Virginia is a state rich in history and natural beauty. From the beaches on the Atlantic Ocean to the Blue Ridge Mountains, through rolling hills with dogwood trees and mountain laurel, farms, and villages, Virginia is indeed for lovers, as their advertising claims. However, the Old Dominion is also for pensioners, children, teenagers, and families.
However, if you want to experience the nature side of Virginia, you have to go camping. Camping in this state provides an astonishing variety, from tent camping to RV camping, or renting a cabin. If you enjoy camping or want to experience it for the first time, here are ten of the top camping places in Virginia.
1. Cherrystone Family Camping Resort
The Cherrystone Family Camping Resort, which was family-owned from its inception in 1964 until it was sold in 2021, encompasses 300 acres of natural splendor on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. There are almost 700 camping spots accessible here, many of which are shaded by towering trees.
You will have access to a beach, a dog park, fishing piers, swimming pools, a cafe, and a general store on this huge property. The wildlife that may be seen from here is very remarkable. You may also enjoy some beautiful sunsets from here because it is located on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay.
A large laundry facility is also available on-site. It is open 24 hours a day.
Please keep in mind that this resort can get loud at busy periods, however quiet hours are usually maintained from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. In addition, the site is vast enough that some guests rent golf carts to go around.
2. False Cape State Park
Looking for basic camping near the beach? Then False Cape State Park is a must-see. There are no showers, power, or stall facilities, so prepare thoroughly before your journey. In exchange, you will be able to enjoy more than six kilometers of pristine beaches and the ocean.
This park is notably well-known for its animals. It is home to approximately 300 bird species, otters, white-tailed deer, red fox, loggerhead turtles, and the iconic American bald eagles. Aside from nature, you can enjoy kayaking, swimming, or simply relaxing at the beach.
It should be noted that False Cape State Park is only accessible by foot, bicycle, or boat. If you are bringing your dog, you will need to use a boat because pets are not permitted on the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge access trails.
3. Grayson Highlands State Park
The park is located in southern Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers breathtaking views of the mountains.
Trails run to the state's two highest summits, Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain. The campgrounds are near an Appalachian Trail entrance. Picnic tables and grills, as well as water and electricity, are provided at each campsite. However, there are no showers or restrooms on the property. Come prepared to have a tough time.
There are 23 campsites with horse stalls and stable spaces. You can bring your horse in addition to your dog.
If you don't have a horse and want to ride through the park, a neighboring stable offers guided horseback trips. Canoes and tubes for tubing down the river can be rented.
Bring the kids to an alpaca farm for some warm and cuddly animal bonding time. The fauna is one of the park's most appealing features. Wild ponies are free to roam. The Rhododendron Trail is the finest place to see ponies. The kids will be overjoyed.
Stunning views can be seen almost anywhere in Grayson Highlands, regardless of the season. Don't forget to bring your camera. Phone: 276-579-7092
4. Sky Meadows State Park
Sky Meadows is a great place to visit if you want to blend a little bit of culture and history with your nature adventures.
Sky Meadows is a 1,860-acre park with lakes, rolling pastures, miles upon miles of old-growth woodland, and a historic farmhouse at Mount Bleak that showcases the farming practices that shaped the area's unique pastoral landscape and the lifestyle of its residents from the colonial to post-Civil War periods.
The park provides primitive camping all year on sites that, due to their lack of automobile access and location one mile from the overnight parking area, are virtually always quiet. There are 22 miles of hiking trails, 10.5 miles of bridle routes, and 9 miles of bicycle trails, as well as access to the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the park for 3 miles.
5. Christopher Run
Christopher Run Campground, located on Lake Anna in Louisa County, is a family-friendly campground with over 200 sites in a leafy, laid-back setting less than an hour from many historic sites such as the James Madison Museum, Michie Tavern, Montpelier, Monticello, Ash Lawn, and several Civil War battlefields.
The campsite also offers a variety of outdoor activities, including canoes, rowboats, and paddleboats for tent campers, six boat ramps for those who bring their own boats, and on-land games including volleyball, basketball, mini-golf, and shuffleboard.
Most of the sites have water and RV connections, and the campsite also has flush toilets, hot showers, a grocery, a launder, and a children's playground.
6. Holiday Trav-L Par
This campground is located in Virginia Beach and is the nearest to the Atlantic Ocean.
