Free camping near Independence, VA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Independence, VA there are 24 camps: 15 free, 8 fee, 1 unpriced. The closest is Hussy Mountain Horse Camp, 10.0 miles north of town. The closest one our audit calls free is New River, 17 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at. Today's season read covers 2 of them: 2 open, 0 closed, 0 worth a call. The circle crosses a state line: NC and VA.
Who manages them: 18 on the Forest Service; 3 on Virginia DWR; 2 on NCWRC; 1 spread across 1 other manager.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hussy Mountain Horse Camp | 10.0 | Fee | — | 8.7 mi to Stevens Creek | — |
| Comers Rock Recreation Area | 10 | Unpriced | West Dry Run Fork (stream) | 1.5 mi to Comers Rock | — |
| Raven Cliff | 15 | Fee | — | 5.2 mi to Ivanhoe | — |
| Collins Cove (Raven Cliff) Horse Camp | 15 | Fee | — | 4.2 mi to Ivanhoe | — |
| New River | 17 | Free | New River (river) | 0.3 mi to Buck | — |
| Raccoon Branch | 17 | Fee | — | 1.7 mi to Sugar Grove | — |
| Thurmond Chatham Game Land camping area #2 | 17 | Free | — | 8.9 mi to Sparta | Open |
| Grayson CountyDave slept here | 19 | Free | — | 3.3 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Thurmond Chatham Game Land camping area #1 | 19 | Free | — | 11 mi to Sparta | Open |
| Crooked Creek WMA | 19 | Free | — | 5.4 mi to Woodlawn | — |
| Old Virginia Group Horse Camp | 20 | Fee | — | 2.9 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Chatfield A.T. Shelter | 20 | Free | — | 2.8 mi to Groseclose | — |
| Stewarts Creek WMA | 20 | Free | — | 6.5 mi to Lowgap | — |
| Partnership A.T. Shelter | 20 | Free | — | 2.3 mi to Shady Grove | — |
| Big Survey WMA | 20 | Free | — | — | — |
| Hurricane Campground | 20 | Fee | — | 3.5 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Trimpi A.T. Shelter | 20 | Free | — | 4.4 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Fox Creek Horse Camp | 20 | Fee | — | 3.7 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Old Orchard A.T. Shelter | 20 | Free | Lewis Fork (stream) | 4.2 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Hurricane A.T. Shelter | 21 | Free | Hurricane Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Quebec | — |
| Thomas Knob A.T. Shelter | 22 | Free | Middle Fork Helton Creek (stream) | 4.9 mi to Mill Creek | — |
| Grindstone Family Campground | 22 | Fee | — | 5.8 mi to Troutdale | — |
| Cherry Tree Iron Mountain Shelter | 23 | Free | Big Laurel Creek (stream) | 3.2 mi to Stony Battery | — |
| Davis Path A.T. Camping Area | 23 | Free | Dry Run (stream) | 2.3 mi to Groseclose | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Independence, VA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.