4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Sun Outdoors Cape Charles and Kiptopeke State Park Campground host luxury glamping accommodations on Virginia's Eastern Shore with views of the Chesapeake Bay. Safari-style tents and modern yurts feature plush bedding, climate control systems, and dedicated outdoor spaces where guests can relax after exploring the shoreline. At Sun Outdoors, glamping units include private decks overlooking the water with easy access to multiple swimming pools and water recreation areas. Kiptopeke's glamping options provide eco-friendly accommodations with convenient proximity to both the beach and forest trails. Each site includes electricity, comfortable furnishings, and thoughtfully designed spaces that blend outdoor living with modern comforts. A recent visitor mentioned, "Big surprise- we had a great site looking over the water and amazing sunsets."
Chesapeake Bay waterfront activities are directly accessible from several glamping campsites, including paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and crabbing. The glamping resorts organize scheduled events including sunset cruises, clam bakes, and seasonal festivities that celebrate the coastal environment. Cape Charles town sits just minutes away, offering boutique shopping and dining options when guests want to venture beyond campground amenities. All glamping campsites maintain year-round availability with peak seasons running May through October when water temperatures are ideal for swimming. According to one camper, "We had a great time here. The sites were clean and spaced out. I didn't feel like we were on top of each other." Guests can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and other water equipment on-site, making these luxury camping experiences ideal for travelers seeking outdoor adventure without sacrificing comfort.
"Many trails, beautiful beach and well maintained campground. Trails were marked well and taken care of. Beach was clean and water was gorgeous. F Section) Campsites are decent sized."
"We got one of the campsites at the back (F1) much more secluded area then the sites at the front. The sites at the back were not right on top of each other which was perfect."
Available this weekend
from $32 - $413 / night
"The bathrooms are clean and updated. There is plenty to do. Pool, beach, fishing, boat rentals, golf, paddle boats, bike rentals, and crabbing."
"Especially around a holiday."
"Our family stayed at site 99 which is close to the bathhouse and camp host. It is also on one of the small roads that leads to a boardwalk to the beach."
"The cottage is furnished, has a queen size bed and 2 sets of bunk beds; nice living room/dining room combo, full kitchen with dishes, pots, etc.; TV; fireplace; outside deck with grill; and screen porch"
Available this weekend
from $32 - $147 / night
"The family and I were on the fence on if we wanted to start camping or not and then we found cape Charles. We rented a camper and headed out."
"We wanted to visit Cape Charles and chose the KOA as our base. Arrived on a Sunday (went to dinner at the onsite restaurant on the bay). "
"On-site restaurant and on Bay Beach within walking distance. Very nice bath houses."
"Well managed, clean, beautiful beaches, friendly staff, bike trails, lots to do."
"we camped Cape Charles KOA on Memorial Day Weekend. Everything flowed easy starting at checkin. We paid in full in advance so we just had to go to the ranger station and get our site info."
from $59 - $89 / night
"The campground seems a bit out of the way, but it’s in a great location if you want to get away from the more crowded parks nearby. The staff was extremely helpful and everything was clean."
"Our family of five (Kids: 13, 10, 7) recently stayed at Virginia Landing, and it was an great experience overall, especially for families with kids."
"Excellent sites, good access roads, plenty of bathrooms, beautifully tiled and modern, climate controlled environment in the bathrooms, nightly entertainment, shuttle stop right at the campground, excellent"
"You can rent sites for RVs or tents, you can rent cabins, campers, and even glamping tents!"
from $25 - $92 / night
"Nice spots, a little close, no campfire rings, friendly staff, close to amenities, nice bathrooms."
from $32 / night
"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."
"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. "
from $11 - $42 / night
TravelerA beautiful campground. Nice wooded sites with decent space between sites. Bathroom and laundry were clean. Showers were just ok. Nice trails and the walk along the James
river was nice. Will definitely stay again.
