Frequently asked questions


What if I can't use my reservation? You have two options. First, you may cancel the reservation and pay the cancellation fee. This must be done before the day of your arrival. If the Customer Service Center is open or will be open before the deadline, call the center at 800-933- 7275 to cancel. This speeds the processing of your refund. If the center is closed and will not reopen the day before your scheduled check-in time, you may go online or call the park to cancel. The park's phone number may be found on the confirmation letter and at the bottom of the park's particular web page.

Your second option is to transfer the reservation to a future time. You can even change the park and site type. You may not, however, downgrade your site type – e.g., from a lodge to a cabin, from a lodge or cabin to a campsite, or from a group site to a campsite. You also may not transfer only part of a reservation to another time or park. There's no fee for transferring a reservation to another date or park. Transfers are handled through the Customer Service Center, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and must be handled before your transfer deadline. The last opportunity for a transfer of a cabin or lodge reservation is four days prior to your scheduled arrival. After that time, you must either use the reservation or cancel it and pay the appropriate cancellation fee. If the center is closed, your transfer deadline has expired and the center does not reopen before your transfer deadline, your only option is to cancel. Camping reservations may be transferred through the center or online up until the day prior to arrival. If you are arriving on a Saturday, Sunday or a state holiday, your last chance to transfer by phone is the previous weekday at 5 p.m. Meeting Facilities are not transferable.

Can I make changes online? You can make most changes online. Online cancellations are allowed for most your reservations, but transfers can be done for only some site types and must remain for the same park. If you would like to transfer a reservation to a different parks, call the Customer Service Center.

How far in advance can I make a reservation? Reservations for cabins, campsites and picnic shelters can be made up to 11 months before the desired date(s).

What are the check-in times? For cabins, it's 4 p.m., and checkout is at 10 a.m. Official check-in for camping is 4 p.m. If a site is available, early check-in is allowed. Checkout for camping is 1 p.m.

What if I arrive late? Except for False Cape and New River Trail state parks, arriving late for camping is never a problem. If park staff is gone for the day, proceed to the campground where you are reserved and and go to your site. Go to the office or contact station the next morning to register. Cabin guests expecting to arrive late must make arrangements directly with the park beforehand. The times when the park offices or contact stations are staffed vary widely during the year and between parks. If you are a cabin guest and will be arriving after 4 p.m., please call the park using the phone number on your confirmation letter to make any necessary arrangements. Key or numeric code pick-up and after-hour processes vary by park.

What if I do not cancel but do not show up? Because we hold the site for you, you would not be entitled to a refund. If you call to cancel after your scheduled check-in time, the first night of your stay will be considered used and an additional night kept for camping or, for cabin guests, the two-night minimum kept, then the early departure policy noted below would apply.

What if I leave early? The early departure policy listed below applies. Checkout time is used to determine the unused portion of the stay. Refunds, if applicable, must be requested at the time of departure.

May I bring a pet? Pets are allowed in Virginia State Parks campgrounds and cabins. A fee is charged per pet per night for cabin stays. Guests must clean up after their pets and never leave their pets unattended. To avoid potential inconvenience, we ask that you bring proof of current rabies vaccination. Park staff reserve the right to terminate your stay without a refund should your pet be considered a nuisance, and customers will be billed for cabin damage. State regulations prohibit pets on public beaches. Your pet must be confined or kept on a leash no longer than six feet and under constant supervision while in the park. Click here for more information about pets.

When is the Customer Service Center open? The Customer Service Center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Recorded information on some topics - cancellation policy, park telephone numbers, hours of operation, check mailing address - is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-933-PARK (7275). Reservations for most cabins, lodges and campsites can be made online but payment must be made in full when the reservation is made. Availability for nearly all overnight accommodations can be checked online at no charge. Visit the online reservation page. A non-refundable $5 transaction fee is charged for all overnight rentals made online, through the call center or by walk-in guests at the park.

Do I have to pay extra for swimming or boat launching? If you are a camping or cabin guest, swimming and boat launching are free (at Kiptopeke, a fee is charged for those leaving boat trailers in the parking lot). Of course these offerings are not available at every park - please check your confirmation letter or the park's particular web page to see if either service is unavailable at the park you are visiting. Parks with such facilities generally allow swimming Memorial Day through Labor Day. Swimming is available for the same number of days as those reserved (e.g., if you've reserved a campsite for one night, you're entitled to one day's swimming). Circumstances beyond our control, such as bad weather or a shortage of qualified lifeguards, may necessitate occasional closure of swimming areas or boat launches. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but no refunds will be provided in such instances. Children wearing diapers in swimming areas and pools must wear sealed plastic pants. Inflatable training devices for young swimmers are recommended and available for purchase at the park.

How about occupancy limits? No more than six people or immediate family are allowed per campsite. ("Immediate family" is defined as all persons who live in the same household.) For cabin occupancy, please see the park's web page to determine sleeping accommodations that best fit your party (it's listed under "overnight accommodations"). Please note that maximum cabin occupancy often exceeds number of beds provided. In these cases, you must make your own sleeping arrangements - for example, bringing cots, sleeping bags or air mattresses.