One block from the beach, there is a parking lot. There are about 100 tent sites, as well as cabins and RV sites.
Basketball, playgrounds, miniature golf, volleyball, bike routes, and a swimming pool all provide hours of family entertainment. There's even a one-acre dog park for your canine companions.
Spend your days at the beach, then relax by the pool or take the kids into town for some fun. You should bring your surfboard. The East Coast Surfing Championships are held at Virginia Beach, so you know the surfing is good. You may rent boards and teach the kids how to use them.
The Cape Henry Lighthouse is a fascinating spot to see. You may either take the kids indoor skydiving or take them to the Aquarium, or both. Virginia Beach is a popular tourist destination. There are numerous fascinating activities available, such as laser tag, amusement parks, sports parks, and shopping. And the fish is delicious.
7. Lewis Mountain Campground
Lewis Mountain Campground is the smallest campground in Shenandoah National Park, located just off the Blue Mountains' Skyline Drive at mile 57.5. It is a delightfully serene choice for travelers seeking to avoid the throngs that sometimes form elsewhere in the park.
The campground has just 31 campsites and works on a first-come, first-served basis, but those that arrive early and reserve a place are rewarded with a wonderfully lovely setting that feels considerably more secluded and primitive than other camping spots in the vicinity.
The campsite is close to some of Virginia's top hiking routes and natural wonders, including as Bearfence Mountain, Dark Hollow Falls, and the 8.9-mile (and very challenging!) Old Rag Loop. Visitors who like a bit more verticality may use the campsite as a "basecamp" to explore the area's multitude of rock climbing crags, and those with more time and energy to burn can easily extend the treks in the camp's vicinity with hundreds of loop walks on the park's 500+ miles of trails.
Lewis Mountain has a small number of RV sites (all without connections), and tent campers make up the great bulk of the campground's visitors, so this place is likely to offer a little more peace and quiet than campsites with more amenities and easier access.
8. Picture Lake Campground
This campground is located south of Richmond and provides a wonderful camping experience.
The proximity to the Virginia Motorsports Park is a distinguishing characteristic. There are weekly events at the Park. So, once you've finished fishing, swimming, and hiking, you can watch Nascar racing.
There are cabins, tent sites, and RV sites available. A huge swimming pool will keep you cool after a day of racing.
Historical sites are nearby. The Petersburg National Battlefield features a driving tour that takes you through the park with 16 stops. Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier cover 400 acres and feature antebellum mansions and museums. There's also the Virginia Skydiving Center, which is less than a mile from the campground. Restaurants and shopping are available in Petersburg, a few miles away.
9. Big Meadows
Big Meadows is one of Shenandoah National Park's most popular campgrounds, and for good reason. The campground is located in a remote, wooded wood near Shenandoah's main facilities and serves as a starting point for hikers heading out on any of the many nearby routes, including the Appalachian Trail.
Three waterfalls (Dark Hollow, Rose River, and Lewis Falls) are within easy walking distance of the campgrounds and provide more moderate, laid-back walks for people who don't want to put in a lot of time.
Even for those not travelling farther afield, the landscape at Big Meadows is worth a visit in and of itself, with plentiful wildlife and mountain vistas within a short walk of the campsites or, in most cases, on the other side of your tent or RV door!
Each campsite has a bathhouse with hot showers and toilets, as well as fire grates and picnic tables, washing machines, and a camp store. Visitors may also enjoy entertainment and prepared food at Big Meadows Lodge and Restaurant, which is only a five-minute walk from the campground.
10. Douthat State Park
Douthat State Park in the Alleghany Mountains is one of Virginia's oldest state parks, with a variety of attractions and activities ranging from historical tours to fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor sports.
A 50-acre lake, as well as approximately 45 miles of hiking and mountain-biking paths and 6 miles of bridle routes, can be found in the park. Douthat is a historical landmark in and of itself, having been placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its involvement in the construction of other state parks around the country.
History aficionados will also enjoy the USA's oldest spa at Jefferson Pools, the historic town of Lexington, a train museum in Clifton Forge, and Virginia's oldest standing covered bridge, Humpback Bridge, which is only a short drive away.
To learn more about the beautiful places you could enjoy your camping in Northern Virginia check out our post