Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Less than a week stay cabin pilot

By Nancy HeltmanPosted April 28, 2015

 

James River, Belle Isle, Natural Tunnel, Staunton River, Twin Lakes, and Westmoreland State Parks will drop the minimum 7 night cabin stay requirement for summer 2015 on May 1st.

Even in the winter the Twin Lake Cabin have a great view - Virginia State ParksTwin Lakes' cabins overlook Prince Edward Lake and represent out 1950s era cabins

Virginia State Parks has required a week long cabin stay during the summer for as long as anyone can remember. Families for nearly 80 years have enjoyed a vacation stay in our historic Civilian Conservation Corps cabins, 1950s era cabins and our newer cabins.

Sadly the days of the week-long family vacation may be gone or at least declining. And even if a family takes a week all at one time, odds are they may not want to stay in one place. We still have families who book 11 months out for the week at many of our parks and we don't anticipate changing the rule altogether. It is still the best advice to make sure you get the cabin you want for the dates you need. 

Cabin interior at Natural Tunnel State Park Virginia
Natural Tunnel and James River state parks feature our new cabin design

We drop the week requirement a month before the arrival date so we can book cabins that are still available or those that may have been canceled. Upon reflection our theory is that waiting until then means we have more shorter rentals. After all, who waits until a month out to make their summer family vacation plans?

Cabin 1 at Westmoreland State Park Virginia
Cabin 1 at Westmoreland State Park is an efficiency log cabin
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps

Because we have listened to your feedback, we have decided to test this theory with a pilot this summer. 

We will drop the week requirement (we still have a 2 night minimum) for the five parks listed above on May 1, 2015 for the rest of the summer. Based on the results, we will consider expanding the current one month period in future years. 

Reservations can be made by calling our Customer Service Center at 800-933-7275, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by booking online 24/7. For information on the types of cabins as well as cancellation and transfer policies and fees, be sure to read our cabin information. Each park's individual web page features specific details about the cabins in the park. 

We can't wait to see you at Virginia State Parks this summer.

PARKS
Belle Isle State Park  |  James River State Park  |  Natural Tunnel State Park  |  Staunton River State Park  |  Twin Lakes State Park  |  Westmoreland State Park
CATEGORIES
Cabins and Lodges
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

COMMENTS

Virginia State Parks (February 20, 2016 02:39:13 PM): Renee - Unfortunately the pilot did not seem to make a difference so we are not continuing it this year. We still drop the week requirement a month out and have a significant inventory left at that time. Our big issue is still a lack of funding to increase housekeeping staff to handle multiple turnovers during the week. You can email me at nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov if you have more questions.

Renee (February 20, 2016 10:02:33 AM): We hope this is considered again for 2016. We rent each year 2 cabins for our families, but can only stay 3 or 4 nights, depending on our work schedules.

Sending a shout out to those involved in this decision.. Do it again this year and every year !!

Dana M (August 04, 2015 11:14:22 AM): This is a great idea. We stay at VA SP all year long whether trailer camping or cabin camping but do not typically stay for a week as we take a lot of extended weekends especially during the summer so it is wonderful to be able to reserve a cabin for less than 7 nights. I hope this pilot program proves to be successful and extended in the coming seasons and extended to more of the parks. Thank you

Lauren Rhodes (May 22, 2015 09:14:20 AM): This is a great idea. Glad to see it happening and hope you can extend it to other parks.

Shannon (May 19, 2015 12:07:05 PM): I wish they would do this at Hungry Mother Park! I tried to book a 3 night stay. I got all the way to the end of the reservation process and then a warning popped up about the week long requirement. :(

Christine (May 10, 2015 06:38:58 PM): I would love to see this extended to other parks. My husband is rarely able to get a week off of work at a time and has to plan his vacation days a couple of months in advance, so this is ideal for families like ours.

Wendy (May 03, 2015 09:38:29 PM): Love it! I prefer to take several mini vacations a year, so this works out great for me and my wife. Can't wait to start planning a stay at one of these parks!

Elena (May 01, 2015 01:32:53 AM): Chromically ill people will often wait until a month before and may plan a vacation with a day before and a day after at home to recuperate. Also, in this frenetic life we all lead, how odd is it that you would assume that everyone is financially stable enough to plan vacations months and months in advance? I am glad you are putting this out there and I hope the trial is successful so that those of us who don't fit your mold might have more of a chance to enjoy the state parks in our beautiful state.

Shellie Anne (April 30, 2015 08:22:32 AM): Don't forget you can always book a cabin for less than a week within the same month. So if you want to get away in July you can see what is available. The only reason 1 week stays are good is you pay for 6 nights and get the 7th night free.

But I hear you on the unable to stay from weekend to weekend, it is not easy for most of us!

Paul Lee (April 30, 2015 07:16:10 AM): I'm glad to see this. Should have been done a long time ago.
I love state parks and hope to visit all of Virginia's someday. Some of them are just further than I want to pull a travel trailer and I don't go on any vacation for a week at a time anywhere.
I hope this expands to include more state parks.

Nancy Carter Crump (April 29, 2015 03:45:36 PM): Hope we can take advantage of this. A nice idea.

Shellie Anne (April 29, 2015 02:29:47 PM): The article says in the first paragraph MAY 1st this goes into effect. So that is coming up here real soon, Friday!

Melissa (April 29, 2015 01:55:41 PM): i tried booking natural tunnel state park online and it says minimum 7 night stay. It is available.

Amy Ping (April 29, 2015 08:32:50 AM): Wee! This is exciting news! A week is just too much for my family and personal obligations that I have...I can't wait to tell my Hubby about this! VA State Parks rock! (And I live in NC....lol)

Marilyn (April 28, 2015 11:28:26 PM): This is SUPER news for Girl Scout Troops who can't for a whole week.
I am delighted to share this with my Leaders.
Thank you!

Stefanie Hadden (April 28, 2015 11:05:21 PM): Great for short stays for homeschool families too...

Virginia State Parks (April 28, 2015 09:54:44 PM): Week stay rates have always been about 6/7 of the weekly rate (basically you get one night free when you stay a week) but there will not be an increase in the current nightly rate for the shorter summer stays. - Nancy

Mary Ann McDermott (April 28, 2015 09:11:42 PM): Personally I think this is a great idea. Will the rates increase for a shorter stay to compensate for the loss of revenue of a weeks stay? I hope not.

Virginia State Parks (April 28, 2015 04:34:41 PM): Nearly all the other parks are booked solid for summer with week stays. We wil be evaluating how to proceed for next year after the summer is over.

Liz Lowrance (April 28, 2015 04:30:34 PM): Love the idea because my husband and I rarely take a week off for vacation anymore. We love taking long weekend trips or midweek days off. We may very well check this out soon!!
Please consider extending to other parks.

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