Camping near Buena Vista with horseback riding

Spend a few days in Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park while camping near Buena Vista.

96% (998 reviews)

United States
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Virginia
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Buena Vista

96% (998 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Buena Vista

Community favorites near Buena Vista

Public campgrounds near Buena Vista

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(9)

Sherando Lake Recreation Area and Campground

37 sites · RVs, Tents In George Washington National Forest

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(5)

Cave Mountain Lake Family Campground

27 sites · RVs, Tents In Jefferson National Forest

The view from Wildcat Mountain Trail. Don't try to hike the whole trail unless you're in pretty darn good physical condition!

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(3)

Cave Mountain Lake Group Campground

1 site In Jefferson National Forest

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(2)

Hopper Creek Group Campground

1 site In Jefferson National Forest

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(8)

Bolar Mountain Recreation Area and Campground

122 sites · RVs, Tents In George Washington National Forest

97%

(17)

Douthat State Park Campground

58 sites · RVs, Tents In Douthat State Park

100%

(2)

Hidden Valley Recreation Area

31 sites · RVs, Tents In George Washington National Forest

100%

(4)

Todd Lake Recreation Area

36 sites · RVs, Tents In George Washington National Forest

96%

(15)

James River Campground

25 sites · RVs, Tents In James River State Park

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(1)

Lake Sherwood Campground

106 sites · RVs, Tents In Monongahela National Forest

North Creek Campground

16 sites · RVs, Tents In Jefferson National Forest

Pocahontas Campground

8 sites · RVs, Tents In Monongahela National Forest

Stories from the community

3 nights at 4 Mile Rock Meadow

We loved this site. There are two sites, but we were alone for our stay. The best thing about it was the sense of being totally secluded in a large area. Great for off leash dogs. Plenty of room to hike. Near Crabtree Falls. We did a lot of hiking right around the site. Watch out for ticks during tick season - A couple tick checks per day was necessary. Make sure your dogs are treated. Great location and close to a lot of breweries, cideries, and wineries. We’d love to come back!

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

Sites were cleared and had many level locations for tents and vehicles. The shelter and picnic table at the site were great to have for when the rain came during our stay. Solid facilities, beautiful area, would absolutely stay again!

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

We loved our visit to Thunder BRidge! The campsite was very spacious and the little shelter was perfect for taking a break from the occasional drizzle. The host is friendly and communicative, and the facilities are clean and well stocked. Can’t wait to visit again!

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

I would highly recommend camping here. The sites are clean, spacious, and offer distance between other sites. Also, the host is extremely helpful and friendly.

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

Thunder Bridge is a very cool place. Campsites are very spacious. Will definitely return and recommend to friends.

Weekend Trip to Camping at Oak Grove

We enjoyed the camping location and it was very private. There were many things to do within a 20 minute radius.

Weekend Trip to 4 Mile Rock Meadow

Very secluded and very quiet, the perfect spot to get away.

Adam

3 weeks ago

3 nights at High Lonesome Alleghany

Amazing property. Trails for hiking and biking. Cabin was super comfortable. Highly recommend.

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

We had basically the entire campgrounds to ourselves, which was great! Adam was very responsive to a question about firewood. WiFi works well at the pavilion/bathroom and showers had hot water. Our site (Bunny 2) had a large cooking grate to pull over the campfire which, was very helpful. The old climbing wall on this campsite is cool but you can’t climb it for safety reasons. About a 10 minute drive from Natural Bridge park. Would recommend!

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

Lovely camping grounds with close access to the bathhouse and WiFi if needed, but spaced out enough from other camping spots that it feels very private and quiet.

3 nights at 4 Mile Rock Meadow

If you're looking for some privacy in a beautiful mountain setting, time around a campfire with friends, access to hikes along the AT - this is your spot. If you're looking to hit the wine trail or some of the breweries in the valley - it's a bit far from all those. But the site was perfect for our plans, and we'd certainly recommend it.

3 nights at Thunder BRidge

This campsite was an incredible experience! The host was amazing and offered a great firewood deal, making it easy and convenient instead of buying elsewhere. The facilities were clean and well-maintained, which made the stay even more enjoyable. One of the best parts was the spacing between tents—unlike many other campgrounds, there was plenty of privacy, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

Loved camping here! It was quiet both nights and I loved that the campsites weren’t terribly close to one another. Would definitely camp here again. Adam is helpful and communicative.

