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Need a quick getaway this summer or want to feel more connected to nature? June is National Camping Month! To celebrate, we're sharing some of the top camping sites in our home state. Now that we’re in Phase 2 of reopening, campgrounds around Virginia are allowing camping for public use. Please take note that social distancing is still encouraged when hiking or walking. Twenty-eight state parks throughout the state offer camping with more than 1,800 campsites. Some parks provide access to electric and water hook-ups, which may accommodate recreational vehicles and campers. Continue reading to find which park may be best for you!
Grab your gear and visit Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA! Bull Run has 1,500 acres of space and facilities for all kinds of activities. You can enjoy a relaxing weekend in their campground or cabins! This park has miles upon miles of scenic and historic hiking trails, including the 19.6 mile Bull Run Occoquan Trail. Try a round of disc golf at their 18 hole course as well! The campgrounds are currently open for family camping with limited access to the camp store for check-ins. For full COVID-19 guidelines, visit the NOVA Parks website.
NOVA Parks is running a special for $15 off a family camping reservation through the end of the year! Book your weekend getaway at Bull Run Park here.
Create your own adventure at Pohick Bay by the Potomac River in Lorton, VA! As of June 12, the campgrounds are open for family camping, but group camping is closed. Explore the bay with their canoe, paddleboard, stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals or bring your own boat to their public boat launch! The family campground features 150 shaded sites—100 with electric hookups, and 50 non-electric tent sites.
This 1,000 acre park has five miles of trails through the forest, including a one-mile trail that connects to Gunston Hall Plantation—the home of George Mason. Nature lovers can expect to see blue birds, osprey, heron, deer, beavers, and rare sightings of river otters! Or enjoy fishing on the bay, where you'll find catfish, striped bass, bluegill, carp, perch and largemouth bass year round. Check out all they have to offer and reserve your trip on Reserve America's website.
Sky Meadows, a 45 minute to an hour drive from Northern VA, offers a rich history with recreational activities helping campers connect to the farm life that shaped its unique landscape. This 1,860-acre park has scenic views, woodlands, and rolling pastures of a farm that captures life in Crooked Run Valley! Hiking, picnicking, fishing, history and nature programs are just some of the many activities to enjoy in this peaceful getaway location.
Sky Meadows has 22 miles of hiking trails, 9 miles of bike trails, and 10.5 miles of bridle trails. The campgrounds are hike-in primitive, and pets are allowed in cabins and lodges! However, picnic shelters, playgrounds, visitor centers, meeting facilities, ranger-led programs, and shuttle services are closed until further notice in all state parks. Book your weekend getaway to this beautiful park here.
This 4,321-acre state park, located in Virginia Beach, is known to be a beautiful oasis of untouched shoreline that’s perfect for coastal camping! Fun fact: In the 1800s, this park was known as a ship's graveyard. Who knows what might still be on the ocean floor! This park is also popular for primitive camping—no showers, electricity, or stall bathrooms) but has a number of activities for visitors. There’s guided kayak trips, biking trails, and six miles of beach for swimming, sunbathing, and fishing!
The campgrounds have no public vehicle access and are only reachable by foot, bicycle, or boat. Pets are allowed in the cabins and lodges, but since the trails through the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge don’t allow pets, the only way to arrive with a dog is by boat. Reservations cannot be made on the same day, so make sure you call ahead at (800) 933-PARK to plan your trip!
Lake Anna State Park features a swimming beach on one of the state’s most popular lakes! Here you’ll also find access to fishing ponds, a bathhouse-concessions complex, boat launch facilities, pontoon boat rides, picnicking and hiking. The land in Lake Anna State Park was once known as “Gold Hill,” containing the Goodwin Gold Mine, which can be seen via guided tours. Overnight stays are available through camping, six cabins, two six-bedroom lodges, and 10 two-bedroom cabins.
With more than 15 miles of trails, there’s plenty to explore through hiking, biking, and even horseback riding! This park is pet friendly if you’d like to bring your furry companion along. For availability, you can reserve online (link) or call 1-800-933-PARK.
Camp at home
If your family prefers to stay close to home, you can still explore the great outdoors! It's a fun and unique alternative to your usual trip. Here are a few ideas to create an at-home camping weekend:
Reconnect to the outdoors in your own backyard! Go on a nature hike or find a quiet spot to take it all in and enjoy.
Set up a pop-up tent and sleeping bags in your backyard under a sky full of stars. If a backyard isn’t an option, try setting up tents inside!
If you don't have a tent, make a blanket fort or just roll out your sleeping bags.
S’mores on the fire pit are essential for summer fun! Get the fire going on a nice night and enjoy the company of your loved ones while creating these iconic treats.
Have everyone turn off screens and devices and focus on enjoying time together. Play cards, enjoy a board game, or tell ghost stories at your "camping" spot.
Camping provides an array of opportunities to connect with nature that's all around us. Whether you camp at home or visit a park, make sure to stay safe! Don't forget insect repellent, extra batteries for electronics, store snacks when you're not using them, and respect the animals that also live nearby.
If you'd rather not bring your pet along on your trip, they're more than welcome to spend a few nights with us at Stream Valley! They'll be under plenty of supervision and will surely get lots of love while you're away. Inquire about a boarding reservation by calling us at (703) 723-1017. We hope you get to enjoy all the natural wonders that Virginia has to offer!