Best Tent Camping near Mathias, WV
Looking for the best options for tent camping near Mathias? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Mathias with tent camping. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Tent Sites Near Mathias, West Virginia (40)
1. Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping
10 Reviews•57 Photos•415 SavesBrandywine, West VirginiaThis colossal lake is a sight to behold. The surrounding forested mountains appear to just drop into the lake, making for scenery reminiscent of majestic paintings by the late Bob Ross. The lake should be checked during migration and winter for waterfowl. At other times of the year, it could host great blue and green herons and, on occasion, a bald eagle or osprey may drop in to pick out a bass for dinner. The neighboring hillsides are heavily wooded and host many woodland birds. Pileated woodpeckers can be heard as their loud raucous call reverberates across the lake. American goldfinch twitter overhead and ruffed grouse and wild turkey stalk the roadsides. Careful exploration is sure to reward the butterfly enthusiast; tiger and spicebush swallowtail, question mark, silver-spotted skipper, and American painted lady have been spotted here. There is little reason to doubt why they frequent this site as Black Eyed Susan, milkweed, wild columbine, and Queen Anne’s lace abound. Note that because this lake serves as the main water supply for surrounding towns, swimming and gas motorboating are prohibited. Camping is restricted to areas further down Skidmore Fork Rd/Switzer Lake Rd with less accessible sites past the second river crossing. Be sure to secure any food overnight as black bears are known to frequent campsites in this area.
- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm
6 Reviews•10 Photos•51 SavesSingers Glen, VirginiaI grow mushrooms and sell them at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market. The camping area is about an acre and is beside the house. Park under a canopy of red cedar trees which are bug resistant so very few mosquitoes. Two fireplaces, first come first serve. No neighbors yet close to Harrisonburg. Free firewood. No curfews. Tent camping and conversion vans only. No RV's.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
$25 - $30 / night
3. #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp
4 Reviews•18 Photos•296 SavesLuray, Virginia"Glamping at it's finest!" "Vacation In the Round" alongside the beautiful, legendary Shenandoah River in Luray, Virginia. Campers all around the world, experience true serenity when you vacation in one of our ONE-OF-A-KIND YURTS! Offering tent sites and yurts! #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp's riverfront campsite settings and yurts are just perfect for groups; relax with family and friends at this beautiful, In addition we offer two totally primitive tentsites in the pines diagonally across the road from kamp. The 1947 Rock Tavern Retreat cabin (luxury) is diagonally across the road from kamp. Groups can reserve in advance the entire camp and cabin - special pricing. #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp has on-site tubing,kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and local firewood is available.#1 Rock Tavern River Kamp is central to your camping vacation in Luray: you'll be hiking in GW National Forest within minutes! When you vacation at our camp, you're within **20 minutes of the entrance of Shenandoah National Park.**The famed Luray Caverns is within 7 minutes. Super convenient, the Walmart is a 10-minute drive from the#1 Rock Tavern River Kamp, and if you don't feel like cooking while you camp, Anthony's Pizza Delivers! Horseback riding just 12 min away. Cooter's "Dukes of Hazzard" Museum is 15 min away. River Hill Distillery is only 5 min- wine tastings, corn whiskey and bourbon all made on the horse farm.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
$45 - $225 / night
4. Wolf Gap Recreation Area
1 Review•7 SavesBasye, Virginia- Fires
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
5. Eagle Rock Campground
4 Reviews•30 Photos•27 SavesUpper Tract, West Virginia- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Toilets
- Alcohol
$10 / night
6. Little Fort Campground
3 Reviews•8 Photos•125 SavesWoodstock, Virginia- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
7. Canaan Loop Road Dispersed
8 Reviews•44 Photos•204 SavesDavis, West VirginiaRecreation areas with activity Dispersed Camping: There are at least 7 dispersed camp sites Along Canaan Loop Road.
