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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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!"
Tips for camping with families
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."
Tips from RVers
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."
