Best Places To Go Camping In Virginia

A canvas tent with a queen bed and two Adirondack chairs sits on a raised platform, giving you a comfortable place to watch your breakfast cook on the grill. When the ponies are getting a little antsy, take them over to Wallops Island for a gentle ride on the beach. Powhatan State Park, in the northwest corner of Powhatan County on the historic James River, has diverse wildlife habitat from open fields to upland hardwood forests.

There are bathhouses, a beach area, playground, a game room, 6 boat ramps, putt-putt golf, basketball court and much more in this campground. False Cape State Park sits on the Currituck Banks Peninsula, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Back Bay within the Southern Virginia Beach. It’s a 4321-acre state park with up to 12 primitive campsites and tents only. Access to False Calpe is possible via Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and only by biking, their tram-service, hiking or boat. Fairfax County offers quite a few options for camping in the peaceful setting of nature.

Christopher Run Campground On Lake Anna

To get a campsite, you’ll have to put in some work, because campsites for private parties are reserved only for campers arriving by canoe or kayak. Even if you stay at a site that isn’t waterfront, you can enjoy the nearly 300-foot long fishing pier, launch your boat from the boat ramp, or rent a canoe or kayak to explore the river. There’s also a parking lot .2 miles away from which campers may hike with gear to the campground. And be sure to sign up for the Customer Loyalty Program to earn points with every camping experience that may be used for free future overnight stays.

Virginia was one of the original thirteen colonies before the American Revolution and one of the hotbeds of the Revolution. Historical sites abound, not only from the Revolution, but from the Civil War. Yogi Bears has several gorgeous style cabins to choose from in one of the nicest Campgrounds in Virginia near Natural Bridge. All of the cabins feature dish TV service, coffeemakers and microwaves and all kitchen dishes and utensils. The water is for washing only so be sure to bring your own fresh water supply.

Tent Camping Near Me: George Washington And Jefferson National Forest

The campground is a favorite place for fishing and makes an excellent family friendly vacation spot for the budding anglers of the family. They have excellent level sites with concrete pads, full hookups, cable, and Wi-Fi. Picnic tables are at each site, and the commissary is located nearby for your convenience. The park has a full suite of amenities like two pools, a hot tub, a sauna, a fitness room, tennis courts, and more. This pet-friendly gated community is close to dozens of great shops, restaurants, and attractions. Golf carts, kayaks, bikes and paddle boards are available for rent nearby.

Virginia is home to some of the most outstanding backcountry and car camping destinations in all of America. Discover our top picks in this informative and inspirational guide to the best camping in Virginia.

Watermelon Park

You can stay at one of the six campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park, but Signal Mountain in particular has the best overviews. Campgrounds are currently open, and most facilities are open with restrictions, although the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, exhibits, and a few other venues are currently closed. The steep Smoky Mountains offer stunning views, practically like a Bob Ross painting. There are dozens of campgrounds at this national forest, but one of the best spots is Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Some recreational sites have reopened — check out this map to see which are still closed. The Assateague Island campgrounds are only nine miles south of Ocean City, with 37 miles of beaches for camping, swimming, surfing, paddle-boarding, crabbing, biking, kayaking, and spotting wild horses.

This resort style campground in Virginia Beach is located just one block from the water and it can accommodate everything from tents to big RV rigs. Located along the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, this stretch of beach front is famous for it’s incredible, beaches, views, tourist attractions and even camping. Virginia Beach actually has the longest pleasure beach in the world according to the Guiness Book of World Records. To the west you have the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains within George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. With amazing campgrounds sprinkled all over within these forests and mountains, you are sure to find a Virginia campground that you’ll love.

