U.S. Forest Service · George Washington & Jefferson National Forest · Virginia

The Pines Campground

The Pines is a rustic campground in a wooded setting, located adjacent to Barbour's Creek, a stocked trout stream. Most of the campsites are designed for tents, but small recreation vehicles can be accommodated. Jeep enthusiasts can experience some of the most challenging 4-wheeling in Virginia at nearby Potts Mountain Jeep Road.

Open nowBooking not published10 sitesFreeTents only

More like this: first-come in Virginia · free in Virginia · tent only in Virginia

The Pines Campground
Photo from the area. Peter Fisher-Duke (z… (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesNo Fee

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril 1 to December 7
ForestGeorge Washington & Jefferson National Forest
FeesNo Fee

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near The Pines Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.60 inches of precipitation, 2.5 inches of snowFebruary: 2.43 inches of precipitation, 3.3 inches of snowMarch: 3.36 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowApril: 3.63 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 4.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.98 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.49 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.75 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowDecember: 2.94 inches of precipitation, 2.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.0°F averageFebruary: 34.8°F averageMarch: 42.1°F averageApril: 52.3°F averageMay: 61.0°F averageJune: 68.6°F averageJuly: 72.5°F averageAugust: 71.2°F averageSeptember: 65.0°F averageOctober: 54.4°F averageNovember: 43.1°F averageDecember: 35.7°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Covington Fltr Plt, 15 miles from the campground at 1,244 feet, station USC00442044 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 39 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 10 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, April 1 to December 7.

Getting there

Coordinates37.6050° N, 80.0767° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearGander Mountain ↗18.1 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗18.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗22.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Lipes Branch
    2.4 mi trail · hiking
  • 0.5 mi
    Bald Mountain
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 2.4 mi
    Fenwick Wetlands
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.8 mi
    Fenwick Nature Walk
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, bike
  • 3.2 mi
    Potts Arm
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, bike
  • 3.8 mi
    Children'S Forest Long Loop
    2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Barbours Creek Wilderness, which overlaps George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for Virginia

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Virginia
    Randy Porter, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Virginia and West Virginia
    Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best tent camping
    Johnny Molloy, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at The Pines Campground?

Nothing. The Pines Campground is listed as free. No Fee

Source: Forest Service

Is The Pines Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season April 1 to December 7.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does The Pines Campground have?

10 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to The Pines Campground?

The Pines Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if The Pines Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Craig Creek Recreation Area (5.6 mi), Steel Bridge Campground (8.3 mi), and Caldwell Fields Group Campground (23 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby