Free Camping in Virginia

200 sites across 8 federal and state land agencies. 1 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

Bureau of Land Management sites

2 sites. Bureau of Land Management camping rules →

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sites

2 sites. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration camping rules →

  • Chesapeake Bay Virginia National Estuarine Research Reserve
    Developed· Indexing
  • Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
    Developed· Indexing

National Park Service sites

59 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Appalachian Trail Conservancy - Damascus Trail Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Appomattox Court House Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Belle Grove Welcome Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Meadows Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Ridge Music Center (Milepost 213)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Booker T Washington National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brawner Farm Interpretive Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 1 (By Reservation Only)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 2 (By Reservation Only)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 3
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 3 (Group Site By Reservation Only)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 4 (By Reservation Only)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 5 (By Reservation Only)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cape Henry Memorial Part of Colonial National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
    Developed· Indexing
  • Casemate Museum
    Developed· Indexing
  • CCBF Museum & Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chimborazo Medical Museum
    Developed· Indexing
  • Clara Barton National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cold Harbor Battlefield Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
35 more National Park Service sites in Virginia.

PRIVATE sites

95 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • 16 Hirschi
    Developed· Indexing
  • 4 Newlon
    Developed· Indexing
  • 5 Frise
    Developed· Indexing
  • Algonquian Ecology Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aquia Pines Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • AstroCamp / Camp Motorsport
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bark Camp Recreation Area Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beartree Campground - Group Sites
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Dam Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Bethpage Camp-Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blowing Springs Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Hollow Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Blue Ridge Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Branch Pond
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Bull Run Regional Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Burke Lake Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 1
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabin Camp 3
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Baker Boy Scout Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Bowman
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Burson
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Cardinal RV Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Lowman
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp May Flather
    Developed· Indexing
71 more PRIVATE sites in Virginia.

State Parks sites

1 site. State Parks camping rules →

  • Bear Creek Lake State Park
    Developed· Indexing

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

15 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • BUFFALO PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Park Picnic Shelter
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dismal Swamp Canal
    Developed· Indexing
  • GOOSE POINT
    Developed· Indexing
  • Island Creek Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir
    Developed· Indexing
  • John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir
    Developed· Indexing
  • JOHN W. FLANNAGAN DAY USE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Moomaw Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • NORTH BEND PARK
    Developed· Indexing
  • North Bend Park OSAGE Picnic Shelter
    Developed· Indexing
  • North Fork of Pound River Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Palmer Point Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Philpott Lake
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

17 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • BEARTREE
    Developed· Indexing
  • BLUE SPRINGS GAP CABIN
    Developed· Indexing
  • BOLAR MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cane Patch
    Developed· Indexing
  • CAVE MOUNTAIN LAKE GROUP CAMP
    Developed· Indexing
  • CAVE MOUNTAIN LAKE GROUP PICNIC SHELTER
    Developed· Indexing
  • Collins Cove Horse Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Comer's Rock Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • ELIZABETH FURNACE GROUP CAMP
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fenwick Mines Pavilion
    Developed· Indexing
  • FOX CREEK HORSE CAMP
    Developed· Indexing
  • GRINDSTONE
    Developed· Indexing
  • High Knob Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hone Quarry Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Little Fort
    Developed· Indexing
  • North Creek
    Developed· Indexing
  • PHILLIP'S CREEK GROUP PICNIC AREA
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

9 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • James River National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Virginia

How long can you camp on public land in Virginia?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Virginia is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Virginia have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Virginia right now?
Fire restrictions in Virginia change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Virginia state office page and the USFS Virginia forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Virginia?
Dispersed camping in Virginia means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. BLM land in Virginia carries most of the dispersed sites. USFS national forests in Virginia allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Virginia?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Virginia with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Virginia prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Virginia?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Virginia when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Virginia are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Virginia in winter?
Winter access in Virginia depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Virginia often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Virginia?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Virginia do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Virginia?
Coverage in Virginia varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Virginia sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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