Cancellation policy:

  • Valid prior to the day of arrival.
  • Camping: $10 fee per site deducted from refund; for group campsites that accommodate seven or more people, a $30 fee per site is deducted from the refund.
  • Cabins and the deluxe yurt at Kiptopeke: More than 90 days prior to arrival, there is a one-time cancellation fee of $30 per cabin. Within the 90 days prior to arrival, there is a $30 per night fee to reduce the stay or cancel.
  • Lodges: More than 90 days prior to arrival, there is a one-time cancellation fee of $60 per lodge. Within the 90 days prior to arrival, there is a $60 per night fee to reduce the stay or cancel.
  • Bunkhouses and yurts: More than 30 days prior to arrival, there is a one-time cancellation fee of $30 per site. Within 30 days, there is a $30 per night fee to reduce the stay or cancel.
  • Camping cabins: More than 30 days prior to arrival, there is a one-time cancellation fee of $10 per site. Within 30 days, there is a $10 per night fee to reduce the stay or cancel.
  • Call the center for policy on other types of facilities.

Early departure policy:

  • Camping: Unused portion of the stay less one night's fees. Checkout time used to determine unused portion. Stays for two days or less will rarely receive a refund.
  • Cabin: Two-night minimum applies, $30 fee per night canceled due to early departure. Nightly charge applies. The checkout time used to determine unused portion.
  • Lodges: Two-night minimum applies, $60 fee per night canceled due to early departure. Nightly charge applies. The checkout time is used to determine unused portion.

Cabin guests are responsible for all damage incurred during their stay and will be charged for missing furnishings.

Camping

May I hang a lantern in a tree? Nails and hot lanterns leave permanent wounds in trees so please use lantern hangers if provided.

Are campfires allowed? All campgrounds except False Cape provide a grill or fire ring that can be used for charcoal or wood. Help prevent wildfires. Keep outdoor campfires small and contained within the grill/fire ring provided. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished when left. Firewood is generally available for purchase at the park. Please leave firewood because it can harbor insect pests, such as the emerald ash borer. The transport of infested firewood has been identified as a leading cause in the introduction of harmful forest insects into un-infested forest areas. Help keep our parks pest-free by leaving your firewood at home. Except at First Landing State Park, campers or guests may collect down and dead firewood. Chain saws are prohibited. Fires are not allowed at False Cape State Park. We enforce statewide or local burn bans and the spring prohibition of fires before 4 p.m. Click here for more detail.

How should I handle wastewater? Help reduce water pollution. Dump stations, laundry and slop sinks, where provided, should be used to dispose of wastewater. Portable showers that do not drain to wastewater storage tanks are prohibited by state law. Collected wastewater must be disposed of properly.

When are the quiet hours? Please respect your neighbors. Sound and light travel so lower your voices, radios and lanterns during quiet hours. Quiet hours vary between parks but are generally from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators are not allowed in campgrounds.

How many vehicles can I bring? Campers may bring up to two camping units per site. Only one of these can be wheeled. Expect to pay the daily parking fee for any more than two vehicles. If vehicles or trailers will not fit on the site, they may be parked in overflow areas. Park staffers are the final arbiter of whether the equipment actually fits on the site. Campers are allowed to have guests, however they must pay the parking fee and park their vehicles in official parking areas.

Where can I set up on my site? Some parks have designated camping areas within a border. All belongings must be contained within that area. Please confine tents to designated tent pads. If you are unsure as to whether your equipment will fit, please call your park. On those sites without a bordered area, equipment should be within the site and not overflowing onto neighboring sites.

What is the maximum number of nights I can stay? Campsite, cabin and lodge rentals are limited to 14 nights in a 30-day period in any one park.

How are sites assigned? Except for group campgrounds, some primitive parks and site-specific campsites, campsites are not specifically assigned. This means you are guaranteed a site of the type reserved in the park. You are not reserving a specific site: Individual sites are assigned by the park, at the time of your arrival, to best meet the needs of all campers. Parks make every effort to accommodate groups camping together, but it may not be possible to honor all such requests. All guests holding reservations must register for their campsite upon arrival (or, if the contact station or office is closed, the nest day). The registrant is responsible for all occupants of the campsite.

How about group camping? Group camping is available at most parks. At some parks, group areas are available only to those reserving at least two or three sites. Several parks have a large area that can be reserved for a group. Other parks offer group camping by permit through the park only. Please call the Customer Service Center to check on group camping options in the particular park of interest.

Is there a minimum age requirement? You must be at least 18 to reserve a campsite, and someone at least 18 years old must occupy the site.

When is the camping season? Most campgrounds are open from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December; primitive sites are available year-round. Douthat, Hungry Mother, Pocahontas and Shenandoah River state parks offer full-service camping year-round. Visit the camping and campgrounds page for more details.

