The best waterside campgrounds near Charlottesville, Virginia

Charlottesville packs in over 840 waterside camping options, many right on the banks of creeks and rivers. You’ll find sites with toilets, campfires allowed, and pet-friendly spots, so you don’t have to leave your dog behind. Some of the best-reviewed camps include Private Farm Minutes to Cville (594 reviews), Private Paradise on Rivers Bend (488 reviews), and Watercress Inn at Landon Farm (394 reviews). Paddling, swimming, and wildlife-watching are big draws here—bring your binoculars. You can find a spot for as little as $20 a night, with the average closer to $50. If you want a place where you can cool off in the water, saddle up for a trail ride, and unwind by the fire, Charlottesville delivers.

98% (5.6K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Kayaking on the pond! It actually goes down to a depth of about 30 feet in the middle. Super refreshing for an afternoon or morning dip.

Charlottesville packs in over 840 waterside camping options, many right on the banks of creeks and rivers. You’ll find sites with toilets, campfires allowed, and pet-friendly spots, so you don’t have to leave your dog behind. Some of the best-reviewed camps include Private Farm Minutes to Cville (594 reviews), Private Paradise on Rivers Bend (488 reviews), and Watercress Inn at Landon Farm (394 reviews). Paddling, swimming, and wildlife-watching are big draws here—bring your binoculars. You can find a spot for as little as $20 a night, with the average closer to $50. If you want a place where you can cool off in the water, saddle up for a trail ride, and unwind by the fire, Charlottesville delivers.

98% (5.6K)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Private Farm Minutes to Cville

98%

(1377)

3.1mi from Charlottesville · 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.

2. Bear Creek Lake State Park

83%

(15)

17 sites · Cumberland, Virginia

Discover the natural charm of Bear Creek Lake State Park.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

3. Holliday Lake State Park

5 sites · Pamplin City, Virginia

Discover the serene beauty of Holliday Lake State Park.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near Charlottesville

83%

(15)

Bear Creek Lake Campground

37mi from Charlottesville · 17 sites · Tents, RVs · in Bear Creek Lake State Park

Holliday Lake Campground

45mi from Charlottesville · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · in Holliday Lake State Park

Stories from the community

j

jesse

2 weeks ago

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Lovely private car camping site on beuatiful horse farm, minutes from downtown Charlottesville. Camp site was clean and private. The amenities were quality and the space was beuatiful. Check in and check out were effortless.

K

Kylie

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Amazing!! The site was private and there was a fire pit which was great! The bathroom was easy to get to and had everything you could need! The property was so beautiful and we loved looking at the horses and donkeys!!

Do your own thing, be alone with nature.

L

Luke

November 2025

Tent

2 nights at Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Bob was incredibly helpful at relocating us because site #2 doesn’t allow dogs. He moved us to the spacious #7 campsite at no additional charge, and we never had to talk to another person while we were camping. It was exactly the kind of escape into nature that we were looking for. We will be back!

A

Adrienne

November 2025

10 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Beautiful site. Excellent communication with the host. Feels remote while being close to many amenities. We will definitely stay here again.

E

Erik

November 2025

16 ft car

With kids

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

The campsite was the perfect Fall escape—wide open views of rolling hills with the Blue Ridge in the distance, golden light through the trees, and an unexpected bonus: several well-kept horse fields that made the place feel unique. Clean, scenic, and peaceful—absolutely worth the trip for families looking for a quiet weekend with actual views, not just a parking lot with trees.

K

Kristy

November 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

This was our second time camping there and we'll be back again. We have a teardrop camper and the site was perfect for our needs. Beautiful farm and absolutely perfect location.

T

Tish

November 2025

20 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

I couldn’t believe how peaceful this place was, so close to town. Standard camp spots, nice tree canopies, and generally level. Waking up to soft rolling hills and grazing horses (and 2 very charming mules) hit the spot!! Highly recommend.- tho I confess part of me wants to keep this gem a secret - so it’s always available for when I return! ;) Thank you again!

E

Erica

November 2025

18 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Lovely HUGE site with beautiful views of the horse farm and the mountains. Special little oasis so close to town! We will be back!

J

Justin

November 2025

19 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

It was a great site, super convenient. We will definitely be back!

Dan

November 2025

30 ft pop-up camper

With pets

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

The farm is easily accessible and close to everything. Arrival instructions are impeccable, as is on-site signage. Host communication was prompt. Site #4 was beautiful with south and west views over the horse pastures. It is fairly close to site #5 which was occupied while we were there (5th wheel with a generator and a couple of dogs). The folks at site #5 were super nice and respectful, though we would have preferred to be further away. We were able to arrange our set-up to maximize seclusion. That aside, #4 was still fantastic, and we'd visit again!

D

Dean

October 2025

19 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

The spaces are perfectly spaced out and provide a good amount of privacy unlike most campgrounds. We met a fair amount of our neighbors and everyone was so friendly!! Conveniently 13min from The Jefferson (music venue) downtown. Would recommend and will be back again! Thanks for the hospitality ya’ll. Oh, and pro tip, if you’re up before everyone else, make some coffee, then go and sit on the lifeguard tower, the birds put on quite a show <3

Beautiful views surround the property and only minutes from the city!

B

Bryan

October 2025

16 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Beautiful spot surrounded by horse pastures. We only spent the night as we were passing through but would certainly return in the future.

Michele

October 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

This is a beautiful property. The sites are spaced out. Everything was very nice. We loved it, and we hope we can stay again when we're in the area.

C

Chad

October 2025

11 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Great place. So peaceful and beautiful!! Would recommend to anyone that wants to reset.

Elizabeth

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

As the description says, site 3 has a lovely western view, great for watching sunset over the horse pastures. The hosts are friendly, and it was nice to have a shower with hot water. The bathroom is a bit of a walk from the sites--or at least, sites 3-6--but it's not terrible. The donkeys and horses were fun to watch!

B

Bradley

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Private Farm Minutes to Cville

Owners were really friendly. Sites were spacious, separated, and secluded. Be aware of the donkey, whose cry at first sounds like a man screaming while being murdered. Really beautiful property; we’ll be back.

V

Vicky

October 2025

Tent

2 nights at Private Farm Minutes to Cville

A beautiful spot to camp, individual meadows for each camper amongst beautiful horse farm. Bathrooms in the main house were locked but managed to find someone to open them.