Weekend Trip to Camping at Lazy River Farm

Had an amazing time camping out here. The land is really beautiful and hosts we veery welcoming

Weekend Trip to Mane Gait Equestrian Center

We reserved Spot 2 but it was too hilly. We arrived late and spot 1 was open, it was perfect. Beautiful view of the mountains

1 night at Camping at Oak Grove

Good hosts, peaceful stay. Shenandoah Valley is a beautiful place to be

1 night at Mane Gait Equestrian Center

This is our 3rd or 4th stay . It is a perfect overnite spot when traveling. It's so peaceful and quiet. Easy access. Electric & water. AND BEAUTIFUL.

Weekend Trip to Thunder BRidge

We stayed in the large primitive cabin at Thunder Bridge Campground and had a great experience. The cabin was rustic, as expected, but spacious and comfortable for a primitive setup. It had enough room for our group and gave off that classic back-to-nature vibe we were hoping for. The surroundings were peaceful, with beautiful views and easy access to the creek and trails. Even without electricity or running water in the cabin, it felt like an upgrade from tent camping. The fire pit outside was perfect for evening campfires, and the porch gave us a great place to relax and take in the quiet. Staff was friendly and helpful, and the campground overall was clean and well-maintained. It’s a great spot if you're looking to unplug and enjoy some time in nature without totally roughing it. We’ll definitely come back.

Weekend Trip to Mane Gait Equestrian Center

Beautiful property! Would absolutely setup here again. Clean facilities. Friendly staff around the barns. Very quiet.

2 nights at Thunder BRidge

This is a hidden gem! Adam is a superb host, kindly accommodating our later-than-planned arrival and providing us with all of the information needed for making our stay there fabulous. Definitely take Adam up on his offer of firewood -- we enjoyed several nights by the fireside gazing up at clear night skies (unusual for where we live). We selected a "rustic" RV site as we had ample electricity and didn't need to continuously fill our water tanks, but it was really nice to have water and electricity options close-by for quickly charging my laptop, re-filling our RV water tank, and dumping our grey water. This is an ideal place to bring dogs as there is so much space to explore -- 100 acres, including a creek! Our four nights at Adam's campground with our two dogs was the relaxing vacation we needed. It also was well situated for exploring the Natural Bridge, Lexington and other attractions in the area. I would jump at the chance to return in the future. Adam is a great host!

9 top campgrounds near Buena Vista with horseback riding

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(539)

Thunder BRidge

26 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Natural Bridge Station, VA

Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordering the Jefferson National Forest, Thunder BRidge has scenic, large, private tent sites and cabins in the woods for those who want to experience camping at its finest. Many of the sites border Elk Creek. Our RV sites are large, flat and at the edge of the forest in a well kept open green space. Our 100 acres was originally a camp built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the "30s and early '40s, then a boys' juvenile detention center and Big Brothers'/Big Sisters' camp, which closed in 2009. The tent sites and cabins are in the forest, away from the buildings out front, but you're free to walk around and check out the historic site. Most of the buildings out front are artist studios (currently for 16 artists). We like to share the camp with others and watch it come back to life. All within a short driving distance are the Natural Bridge, wineries, breweries, Natural Bridge Zoo, Safari Park, Dinosaur Kingdom, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, James River, historic Lexington, Devil's Marbleyard, Glenwood Horse Trail, swimming holes, etc. We have river access 2 miles up the road if you'd like to fish or put your kayak or canoe in. Truly, there is something nearby for everyone. We'd be happy to give you recommendations of things to see and do. If you are a star gazer you won't be disappointed by our dark sky. We want to share our property with those who want to stay for more than one night, so we do not accept inquiries of single night stays.

98%

(319)

Arcadia Sanctuary

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents83 acres · Buena Vista, VA

Arcadia is the name we gave to our 83-acre mountainside retreat center for Earth-Based Spirituality. It’s nestled on the south-eastern slope of 4000-foot Mount Pleasant in Central Virginia, convenient to I81. (Note, there is a town called Arcadia off I81, but that is not us. Not to confuse.) We have a mountain creek with waterfalls, towering Beech and Sycamore trees, Witch Hazels leaning over the water, trout, crayfish, snakes, salamanders, and all the rest. We have about 2000 feet of the vertical mountainside with trails to explore. (But the stage and most of the camping is down closer to creek-level.) There are more sites higher up the mountain if you like more isolated camping. More of a trek to the bathrooms/showers/freshwater. We have one of the finest private stages on the East Coast with a top-notch sound system and a natural amphitheater which is like a single pie wedge of a Stadium that has regular live performances throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Our yurt is regularly booked as a unique glamping experience. There are chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowl free-roaming. Two dogs, nine cats, and several humans are blessed to call this home. There are two bridges that cross Thrashers Creek to get to Arcadia. The first is not suitable for large vehicles and trailers. The second bridge is our recommended entry way. Be aware we live on side of Mount pleasant and the roads on site are graveled and somewhat windy.