TravelerDO NOT WAIST YOUR MONEY! THIS IS A SCAM!! Our 3 campsites flooded with 6 inches of water within an hour of arriving before high tide. Very difficult to get ahold of staff due to limited hours of business. I have requested a refund for failure to render services due to unusable campsites. I have left several voicemails and sent emails with attached pictures. Management has been avoiding my phone calls, will not call back. Very unprofessional. I received one call from"management" at 7:20 pm to tell me that he received a message to call me, but he hasn't looked into why he needs to call me and he will call back the next day. I never heard back from him and that was a week ago. I have followed up daily with phone calls without a return phone call. My family makes several camping trips through the year, will never return here.
TravelerGenerous sized sites but only semi-private. Excellent facilities
ScoutThis campground was very enjoyable. I spent a lot of time at the fishing pier, learning to ID birds I had never identified before. Brown pelicans were everywhere near the sunken ships. I also talked to the Hawkwatch people for a bit.
My campsite was far enough from the bathroom I couldn't hear the door slam, but since I was the only one in the F loop, that wouldn't have mattered. Since the loop was so empty, it was an absolute pleasure.
Had the campground been full, I would have felt too close to the people in tents in the sites next to me.
One great thing was that there weren't tent pads so we didn't have to worry about how to fit two tents on to one tent pad.
GuideEnjoying this campground. Close to all the attractions. Incredible staff, super friendly. Pool and game room are wonderful.
TravelerNote to Self: No Primitive Site reservations...EVER. I love this park. It's situated far enough from the busy traffic noise...beautiful Virginia city of Hayes. When I arrived, it was such a scorching day and there wasn't nearly enough tree cover to shield my tent from the "son of Hades". Suffered heat exhaustion almost to the point of death...Literally. Night was my only respite. If it hadn't been for the wonderful camp attendants who came to my rescue, it would've been an utterly failed experience. Bless their hearts. Other than that, this was a great training experience for an old Novice camper. Now that I'm a bit more practiced, I'm going back 😁, armed with knowledge and more confidence.
TravelerThe good: super clean and new restrooms / showers. The entire parking immaculate. Stayed at site 12. Offers water views and shade. Site 13 is similar and is probably the most ideal site.
Cons: zero privacy. The sites are basically scattered around an open grassy area and fairly close together.
Be aware: sites are not vehicle accessible. Need to carry your kit 50-75 yards.
TravelerIt was very nice visit.
TravelerPark stuff are very friendly, sweet, I live the quietness of night time.
Kiptopeke State Park Campground hosts camping options on Virginia's Eastern Shore approximately 10 miles south of Cape Charles. The campground sits at sea level with direct Chesapeake Bay access. Sites experience steady bay breezes throughout summer months, with temperatures typically ranging from 75-85°F between May and September.
Shoreline exploration: At Kiptopeke State Park Campground, visitors can walk wooden boardwalks leading to beaches where collecting seashells is popular. "This park is a nice place to bring your family to camp, fish, crab and relax by the beach and collect seashells. It has 2 beautiful beaches, one that allows pets and the other does not," notes Annemarie R.
Kayaking barrier islands: The area serves as a launching point for paddlers exploring the Atlantic coastline. "I use the park as a base for exploring the barrier island on the ocean side by kayak," shares Stuart M., who rates the park highly.
Fishing unique species: Cast lines at fishing piers for unusual catches. "I did enjoy the fishing pier and got to catch fish I have never seen before. One being a searobin. By the way, a searobin crocks like a frog when you grab it," warns Annemarie R.
Pet-friendly beaches: Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA offers designated swimming areas for dogs. "Very pet friendly and they also made a beach side for pets to swim at. Wild animals usually pass by often later in the evening, horses, deer, rabbits etc," shares Gabby B.
Waterfront dining: On-site restaurants with bay views enhance glamping close to Cape Charles, Virginia. "We arrived on a Sunday (went to dinner at the onsite restaurant on the bay). Because it was after school started and the start of the week, the campground was not crowded at all," notes Stu T.
Sunset views: Camping spots facing west provide spectacular evening skies. "We had a great spot looking at a cul-de-sac. But driving back to my spot I noticed all the A and B spots for trailers are just on top of each other. But overall a good camping spot if you get back in the woods which are all the tent spots," advises Joseph H.
Site selection matters: At Sun Outdoors Cape Charles, formerly Cherrystone Family Camping Resort, strategic site choices improve your experience. "Older campground, lots of sites. No real place to swim on the bay, but they do have a pool. Beautiful area," mentions Ashley I.