Cabins

What comes in a cabin? Unless otherwise noted, all Virginia State Parks cabin and lodges have a kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, basic pots and pans, dishes, silverware and glassware. A dish scrubber and dish detergent are also included. Cabins with up to two bedrooms have one bathroom with a shower or tub. See descriptions under the park's particular web page for their bathroom information. Cabins have heat pumps that provide heating and air conditioning. All cabins have fireplaces, except those at Smith Mountain Lake (wood stove instead), Chippokes, Natural Tunnel (gas logs instead) and the Martin Cottage at Twin Lakes (no working fireplaces). Firewood is available at the park; the charge for firewood varies. Linens are not provided; guests must bring sheets, pillow cases, blankets, towels, wash cloths, dish towels, and potholders. Most cabins do not have televisions, telephones, dishwashers, washers and dryers. Exceptions are noted in the park information. Learn more about cabins.

How many vehicles can I bring? Park regulations allow two vehicles per cabin, more for lodges. Extra vehicles may be parked in overflow areas. Some parks charge for extra vehicles. You are allowed to have guests who are not staying overnight. Most parks require that non-overnight guests leave the park before 10 p.m. All guests must pay the published parking fee or admission and park vehicles only in official parking areas.

Where are cabins? How big are they? Climate controlled cabins are available at Bear Creek Lake, Chippokes, Claytor Lake, Douthat, Fairy Stone, First Landing, Hungry Mother, James River, Lake Anna, Natural Tunnel, Occoneechee, Pocahontas, Shenandoah River, Staunton River, Smith Mountain Lake, Southwest Virginia Museum, Twin Lakes and Westmoreland state parks. They are available in different sizes to suit every visitor's needs. Belle Isle offers a mansion and guest house, which are rented separately. Please note that the maximum occupancy doesn't always mean the number of people the beds may accommodate. Check each park's cabins and camping section for details about the number and types of cabins. Rollaway beds are no longer available.

One-room cabin (efficiency) - Combination dining-living room with a kitchen and bathroom. Accommodates two. Double bed. Maximum occupancy is two.

One-bedroom cabin - Combination dining-living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Accommodates two with maximum occupancy of four. It generally has one double bed or two twin beds. Douthat and Westmoreland have two single beds. Staunton River State Park also has a double sleep sofa.

Two-bedroom cabin - Combination dining-living room, two bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Please see the park’s web page for a description of beds provided. Maximum occupancy is six.

Family lodges - These larger facilities have 5 or 6 bedrooms as well as a large great room, kitchen and several bathrooms. Family lodges are available at Bear Creek Lake, Belle Isle, Claytor Lake, Douthat, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, James River, Kiptopeke, Pocahontas, Occoneechee, Natural Tunnel, Shenandoah River and Westmoreland. Policies regarding cabin stays, apart from the higher cancellation and early departure fees for lodges, apply as covered above. Learn more about lodges.

Camping cabins - In addition to climate controlled cabins, rustic camping cabins are available at Lake Anna, Pocahontas, Shenandoah River and Westmoreland. Each cabin accommodates four. At Westmoreland, each cabin has four twin beds, and at Lake Anna and Pocahontas, each has two bunk beds. These cabins have no kitchens or bathrooms, and guests must bring their own bed linens and towels. Shower and bathroom facilities in a nearby camping area are free to cabin occupants. A two-night minimum stay applies, but not the week stay requirement.

Yurts - Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Imagine a cross between a tent and a cabin. Yurts are within the campgrounds and have no electricity or water at individual sites. Each yurt has a large wooden deck with patio tables, picnic table and fire ring with cooking grate. Reservations are required. Smoking, cooking and pets are not permitted in yurts. Parking for two vehicles is available. Those with additional vehicles must pay a daily parking fee and park in an overflow lot near the park office. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. The rental season begins on the first Friday in March and ends on the first Sunday of December. Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply to the yurt. There is a two-night minimum rental during camping season. Sleeps three, allows four: Queen-size bed with a twin size-trundle pull-out. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens for the beds. The dining table seats four, there’s no heat or air-conditioning and guests use the campground bathhouse. Learn more about yurts.

All lodges follow the cabin stay policies covered above, apart from lodges' higher cancellation and early departure fees.

How many nights' stay is required? Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a week's stay is required for all cabins, lodges and yurts for reservations made between three and 11 months prior to the planned arrival date. Check-in may be on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on the cabin. If available, cabins, lodges and yurts can be reserved for four or more nights one to three months prior to the planned arrival date, and specific start days no longer applies. Within a month prior to the visit, two-night stays are allowed. A two-night minimum stay is required the rest of the year. Camping cabins may be reserved for two-night stays any time during camping season. Belle Isle has a Monday check-in.

Click here to read general park rules and regulations.

Special Use Permits for Events, Photography etc.

Do I need a permit to have an event or do photography? In order to host any type of individual, family, or not for profit event in our parks (weddings, reunions, car shows, sporting events), a special use permit is required. For all commercial activities such as photography, equipment rentals, food trucks, classes, guided hikes, or any other enterprise or business activity, a commercial use permit is required. Fees vary depending on the event details. Please contact the park directly to discuss your event and obtain the necessary application.