12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Equestrian campgrounds near Ceres, Virginia offer multiple options for riders seeking accommodations with their horses. Fox Creek Horse Camp provides basic facilities for $5 per night with sites featuring gravel/grass pads, picnic tables, fire rings, and hitching posts. Located within George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, this primitive campground includes manure collection areas but requires campers to bring their own water. The camp connects directly to a wide network of multi-use trails, making it an excellent base for exploring the area on horseback. Portable toilets are available on-site, though riders frequently travel to nearby campgrounds for potable water and showers.
The Virginia Highlands Horse Trail provides access to Old Virginia Group Horse Camp, a reservation-only equestrian site accommodating up to 25 people and 25 horses for $50 per night. The camp features a natural water source where horses can drink, ample parking for multiple trailers including large ones, and grassy areas surrounded by rhododendron. Collins Cove Horse Campground in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest offers tent camping with horse corrals, toilets, and water hookups. Chestnut Hollow Horse Campground in Grayson Highlands State Park provides water/electric sites on gravel pads with both open and closed stall options available for an additional fee. The well-maintained sites can accommodate long trailers with a convenient turn-around at the end of the campground loop.
"Other than the bear hunting that went on, was scary..this is a peaceful spot to reset with plenty of hiking trails right next to the creek."
"Trails were well maintained & short walk down to the river. Would definitely stay again!"
from $5 / night
"The site also had a huge area for the picnic table and the fire ring is far away from your camper. There was a huge grassy area behind our site with a creek, lots of space for our dog."
"So we did not hike all the trails, but the one's we did were stunning and memorable. The campgrounds are super clean and neat, the showerhouse/bathroom a positive too."
from $17 - $72 / night
Check Availability"We don't have horses so I wouldn't stay here when it is full. For us it is great as a cheap stop if we are traveling through the area at the right time."
"With a wide network of multi-use trails in this area, Fox Creek Horse Camp provides a nice base for exploring on horseback. Sites have a gravel/grass pads, picnic table, and fire ring."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"Tho, no immediate fresh water pumps, walking distance water access for horses and dogs. As well as bathing down from the campgrounds. Creak water. Very spacious and scenic."
from $5 / night
"Camp Creek State Park is well-managed and beautifully-maintained with an active foundation that raises money for cool stuff like the conversation fire pit with swings, located in the Mash Fork Campground"
"This was a convienent campground right off the highway, easy to get to, small but has a few full hookup sites."
"This equestrian campground in a beautiful state forest allows for other campers to make reservations no more than 30 days in advance; priority is for campers with horses."
"We camped at an equestrian campgrounds, chestnut ridge perhaps? Saw a Family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day!"
from $37 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $7 / night
Check Availability"The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park. Very fun long weekend at a family friendly campground. Would definitely camp here again!"
"Stayed there for a weekend, great location close to Stone Mtn park. Hiked from there into the state park. Very clean kept campground and nice owner"
"Near a creek as well. Just follow the basin creek trail for about a mile and then cross bridge."
"This camp ground is very small and on the side of a very quiet road next to beautiful fields with breath taking views it has no paved roads so bring a truck or suv sedans will get stuck easily there is"
LegendI loved my experience. I got spot 6 which back right next to a creek. It was really peaceful. The shower facilities were clean though did smell a bit like mildew. There was no signal in the park itself but signal really close by incase of emergency.
TravelerThere are multiple sites for camping rvs if you are set up for boondocking.
GuideTho, no immediate fresh water pumps, walking distance water access for horses and dogs. As well as bathing down from the campgrounds. Creak water. Very spacious and scenic. The trails are near and beautiful. Lovely for horseback riding or hiking, or just tent camping. Latrine are located at campground, walking distance.
LegendThis is a neat campground. We camp in the area a lot and this campground is either completely empty or totally full. We have stayed here a couple of times when it was empty. We don't have horses so I wouldn't stay here when it is full. For us it is great as a cheap stop if we are traveling through the area at the right time. A nice creek goes through the campground that is right on the highway, so we usually stay in the back to get away from the road noise. Not that there is much traffic in the area at night.
Check it out in our 360° Video and see it like you are there.
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GuideWe stayed a week. Truly peaceful. There's alot of traffic from locals and wellness checks by law enforcement. Your truly looked after! Other than the bear hunting that went on, was scary..this is a peaceful spot to reset with plenty of hiking trails right next to the creek.
LegendGeneral: Mash Fork is one of three campgrounds at Camp Creek State Park and is the developed one. It is small (18 sites) with a mix of 30-amp, 30-amp with water, 50-amp with water and electric, and FHU sites.
Site Quality: All camper pads are paved, have a generous camper pad length, and most are spread a decent amount of space apart.
Bath/Shower House: was very clean. Instant hot water was appreciated at the tap (it was in the 30s when we were there in mid-October) Hooks and shelves for toiletries were appreciated. Did not use the shower.
Activities/Amenities: Playground, basketball, volleyball, laundry (but there was water on the floor so not sure if there was a leak), several hiking trails including trails to two waterfalls, and an ADA-accessible short trail. The waterfalls were very sparse when we were there so not sure about other times of the year. There is an office with a small store.
This was only an overnight stay for us but very enjoyable. We'd definitely come back.
ScoutStopped here for a quick overnight and this beautiful campground had us wishing we could stay longer.
