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.


Swimming


Find parks matching your amenity choices. When the heat's on, it's time to get wet. Many parks have great places to cool off, grab a snack and enjoy nature's splendor. Even better, guarded swimming is free for overnight guests. Pack up the kids, sunscreen, shades, beach towels and sun hat and head to a Virginia State Park.


Swimming - all parksSwimming - Find a parkSwimming - prices


Parks with swimming

Map depicting parks with swimming

These parks offer swimming

Please check with each park for swimming availability before heading to the park.

Beaches - Small lakes

Beach at Smith Mountain Lake State Park

Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee. Weather and other issues may at times force suspension of guarded swimming. When guarded swimming is unavailable, guests may swim at the beach’s designated area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is prohibited.

Beaches - Large lakes

Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee. Weather and other issues may at times force suspension of guarded swimming. When guarded swimming is unavailable, guests may swim at the beach’s designated area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is inadvisable.

Beaches - Chesapeake Bay

Guarded swimming is unavailable at the beach. Swimmers using these areas do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is inadvisable.

Pools

The pools at Chippokes, Natural Tunnel and Staunton River will remain closed for the 2023 swimming season.

Splash-Spray Grounds

 



Find a Job at
Virginia State Parks

Find a job at Virginia State Parks

eNewsletter Sign-up