96%

(252)

Mane Gait Equestrian Center

2 sites · RVs, Tents140 acres · Natural Bridge, VA

Mane Gait is conveniently located right off route 81 and can accommodate large rigs. You won't find better views of the blue ridge mountains on this gorgeous working horse farm. We have hiking trails through beautiful private scenery for beginners to advanced hikers. Pets are welcome if leashed! Picnic area on site as well as laundry machine. We are 10 minutes from downtown historic Lexington Virginia that provides great restaurants and lots of history in the charming town of Lexington. Site 2 should be booked for smaller campers around 25 feet. Site 1 is better for larger campers.

97%

(39)

Miller Homestead

2 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Charlottesville, VA

We are conveniently located right in the middle of Charlottesville and Scottsville, VA on route 20. We are a 30 second drive to the popular Carters bridge put in on the Hardware River for river enthusiasts. Our land offers a big yard to camp in along with various campsites in the woods. Learn more about this land: If you’re looking to visit Cville, plan to stay with us for a short drive into town. We have open space for RVs, car tenting, and camping as well. Take advantage of our expansive yard and sleep out under the stars. Or if you prefer a wooded campsite, go for a short walk in the woods and find a camp spot. A tree swing and picnic table are also available for relaxing. We live off of a main road so the cars can occasionally be noisy!

100%

(67)

LongView Farm

24 sites · RVs, Tents62 acres · VA

This bucolic property on 60+ acres offers some of the best 360, panoramic views in Nelson County and a peaceful stay at LongView Farm. Currently accepting tent campers and truck/tent setups (no trailers or RV's... yet!). Experience Davis Creek, woods, pastures, and miles of dirt roads for biking/hiking. Just minutes from the Nelson 151 Craft Beverage trail (over 15 family friendly breweries/winers) and right across the street from Woodridge Farm Brewery. There's an Exxon station less than .5 a mile from our entrance, and Public Access to the Rockfish River is available .75 mile away. Charlottesville is an easy 25 minute drive. 10/2022: Fire extinguishers and first aid kids now available at the entrance to each property! 08/2022: Picnic Tables and Fire Rings now provided! GROUPS: We only allow a small amount of bookings at each of our three sites to allow for a spaced-out, private experience BUT if you have a large group of people and would like to book an entire site we can add spaces to that site for the dates you are looking to book to accommodate; just shoot us a message. -----||----- Site Descriptions: Sandy Bottom: open field, access to Davis Creek, parking at site, road noise Crawfish Creek: most secluded/quiet, Creek access, parking at site Sunset Ridge: best views, parking at site, closest to residence CURRENTLY CLOSED Hidden Hollow -----||----- UPDATE 08/2022: We now have Picnic Tables and Fire Rings available! Sandy Bottom, Crawfish Creek and Sunset Ridge are all three open available. Currently only accepting TENT campers until the driveway to Sunset Ridge is re-graded for RVs and Trailers. ----------------- This is a working farm, home to both Livestock Guardian Dogs as well as resident dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, horses, goats and other various livestock. If you choose to bring your dog/s, please let us know when booking. You should NOT bring your dog/s if they are high-strung, overly sensitive, aggressive, or not trained. Our livestock guardian dogs are hard-wired to protect so if they sense an uncomfortable vibe from another dog, it will make them uncomfortable and they need to be focused on doing their jobs. Safety, privacy and environmental impact is very important to us. We require a minimum of 50 feet between each campsite. Please contain all trash, human waste and canine waste and pack it out with you when you leave. Be kind to the areas in which you camp, as they are home to many wildlife, native trees/shrubs/plants and in some cases, food for horses and cows (hay fields). Each site is provided a fire pit (upon request) and we sell firewood. There is so much to enjoy on the farm, but you are also incredibly close to many amazing places such as: Wood Ridge Farm Brewery Public Access to Rockfish River Nelson Lake 151 Craft Beverage Trail Wintergreen Resort Charlottesville/UVA Forget something? There is an Exxon gas station with a convenience store and prepared foods less than .5mile from the entrance to Longview Retreat.

