Best Equestrian Camping near Cloverdale, VA

Douthat State Park Campground maintains equestrian facilities at Beaver Dam Campground, a wooded camping area with relatively flat terrain. Located approximately 80 miles north of Cloverdale in Millboro, Virginia, this horse-friendly section of the park offers camping options with spacious sites for horse trailers. The campground provides drinking water, electric hookups, and sewer connections while maintaining clean bathroom facilities with showers. Picnic tables and fire rings are standard at each site. The park remains open from May through September with both tent and RV camping available. Some sites accommodate larger rigs, though proper leveling may be challenging on certain campsites. Beaver Dam's relatively flat landscape makes it particularly suitable for equestrians traveling with horses and equipment.

Trail access for riders connects directly to the park's extensive trail network, making daily rides convenient from the campground. The park encompasses numerous hiking paths that are also suitable for horseback riding, with well-maintained routes through forested areas. During summer months, the nearby lake offers a water source and swimming area, though horses are restricted to designated areas away from the public beach. Water access points for horses are available at specific locations. Sites typically require reservations, especially during peak season, as the equestrian area tends to fill quickly with horse enthusiasts. Trailheads are clearly marked and connect to both wooded paths and scenic viewpoints throughout the 4,500-acre park. Fall visitors particularly appreciate the trail conditions and reduced insect activity compared to summer months.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Cloverdale, Virginia (6)

    1. Don's Cab-Inns Campground

    7 Reviews
    Hardy, VA
    9 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
    37 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. Bolar Mountain Recreation Area

    24 Reviews
    Hot Springs, VA
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 279-4144

    $16 - $85 / night

    "I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets."

    "This was our first camping trip to actually visit lake Moomaw in Warm Springs Virginia.  We had been close before but never made it to the lake itself."

    4. Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Proctor Lake, VA
    41 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. Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 9.5 Primitive Campsite (Between Keister and Hopper, WV)

    1 Review
    White Sulphur Springs, WV
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 799-4087

    "Traveling West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail from it's Northern Terminus at Cass Railroad, Stumptown to it's Southern Terminus in North Caldwell has created a thirst that can only be slaked by multiple"

    6. CB Ranch

    1 Review
    Lewisburg, WV
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 445-6168

    $30 - $60 / night

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Cloverdale, VA

4 Photos of 6 Cloverdale Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Cloverdale, VA

71 Reviews of 6 Cloverdale Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Maria Belen  S.
    Aug. 17, 2018

    Bolar Mountain Recreation Area

    Serene with amazing views

    I stayed here for 1 night. It was the perfect resting stop on my road trip to the Smoky Mountains. I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets. The camp host sells firewood. The campground is quiet and provides a lot of privacy. The lake beach is within walking distance from campground 1, with picnic tables and a pavilion. There is also a small dock where you can fish. Loves this place, will definitely come back.

  • 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!

  • Tara S.
    May. 28, 2019

    Don's Cab-Inns Campground

    Glamping on the Blue Ridge Parkway!

    Don's Cab-Inns Campground unique for several reasons. 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). Explore Park is run by Roanoke County, who partners with different vendors to create a full outdoor experience for folks who want to the gamut of outdoor adventures without having to drive all over the place. Within Explore Park, you can hike, mountain bike, take a trail ride on horseback, paddle the Roanoke River, go tubing, pitch a tent, embark on an aerial adventure course, and more. 

    Explore Park is, as far as I know, the only public park and campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway that isn't run by the National Park Service. There are many different camping options at Explore Park. At Don's Cab-Inns, you can stay in a standard RV site with electricity hook-ups, a tiny cabin that sleeps between 4 and 6 people, or a yurt, which has electricity and a bathroom.

    Another private company, Blue Mountain Adventures, offers primitive tent camping, and glamping tents, which I'll also review.

    I stopped at Explore Park and Don's Cab-Inns Campground while road tripping on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. The campground opened in the fall of 2018, and everything still feels brand new. Of the 18 or so sites available, I think half of them were full during my visit on a weekend in early May.

    The little cabins include a full-size bed below and another in the loft, air conditioning, heat, electricity, a microwave, a small refrigerator, and a coffee pot. There is a fire pit, water spigot, and picnic table outside the cabin, as well as a lovely front porch to relax on. 

    You do have to bring your own bed linens or a sleeping bag with you. The brand new bathhouse includes private bathrooms with showers, and there is a small store on site for buying ice, firewood, and necessities like bug spray or soap. 

    Cost for the small cabins is $75 per night. The yurts, which have their own full bathroom are $100 per night.  

    My cabin was delightful. My bed was comfortable, and Don was a delightful host. He even showed me around the other sites so I could see what I was missing. This is definitely a five-star campground, and Roanoke is an awesome town to explore -- breweries, a walkable downtown, and great hiking and mountain biking.


Guide to Cloverdale

Virginia offers a fantastic experience for horse camping enthusiasts, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to both riders and their equine companions.

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • At Douthat State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy scenic trails perfect for horseback riding, along with fishing and hiking opportunities.
  • Bolar Mountain Recreation Area provides access to beautiful lakes and trails, making it an ideal spot for equestrian adventures.
  • The CB Ranch features trails on the property, allowing riders to explore the scenic surroundings while enjoying the company of farm animals.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Douthat State Park Campground offers equestrian facilities, including designated areas for horse camping and access to water sources.
  • At Bolar Mountain Recreation Area, campers can find electric hookups and spacious sites that accommodate horse trailers.
  • CB Ranch provides a rustic experience with amenities that cater to horse campers, including picnic tables and fire pits for evening gatherings.

Tips for equestrian camping near Cloverdale, Virginia

  • When visiting Douthat State Park Campground, be sure to arrive early to secure a good spot, especially during peak season.
  • At Bolar Mountain Recreation Area, it's advisable to bring your own firewood, as it is not provided on-site.
  • For a unique experience, consider staying at CB Ranch, where you can enjoy the tranquility of nature while being close to local attractions and activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Cloverdale, 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 Cloverdale, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Cloverdale, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.