Camping Tips Bring drinking water; otherwise, treat water from streams and springs before drinking to kill harmful pathogens. Vigorously boil local water for at least three minutes, or use a filter which is specifically labeled for removal of Giardia. Chemical treatments (iodine and chlorine) are not considered effective. Freezing temperatures and snow can occur anytime of the year, but mainly between October and April. Dress for the weather. Practice Leave No Trace outdoor ethics: do not build a camp within 200 feet of streams. Light weight camping stoves are encouraged. If using firewood it must be dead AND down branches only. Keep fires small. During hunting seasons, hikers are encouraged to wear high visibility clothing.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
8. Emerald Pond Primitive Campground
2 Reviews•7 Photos•96 SavesNew Market, Virginia- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Drinking Water
9. Crisman Hollow Road Camp
1 Review•26 SavesMount Jackson, Virginia- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
10. Squirrel Hollow Road Camping
1 Review•7 Photos•9 SavesWardensville, West Virginia- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Dispersed
Recent Tent Reviews near Mathias, West Virginia
1004 Reviews of 40 Mathias Campgrounds
- Brian W.
Scout
Spruce Knob Lake Campground
WORDS CANT DESCRIBE
This place is amazing!!!. If your into primitive camping at it's best this place is it. This is where me and wife went on are first tent camping trip and ever since we compare every other tent site to Spruce Knob. As of know nothing has compared.
Marianne S.
TravelerSpruce Knob Lake Campground
more remote and primitive for car camping
A great, quiet campground with fewer sites than most. It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. Some drive up, some drive, park, and walk up. There is a single water source and I'd highly recommend boiling first. H20 does NOT taste good at all. There are a couple of outhouses, and no shower facilities.
Dave V.
Legend
Seneca Shadows
Seneca Rocks Cast Their Shadow
West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it.
Wanting to spend the a few days midweek in and around Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, we chose Seneca Shadows Campground as our basecamp. Aptly named, as views of Seneca Rocks can enjoyed from your tent site.
Smack dab in the middle of the Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Shadows Campground is part of the U.S. Forest Service, so if you are planning a weekend or popular vacation time stay, log onto (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/mapof_Seneca_Shadows/r/campgroundMap.do?page=map&search=site&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70322 ) and reserve your site.
If you are driving a big RV or hauling a Camper, you'll be parking on one of the 38 sites designed specifically for that purpose. There are a few large group tent sites on the same side of the park roadway before you reach the individual tent sites. Be astute, some have electric and some do not.
Forgive me for saying, but the tent sites appear designed by someone only interested in allowing as many tenters as possible, without regard for privacy...more like cattle in a feed lot (with the exception of 50-53). These are considered "walk to" sites. So I would not camp here during a weekend or holiday. Fortunately, weekdays see few tenters and we had it all to ourselves. Staying on somewhat of an elevated site (50) with some encompassing foliage. However, a roadway runs along the campground to the north, so we heard truck traffic early morning and late. Water and restrooms are located by the parking lot and adequate.
The views of Seneca Rocks were welcomed, when it wasn't raining (a common occurance is WV)...and only one mile from entrance to entrance with the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=7050)...and 14.3 miles/Half hour drive to Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak at 4,862 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7053). At the crossroads a mile away are a couple restaurants and a country store (with ice cream shop) for last minute needs.
While I prefer more isolated campgrounds and sites, this filled the need.
- Dave V.Legend
Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground
A State Park for all Seasons
Campground Review: Canaan Valley State Park and Resort, Davis, West Virginia
The Canaan Valley State Park and Resort is situated in a very popular outdoor activity area...for every season. Winter brings copious snowfall and the skiing here draws thousands...downhill and XC. The summer sees backpackers, hikers, mountain bikers, gravel grinders, car-campers and RVers. Not only do you have hiking trails here on the State Park location...you can drive up to the nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness Area for camping, day-hikes or multi-day backcountry trips; Blackwater Falls (10 miles north) offers memorable falls, great hikes with long gorge views (Lindy Point a favorite). Even Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob are only 30 minutes or so away. Possibilities are endless in this neck of the woods. This very weekend was to be the Mountainbike Festival, but due to Covid-19, well you know the rest of that story. The Abe Run Trail was a pleasant trail leaving from the campground.
The campground portion is not expansive but 34 sites are situated in three small loops (see photo of campground map). Primitive tent sites don't have water or electric and parking is roadside but you are within 100 yards of the "Comfort Station." The three "tent only" sites have only been around for a couple years...but sites 1 and 2 are in a nice grassy area away from the RV loop 2. Always verify current rates, but June 18, 2020...mid $30's nightly for nonresidents (WV residents get 30% off). Primitive tent sites were $17 a night.