94%

(143)

Camping at Lazy River Farm

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · Iron Gate, VA

Learn more about this land: Lazy River Farm has so much to offer. Tents sites are in a wooded setting, on a beautiful hill, spread out for privacy. Camp sites also have fire rings with wood available for you to use. Campers are welcome to use any wood that's on the ground near or around your site. Camp sites can be accessed with a 4 wheel drive vehicle or walk up the hill to your site. With easy access down to the river, you can cool off in the beautiful Cow Pasture River. Glamping in the Vardo Wagon is another option, with its close proximity to the river and cozy interior. The Gypsy Rose sleeps 2, but can sleep 2 additional guests with a tent. Rent kayaks or paddle boards if you want to go on beautiful floats that wont disappoint you, paddle boards and kayaks are available for free if you paddle near the farm. (Life jackets not provided but are required) drop in a line to fish, or simply sit by the river and listen to the soft rapids. Lazy River Farm is a working farm, with lovely Scottish Highland Cattle, pigs, chickens, horses and livestock guardian dogs.. Your welcome to come and pet the animals. Do not feed animals. Do not go into fields or stalls with any of them. Nearby there are vineyards and breweries, the beautiful historic Masonic Theater, C&O heritage center, miles of back roads to explore, as well as local restaurants. Contact us directly for a full range of what we have to offer, or have questions regarding any site.

100%

(17)

High Lonesome Alleghany

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents960 acres · Callaghan, VA

A rarity on the East Coast, these high and lonesome 960 acres will leave you stunned, awestruck, refreshed, invigorated. Steep mountains and deep hollows of mixed forestland surrounded on three sides by National Forest. Explore for hours, almost certainly without seeing a soul. Beautiful Lake Moomaw awaits just over the mountain. See the Milky Way bisect the dark night sky, while a haunting serenade of barred owls, whippoorwills, katydids, and other nocturnal wildlife invites you to wonder. Multiple available campsites offer different levels of access and privacy. All sites require a medium-clearance vehicle, preferably 4x4, or possibly landowner transport via side-by-side. We have a few spots for car camping, and hundreds of acres of hike-to dispersed camping (plus the thousands of acres of adjacent National Forest camping). High Lonesome is a vast, rustic place, with few amenities other than solitude and beauty. Spotty cell reception. No electricity. No running water, save a few clean and gurgling natural springs. No toilets. No sirens, no traffic, no artificial lights, no neighbors.

100%

(5)

Camping at Oak Grove

1 site · RV, Tent11 acres · Lexington, VA

🌲 Welcome to Your Private Getaway! 🌲 Discover Our Hidden Gem: A Private Campsite on 11 Acres! Escape to our peaceful campground, featuring an easily accessible grassy clearing surrounded by year-round beauty and stunning mountain views. Just minutes from downtown Lexington and I-64, our site is the perfect base for adventure! ✨ Why Choose Us? Breathtaking Scenery: Enjoy serene surroundings and gorgeous mountain views. Convenient Location: Close to local hiking trails like Goshen Pass, Chessie Trail, and House Mountain. Explore Local Flavors: Discover Rockbridge County's wineries and brewery scene just a stone's throw away. 🏕️ Amenities: Primitive campsite for tent camping and boondocking Solo Stove for cozy evenings Picnic table for outdoor dining Firewood available for purchase at $5 a bundle 🌟 Book Your Adventure Today! Reconnect with nature and make lasting memories in our tranquil oasis. Your escape awaits!

93%

(7)

Upper South River Campground

1 site · RV, Tent42 acres · Waynesboro, VA

The camp is secluded on 42 acres of woods and pasture land just outside Waynesboro, VA. The Upper South River is spring fed, and it runs diagonally through the property. Day lease fly fishing is also conducted on the property. Though urban, it is very private and the water is always cool. The campsite has a fire ring, cooking grates, rotisserie, picnic table and a trash can. It is primitive camping with no outhouse (yet). There are 5 campsites on the property, spaced apart nicely to keep it private. Orkney Springs Outfitters provides lessons and guide services onsite and on surrounding waters from this location. Hit the Tye River, South Fork of the Potomac, Cow Pasture and the Jackson River, to name a few. Excellent access to Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Blueridge Parkway.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

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(48)

George Washington National Forest

Deerfield, Virginia

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(25)

Jefferson National Forest

Clifton Forge, Virginia

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James River State Park

Arrington, Virginia

93%

(46)

Monongahela National Forest

Durbin, West Virginia

Holliday Lake State Park

Pamplin City, Virginia

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Buena Vista with horseback riding guide

Overview

Looking to embark on an outdoor adventure near Buena Vista, Virginia? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 1,199 camping options available in the area, you're sure to find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Whether you prefer a secluded private farm like Private Farm Minutes to Cville (354 reviews), a picturesque meadow at Camp Shenandoah Meadows (295 reviews), or a riverside retreat like Rivers Edge Trail Camp (267 reviews), there's something for everyone. Enjoy popular amenities like trash disposal, showers, and pet-friendly locations. And if you're into whitewater paddling, surfing, or biking, you'll find plenty of opportunities to indulge in these exciting activities. So why wait? Start planning your camping trip today!