Lakeside camping in Virginia

Iconic hikes, history, and golden beaches await campers in Virginia’s 41 state parks.

92% (2805 reviews)
92% (2805 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Virginia

Under $50

Star Hosts in Virginia

12 top lakeside campgrounds in Virginia

100%
(44)

The Oysterhouse Landing

4 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Hayes, VA
A small landing used by commercial fishermen, featuring several of the iconic Chesapeake Bay wooden deadrise work boats. Offering a limited number of level, private, grassy, campsites as a home base for your coastal Virginia adventures. All sites are direct waterfront. Pit toilet, potable water, and outdoor shower available on site. 2 sites are unimproved and offer no water, electric, or sewer. 2 sites offer 30amp electric and potable water hook ups. A gravel boat ramp is adjacent to this property and is suitable for launching boats up to 28'. There are multiple sites on the property that are suitable for launching canoes, kayaks, and other small boats. You may berth your boat at our private dock. A full service marina is located 1 mile away, via either water or land. Situated in a quiet and peaceful rural setting, the Severn River is a boater's and sportsman's paradise offering excellent fishing for the angler. Diverse waters for both the powerboater and the sailor. Clean beaches and water for swimming and tubing. Miles of pristine shoreline for the kayaker to explore. And expansive wetlands for the waterfowl hunter. Or venture further into the Mobjack and Chesapeake Bay with easy access from this site. The property is located near the end of a lightly traveled (dead end) road for safe bicycling and walking. Large grass area for field games. Fishing and crabbing at our private dock. Fantastic sunrises, sunsets, and moonlight shimering on the water. If you are fortunate enough to be here when the waterman return to the dock with their fresh catch of crabs or oysters--- they just might sell you some right off of the boat! Nothing is better than a truly fresh meal of Chesapeake Bay seafood, and the harvest that lands at our docks is world class. Conveniently located 15 minutes from Yorktown, VA. which offers many historic and modern attractions, including an excellent white sand swimming beach. 35 minutes from Williamsburg, Va. with it's many historic attractions and visitor amenities. 35 minutes from Busch Gardens and Water Country theme parks, and 1 hr from King's Dominion theme park. Be aware that this is a working waterfront, and as such you should expect very early activity and noise as commercial fisherman head out in pursuit of their days catch. Situated in an area of coastal salt marsh which can become "buggy" when the wind is still. Have insect repellent available. Host is a seasoned camper and regularly boondocks in a camper van.
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$25
 / night
99%
(483)

Thunder Bridge

24 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. We'd like to share the camp with others and see 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.
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$35
 / night
Booked 8 times

Little Goat Farm at the Lake

1 site · RV, Tent40 acres · Nokesville, VA
Sleep with friendly goats & alpacas. Fishing & hiking along the lake or trails. Friendly retired farmers offering free space for your mobile home in exchange for assisting farmer in the morning 5 days a week. Our farm grows grapes, sunflowers, herbs of lavender, mint, sage, rosemary, and a huge varied plethora of flowers. We have been established for decades. The fishing is great as Va Fish and Game stock the lake each spring with bass, perch, catfish and even walleye. Many trails abound yet you can walk to a country general store from the farm. Mobile home living here is like no other as you don’t have nosy neighbors within an arms length away. You have the opposite with tranquility, and fresh air. Your senses become keener and nights allow you to sleep in the quiet country. We hosted a fellow for a year with this setup but he’s now moving to help his son out of state. No dogs unless owner agrees prior to arrivals
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$1
 / night
100%
(60)

Beaverdam Falls

4 sites · Lodging65 acres · Covington, VA
Nestled on a private 65-acre farm in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia, Beaverdam Falls is located on VA SR-311 (Kanawha Trail) in the Sweet Springs Valley. Nestled in the old community of Earlehurst, between Covington & Roanoke, Beaverdam Falls are an historic series of waterfalls on private property. The Falls are at the headwaters of Dunlap Creek and are the terminus for the Sweet Springs. Available for guest stays & recreation, are the Upper Falls portion. Surrounded by the verdant George Washington National Forest, the Upper Falls, displays a constant waterfall of around 40-feet in height, & decorates the final mile stretch of the Sweet Springs, both on our property. Additional beautiful cascades pepper our tract of Beaverdam Falls as well. This private tract of unparalleled Virginia countryside will simply astonish your expectations. As the source of the Falls, Sweet Springs Creek, serves as a long, unique home for trout, calcified travertine rock, chalybeate water, and ancient beaver dams (as well as active ones!). Beaverdam Falls is a rare place for the lack of stone and the centuries of beavers who have left their trace in & on our creek—and swamp, the Stick Marsh, which has an active beaver dam. Be careful! They do bite!
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$100
 / night
98%
(317)