Shenandoah River State Park

2 of the loops offer electric hook-ups, ideal for RVs, while the third is ideally suited for tent campers looking for a more natural experience. Showers and concessions are available, as well as a gift shop and relaxation/observation area – all of which serve to make this a relaxing escape for the whole family. There are tent campsites accessible at this location by canoe or kayak at the Army Corp of Engineers spillway before lake Drummond. They have running water, flush toilets, screened in shelters with lights and electric plugs, picnic tables, and a first aid kit. The campground has dozens of features including a pool, spa, dog park, clubhouse, a boat dock and marina, mini golf, nature trails and more.

The Shenandoah National Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who love backcountry camping, as the park is full of primitive sites. In fact, there are very few park areas that are off-limits for overnight visitors, providing campers with abundant opportunities to truly discover the amazing wildlife and scenery of Virginia. It’s important to note, however, that backcountry camping here isn’t for beginners and there are several developed campgrounds in the area. One of the most popular activities in the Shenandoah National Park is hiking the more than five hundred miles of trails and exploring overlooks.

If you really want to give your kids a thrill, sightseeing flights in either a fixed wing aircraft or a hot air balloon are available. You can treat the kids to an indoor skydiving experience or take them to the Aquarium or both. Free camping is a great way to save some money when the budget might already be tight. We’ve actually put together a huge guide on Free Camping in the US that tells you everything you need to know to get started camping for free. There are four pools, four playgrounds, and loads of activities to keep you busy at this 1000+site property for Camping in Virginia.

With a game room, pavilion, picnic shelter, snack bar, Laundromat, swimming, volleyball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and playground, there’s no shortage of activities. The 13,600-acre Lake Anna is fully stocked with a wide variety of fish for the fishers amongst us. Hike your way through the Appalachian Trail and find a comfortable spot on a Cliffside overlooking the Shenandoah Valley to set up camp. It doesn’t get much more natural, or beautiful, than the over 500-mile long Shenandoah National Park. Backpacking through the park, while an incredible experience, is only for the most prepared campers.

Middle Creek Campground

The park has reopened, but campgrounds are currently operating at reduced capacity. All the cabins are half-mile off to the beginning of Crabtree Falls trail. All camping cabins here allow fires, pets and have picnic tables, electric hookups, firewood, drinking water, toilets, showers, etc. Virginia Beach KOA offers premium tent sites and upgraded RV camping sites.

Privacy is provided in the secluded meadows and fields of the Creek Side campsite, but don’t be surprised if you hear the neighbors at night. This campsite is on Pony Pines Farm, an animal sanctuary that includes a working horse farm. Donkeys, horses, dogs and goats may send their regards as you’re cooking up dinner on the campfire grill. You can get a proper introduction to your four-legged hosts with a petting tour or horseback riding lesson on the beach.

Leesylvania State Park

Not only can you set up a tent at these picturesque locations, you can also enjoy plenty of picnic areas, hiking trails, fishing, swimming, and more activities in the great wide wilderness. From the piney woods of Maine to the crisp lakes of Alaska, your perfect outdoor trip awaits. Pocahontas State Park campground has around 165 RV-friendly campsites. All these sites have water and electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and lantern holders, a dump station, drinking water, hot showers, and flush toilets. For a little bit of camping, a little bit of swimming, and a whole lot of history, a great first stop is on Virginia’s beautiful Eastern Shore. In this area, which was explored by Captain John Smith in 1608, you can have access to recreation on the Chesapeake Bay.

These birds are followed by serious birders, who also peak in the fall! It’s an amazing yearly occurrence that makes for an unforgettable camping trip. For those looking for a remote, car-free getaway in a true one-of-a-kind location, they don’t come much better than Deer Island on the Blue Mountain’s Philpott Lake. Accessible only by boat, this is one campground where noisy neighbors are unlikely to be an issue and you’re more likely to find yourself alone with the wild, four-footed residents the island’s named after.

From state parks to private campgrounds, Virginia has some of the most spectacular sites to get up close and personal with nature. Or, for those of you whose backs just can’t take a sleeping bag in a tent, many sites also offer cabin rentals and RV hook-ups. This spot is owned by the National Forest Service and offers primitive tent camping, fishing, hiking, and swimming near the water.