Virginia State Parks offers awesome overnight adventures outdoors in our campgrounds, from the coast to the Appalachian Mountains. Did you know more than 1,800 campsites are available at Virginia State Parks?

Everyone who enjoys camping has their own style, from primitive backpacking to a full-sized luxury RV. Plus, there are those in-between that are super popular in Virginia, like tent and car camping.

In this article, we'll explore six different ways to camp at award-winning Virginia State Parks. We think you'll agree; we've got some of the best camping around.

1. TENT CAMPING

Tent camping is the perfect way to bring the outdoors in.

Pitch your tent and make those lasting memories together when you camp. Camping is an opportunity to go outside in nature and breathe, unplug for a while and find a better connection.

As for car camping, sure, you can sleep in your car if you pay for a campsite. Your car might be more comfortable than sleeping on the cold hard ground, or wet ground if it rains like it's prone to in the summertime. Some park guests even enjoy sleeping in the back of their pick-up trucks under the stars. 

All parks have campsite-specific reservations. While campers cannot be assured of access to their reserved sites before the reservation start time of 4:00 p.m., arrive early to avoid lines at check-in and feel free to enjoy the park until your site is ready. Check-out is by 1:00 p.m.

Reservations can be made 24/7 online or by calling 800-933-7275 during regular business hours.

2. RV CAMPING

Your sweet home away from home when RVing at a park campground.

Bring your RV to a Virginia State Park campground and enjoy being part of the community of happy campers. Also, did you know that our parks offer free camping to camp hosts?

Camp Hosts agree to work for one month, five days a week, fulfilling duties and being available to visitors in the campground. In exchange, they camp on the host site for free (often a full hook-up) and receive free camping benefits as a thank you. The maximum camping period is normally 14 days in a park unless you're a camp host, then you'll get to enjoy more of the park, longer. Learn more about camp host responsibilities or send an email.

Site sizes, configurations and amenities vary from park to park. Some parks provide sites with electric and water hook-ups, which can be larger to accommodate RV's and campers. Kiptopeke and Hungry Mother campgrounds offer sewer hook-ups.

See a list of RV campgrounds. Visit the particular park webpage's overnight facilities section for details (size, amperage, water, etc.), or call a reservation specialist for more details: 800-933-7275.

3. YURTS

Enjoy camping in a yurt, like this one at Shenandoah River State Park.

Virginia State Park yurts are a cross between tent camping and staying in a cabin. All the yurts, except one at Kiptopeke, have no electricity. So, if you want to enjoy privacy in the woods but not have to pitch your own tent, then this might be for you.

Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply. There is a two-night minimum stay. 

• Sleeps three. One queen-sized bed and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens for the beds.
• No smoking, cooking or pets, except service animals, allowed in the yurt. 
• Guests use the nearby campground bathhouse. A common-use water spigot is also at the campground bathhouse. The yurt has no bathroom, water, electricity, heat or air conditioning.
• Each yurt features a huge wooden deck, a picnic table, a pedestal charcoal grill and a fire-ring with a cooking grate.
• Also, each yurt has a couch, sitting chair, coffee table, dining table with three chairs, a queen-sized bed, a twin-sized trundle pull-out and two nightstands.
• Window and skylight.

See this article for more photos and info: Is There Glamping at Virginia State Parks? How About a Yurt.

The rental season is April 1- October 31. There are currently 14 parks with yurts; learn more.

4. BACKPACKING

Backpacking fun at Belle Isle State Park (Photo credit: Virginia Backpacking).

Get back to nature when you backpack into your next camping adventure. Primitive sites are available year-round and make for fun year-round exploring. Some parks that do not have a developed campground will allow primitive, which means you'll have the park to yourself.

If you're willing to get there, we have some unique primitive campgrounds available year-round at Virginia State Parks. Here's a list of parks with primitive camping and nightly rates:

• Westmoreland: paddle-in $15
• Widewater: paddle-in $15
• Sky Meadows: backpack $20
• Belle Isle: $15, and the park offers a $45 overnight canoe rental
• False Cape: backpack or paddle-in $20 (see restrictions)
• Grayson Highlands: $15 (Nov, Mar, Apr bathhouse closed)
• James River: $15 (easy access and riverfront)
• Leesylvania: paddle-in $15
• Mason Neck: paddle-in $15
• Natural Bridge: $15
• New River Trail: $20 (Foster Falls and Cliffview), $15 (Baker Island - no potable water)
• Powhatan: $15

See this article for more photos and info: 5 Awesome Primitive Campgrounds in Virginia.

5. CAMPING CABINS

Quaint camping cabins offer another neat way to stay overnight in a park.

Camping cabins are cute little one-room wooden buildings with two sets of bunk beds, a table, a ceiling fan and an electrical outlet. They do not have heating or air conditioning, and guests use nearby bathhouses.

These camping cabins have great outdoor spaces, with a picnic table and a fire ring, grill or both. You'll need to bring sleeping bags, or sheets and pillows. You can bring a camp stove and cook outside near the picnic table or over the grill.

A minimum two-night stay is required for camping cabins. Check-in is 4:00 p.m. and check-out is 10:00 a.m. Camping cabins are available at Lake Anna, Pocahontas, Shenandoah River and Westmoreland state parks. The two at Westmoreland have two small rooms with two single beds in each room.

6. BUNKHOUSE

Camping bunkhouses are a great way to lodge your group for a few nights.

Two-night minimum, no weekly requirement. Pet friendly. Air-conditioned. 

These cute little two or three-room pre-fab camping bunkhouses have seven bunk beds, and each one accommodates up to 14 people. Check-in is 4:00 p.m. and check-out is 10:00 a.m. Guests must bring sleeping bags or sheets, blankets, towels and pillows.

Camping bunkhouses are available at Belle Isle, Bear Creek, Claytor Lake, Fairy Stone, Grayson Highlands, Holliday Lake, James River, Kiptopeke, Occoneechee, Smith Mountain Lake and Staunton River state parks. Because these facilities are also used to house park volunteers, unlike other overnight dwellings, they are unavailable for rent 11 months in advance. Amenities vary by park, so visit the given park's Camping and Cabin section for more details, or call 800-933-7275.

OTHER CAMPING: EQUINE AND GROUP

Equine campgrounds can be found at seven parks, like at Fairy Stone State Park.

Twenty-two state parks have group campsites and seven have equestrian campgrounds. Developed and group campsites have picnic tables, grills and access to bathhouses.

With Twenty-nine Virginia State Parks offering incredible outdoor camping, now's the time to make your reservation.

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 have full-service campgrounds open year-round. See park rates.

PETS

Park campgrounds are pet-friendly, so pets are allowed to stay with their families at their campsite at no extra charge. Owners must clean up after their pets. If a pet is left unattended, becomes a nuisance in violation of the leash law, disturbs others by barking during quiet hours, you'll be asked to leave.

False Cape has some restrictions. See our pet policies.

SWIMMING

Daily swimming is always included with your overnight site rental.

FREE STAYS

Be sure to sign up for the Customer Loyalty Program to earn points for free overnight stays.

RESERVATIONS

Learn more about reservations, rates, check availability online or call 800-933-7275 during regular business hours.