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Northwest River Park & Campground features equestrian trails accessible to campers with horses. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the park maintains riding paths with water access points for horse watering. Campsites accommodate tents, RVs, and cabin stays with electric hookups, water connections, and sanitary dump facilities available. The park operates seasonally from April 1 through November 30. Picnic tables and fire pits are provided at each site, and shower facilities are available for campers. The campground experiences occasional flooding in sites closest to wetland areas, particularly during heavy rainfall. Most campsites lack privacy between units, which creates a social camping atmosphere.
Trails within Northwest River Park connect to the broader natural area where riders can access several miles of paths suitable for different riding abilities. Trail riding opportunities include wooded sections along the river and more open terrain. The park offers firewood for purchase at $6 per bundle, and staff conduct regular campground checks. Trailer parking is available near equestrian-designated sites. The campground typically remains quiet at night despite reaching full capacity on holiday weekends. Bathrooms and shower facilities are consistently clean and well-maintained. Advance reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays during peak season. Campers should contact the park directly rather than using third-party reservation systems to avoid communication issues when modifying bookings.
"Equestrian trails available, which is always a plus."
"Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic."
from $21 - $36 / night
Check Availability"The park is centrally located with easy highway access. Plentiful parking, lots of trails to choose from. The staff was top notch and super kind and helpful. "
"Sites: 11 primitive tent sites 2 of which are group sites 4 tent cabins that sit right on the edge of the lake
The individual campsites are FCFS and you must park and hike in."
from $11 - $42 / night
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GuideI have spent my childhood here and I am excited to share it with my kids. We hike here when visiting grandparents. Chesapeake Public Park’s does a great job with events and education at NWRP! Equestrian trails available, which is always a plus.
ScoutThe park is centrally located with easy highway access. Plentiful parking, lots of trails to choose from. The staff was top notch and super kind and helpful. They were very insistent about the "no alcohol" rule.
Sites are first come, first served. Must reserve in person. Visitor's center is open 9-6.
The sites were located about 1/4 mile from the parking lot down a trail. They were spaced nicely apart and had nice sand tent platforms with a picnic table and a fire ring with a grate. Trash cans were very close by, which was super nice. The bathrooms were flush toilets and running water faucets and located behind the parking lot, so a bit of a hike in the dark if you need to go. Other than that, expect no amenities. Bugs weren't terrible but were present. Definitely bring bug spray.
The biggest negative was that no matter where you were in the park, there was significant noise from the highway. Horns honking, sirens blaring, the general rush of cars going by. There is no sound barrier between 64 and the park so every noise just filters right through the trees. Not anyone's fault, but definitely a downside.
Overall when you consider the dirt cheap price of 10.60 per night, this campground delivers as advertised.
GuideSite was shaded, private, and right next to the river, so we had our own private access for swimming and bathing. Plenty of room for several tents and lots of parking space. Plenty of land to walk around and check out the farm.
Bathrooms were very clean and just a short walk from the site. Hosts are friendly and generous, especially with the use of the kayaks. We took kayaks out on the pond and the river and caught lots of fish!
They're building a farm store and allowed us to shop during our stay.
GuideThis is a former KOA, I stayed here years ago when it was a KOA, and have spent considerable amount of time here fairly recently. They cater mostly to monthly campers, and aside from allowing some small decks to be built next to the RV's, it otherwise looks very clean. They do keep a few sites open for transient campers. If you need to stay for a duration in the Norfolk-Va Beach area (we're talking months), this is the place to be! Several sites have good access to satellite system.
LegendSites: 11 primitive tent sites 2 of which are group sites
4 tent cabins that sit right on the edge of the lake
The individual campsites are FCFS and you must park and hike in. It is a short hike along the lake and placed a short distance from the trail so hikers will not be hiking through the sites. You have a sand bottom tent site, picnic table, fire ring/grill and trash. This is a beautiful 456 acre education and wildlife facility. Born from garbage dumps and it is great example of what can be achieved. This really is a great site. There is an amazing nature center that overlooks Sandy Bottom Lake. Hiking, and biking trails, fishing, boating with boat rentals or bring your own, birding and wildlife viewing. 757-825-4657
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ScoutLots of hiking trails to walk & turtles in the lake!! Plus you can rent boats for a cheap price which we will probably go back to do. It was so pretty & so fun. We took out two dogs with us too. There was a Park Ranger driving around and checked on us when we first got there asking if we had any questions. Definitely will go back!
