Best Camping Sites Near Dehradun
From Ganga-side camps near Rishikesh to deodar-forest sites near Chakrata, here's where to actually pitch a tent within a few hours of Dehradun.
Dehradun's position at the base of the Himalayas means genuinely good camping terrain — river, forest, and meadow — sits within a short drive in almost every direction, which is exactly why camping has become one of the more popular weekend activities for both locals and visitors passing through the city.
Riverside Camps Near Rishikesh
The stretch of the Ganga around Shivpuri and further upstream from Rishikesh hosts the region's most established riverside camping scene — a mix of standalone camps and combined rafting-and-camping packages, generally set on sandy river beaches with the sound of the Ganga running past overnight. This is the most accessible, best-infrastructure camping option from Dehradun, roughly an hour to ninety minutes away, and the easiest to book given how many established operators run here.
Forest Camps Near Chakrata
The Chakrata area, covered in our dedicated Chakrata guide, offers a genuinely different camping character — dense deodar forest rather than riverside beach, with sites around Kanasar and Deoban offering quiet, cooler-altitude camping further from the more commercialised Rishikesh scene. This suits campers prioritising genuine forest immersion and quiet over the more social, activity-packed Rishikesh riverside setup.
Kanatal and Dhanaulti Forest Camping
Kanatal in particular has built a real niche around eco-resort and forest-camping stays, discussed in more detail in our Kanatal guide — tented accommodation set directly in deodar forest, generally with a more curated, resort-style camping experience (proper beds within tents, organised meals, bonfire evenings) than a bare-bones riverside setup.
Camping Near Tehri Lake
The Tehri Lake area, alongside its water sports, has also developed camping options directly near the water — a genuinely distinctive combination of lakeside camping with the option of jet skiing or kayaking during the day, different again from both the riverside and forest camping styles found elsewhere in the region.