it three stars though free camping in a natl forest can be hard to find, and right near natural bridge attraction. Full of travel trailers people leave parked here, and some people live out of. lots of trailers and no vehicles to accompany them.. was absolutely packed, everyone parking wherever they please taking up more room than they need. One group of people all had their rv's parked together in the center to make a big camp, seems like they had been there for a few months i think people just live here in the summer. loud, inconsiderate neighbors (more than 1) generators running all night definitely will not be coming back here unless i have to. Oh and watch out for water moccasins (poisonous snakes)

Nice spot, it’s small but the sites are free and surrounded by clear mountain streams. We originally were only going to stay the night but liked it so much we stayed for three.

We found a BUNCH of trash and cleaned it up, took almost an hour. Not going to rate the camp ground poorly because it’s everyone’s job to keep it clean. The previous campers got kicked out by the ranger and left at night so they was likely the source of the trash. The rest of the campground was cleaner. We pick up a lot of garbage everywhere we go sadly, so if your reading this don’t left other people’s garbage ruin a great site like this and please consider packing out any extra garbage you find.