Camping at Virginia State Parks can be fun, as long as everyone follows these simple "unspoken" rules, or camp etiquette.

Camping near the river at New River Trail State Park

This camp site was full, but everything was stored neatly in plastic bins

Use the camping loop road to get to the bathhouse

If you have any questions, the camp hosts are there to help!

MY CAMP IS MY HOME

Have you ever wondered at the comment "Were you born in a barn?" or even been one to say it yourself? 

We were always told that as kids when we left the tent unzipped. What difference does an unzipped tent make? I can think of a two very good reasons to keep it zipped, snakes and mosquitoes!

NO CUTS!

Please don't cut through my camp site as a short cut to the bathhouse. Being the one stuck closest to the bathhouse is not our idea of fun anyway, so you are not the only one who considers a shortcut through our site! We would like privacy too, so please respect site boundaries and stick to the road! 

If you kick a ball or throw a Frisbee into our site, please ask permission to retrieve it.

TIDY CAMP

Space is limited, so please keep your site as neat and tidy as possible, leaving food and drinks out only entices critters to visit (especially during the night!) This could be a hazard not only from stolen/trashed food but animals sneaking in that carry rabies, such as foxes.  

On the same token, if you see some trash around the campground itself, go ahead and pick it up and let's get this tidy chain in motion! We can leave it nicer than we found it and have as little impact on the wildlife and outdoors as possible.

PET PEEVES

There is nothing worse than smelling, and stepping in doggie-doo! So please clean up after your pet, it is common courtesy. If you have a dog(s) that barks and/or whines all day or night, please consider letting him/her stay home. We cannot enjoy the great outdoors if we have to listen to your dog(s) whimpering all day, or barking at every passerby. If you have a dog that lifts his leg on everything he sees, please restrain him from doing so on our vehicles, picnic table, and camp site. Consider the leash he wears and direct him to a more appropriate area.

See the complete list courtesy of Good Sam Club here.

What camp etiquette have you or your family always followed and wished that others would too?

Virginia State Parks has more than 1,700 campsites, ranging from primitive sites to developed sites with electric and water hookups. Many cabins are available year round. While most campgrounds are open from March 1 through the end of the first week of December, primitive campsites are available year-round. Learn more about Virginia State Park campgrounds here.

Twenty-four state parks have campgrounds (click here for park rates). Site sizes and configurations vary. Some parks provide sites with electric and water hook-ups, which tend to be larger to accommodate recreational vehicles and campers. Kiptopeke and Hungry Mother campgrounds offer sewer hook-ups. Most campgrounds are open from March 1 through the first Monday in December; primitive sites are available year-round.

Click here to check on availability and to reserve online or call 800-933-7275 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.