Going camping is one of the best ways to take a break from everyday life and relax. It also comes with the bonus of being healthy for you, as most camping trips also involve a good amount of hiking. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a way to get in shape, you will ask the same question: where should I go camping? Fortunately, Virginia has a lot of excellent camping spots to visit, both if you want to camp out near wineries and relax or if you want a more primitive, rough camping experience. To help you decide, we have put together a list of the eight best camping spots in Virginia, and we hope you find it helpful.
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False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach
If you’re interested in shoreline camping, False Cape State Park is a beautiful stretch of untouched shoreline, perfect for it. While there are no showers, stall bathrooms, or electricity, there are many activities available for visitors—biking trails, guided kayak trips, and a 6-mile beachfront available for sunbathing and swimming. However, the park has no official vehicle access and is only reachable on foot, by bike, or boat. If you plan to make a trip here, remember that a successful trip means doing your research ahead of time, although this applies to every travel, not just camping.
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New River Trail State Park, Foster Falls
One of the best camping spots in Virginia for primitive camping is False Cape State Park. It’s a beautiful destination for a weekend getaway since, during the day, it offers fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. When night falls, you can camp out at primitive campsites for escalating experience levels. However, if you plan to go primitive camping, keeping your equipment in good shape is essential. This can be a bit hard if you don’t have room to store it properly, but fortunately, many reliable storage companies in Virginia can help out. Consider renting out a storage unit to keep your items intact between trips.
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Grayson Highlands State Park, Mouth of Wilson
If you’re a fan of mountains, then this is the location for you. Grayson Highlands State Park offers a basic campsite with some of the most beautiful views in Virginia. In addition, the park serves as the gateway to Virginia’s tallest peak, Mount Rogers, and is also an entry to the Appalachian Trail. Here you can bike, hike and ride horses along this trail while also getting the chance to encounter some of the wild ponies which roam the park freely. However, we should note that while there is electricity at the campsites, there are no bathrooms or showers, and water isn’t available from November to March.
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Backcountry camping, Shenandoah National Park
If you are an experienced camper, then the Shenandoah National Park is an excellent place to go if you want to put your skills to the test. Backcountry camping is pretty much the most primitive camping experience you can get. Camping here gives you the best opportunity to experience wildlife and fantastic scenery. However, we need to warn you: camping in Shenandoah National Park is NOT for beginners. An overnight trip here will require survival experience, skills, and the proper tools and supplies. Make sure you know the risks before you set out on a trip here.
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Christopher Run Campground, Mineral
If you’re looking for a more comfortable camping site for a weekend trip, consider the Christopher Run Campground. This campground has over 200 campsites, with electric hookups and water on most of them. This location is terrific if you need to travel on a budget. For entertainment, you can rent rowboats, canoes, and paddleboats, and even bring kids as the campground has basketball and volleyball courts, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and a playground. All of this together makes the Christopher Run Campground an excellent weekend getaway for families as well as anyone else.
Christopher Run Campground offers a comfortable camping experience for families.
Alt-tag: a group of tents in the forest
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Douthat State Park, Clifton Forge
For anyone interested in history and camping, Douthat State Park is an excellent location. Being one of the six great Virginia state parks, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. Within only an hour’s drive from the campsite, you will find plenty of things to do, such as visiting Bath County for the Warm Springs Baths or going to the Natural Bridge in Lexington. It is also quite close to the oldest covered bridge still standing: Humpback Bridge. However, experts from fairfaxtransfer.com recommend traveling light when visiting Douthat State Park. You won’t have many storage options, and you can’t bring all your possessions with you all the time.
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Camp Karma Campground, Bedford
While it is relatively upscale, Camp Karma Campground offers a primitive camping experience. It is home to 37 different campsites with a focus on back-to-nature camping. However, bathrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits are available for use. Still, if you plan to camp here, you might want to consider the ways you can use UVC light to safeguard health and wellness while camping.
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Misty Mountain Camp Resort, Greenwood
Whether you want to experience primitive camping or a simple experience, Misty Mountain Camp Resort earns its place on the list of best camping spots in Virginia because it’s a mix of both. The campsites here are a mixture of simple, primitive camps and certain sites that have electricity, water, RV spots, and even cabins. This allows you to select the level of comfort you want to have while camping.
8 Best Camping Spots in Virginia – conclusion
Virginia is home to a lot of wonderful and engaging camping spots. Whether you want a comfortable getaway or an authentic survival experience, you can find something in Virginia. We hope you found this list of the eight best camping spots in Virginia informative, and we wish you a safe trip.
