Best Equestrian Camping near Bedford, VA

Beaver Dam Campground in Douthat State Park provides equestrian facilities near Bedford, Virginia. Located in Millboro, this state park features horse-friendly camping options with access to extensive trail networks. Sites accommodate tents, RVs, and cabins while providing the necessary amenities for horses. The campground maintains level, spacious sites set in a forested area with reasonable privacy between campsites. Bathroom facilities are clean with individual shower access, and potable water is available throughout the camping area. Campers report that the grounds are well-maintained and the camp hosts are friendly and helpful.

Trail access directly from the campground allows riders to explore numerous hiking and horseback riding routes throughout the 4,500-acre park. The trails vary in difficulty, providing options for both novice and experienced riders. Water access points along the routes allow horses to drink and cool off during rides. The park's lake provides additional recreational opportunities, though swimming is limited to designated areas. Equestrians appreciate the combination of natural beauty and practical amenities, with multiple campground areas available depending on specific needs. The park's location in a valley creates spotty cell service, offering a more disconnected outdoor experience. Seasonal considerations affect trail conditions, with some visitors noting that spring and fall provide optimal riding weather in this region.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Bedford, Virginia (5)

    1. Don's Cab-Inns Campground

    7 Reviews
    Hardy, VA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 427-1800

    $25 - $100 / night

    "First, it is a private campground located in a public park - in this case, Explore Park in Roanoke, Virginia (milepost 115 on the Blue Ridge Parkway)."

    "The AC is very welcoming after a long hot day outside and mini fridge is perfect to unload your cooler from traveling. Also, an outlet to charge your phone."

    2. Douthat State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Clifton Forge, VA
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 862-8100

    $20 - $40 / night

    "General: There are four campgrounds in Douthat State Park - White Oak, Whispering Pines, Lakeside, and Beaver Dam (equestrian), each in a separate location. This review is for White Oak."

    "The hiking and lake is amazing."

    3. Red Oak Campground — James River State Park

    17 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    43 miles
    Website

    $35 / night

    "There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses.  The cabins and lodges have 2, 3, and 6 bedrooms and look beautiful. There is even a canoe-in campground.  "

    "Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly."

    4. Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Proctor Lake, VA
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (276) 930-2424

    $30 / night

    "The Yurt we stayed in was a little weird because the Fire Pit and Picnic table is behind and almost under the yurt, down a decently step slope and the yurt sits on stilts on the back side."

    "This weekend was a great adventure in SW Virginia. We stayed in a Yurt. It has no electricity or water but the bath house was close."

    5. James River State Park Campground

    1 Review
    Greenway, VA
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 933-4355

    "A Creek ran nearby the campground and there were options for trails. The campsites were well spaced apart."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Bedford, VA

1 Photos of 5 Bedford Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Bedford, VA

63 Reviews of 5 Bedford Campgrounds


  • D
    Aug. 25, 2019

    Red Oak Campground — James River State Park

    Adventure Ready James River

    The Red Oak sites were gravel and fairly level and the bathhouse was nice. There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses.  The cabins and lodges have 2, 3, and 6 bedrooms and look beautiful. There is even a canoe-in campground.  Activities that can be done include tubing on the river, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding trails, wagon ride, and lots of park events.

    This is a wonderful spot for viewing the stars because of the lack of light pollution. James River State Park has been named an International Dark Sky Park.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 30, 2023

    Douthat State Park Campground

    Nicely wooded sites

    General: There are four campgrounds in Douthat State Park - White Oak, Whispering Pines, Lakeside, and Beaver Dam (equestrian), each in a separate location. This review is for White Oak. White Oak has 31 sites and It was full when we were there on a Tuesday in mid-October. 

    Site Quality: All sites (except 17 and possibly 18) appeared level and were very generous in size with long driveways. Many trees separate the sites. A picnic table, lantern hook, and fire ring complete the site. Sites 22-29 are tucked further away from the others and the bathhouse. 

    Bathhouse: Clean and modern. Showers were available but I did not use them so I cannot comment on how well they worked. 

    Activities/Amenities: A dishwashing sink, fish cleaning area, and many hiking trails throughout the park, including one (to Blue Suck Falls) that has access directly from the campground. We hiked this but the waterfall was just a trickle when we were there! 

    We met friends here, so it was nice to have adjoining sites. Bear warnings were posted throughout the campground, but we didn’t see any!

  • Bridget H.
    Oct. 28, 2020

    Douthat State Park Campground

    Absolutely Beautiful!!

    This was by far one of the best camping trips ever!! I took my grandkids tent camping and we had a fantastic time. The hiking and lake is amazing. We spent a lot of time at the beach and it was so beautiful plus it has a water playground, a diving dock, trees close by so there is shade on the beach in the afternoon, and a snack shack. You can rent boats too. There are multiple camping areas which include one water side so you can have access to the water with your canoes and kayaks, one for big rigs, one for equestrian, and one for tents and smaller campers. This place is beautiful and quiet. We loved it here!! Make reservations because it books up quick. Also, they have many cabins and they are placed wonderfully on the mountain. We went to the Humpback Bridge and a cool train museum that were close the campground.

  • Jeremy W.
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Douthat State Park Campground

    A sprawling camping complex

    Douthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them (i.e. not Whispering Pines) are located near the lake. Each one had a campground host (volunteer) and wood for sale.

