Holy cow, this property was best designed campsite I have been to on hipcamp. The site was a wonder area of spaced out trees and grass perfect for tents and hammocks. All around the property we appreciated all of the botanical touches that have been planted in the common area. Plenty of groomed meadow for the kids to run. River was amazing. The sounds of nature where impressive. So many different sounds, butterflies, grasshoppers, trains going by. We were sad to go and will be back... Actually several of us decided to stay an extra night.

Thanks to our great hosts who greeted us on arrival and showed us around their beautiful farm. Beautiful land with three sites (so when you reserve ask for which you want.) Two meadows with a view of the farm separated by a tall fence for privacy. There are horse trails at the rear of the property that have clearings if you want more privacy with one site that already set up. Make sure you bring bug spray but if you come equipped it is well worth the trip. Excellent stop on the way to or from NC beaches.

My son and I stayed in the woods with hammocks strung up. We fell asleep surrounded by fireflies and in the morning my son ran the horse trails for hours. We loved hanging out with the horses and there was a very small donkey that is my son's new best friend.

What a great spot just south of Richmond City. For anyone in RVA who loves Pocahontas State park this is in the area and is a big step up. Amy greeted us in her paint covered apron as she stepped out of the art space she has set up for classes and art gatherings. She showed us around and offered all kinds of things to do from kayaks to bike rides and her property had all kinds of kid-friendly things to do including a tree house. The property is located beside a giant state park with playgrounds, hiking, courts and fields. If you have any questions, Amy was super helpful before and during the stay.
You camp at the front of the property and Amy has enough sites for 10 or so tents. Each site is short mowed grass and has a fire ring under a giant open sky. During the day you do hear the going’s on in the park but at night it is super quiet. There is plenty of parking and a field to spread out and play. It is a short walk downhill to the dock which has a pretty impressive tiki bar and grill set up overlooking the water. I got to sit and relax while my son played in the sand box then back up to the tree house, tightrope, tetherball and rope swing.
We had an awesome time and hope to go back soon, I just hope I can convince some other families to join the fun.

Big thanks to John and the Surfrider staff. We had a great time camping right in view of the bay as it enters the ocean. John was very welcoming and went out of his way to make sure my son and I were comfortable. We had a great time and can’t wait to go back. We arrived late and John made sure we had what we needed. The bay was thick with fog for the first hour but then a star filled sky opened up and my son gazed happily at the big dipper from his sleeping bag. We got take out from the Sunset Grill right down the street which was a good spot (music and friendly locals). We woke up to more fog but then the sun came out and we spent the morning exploring the rocks and building a stone castle.

For anyone who is familiar with VA beach this is a great alternative to the crazy you find a couple miles north. Surfrider is in a residential community which makes for a quiet stay, great neighbors, and easy access. One neighbor was walking the beach and told us that he went out every morning to pick up any trash from “my beach.” This is a very different experience from the tourist areas you find elsewhere. There is very limited beach camping in VA so this was a great find.

Good news from John, he said he is really interested making the best experience for campers and is planning some changes that will make his site even better. Everything was great for us but he wants to make a more private and spacious camping area which I am looking forward to trying out. Our trip felt like being at a public campground as the current site is right in the backyard of the building. It was very quiet but the new site is on the adjacent property will be tucked away from the lights and will likely feel like you are the only one on the beach. An experience that will be hard to beat.!

By far the best part of this site is the surrounding area. If you put your car in neutral and rolled out the driveway you would end up at restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries, shops and wintergreen. Nellysford and Afton are full of beautiful mountain views, hikes, and things to do. Katherine is a great host doing amazing work in remote areas of the world . Although she lives elsewhere she was very willing to answer questions and she responds quickly.

The property is tucked just off the main road (check pictures for landmarks so you don’t miss it). There are really two sites to choose from depending if you want open skies and a bit of a view or if you want seclusion in the woods with a view of the stars. I would go back to either one and it is great to have two sites for big groups who want to spread out and have more privacy.

The driveway has a steep start so if it is rainy or snowy you may need 4WD. The one critique of the site in general is there are the remnants from years past… old chairs and odds and ins. Just keep your eyes open. More specifics below...

Up on the hill…

Pros
Nice open space about 40x40
Easy access
Pretty views

Cons
If it is wet the ground is bare and likely to be muddy
Road noise
Area is bounded by barbed wire fence
Across the fence are some ancient broken bottles (Katherine said she will clear out next visit)

Down in the Holler

Pros
Probably 100ft wide super green, lush area with several spots for a tent(s)
Secluded by trees which makes for a nice dark sky and feels like you are deep in the woods
Just as you come in there is a fire ring and trees just right for a hammock

Cons
Access is a little rough (Katherine visits regularly but there was a bit of debris gathers on the driveway including fallen tree that we moved out of the way)
Remnants of years past (just old chairs, table, door)

Overall it is well worth the stay and access to the area destinations is a giant plus.