The Resort Lodge, Golf course, swimming pool and a covered ice skating rink (obviously the last three mentioned being seasonal) were further up the windy park roadway. (See rates on park website).
The campground "Comfort Station," is a restroom/shower/laundry and soda machine building. The gender specific restroom/shower rooms each have two wooden stalled modern facility stools, two shower stalls (men's are separated by a shower curtain, women's by a wall); a separate unisex ADA restroom/shower sits adjacent to the men's and appears newer.
The grounds are well-maintained and manicured as are all WV State Parks. Trails are scattered throughout the park. some are foot traffic only, others permit bicycles. The Back Hollow Trail was predominantly a mown grass trail but occasional wooded sections were rocky two-track. This is Wet Virginia, so expect to experience rain and bring foul weather gear in the summer months. I have mastered the fine art of campsite tarping due to West Virginia camping. It also still gets chilly in these mountains during the early summer months.
Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening. A kid's playground is situated beside (separated by a field) primitive tent sites 1 & 2.
We spent three days in June and experienced afternoon rain showers daily, but arranged our hikes and bikes around them.
MAX F.Traveler
Millesons Walnut Grove Campgound
Nice place with great riverside spots
We really Enjoyed the spot, there aren’t a lot of tent sites, it’s mostly RV sites, pretty big campground as far as the RV sites go. The tent sites are by the river. It was a pretty quiet campground.
- KKaleighTraveler
Shenandoah Valley Campground
Beautiful river access tent sites
Beautiful river access directly from tent site! Lots of amenities from hot tubs, fishing pond and a heated pool. Staff was friendly and site was well maintained. Bathrooms were clean. Only complaint is that tent sites are really close together.
- Daniel F.Traveler
Hawk Recreation Area Campground
Free, quiet, cell service!
Tent sites are rough, some outside ring sites have tent pads.
Bridget H.
Ranger
Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground
Trails and Water
We legit loved this park! I took my grandkids tent camping and we had a wonderful experience. We brought our bikes and hit the trails. It was some great times. We had electricity and water and the bathrooms were close to our site. The park is on the Shenandoah River and there are multiple spots to put in and take out. There is primitive tent camping down by the river which looks fantastic. We definitely loved the trails with hiking and biking options. We will definitely go here again.
- DDylan B.Traveler
Millesons Walnut Grove Campgound
Lovely Place
Great place to tent camp with about 10 spots available. It was empty when we went and was perfect. The sunset is breathtaking!
Kassie F.
GuideSeneca Shadows
Great location!
Great location for fly fishing & hiking. The tent camping area has a view of Seneca Rocks while the camper trailer/RV sites are wooded.
- BBrian C.Traveler
Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Small tent sites with big noise
Stayed in tent site 005, and while it wasn’t the smallest of the tent sites or least private, if was very close to the main look road and every car entering the camp loop passes right by the site up the hill within eyesight. Camp store didn’t allow dogs, and I didn’t feel good leaving my dog unattended in the park (which is their rule) I didn’t get to visit the store. One good thing was the view from the amphitheater
- MMark B.Traveler
Riverside Cabins and RV Park
Really a nice place!
We stayed here in October 2020. Nice family campground with cabins, tent sights and RV slots. We tent camped and Steve (owner) took us down to the bank of the south branch of the Potomac. Perfect!
- FFrances G.Scout
Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National park camping.
Great site. Cement parking area and tent site is designated with log surround. Clean and airy.
Rob O.Traveler
Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Excellent campground especially as a base for hikes
Reservations are made through the National parks service "recreation.gov" website. Arrived for tent camping for 2 nights and found that my original planned site wasn't very hospitable to tent camping due to the slope, Conferred with park ranger who easily changed my site to a better one with no fee. My stay was quiet and the bathrooms were clean and well stocked. This is a great base camp for getting out to hike the Appalachian trail and the local water falls in the area. Firewood and some camping supplies can be obtained onsite and there is a park wayside store and cafeteria a short distance away (i highly recommend the honey breaded chicken).
- Missi N.Scout
Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views
Don’t come here if you actually want to camp
The tent sites are ON TOP of each other. No trees. Zero seclusion. This is an rv resort.
RLLegendLoft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Opt for the non-generator loop!
