The best waterside camping in Virginia

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Camping waterside in Virginia means early morning mist on the river, birdsong over the lakes, and a view worth waking up for. With over 4,200 waterside campsites across the state, you can pitch your tent or park your camper right next to rushing streams, quiet coves, or rolling rivers. Average sites run $45 a night, but you can find spots starting at just $10 if you know where to look. Top picks include Private Farm Minutes to Cville (594 reviews), James River Depot (559 reviews), and Rivers Edge Trail Camp (523 reviews). Basic facilities like toilets and showers are common, and most sites allow campfires. Expect hiking trails, swimming holes, and the option to saddle up for horseback-riding. Virginia’s waterside camping makes it easy to swap screens for scenery—just pick a shore and settle in.

97% (14.9K) 50 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Virginia

Private Farm Minutes to Cville

1. Private Farm Minutes to Cville

98%
(1378)
7 sites · Tents, RVs · Charlottesville, VA
This was a 55-acre farm, split in half to accommodate a bypass through Charlottesville, so the previous owners had to give up half the land, and actually moved the house down to the other half of the property! They had to build a land bridge to get to the new home site, so they turned the bridge into a dam and created a beautiful large swimming pond, complete with beach and gazebo. My wife Stephanie and I bought the property in early 2017 and have turned it into a private horse farm, adding pastures, a riding ring, and 6-stall barn. There are ~21 horses who live on the property. The property is unique in that you can hardly see another house from anywhere on the property and yet we are only 2 miles from Barracks Rd. Shopping Center, and 4 miles from the University of Virginia.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$34
 / night
Infinity Acres Ranch

2. Infinity Acres Ranch

99%
(110)
7 sites · Tents, RVs · Ridgeway, VA
Rick & Laura relocated to Ridgeway VA 18 years ago and are in love with the southern pace and park-like setting of the fields, pond and woods surrounding our Ranch. Folks were fascinated with our animals and kept saying we should open it up to the public!! We finally did just that! Then in 2012 we established an Animal Interactive Educational Non-Profit! Currently we share our domestic and exotic animals to benefit 1000's of folks each year! Now we are opening up the Ranch to you as a HIP CAMPER! You can learn more about us by following Friends of Infinity Acres Ranch on FACEBOOK, and also check out our website and watch the videos! Just google Infinity Acres Ranch to find us online! Many CHOICES!! You can choose to have an interactive experience, or just enjoy the tranquility of being in the country!! (fyi: roosters &; peacocks add to the experience, but also may wake you up!! ) Talk with Laura when you book and decide what will work best for YOU!! Strict supervision of children is required. Any aggressive behavior or harassment of the animals is prohibited!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$35
 / night
Jefferson National Forest

3. Jefferson National Forest

98%
(27)
488 sites · Bluefield, Virginia
Literally thousands of miles of hiking trails can take you anywhere you want to go.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir

4. John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir

100%
(4)
430 sites · Baskerville, Virginia
Discover the serene beauty of John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Philpott Lake

5. Philpott Lake

80%
(5)
215 sites · Bassett, Virginia
Discover Philpott Lake's serene beauty and outdoor adventures.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Claytor Lake State Park

6. Claytor Lake State Park

100%
(2)
16 sites · Snowville, Virginia
Explore the miles of hiking trails along this serene lake.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Douthat State Park

7. Douthat State Park

97%
(17)
58 sites · Clifton Forge, Virginia
Can’t decide between lake or mountain? Douthat—one of Virginia’s original state parks—has both.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Breaks Interstate Park

8. Breaks Interstate Park

100%
(1)
134 sites · Virginia
Break out your hiking shoes for this scenic and historic passageway in southwestern Virginia.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Pocahontas State Park

9. Pocahontas State Park

94%
(9)
13 sites · Brandermill, Virginia
Discover Pocahontas State Park's natural beauty and outdoor adventures.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Holliday Lake State Park

10. Holliday Lake State Park

5 sites · Pamplin City, Virginia
Discover the serene beauty of Holliday Lake State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Bear Creek Lake State Park

11. Bear Creek Lake State Park

83%
(15)
17 sites · Cumberland, Virginia
Discover the natural charm of Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires

Camping waterside in Virginia means early morning mist on the river, birdsong over the lakes, and a view worth waking up for. With over 4,200 waterside campsites across the state, you can pitch your tent or park your camper right next to rushing streams, quiet coves, or rolling rivers. Average sites run $45 a night, but you can find spots starting at just $10 if you know where to look. Top picks include Private Farm Minutes to Cville (594 reviews), James River Depot (559 reviews), and Rivers Edge Trail Camp (523 reviews). Basic facilities like toilets and showers are common, and most sites allow campfires. Expect hiking trails, swimming holes, and the option to saddle up for horseback-riding. Virginia’s waterside camping makes it easy to swap screens for scenery—just pick a shore and settle in.

97% (14.9K) 50 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Virginia

Private Farm Minutes to Cville

1. Private Farm Minutes to Cville

98%
(1378)
7 sites · Tents, RVs · Charlottesville, VA
This was a 55-acre farm, split in half to accommodate a bypass through Charlottesville, so the previous owners had to give up half the land, and actually moved the house down to the other half of the property! They had to build a land bridge to get to the new home site, so they turned the bridge into a dam and created a beautiful large swimming pond, complete with beach and gazebo. My wife Stephanie and I bought the property in early 2017 and have turned it into a private horse farm, adding pastures, a riding ring, and 6-stall barn. There are ~21 horses who live on the property. The property is unique in that you can hardly see another house from anywhere on the property and yet we are only 2 miles from Barracks Rd. Shopping Center, and 4 miles from the University of Virginia.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$34
 / night
Infinity Acres Ranch

2. Infinity Acres Ranch

99%
(110)
7 sites · Tents, RVs · Ridgeway, VA
Rick & Laura relocated to Ridgeway VA 18 years ago and are in love with the southern pace and park-like setting of the fields, pond and woods surrounding our Ranch. Folks were fascinated with our animals and kept saying we should open it up to the public!! We finally did just that! Then in 2012 we established an Animal Interactive Educational Non-Profit! Currently we share our domestic and exotic animals to benefit 1000's of folks each year! Now we are opening up the Ranch to you as a HIP CAMPER! You can learn more about us by following Friends of Infinity Acres Ranch on FACEBOOK, and also check out our website and watch the videos! Just google Infinity Acres Ranch to find us online! Many CHOICES!! You can choose to have an interactive experience, or just enjoy the tranquility of being in the country!! (fyi: roosters &; peacocks add to the experience, but also may wake you up!! ) Talk with Laura when you book and decide what will work best for YOU!! Strict supervision of children is required. Any aggressive behavior or harassment of the animals is prohibited!
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$35
 / night
Jefferson National Forest

3. Jefferson National Forest

98%
(27)
488 sites · Bluefield, Virginia
Literally thousands of miles of hiking trails can take you anywhere you want to go.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir

4. John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir

100%
(4)
430 sites · Baskerville, Virginia
Discover the serene beauty of John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Philpott Lake

5. Philpott Lake

80%
(5)
215 sites · Bassett, Virginia
Discover Philpott Lake's serene beauty and outdoor adventures.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Claytor Lake State Park

6. Claytor Lake State Park

100%
(2)
16 sites · Snowville, Virginia
Explore the miles of hiking trails along this serene lake.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
Douthat State Park

7. Douthat State Park

97%
(17)
58 sites · Clifton Forge, Virginia
Can’t decide between lake or mountain? Douthat—one of Virginia’s original state parks—has both.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Breaks Interstate Park

8. Breaks Interstate Park

100%
(1)
134 sites · Virginia
Break out your hiking shoes for this scenic and historic passageway in southwestern Virginia.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Pocahontas State Park

9. Pocahontas State Park

94%
(9)
13 sites · Brandermill, Virginia
Discover Pocahontas State Park's natural beauty and outdoor adventures.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Holliday Lake State Park

10. Holliday Lake State Park

5 sites · Pamplin City, Virginia
Discover the serene beauty of Holliday Lake State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Bear Creek Lake State Park

11. Bear Creek Lake State Park

83%
(15)
17 sites · Cumberland, Virginia
Discover the natural charm of Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

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