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.
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$22.50
 / night
100%
(415)

Pastimes on Passage Creek Ranch

5 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Fort Valley, VA
Passage Creek is stocked with Trout. Voted Top VA site! See Reviews. Pastimes on Passage Creek Ranch is conveniently located at the north end of Fort Valley. The recreational draw to this area is hard to beat in VA and this property has it all for an amazing outdoor weekend! The ranch consists of 40 acres of low-land pasture, groomed perfectly for camping groups large or small. The Lakeside Mountain Stream site offers the option to camp on our 5-acre lake or camp creekside in the Cedar Grove sites along the banks of Passage Creek. Creek access varies at each site depending on the bank. The Ceadar Grove sites are just a short walk to the lake and beach amenities. The property has 1/2mi of Passage Creek wrapping around all the campsites, as well as, the privet lake to enjoy. I have all kinds of boats to try out and the waters are stocked with Bass, Blue Gill, and Catfish. Please catch and release. Passage Creek is stocked with Rainbow, Brown, Tiger, and Brook Trout throughout the year. The prime waters are just a mile upstream from Pastimes on Passage Creek Ranch. The Creekside Cedar sites are located within a sparse, groomed, Cedar grove along the banks of Passage Creek. These sites are extra large and can accommodate multiple family groups, as well as, travel trailers of all sizes up to off-road motorcoaches in site 1. There are no hookups, so It's just boondocking. Pack it in, Pack it out. Generators are allowed but please be aware of the other sites and direct the noise away. Groups of up to 25 people per site can realistically fit. Each site is very large with car camping space included. The Lakeside Mountain Stream site is very secluded, nestled between the mountains and the lake. It overlooks our 5-acre lake with mirror mountain views in the background. This site also has its own dock and is just a short walk down a mowed trail to a beautiful section of Passage Creek. An additional seasonal mountain stream can cascade behind the site and run under it to feed the lake when the conditions are right. The road can accommodate bumper pulls up to about 35ft to make the turn at the site. However, it is best suited for lighter traffic and smaller tent groups. At higher capacity, single-file parking is needed along the lake road. Max 10 people in order to keep some grass on the ground. Please, if you need more space - go to one of the Cedar Grove sites. Locally, the North end of Fort Valley offers many great hiking trails, trout fishing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and the Elizabeth Furnace day-use park. Taskers Gap OHV/ATV park is a short drive south, and the valley is sandwiched between both forks of the Shenandoah River for those looking to paddle. Additionally, the local towns (Front Royal, Strasburg, Woodstock) offer their own charm and wide range of activities and attractions.
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$85
 / night
99%
(232)

Chigger Creek Camping

4 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Dinwiddie, VA
The Meadows is family fun for everyone, featuring a stunning twelve-acre lake stocked with large mouth bass, bream, crappie and catfish for the fishing enthusiast. The property is surrounded by hardwoods, with hiking trails for varied wildlife and bird watching opportunities. We have two camp sites on the water, each a short walk to the main beach for canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, boarding, swimming, and sunning. We offer a camp kitchen and an outdoor shower at the main lodge for your convenience. Each camp site has their own beach, fire pit. A well-appointed toilet and shower available for everyone's use (Firewood is provided complimentary) The Meadows is a family friendly destination that won't disappoint. Whether you are a couple seeking a secluded spot for some rest and relaxation, a family looking to reconnect over s'mores after a corn hole tournament or a book club wanting a new get away to dissect their latest read you will discover relaxed Southern hospitality. Nearby attractions include Five Forks National Battlefield, Pamplin Park, The Virginia Motorsports Park and Lake Phoenix Scuba Park. Pricing starts at $65/85 per night tent rates or $95/115 per night RV/Electric car rates and includes two guests. Please register all additional guests over 12 years of age when booking - price is $25/35 per additional guest, per day - host will verify guests and vehicles upon arrival. Check in with your Host when you arrive!
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$65
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Lakeside camping in Virginia guide

Overview

Looking for a camping experience by the lake in Virginia? Look no further than Blackwater Birds and Bees! With over 280 options specifically tailored to your preference for lake activities in Virginia, you're sure to find the perfect spot. And with an average price per night of $50 and options as low as $23, you can enjoy nature without breaking the bank. Need some recommendations? Check out our top campsites like Private Farm Minutes to Cville and Camp Shenandoah Meadows. Plus, you'll have access to popular amenities like toilets, trash, and potable water. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enjoy activities like snow sports, hiking, and wildlife watching. Start planning your camping adventure today!

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