Seasonal crowds: Peak season brings fuller campgrounds. "The weekends are very loud as the partiers come out and during the week it's quiet great place to camp. But I will say that the campground is great at keeping the peace and keeps the quiet hrs," explains Tara M.
Facilities condition: Bathhouses may require updates at some properties. "Only negative here is that some of the facilities (bath houses and such) are hurting and need updating," reports Carrie A.
Multiple activity options: Thousand Trails Virginia Landing provides various recreation opportunities. "The campground provided opportunities for exploration and outdoor activities that kept our kids entertained throughout our three night stay. The park is wide-open, which provided plenty of space for kids to roam and explore," shares Jason G.
Water sports rentals: Equipment is available on-site at most glamping resorts near Cape Charles, Virginia. "We have a blast every time we come here. There is plenty to do. Pool, beach, fishing, boat rentals, golf, paddle boats, bike rentals, and crabbing," explains Melissa P.
Organized activities: Scheduled programming keeps children engaged. "This is a great campground. It has plenty to do. It has 5 swimming pools, very clean and well maintained. It has mini golf and paddleboats. It has a great kids program with lots of activities," notes Susan P.
Site features: Holiday Trav-L-Park offers different site levels and amenities. "This is a HUGE complex with various 'levels' of sites. From basic to fancy, crowded to sparse. I think we would've felt a little claustrophobic if it were the summer, but this was great for us in the off season," shares Amanda P.
Hookup specifics: Full hookups are available in designated loops. "This is a great campground. Well maintained, nice and quiet. C loop has full hookup where A and B do not. Plenty to do, hiking, fishing, birding. Camp store is nice, the staff for the park are great. Try and get C loop spots 15-21. They're shaded and at the back of the loop," recommends Aaron S.
Navigation considerations: Loop roads may need maintenance at some properties. "The site was half gravel and half grass. The grading wasn't great and the gravel was thin. Lots of water puddles and the grass was swampy. The roads around the campground could use repair," warns Rebecca E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there waterfront glamping sites with private beach access in Cape Charles?
Yes, waterfront glamping with beach access is available in the Cape Charles area. Kiptopeke State Park Campground offers premium sites with beautiful beach access, clean water, and well-maintained facilities. The park combines natural beauty with comfortable accommodations and direct beach access. Chesapeake Beach KOA also provides waterfront glamping options with spacious, clean sites and easy beach access, creating an ideal setting for those seeking a luxurious outdoor experience with water views.
Can you book extended stays at glamping sites in Cape Charles?
Extended stays are possible at several glamping sites near Cape Charles. North Bayshore Campground, a family-oriented site close to Sandbridge beach, accommodates longer bookings with amenities perfect for extended visits, including clean, climate-controlled bathhouses and water activities. Chickahominy Riverfront Park also welcomes extended stays, offering activities like kayaking, fishing from their pier, and biking, plus proximity to attractions like Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Busch Gardens. Contact these glamping sites directly for specific extended stay policies and potential seasonal discounts.
What luxury amenities do Cape Charles glamping sites offer compared to traditional campgrounds?
Cape Charles area glamping sites elevate the camping experience with premium amenities. Holiday Trav-L-Park features beautifully tiled, climate-controlled bathrooms, nightly entertainment, shuttle services, and artistic gardens throughout the property. Thousand Trails Virginia Landing offers a more secluded luxury experience with extremely helpful staff, clean facilities, and family-friendly activities. Unlike traditional campgrounds, these glamping destinations provide resort-style amenities while maintaining a connection to nature, combining the best of outdoor recreation with modern comforts.
What glamping options are available near Cape Charles, Virginia?
The Cape Charles area offers diverse glamping experiences. Sun Outdoors Cape Charles provides upscale accommodations with amenities like a beach, pool, boat rentals, and on-site dining options. For a more nature-immersed experience, Sandy Bottom Nature Park features tent cabins situated directly on the lake's edge, offering a perfect blend of comfort and natural surroundings. These glamping options provide the ideal way to experience the Chesapeake Bay region with conveniences that traditional camping doesn't offer.
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