Beautiful part of the SNP. I was unfortunately tent camping next to a loud RV, but that was my fault for booking the wrong site! Lovely hikes nearby.
- AmberTraveler
Wolf Gap
Great hiking
Great place to go tent camping and hiking. The sites are free and are first come first serve. Highly recommended you bring your own water or container to fill at the spring down the road.
Kathie M.GuideLoft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Great view
It’s has small sites, great for tent camping, but not great for a fifth wheel. Bath houses are available and a small amp store.great for overnight camping and some bear coolers are available.
Cory E.Scout
Watercress Inn at Landon Farm
Great camp site
Did two nights at Butterfly Camp while hiking Old Rag and other trails in Shenandoah. Great experience, site had everything you would need and more for tent camping and enjoying some peace and quiet.
Anne K.GuideMathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Take me home
I love the Shenandoah. Nice escape from city life. Tent sites vary. A couple trails near campsite but you must drive to good ones
- Brian V.Traveler
North Fork Resort
Expensive
Stopped here for a tent site. And the cost was almost $60 a night. They do offer discounts for some associations but I wasn’t a member of any.
- Julia A.Scout
Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA
For glamping not camping
Hot clean showers, all the tent sites platforms were covered with mushrooms and map is labeled completely wrong. 3 stars for the high quality amenities available but needs site maintenance.
Jen V.LegendLoft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Great views, secluded sites
Tent-camped here with a group of friends, and the site was plenty large enough for 2 tents, a makeshift tarp shelter, and vehicle. We ended up getting rained out, unfortunately, but not before we got to do a little hiking and relaxing by the fire :) Beautiful area, with lots of great hiking trails right near the campground.
- Annette K.Scout
#1 Rock Tavern River Kamp
Owner says...
We are located on the Shenandoah River! Our waterfront unique kamp offers yurts and tent sites along with a well maintained bathhouse! Of course I feel we are 5 stars! Come visit us for the perfect Glamping experience — open year round!
Ashley F.Legend
Kiss the Earth
Very Private Site
Ashley here with The Dyrt. I want to welcome this partner to our platform. This is private land where you will be camping in the woods. Site is level and perfect for car or tent camping. Pack it in, pack it out. Book your stay today and leave them some love!
Ryan Z.ScoutShenandoah Valley Campground
Bunnies everywhere!
Great campground with lots to do with the family. My kids loved all the bunnies, the river, pool and putt-putt. The one problem is the camper section is very tight, whereas the tent sites look more roomy.
- Marissa S.Scout
Little Fort Campground
Nice free spot
Hesitant to post a review for the simple fact that I don’t want more people to come across it 😂 it’s a great free spot to camp! There is an atv trail - so you will hear noise. But everyone is respectful and it’s quiet at night. Sites are decent size for tent camping. Dog friendly.
Guide to Mathias
Nestled in the scenic beauty of West Virginia, Mathias offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. With unique campgrounds featuring diverse amenities and activities, it's an ideal spot for your next outdoor getaway.
Explore Local Attractions
- Experience the charm of the Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm, where you can enjoy a unique campsite setup surrounded by cedar trees and even take a tour of the mushroom farm.
- Visit the picturesque Emerald Pond Primitive Campground, perfect for a refreshing swim and surrounded by wild blackberries, making it a delightful spot for families.
- Discover the beauty of Smoke Hole Canyon, a serene location ideal for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without the distractions of modern amenities.
Engage in Local Activities
- Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the Eagle Rock Campground, which offers easy access to nearby fishing spots along the river, making it a great base for a fishing trip.
- Enjoy hiking and exploring the trails around Little Fort Campground, where you can find peaceful spots to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings.
- For off-road adventurers, the Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap OHV System provides thrilling trails and scenic views, perfect for a day of exploration.
Tent Campers Appreciate These Amenities
- The #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp features river access, picnic tables, and clean shower facilities, ensuring a comfortable camping experience.
- At Lost River State Park Campground, you can enjoy well-maintained sites with fire rings and the option for cabin accommodations, catering to various camping preferences.
- Emerald Pond Primitive Campground offers a tranquil setting with fire rings and plenty of trees for wood collection, making it a great choice for those looking to connect with nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mathias, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mathias, WV is Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Mathias, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 40 tent camping locations near Mathias, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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