Winter camping at Virginia State Parks

Virginia State Parks are a great place for you to test out your cold-weather skills.

Virginia’s topography and geography bring us a wide range of winter weather. While feet of snow may fall in the mountains, the tidal shores of the Potomac can remain dry and mild. Weather permitting, camping in the offseason can be a nice reprieve from the summer crowds and offers a unique opportunity to explore your parks and see them in a new light.

While most of our campgrounds close the first Monday in December and reopen the first Friday in March, we do have a handful of year-round, full-service campgrounds. If you’re feeling really adventurous, our primitive camps are available year-round, too.

Winter Camping Options

FULL-SERVICE CAMPGROUNDS

Four parks with developed campgrounds have full service, year-round availability:

• Pocahontas State Park
• Shenandoah River State Park
  • Camping is available year-round in both the RV Campground and the primitive River Right Campground. If camping in the RV Campground, please bring an insulated outdoor faucet cover and appropriate insulation for your camper’s hose and water lines. You may be asked to unhook your water hose if the temperature is below freezing.
• Douthat State Park
  • Camping is available year-round in Whispering Pines campground. (Note: From November through March water is unavailable at individual campsites because of freezing weather.) 
• Hungry Mother State Park
  • Exception: Camp Burson campground site numbers 21-36 do not have electric, water or sewer. Lower cost to book these sites.

The equestrian campground at Occoneechee State Park is open year-round but is not full-service.

PRIMITIVE CAMPING

All of Virginia State Parks primitive sites are year-round except for the seasonally available Chestnut Hollow sites at Grayson Highlands State Park, which are available from November through the first Monday in December and then again from March 1-April 30.

Primitive sites MAY NOT have access to a potable water source. All primitive sites have access to a privy or pit toilet and only allow tent camping. Contact the park for more information.

Year-round primitive camping is available at:

• Belle Isle State Park
  Hike-in or paddle-in: 1.5 miles from the closest parking area
• Caledon State Park
  Hike-in, bicycle-in or paddle-in: 3 miles from visitor center
  Only accessible during daylight hours
• False Cape State Park
  Hike-in or bicycle-in: 6.9 miles to 8.4 miles from Little Island City Parking Lot, depending on campsite
  Boat-in: For experienced Back Bay paddlers only
  Only accessible during daylight hours
• James River State Park
  Drive-up (rooftop tent friendly)
• New River Trail State Park
  Parking lot nearby, but no direct vehicular access: hike-in or bike-in
• Powhatan State Park
  Hike-in or paddle-in: Parking lot 0.2 mile away
• Sky Meadows State Park
  Hike-in or bicycle-in: 1 mile on Hadow trail from overnight parking area

WEATHER

Before heading out for a winter park visit, check the park's individual web page. We will post a notification if weather issues have forced us to close the park.

It is essential to be prepared for any weather. Brush up on your winter camping tips before heading out.

CAMPGROUND
POLICIES

RESERVATIONS

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