ScoutCute place off the freeway with water access and a playground, 6 mile hiking trail to waterfall and not far from town. There is a train station nearby and the trains are loud. They come by every now and then night and day, they do live music some nights and church gatherings where a man basically yells all night long. Lots of freeway noise so the nightly fee is kinda stupid considering you won't get any sleep if you stay here. The river is super planted so I wouldn't swim here either sadly.. and the showers have NO water presser yet you gotta pay for a bathroom key otherwise there's porta-potties by the dumpster.
LegendWe’ve camped at Stone Mountain multiple times over the years. We tent-camped when my boys were small. Most recently in our RV (3-4 times in the past three years). It is a great park. The hiking is excellent. The campsites are large and spacious. The park is well-kept. Make sure you hike to the top. The views are great, and you can spend time at the Homestead farm in the valley below.
We camped here this past weekend and enjoyed it once again. We were at site 56. It is an excellent site on the stream, with no site immediately next to you, so there is lots of privacy. The firepit, picnic table, water, and electricity are all great. We had limited cell service for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. We could send and receive text messages, but coverage was very spotty.
We will be back again in the Fall.
Equestrian campgrounds near Ceres, Virginia sit within the lush Blue Ridge Mountain region at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. The area's mixed hardwood forests create seasonal trail experiences, with spring wildflowers giving way to dense summer canopies and vibrant fall colors. Winter camping remains possible at some locations, though water access becomes limited and temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Hike to waterfalls: At Camp Creek State Park Mash Fork Campground, several trails lead to waterfalls within walking distance of campsites. "The hiking is difficult in some areas but spectacularly beautiful," notes Julie B., though water flow varies seasonally with some visitors reporting "waterfalls were very sparse" during drier months.
Observe wildlife: The forests surrounding Stone Mountain State Park support diverse wildlife populations. "We camped at RV site 40 and I think it's the best. There's a roaring large creek that flows behind the site and a grassy field full of deer beside it," shares Charli R. Multiple visitors report regular deer sightings, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Connect to trail networks: Most equestrian campgrounds provide direct trail access without needing to trailer horses. "With a wide network of multi-use trails in this area, Fox Creek Horse Camp provides a nice base for exploring on horseback," according to Jean C. Many trails interconnect, creating options for rides ranging from one-hour loops to full-day excursions.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain nights provide excellent astronomy conditions. "Beautiful campground, amazing hikes & waterfalls and the best stargazing you could ask for," reports Emily D. about Stone Mountain State Park Campground. Light pollution remains minimal throughout the region.
Stream-side camping: Water features enhance many camping experiences. Fred R. notes that at Camp Creek State Park Mash Fork Campground, some sites back "up to the creek and was quite private with the exception of the trail on the other side of the creek." For primitive camping enthusiasts, Basin Cove offers sites where you can "hear the water at night. Stars are amazing!" according to camper Hollz.
Seasonal variety: Each season offers distinct camping experiences. "I've been here in each season, my favorites being fall and winter. There's a cool large festival in the fall with tons of local vendors and the best apple butter anywhere," shares Sarah C. about Grayson Highlands State Park. Spring brings wildflowers while summer offers full forest canopy.
Weather preparedness: Mountain weather changes rapidly, particularly at higher elevations. Scott B. warns about Basin Cove: "This place is by far the windiest place I've ever camped in. We couldn't get a proper fire started due to the wind! The windchill was a serious issue for some in our group so bring lots of layers and gloves."
Bathroom facilities vary: Amenities differ significantly between campgrounds. At Fox Creek Horse Camp, only "portable toilets available. Bring your own water." In contrast, Stone Mountain State Park offers heated facilities: "The bathrooms were heated, clean and the men's bathroom had two showers," reports David B.
Wildlife interactions: Wild animals, including the ponies at Grayson Highlands, require respectful distance. Sarah C. cautions: "There are wild ponies here (notice the adjective wild) that are not intimidated by people. Do everyone a favor and keep your distance, please. I experienced a negative interaction with the ponies here that resulted in several backpacks being chewed to bits."
Kid-friendly water areas: Many campgrounds feature streams or swimming areas appropriate for children. At Sandy Creek Family Campground, Ann H. reports: "The kids enjoyed playing in the creek and on the playground. The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park."
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain play equipment. Sandy Creek Family Campground has "both a play set for the kids and a volleyball court," according to Kirsten J., with "lots of shade on a big grassy field" for tent sites along the tree line.
Educational wildlife viewing: Planned wildlife encounters create memorable experiences. Kelly C. shares that at Grayson Highlands: "Lots of wildlife! We camped at an equestrian campgrounds... Saw a family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day!" The wild ponies remain a consistent attraction.
Site selection for trailers: When camping with horses, trailer accommodation varies between campgrounds. Jean C. notes that at Chestnut Hollow Horse Campground, "The campsites are back-in along a single spur with turn-around at the end," and "sites are long, gravel, relatively level with water/electric."
Hookup availability: Utility connections differ between equestrian campgrounds. Fox Creek Horse Camp offers no hookups, while Chestnut Hollow provides water and electric. For full hookups, some non-equestrian campgrounds nearby offer alternatives, though you'll need to trailer horses to riding areas.
Dump station quality: Service facilities vary in accessibility. At Sandy Creek Family Campground, Becca C. cautions: "The biggest negative I would say was the dump station. It was on the hill so you had to back up to it and it wasn't an easy location to do so."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Ceres, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Ceres, VA is Raven Cliff Campground — George Washington & Jefferson National Forest with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Ceres, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Ceres, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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