Lakeside camping in Virginia with horseback riding

Iconic hikes, history, and golden beaches await campers in Virginia’s 41 state parks.

97% (1793 reviews)
97% (1793 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Virginia

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Under $50

12 top lakeside campgrounds in Virginia with horseback riding

99%
(442)

Thunder Bridge

24 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Natural Bridge Station, VA
Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordering the Jefferson National Forest, Thunder BRidge has scenic, large, private tent sites and cabins in the woods for those who want to experience camping at its finest. Many of the sites border Elk Creek. Our RV sites are large, flat and at the edge of the forest in a well kept open green space. Our 100 acres was originally a camp built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the "30s and early '40s, then a boys' juvenile detention center and Big Brothers'/Big Sisters' camp, which closed in 2009. The tent sites and cabins are in the forest, away from the buildings out front, but you're free to walk around and check out the historic site. We'd like to share the camp with others and see it come back to life. All within a short driving distance are the Natural Bridge, wineries, breweries, Natural Bridge Zoo, Safari Park, Dinosaur Kingdom, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, James River, historic Lexington, Devil's Marbleyard, Glenwood Horse Trail, swimming holes, etc. We have river access 2 miles up the road if you'd like to fish or put your kayak or canoe in. Truly, there is something nearby for everyone. We'd be happy to give you recommendations of things to see and do. If you are a star gazer you won't be disappointed by our dark sky.
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from 
$35
 / night
98%
(302)

Arcadia Sanctuary

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents83 acres · Buena Vista, VA
Arcadia is the name we gave to our 83-acre mountainside retreat center for Earth-Based Spirituality. It’s nestled on the south-eastern slope of 4000-foot Mount Pleasant in Central Virginia, convenient to I81. (Note, there is a town called Arcadia off I81, but that is not us. Not to confuse.) We have a mountain creek with waterfalls, towering Beech and Sycamore trees, Witch Hazels leaning over the water, trout, crayfish, snakes, salamanders, and all the rest. We have about 2000 feet of the vertical mountainside with trails to explore. (But the stage and most of the camping is down closer to creek-level.) There are more sites higher up the mountain if you like more isolated camping. More of a trek to the bathrooms/showers/freshwater. We have one of the finest private stages on the East Coast with a top-notch sound system and a natural amphitheater which is like a single pie wedge of a Stadium that has regular live performances throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Our yurt is regularly booked as a unique glamping experience. There are chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowl free-roaming. Two dogs, nine cats, and several humans are blessed to call this home.
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$22.50
 / night
100%
(409)

Pastimes on Passage Creek Ranch

5 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Fort Valley, VA
Fall colors are just starting to show in the mountains. Voted Top VA site! See Reviews. Pastimes on Passage Creek Ranch is conveniently located at the north end of Fort Valley. The recreational draw to this area is hard to beat in VA and this property has it all for an amazing outdoor weekend! The ranch consists of 40 acres of low-land pasture, groomed perfectly for camping groups large or small. The Lakeside Mountain Stream site offers the option to camp on our 5-acre lake or camp creekside in the Cedar Grove sites along the banks of Passage Creek. Creek access varies at each site depending on the bank. The Ceadar Grove sites are just a short walk to the lake and beach amenities. The property has 1/2mi of Passage Creek wrapping around all the campsites, as well as, the privet lake to enjoy. I have all kinds of boats to try out and the waters are stocked with Bass, Blue Gill, and Catfish. Please catch and release. Passage Creek is stocked with Rainbow, Brown, Tiger, and Brook Trout throughout the year. The prime waters are just a mile upstream from Pastimes on Passage Creek Ranch. The Creekside Cedar sites are located within a sparse, groomed, Cedar grove along the banks of Passage Creek. These sites are extra large and can accommodate multiple family groups, as well as, travel trailers of all sizes up to off-road motorcoaches in site 1. There are no hookups, so It's just boondocking. Pack it in, Pack it out. Generators are allowed but please be aware of the other sites and direct the noise away. Groups of up to 25 people per site can realistically fit. Each site is very large with car camping space included. The Lakeside Mountain Stream site is very secluded, nestled between the mountains and the lake. It overlooks our 5-acre lake with mirror mountain views in the background. This site also has its own dock and is just a short walk down a mowed trail to a beautiful section of Passage Creek. An additional seasonal mountain stream can cascade behind the site and run under it to feed the lake when the conditions are right. The road can accommodate bumper pulls up to about 35ft to make the turn at the site. However, it is best suited for lighter traffic and smaller tent groups. At higher capacity, single-file parking is needed along the lake road. Max 10 people in order to keep some grass on the ground. Please, if you need more space - go to one of the Cedar Grove sites. Locally, the North end of Fort Valley offers many great hiking trails, trout fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and the Elizabeth Furnace day-use park. Taskers Gap OHV/ATV park is a short drive south, and the valley is sandwiched between both forks of the Shenandoah River for those looking to paddle. Additionally, the local towns (Front Royal, Strasburg, Woodstock) offer their own charm and wide range of activities and attractions.
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$85
 / night
81%
(13)

