What camping should I get?

I did VIP car camping last year.

I saw nothing appealing about "forest camping."

I like having the car at the campsite for storage, secure storage, emergency shelter if the tents fail in a big storm. But I do not pack light and like to have my stuff! Which includes coolers.

Those who like non-car camping find they can group the friends together better, and that it is a "short walk" to the car to get stuff.

As far as accommodation, VIP gives you better showers/bathrooms, and not to sound snobby, a more up-scale group of neighbors. Is it worth the upcharge? that is a 100% personal opinion.

Are the 4-5 of you driving cross country together, or flying and renting to drive in?
Check the rules about how many on a camping pass; you may need two--but you will appreciate the room, especially if you drive out together!

And welcome to the board, and in advance, welcome to Virginia!

Well, you kind of do come off a sounding a bit judgmental with that statement.  

Kind of playing around with you Smosey, but you do make some good points. My son and I were in family camping and it was pretty mellow, perfect for us. In reality we did not spend too much time at the site. Basically a few hours of sleep, breakfast and back for lunch.

Forest camping is too far from the main stage in my opinion. Having the car at the site is important to me for all of the same reasons that Smosey pointed out.

It is a haul but they had carts running last year part of the way.
I'm going Forest this year because it is really close to the late night acoustic stage.
Just hope I can find 3 agreeable trees to string a Tentsile tent up in.

If I'm car camping in VIP, am I allowed to put up a privy tent/shower in addition to a regular tent? Is that space mine to do with as I want or are there limitations to what you can put up?

There are air conditioned bathrooms and showers available in the VIP camping area as well but you can put up whatever you want on your site. If it is set up like last year try to get one of the sites on the end, closest to the stage, you can expand your real estate some. I am actually going to lobby to have this area swapped with where the VIP RVs were last year. Wish me luck!

Shenandoahjoe, that is a outdated map. The forest camping may be one of the few things that is still in the same place.

That map is so 2013.

the crowd I saw in forest had as high a wook factor as general camping; I would not count on security there. Lock it up in the car when you are gone or sleeping (or luggage lock while asleep).

Even in VIP camping, a neighbor caught a band of thieves roving through the campsite during a headliner show; he scared them off with the look one usually sees down the barrel of a large pistol. I heard there were similar groups in other areas, too.

You can't lock everything down but do enough to keep an honest man honest.

Camping does not open until Thursday. Some people camp at Crabtree Falls the nifht before. Im sure other people know other options