Camping and campgrounds

Not many activities get you closer to nature – and your family – as does camping. Camping gets you away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You’ll enjoy nature’s beauty and have fun swimming, hiking, canoeing, tubing, etc. You see countless stars that you can’t see when in the city or suburbs. You’ll probably work up a good appetite camping, so be prepared to make some yummy meals by campfire. (Especially, don’t forget s’mores fixings.)

Camping is also a great way to learn outdoor skills, such as safely building a fire or using a compass. It’s primal, quiet, healthy, affordable and pet-friendly.

Twenty-nine state parks throughout the state offer camping (see camping rates) with a total of more than 1,800 campsites. Site sizes, configurations and amenities vary. Some parks provide sites with electric and water hookups, which tend to be larger to accommodate recreational vehicles and campers

• Through the fall, there is a lot of availability for camping with electric and water hookups at Natural Tunnel and Staunton River and mid-week availability at Pocahontas, Powhatan, Holliday Lake, Twin Lakes, Occoneechee, Chippokes and Belle Isle.
• Belle Isle, Claytor Lake, Bear Creek Lake, First Landing, James River, Machicomoco and Smith Mountain Lake have plenty of availability for non-hookup sites.
• Kiptopeke and Hungry Mother campgrounds offer sewer hook-ups.
• Primitive campgrounds are open year-round and do not offer a bathhouse.
• Full-service campgrounds (with bathhouses) are open from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December with the exception of Douthat, Hungry Mother, Pocahontas and Shenandoah River state parks which have full-service campgrounds open year-round.
• Park campgrounds are pet-friendly, (False Cape has some restrictions).

• Earn point toward free nights with the Customer Loyalty Program
• Parks with RV accommodations
• Camping with kids

Reservations

Reservations are recommended, and it’s best to reserve a site as early as possible. Reservations are accepted 11 months in advance and up to 2 p.m. on the day of arrival. You may reserve a site online or by calling the Customer Service Center Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All campsites are reserved by the specific site. Payment in full is required at the time of reservation.

If you have concerns or questions about your upcoming reservation, please call our Customer Service Center at 800-933-7275, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please be sure to call before your reservation is scheduled to start.

Camping cancellations and transfers

Cancel or transfer your reservation online up until 11:59 p.m. on the day before your arrival or by calling the Customer Service Center during operating hours or online up until 11:59 p.m. on the day before your arrival. There’s no charge for transferring a reservation to another date or park. There’s a $10 fee to cancel a camping reservation and a $30 fee to cancel a group site reservation (sites designed for seven or more people). If you cancel a reservation on the day of arrival, you will receive a refund minus one night’s fee. Transferring from a group site to a non-group site requires cancellation (including penalty fees) and rebooking.

Early departures

If you choose to leave before the end of your reservation period, we’ll refund the unused portion of the stay less one night’s fees. Check-out time is used to determine the unused portion. Those canceling stays of two or fewer days will receive no refund after the 4 p.m. check-in time has passed.

Camping details

• All equipment must remain within the confines of the campsite without impacting the natural vegetation.
• Campsites can accommodate six people per site or all members of a household.
• Designated group camping areas and sites are available, but all parks can accommodate groups.
• Developed campsites have picnic tables, grills and access to bathhouses. Many sites offer electric and water hookups; those that do not are referred to as “standard.”
• Primitive campsites generally have fire grills, picnic tables, pit toilets and non-potable water. Primitive hike-in camping is available at False Cape and Sky Meadows. Primitive drive-in camping is available at James River, and hike-in and canoe-in sites are available at Belle Isle, Caledon, New River Trail and Powhatan state parks.
• Some parks have equestrian campsites with horse stalls. Find a list of those facilities here.
• The maximum camping period is 14 days in a 30-day period. While campers cannot be assured of access to their reserved sites before the reservation start time of 4 p.m., arrive early to avoid lines at check-in and enjoy the park until your site is ready. Check-out is 1 p.m.