North Mountain Recreation

2 sites · RVs, Tents50 acres · Back Creek, VA
The site was once part of a country club that included lakes, ponds, tennis courts, and even a ski lift.  After falling into disrepair for years it has now been privatized and brought back to allow guests a chance to experience many of the former recreational options.  Today, a stay allows renters a chance to camp on top of North Mountain overlooking the Shenandoah Valley and the Allegheny Mountains.  In addition to gorgeous views, the site offers miles of roads to hike, bike, and explore as well as fishing ponds, a baseball field, and playground.  The site also offers one of the best options for hikers and backpackers to access the Tuscarora Trail at roughly its midpoint along one of its most scenic stretches.   Learn more about this land:The campsites sit at the very top of North Mountain, which dominates over the Shenandoah Valley at an elevation of almost 2400 feet. The sites are slightly sloping and rocky in places but have numerous plots to pitch a tent or set up your camper (campers will probably need to be leveled). The drive and immediate area around the sites offer spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley and the Allegheny Mountains (see photos).  However, the campsites are tucked into the pines and laurel for some protection from the elements and privacy (see photos).  This obstructs your immediate views from the site especially in the summer when leaves set on.  Nonetheless, you are literally camping on one of the highest peaks around.  The site is dry and does not have facilities so you must bring all of your camping gear, food/water, and pack out all trash/waste. This includes a camp toilet (mandatory for site cleanliness).The sites offer access to an immense amount to do for the individual, couple, or family.  Think of the sites as your base camp to park your gear much like at national parks.  There is excellent access for day hikers and backpackers on the Tuscarora Trail via the Biby Trailhead just .8 miles down the scenic road (Timber Ridge Trail) traversing the ridgeline.  The sites offer access to the trail at roughly the midpoint along one of its most scenic sections (Gore to Trout Pond).  Many hikers looking to start or end their trek choose to use the campsite as their trailhead camp or place to drop vehicles.  ***If you would like to use the site for long term parking while hiking the Tuscarora Trail, please contact me directly and this can be worked out.  In addition, miles of well maintained public dirt and paved roads are available for walks, hikes, horseback riding, and biking.  There is minimal traffic at the top of the mountain even though it is a residential area so people will often take walks or bike trips around this section. If you head down the mountain, you and/or your kids can enjoy the well maintained grass fields, a baseball diamond, playground with a jungle gym, and fishing ponds, which are part of the old development and open to the landowners and their guests in the community. There is also a lake, which is temporarily closed due to low water levels, but still pretty to view. If you aren't into logging miles on the trail, then set up your grill or kick back by the campfire and enjoy the fresh mountain air scented by pines atop North Mountain.The area was once part of a country club that even included a ski lift in years gone by. Today, in the valley as you enter the former "Shawneeland" development, you will be greeted by some old historic buildings from the days of the country club before driving through the old residential development and up North Mountain to the site.  The site offers a nice cleared area for establishing your campsite on my private land, which affords you access to miles and miles of trails and roads as well as the large community area at the bottom of the mountain where you will find the recreational facilities. Tom's Market is also conveniently located just 10 minutes (about 4 miles) from the campsite as you enter Shawneeland for gas, snacks, firewood, and extras.The drive up the mountain is steep but paved and well maintained. Once on the ridge, you will follow relatively level paved road before turning onto a state-maintained dirt road for the last quarter mile. From there you will access the site via a dirt drive directly across from a county communications site.  The site is accessible with 2WD vehicles, but if you intend to pull into a lower portion of the site or access the site during inclement weather (snow/ice), 4WD is necessary and always recommended rain or shine. The sites are established much like a park that allows campers to drive right into the site and setup on ground of their choosing. Each site has one established stone fireplace. This site can support either one large group or a few smaller groups. If you have a larger party, this can often be accommodated with early notice.
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from 
$35
 / night
100%
(6)

