The best camping in Virginia.

You know the old saying: Virginia is for lovers of camping. Its bounty of 38 state parks is consistently voted the best in America. Virginia offers cabins, tent camping and RV sites in 28 of its magnificent parks. And lucky for you, Virginia’s 269-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway contains three campgrounds.

On the eastern Atlantic Ocean shoreline, Kiptopeke State Park is the perfect HQ for exploring the Chesapeake Bay. Along with tent sites, the park offers large family lodges, spacious cabins, a yurt, and a bunkhouse. The 300-acre First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach is the state’s most visited. Here you find 19 pet-friendly miles of biking and hiking trails and 1.5 miles of Atlantic coastline.

Seeking a serenity-restoring primitive camping experience? Reserve your spot in advance for one of Virginia’s rare underdeveloped coastal areas: False Cape State Park. Six miles of pristine beachfront is prime sunbathing, swimming and kayaking real estate. Campgrounds are only accessible by foot, bicycle, or boat.

American Civil War buffs should camp in Williamsburg at the 140-acre Chickahominy Riverfront Park. The 160 bluff-side campsites put you mere minutes from the area’s historic landmarks. Finish your history lesson off with a hike along the Appalachian Trail. Shenandoah National Park welcomes backcountry campers with over 500 miles of trails. There’s really no better way to savor Virginia’s jaw-dropping scenery and diverse wildlife.