TravelerWhat a great camp! A small family farm with 5 sites around the property. We chose site 2 for our family of three and a dog and it was the perfect size. The hosts were so friendly, and we were able to walk around and see the chicken coop, small lake, and barnyard with goats and geese. The campsites are great (about a 5 min walk apart), with a fire pit, picnic table, trash, and ours had a set up for a hammock. Even with what it looked like every campsite full, it was peaceful and pretty. Our toddler had a blast! They are a working farm so it was fun to have the option to buy eggs, herbs or wine. We picked up a t-shirt on the way out and will be back for the troller :)
LegendArrived shortly after 8 pm after a long day's drive. The sun was going down but it wasn't dark yet. The campground office was locked and deserted. No posted instructions about after hours registration, no pay box. Ran into a park ranger who informed me the campground was closed for the evening; as in, would not take my money. Seriously? The campground is behind a gate with a keypad, so no chance of driving in and talking to the camp host. The ranger was kind and apologetic at least.
Drove a little further south and found a nice site at Bells Island Campground. The host there was happy to take my money.
LegendGreat little site right on the river! Short walk to other great river put-in sites for kayaking and swimming. The campground has loaner kayaks 🛶
Cute little bathhouse with flushing toilets. Slightly tricky getting to the site in the dark - just follow the host’s directions really well. We had a great time and bought some homemade wine from the farm store. They also left us drinking water on the picnic table at the site. Beautiful wildflowers all around the property! Want to return in the spring.
Northwest River Park & Campground provides campers with equestrian access through maintained trails and horse-friendly amenities. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, this seasonal park operates from April through November with camping options for tents, RVs, and cabins. The campground features gravel sites that accommodate riders with trailer parking available at designated equestrian sites.
Horseback riding trails: Northwest River Park offers multiple trail options suitable for different riding abilities with water access points. According to Elizabeth V., "Equestrian trails available, which is always a plus."
Water activities: Visitors can enjoy paddling on the river with rental equipment available. "Canoes and paddle boats are available to rent for use in black water," mentions Heather L., who notes the park offers access to several hiking trails that lead back to the river.
Family recreation: Beyond riding and water activities, Chesapeake Campground provides additional recreation options. "There were a lot of child friendly activities to do here. It's about 40 mins from the beach," reports Audriana V., who adds that the camp store offers ice cream which was popular with her children.
Clean facilities: Many visitors appreciate the well-maintained grounds and amenities. Joseph H. found the "overall cleanliness of the campground" impressive, noting that "the staff is very friendly" and "the park was very quiet going into the night."
Helpful staff: Rangers at Northwest River Park regularly check the grounds and assist visitors. Jeff B. reports, "Great staff. Very helpful and keep the park clean. They have firewood at $6.00 a bundle. We went on a sellout weekend but was still pretty quiet."
Spacious sites: The campground offers roomy sites with amenities. Gary D. notes, "Plenty of room..showers/bathrooms huge..water NOT at all sites but easy to fill tanks. Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic."
Seasonal flooding: Due to proximity to wetlands, some campsites experience water issues during rainy periods. Nicole L. advises, "Because this area is near wetlands some of the campsites were flooded throughout the weekend. If rain a lot of rain is forecasted you may want to talk to one of the rangers about your particular site."
Water availability: Water hookups are not universal at all sites. Sally T. suggests, "Plan on bringing your own water as there isn't always running water (not sure why)."
Waste disposal location: Some campground amenities are positioned at entrance/exit points rather than near individual sites. Sheri K. notes, "There are no garbage cans or dumpsters near the campsites. The only garbage containers I found were near the dump station, which is on the way out of the park, nowhere near the campground!"
Activity options: For families with active children, Northwest River Park offers multiple recreation choices. Patricia L. recommends, "Plenty of things to do for the active camper. Put put golf, kayak, hiking and much more."
Pet-friendly environment: The park accommodates families traveling with dogs. Nicole L. found that "Campgrounds were very dog friendly, which made camping with the dog enjoyable."
Educational opportunities: Local programs enhance the camping experience for children. Elizabeth V. shares, "Chesapeake Public Park's does a great job with events and education at NWRP! I have spent my childhood here and I am excited to share it with my kids."
Leveling requirements: RV sites may require some adjustment for comfort. Sheri K. explains, "The sites are gravel and mostly level but I did have to use a couple blocks of my levelers."
Monthly stays: For those needing extended accommodations in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach region, Chesapeake Campground provides longer-term options. Cliff M. advises, "They cater mostly to monthly campers, and aside from allowing some small decks to be built next to the RV's, it otherwise looks very clean. They do keep a few sites open for transient campers. If you need to stay for a duration in the Norfolk-Va Beach area (we're talking months), this is the place to be!"
Reservation systems: When booking, contact the park directly instead of using third-party services for smoother modifications. Sheri K. discovered discrepancies in rate information: "I asked if they had weekly rates and was told yes. But of course you are limited to 14 days like so many other campgrounds. When I arrived and talked to the clerk about the weekly rates, all he did was multiply the daily rate by the number of days."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gatesville, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gatesville, NC is Northwest River Park & Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gatesville, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Gatesville, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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