Camping in Virginia

Camping rules worth knowing in Virginia

Fire restrictions here are written by place, not by stage

When the forest issues restrictions it names the ground: one order prohibited building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire within a quarter mile of the Appalachian Trail where it crosses the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Commercially available fuel stoves, enclosed lanterns and isobutane backpacking stoves stayed permitted. Read the order rather than assuming a numbered stage. Source 9

On the Parkway, camping is in eight places only

The Blue Ridge Parkway has 26 tunnels, one in Virginia and the rest in North Carolina, and camping is allowed only in one of the Parkway’s eight designated camping areas. There is no dispersed camping anywhere along it and no commercial traffic on it at all. Source 27

State park camping is 14 days in 30 across 29 parks

Twenty-nine Virginia state parks offer camping, with more than 1,800 campsites between them, and the maximum camping period is 14 days in any 30. That is the developed supply for the whole state outside the national forest, and on a summer weekend it is fully booked. Source 35

Dispersed camping on the national forest

The George Washington and Jefferson allows camping anywhere outside a developed campground, up to 14 days in one location in any 30-day period. Camp at least 100 feet from any stream or water source, keep the campsite within 150 feet of a roadway, and stay away from the vicinity of developed campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads. Nothing is provided, so be self-contained. Groups over 75 people need a special use permit from the district office. Campfires are allowed at existing rings and no permit is needed to collect dead and down firewood. Source 6

The full guide to overlanding Virginia