Full Life Journey Farm

5 sites · RVs, Tents25 acres · Reva, VA
The hustle and bustle of the city life is great, but there's nothing like stepping out the car into the crisp country air. The peace and quiet provided at FLJF allows us to unplug from electronics and truly connect as a family (no high-speed internet). Additionally, it provides us an opportunity to teach our children life skills so that they can understand how to create rather than just consume things. There are many projects underway and many more ahead as we live out our family motto, "Life is not a destination, but a journey...Enjoy the journey!" We welcome you to take part in this journey called life with us and watch how we develop our modest farm into a premier destination in the heart of Madison County.Learn more about this land:Years ago we discussed having some land simply because for years I'd heard that having land was a great way to always have a place to call home. As time went on we realized that owning more than a small plot of land just a little larger than the home was a far reaching goal. After visiting several houses including this one, we decided the search would stop since this place was an absolute wreck. Fast forward a few weeks and we decided to take a day trip as we often did on the weekends that lead us to Madison County VA, Reva to be exact. For years we'd passed this area and never saw the name Reva pop up anywhere, in fact the only thing that we would ever notice was The Ole Country Store and Bakery and signs for wineries as if there was nothing else to do in the area. Wanting to connect our kids with the earth and know that fresh food starts in the ground we decided to create Full Life Journey Farm, a RV Park, because we love camping and a farm, because we like to eat good food. Starting the camping with RV Dry camping is a way to get our FLJF brand known and connect with friends and family in a great location with great people. Thank you for taking time to stop by our site and we hope you come visit us and spread the word, Virginia has a Black Owned RV Park and Farm that is open to everyone with a good heart, desire to enjoy life and connect with others who share the same vision of strengthening your Faith , Family, Finances with Fitness, Food and Fun. God Bless You!
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from 
$35
 / night

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Lakeside camping in Virginia with horseback riding guide

Overview

Whether you want to dive into Civil War history, follow in the footsteps of former presidents, or drive the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia rarely disappoints. The birthplace of America has thousands of miles of Atlantic coastline and more miles of the Appalachian Trail than any other state. Still need convincing? Virginia’s 41 state parks boast more than 600 miles of trails and 1,800 state campsites, leading the way to forested mountains, rambling rivers, and beaches. Camping is a year-round affair, whether you prefer fall foliage hikes, pitching a tent on the beach, or snowshoeing from a cozy winter cabin. 

Where to go

Central Virginia

Gleaming lakes and pine-clad foothills characterize the central Piedmont region, known for its lakeside camping, canoe and kayak trails, and Civil War sites. Pocahontas State Park is just a half-hour drive from the state capital, Richmond, where multi-use trails are popular for biking and horseback riding. Also within a short drive, Bear Creek Lake State Park offers easy access to Cumberland State Forest trails, while James River State Park has RV, tent, and canoe-in campsites.

Atlantic Coast & Chesapeake Bay

Wide beaches and fishing villages pepper the coast of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia’s top choice for beach lovers. You can pitch your tent right on the beach at First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park, camp on the grounds of Chippokes Plantation State Park, or get on the water at York River State Park.

Shenandoah Valley & The North

The dense woodlands are the star attraction in Shenandoah National Park and along its renowned Skyline Drive. The closest state campgrounds can be found in Shenandoah River State Park, a popular spot for summer hiking, canoeing, and picnicking, while further south, Douthat State Park has a swimming beach, waterfall hikes, and mountain biking trails.

Appalachian & Blue Ridge Mountains

The rugged Appalachian Mountains fringe Virginia’s southwestern borders, merging into the wooded slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grayson Highlands State Park is the gateway to the region’s two most popular hikes: the Appalachian Trail and Mount Rogers. Alternatively, paddle the scenic waterways of New River Trail State Park, book a cabin in the woods in Hungry Mother State Park, or escape the crowds at Clinch River State Park.

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