Vehicles and camping units: Unless otherwise specified, up to two camping units are allowed per campsite; only one axled camper is allowed per site. In designated high-impact areas, all camping units, equipment and vehicles must be within the defined area’s borders. With few exceptions, campsites accommodate only up to a given maximum equipment size. All equipment smaller than that maximum is allowed on that site type. Large sites are not restricted to only RVs, but campers should be aware that parks have few large sites so campers should select an appropriately sized site. See campgrounds with RV sites.

Hammock camping is allowed in developed and primitive sites, though it varies from park to park due to campsite logistics (i.e. trees not near enough or large enough, etc.). Hammock campers are required to use 1” wide minimum attachment straps, set-up only on trees larger than 12” diameter or 37” circumference; approximately 4’ off the ground. Hammock campers should check with park staff to ensure that they are directed toward a hammock friendly campsite. Hammocks should only be set-up within a reasonable distance from the reserved campsite and must not encroach upon other campsites. Hammocks that are free-standing must be set-up within the designated site borders.

Quiet time: Loud music and other noise and disturbance that can be heard beyond the campsite are prohibited during quiet hours, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., at all parks. Generators are not allowed in campgrounds.

Note: False Cape State Park does not allow motor vehicles and is accessible only by tram (campers may not use the tram), foot, bicycle or boat. False Cape is reached by land via a six-mile path through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Between Nov. 1 and May 31 access through the refuge may be restricted to the beach. High tides and soft sands make hiking and bicycling extremely difficult. Reservations are required for False Cape State Park and a refuge fee may be charged.

Find information about Virginia’s private campgrounds here.

Camping cabins, yurts and camping lodges

Some parks offer alternate camping facilities. Guests renting these facilities, which are in campgrounds, use the campground’s bathhouse. These facilities fall under the same transfer policy as that for cabins.

Camping cabins are generally one-room wooden buildings with two sets of bunk beds, a table, a ceiling fan and an electrical outlet. They have no heating or air conditioning. Guests use nearby bathhouses’ rest rooms and showers. The camping cabins have a picnic table and a fire ring, grill or both. Guests must bring their sheets, pillows and towels. A minimum two-night stay is required for camping cabins. Check-in is 4 p.m. and check-out is 10 a.m.
Camping cabins are available at:

• Lake Anna
• Pocahontas
• Shenandoah River
• Westmoreland (Westmoreland camping cabins have two small rooms with two single beds in each room)

Check for details on the given park’s web page under Cabins, camping.

Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter that combines a beautiful wood frame and with durable, electronically bonded architectural fabric. It’s a cross between a tent and a cabin. Although maximum occupancy is four, yurts have beds for only three (a queen, a twin and a trundle pull-out). Linens are not provided so guests must bring their own as well as towels and sleeping bags. Each yurt has a large wooden deck with patio tables, a picnic table and a fire-ring with cooking grate. Yurts have no electricity, heat, air conditioning or on-site water. Check-in is 4 p.m.; check-out is 10 a.m. A two-night minimum stay is required.

Kiptopeke State Park has the system’s only “deluxe” yurt. It offers a spectacular view of the Chesapeake Bay, has a large wooden deck, picnic table, fire ring with cooking grate, exterior floodlight, food preparation table and water spigot. Smoking, cooking and pets are not allowed in the yurt. It has electricity and air conditioning and sleeps six; guests must bring sheets, blankets, towels and pillows. Check in is at 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, a week-long stay is required, and a two-night minimum stay is required otherwise. As with park cabins, the week-long stay requirement is reduced to four nights three months of arrival and two nights within a month of arrival. Learn more about yurts.

A few parks have camping lodges (bunkhouses). These two- or three-room pre-fab buildings have seven bunk beds, and each lodge accommodates up to 14. Check in is 4 p.m. and check out is 10 a.m. Guests must bring sleeping bags or sheets, blankets, towels and pillows. There is a two-night minimum stay. Because these facilities are also used to house volunteers, unlike other overnight dwellings they are unavailable for rent 11 months in advance.
Camping lodges are available at:

• Belle Isle
• Bear Creek
• Claytor Lake
• Fairy Stone
• Grayson Highlands
• Holliday Lake
• James River
• Kiptopeke
• Occoneechee
• Smith Mountain Lake
• Staunton River

Amenities vary by park so please see the given park’s Camping, cabin section for details.

Parks with camping