    White Oak Campground is larger, wooded, and has a significant elevation change between different sites. Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles.

    Beaver Dam Campground is relatively flat and similarly wooded while also providing equestrian facilities.

    Lakeside Campground is smaller but the front row sites provide great lake views. Unfortunately swimming is only allowed in the Beach area which is not directly connected to this campground.

    Whispering Pines is a few miles away along the entry road and has a different character. It’s a very flat and wide-open campground perfect for big RVs with much larger sites.

    The Lakeside Camp Store is nice and has a to-go counter for food. The facilities, overall, were well maintained and clean. Firewood is for sale for $6 per bundle.

  • Gypsy G.
    May. 17, 2021

    Red Oak Campground — James River State Park

    Wonderful Place to stay !!!

    The sites were very generous in size - not cramped at all! Sites were partially shaded and backed up to woods. Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly. Will definitely return!!

  • Gary G.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    Douthat State Park Campground

    Outstanding State Park!

    Douthat (Doubt-that) State Park is a campers dream!  Level sites with or with out hook ups, well spaced apart, fairly private, and in the middle of a pretty good forest!

    Kid and pet friendly, this park has a nice lake for Kayaking/canoeing, multiple hiking trails with views, excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, and great biking trails.

    It is off the beaten path so it appears to be less visited than other Virginia State Parks.

  • Katie M.
    Sep. 12, 2019

    Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Banner & Oak Hat at Fairy Stone State Park

    Campground Review:

    We stayed in Yurt#4 for 2 nights at Fairy Stone State Park, about a 4 hour drive from where we live. The Yurt overall was very clean and cozy. The outside of the Yurt looks like it needed a powerwashing, but that didn’t really affect us at all, just kind of unsightly. They have a nice large deck that is great for hanging out on while the kids were asleep. The inside of the Yurt has a full size bed with a twin sized trundle bed that rolls under the full. It also had some rocking chairs inside, a small table and chairs, and a couch. We ended up eating and hanging out inside the Yurt or on the deck most of the time. 

    There are 4 Yurts to choose from. Two of them (Yurts#1 & 2) do not have a parking spot right in front of them, they are a short walk from a parking area, so I made sure to get one that did since we would be arriving after dark. The Yurt we stayed in was a little weird because the Fire Pit and Picnic table is behind and almost under the yurt, down a decently step slope and the yurt sits on stilts on the back side. The Yurt next to us#3 had the fire pit and table right up front next to the parking spot which would be better I think. I would try to get Yurt#3 next time! Overall Yurt camping is so fun! We have done it once before, and it is such a great mix between cabin and tent camping. You get the protection from the elements, a real bed to sleep in, and it’s quick to pack-up- but still a bit rustic since there’s no ac or electricity. 

    There are hiking trails right across the street from the Yurt, which was awesome! The bathrooms and showers were fine and in close walking distance. They could probably use some updating but didn’t have any major issues with them. Overall the campground is pretty big and a bit of a maze getting around, we needed to use the park map a lot! Probably due to the park being so old there are a lot of old buildings not in use that are pretty cool. 

    The park is big and there is lots to do! There is a beautiful lake for swimming Tons of hiking trails. They had a great playground for the kids nearby. They had a concert going on somewhere at the park so we had some beautiful orchestral music playing as we were winding down for bed one night. We saw lots of deer roaming around. Note that there is not great cell service in this area. 

    The place to find the Fairy Stones are outside of the park, down the street a little bit beside a gas station. It was tricky knowing exactly what to look for, but once we found a few Fairy Stones, they were everywhere! So fun searching for them with the kids! 

    It was such a fun trip, very peaceful, beautiful scenery everywhere!

    ……………………………… 

    Product Review:

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - we tested out the Banner& Oak Men’s Nebo Hat– Olive  

    The quality of this hat is great. Nice and thick but breathable fabric, durable construction. We’ve put this hat through the ringer so far with sweaty hikes, long beach and lake days, and everyday wear and tear and it has performed spectacularly. The adjustable snapback makes fitting easy. Has a nice shape, looks great! Love this hat’s patch with well-designed graphics and the neutral olive color– goes with everything. Will definitely purchase again! Also appreciate the fact that the hats are made in the USA! It is my husband’s new go-to daily hat and I think it will last for a long time.

  • Olivia D.
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Douthat State Park Campground

    Absolutely gorgeous !

    This is our favorite campsite and park that we’ve been to in the state of Virginia! We have so many more to explore but Douthat state park is huge the lake is so much fun, and the trails go for miles! We just started camping and hiking and can’t wait to explore more of the country!!

  • Cathy L.
    Jul. 4, 2018

    Douthat State Park Campground

    Quiet, large sites, plenty to do for all ages

    A favorite of our for years! All types of sites and hookups plus cabins. Fishing, lake swimming, hiking, educational opportunities galore. Security is good but not overwhelming. Virginia is for lovers and camping lovers!


Guide to Bedford

Virginia offers a fantastic experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with several campgrounds providing excellent amenities and activities tailored for equestrian adventurers.

Tips for equestrian camping near Bedford, Virginia

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like spacious sites

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bedford, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bedford, VA is Don's Cab-Inns Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bedford, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Bedford, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.