Staunton River State Park Campground accommodates horses with equestrian-specific trails and facilities. The park maintains six miles of horse trails that connect to a larger network of riding paths throughout the 1,500-acre property. Horse owners must bring their own portable corrals or use designated tie-out areas as permanent stalls are not available. The campground features gravel sites that can accommodate horse trailers with ample parking space. Sites include water and electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The trails have been beaten down from regular equestrian use, making them easily navigable for riders of varying experience levels.
The equestrian trails at Occoneechee State Park connect to waterfront areas along Buggs Island Lake, providing scenic riding opportunities. Riders staying in the equestrian camping area have access to a dedicated bathroom facility, though showers are located in the main campground. Horse trailers require parking in designated areas separate from the camping sites. Trail riders frequently encounter wildlife including deer and various bird species. The park requires advance reservations for equestrian sites, especially during peak seasons from April through October. Cedarock Park in North Carolina, approximately 60 miles from Danville, offers an additional option with six miles of dedicated equestrian trails separate from hiking paths. Fairy Stone State Park also provides horse-friendly camping with access to wooded riding trails.
$27 - $121 / night
"The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail. Still worth the hike to see the peaceful water though."
"We camped here again at Staunton River State Park, this time we stayed in site 21, which is an electric site near the bathrooms/showers and one of the best for viewing stars."
$21 - $427 / night
"We have a larger trailer so we had to stay in the equestrian area. There weren’t showers by us but there was 1 bathroom."
"If you have dogs like we do that hate squirrels they drove them nuts- squirrels running around in our campsite and up trees in our campsite. And while walking around."
$27 - $345 / 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."
$10 / night
"Cedarock Park, located in Burlington, North Carolina, is a hidden gem for all sorts of outdoor activities. The park offers hike-in camping with a handful of sites scattered along Rock Creek."
"The park is almost 500 acres in size and offers:
- 6 miles of hiking trails
- 6 miles of equestrian trails
- 2 disc golf courses with a total of 36 holes for play
- A historical farm restored"
"Our site (17) was on the opposite side of the real lake access and right across from the annual spots so we never really had too much privacy but most of the neighbors were very curteous and friendly."
"Located close to nothing else, this campground was so peaceful at night. During the day, it’s beautiful. It’s got showers with hot water and accessible facilities. Great camping!"
$22 - $53 / night
"Very nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and shor t walk or drive to the water"
"One mile walk to Buffalo park a beautiful place with lots of history. I love it .Great day for a picnic ."
LegendThis is a pretty standard campground. Sites are extremely close together and campground is kind of tiny. One bathhouse for the whole campground. This park would probably appeal to equestrians, boaters, and RVers over tent campers. Unfortunately the promixity of other campers was stressful this weekend because of the screaming family right next to us. River views are nice. Probably won’t return.
GuideThe campground is well maintained and the sights are awesome. The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail. Still worth the hike to see the peaceful water though.
RangerCedarock Park, located in Burlington, North Carolina, is a hidden gem for all sorts of outdoor activities. The park offers hike-in camping with a handful of sites scattered along Rock Creek. The sites are well spaced and can accommodate large groups (you only pay $1 for each additional person for groups larger than 10). The park is also home to 6 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of equestrian trails. There are two fantastic disc golf courses (I personally enjoy the Wellspring course) and even a historical farm that sheds light on what life was like as a farmer in 19th century North Carolina.
GuideWe have a larger trailer so we had to stay in the equestrian area. There weren’t showers by us but there was 1 bathroom. The site is spacious and secluded although the few sites are packed into each other. There are smaller sites but are also closer together. Great place for biking, hiking, and being on the lake. They also have a new splash pad that the kids loved. While we were out there they had park personnel go over a few local birds of prey. We’ll be back!
LegendCampground 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!
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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.
ScoutVery nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and shor t walk or drive to the water
LegendWe camped here again at Staunton River State Park, this time we stayed in site 21, which is an electric site near the bathrooms/showers and one of the best for viewing stars. There is little tree cover and a sort of field behind the campsite where you can set up your telescope and see the stars really well. We were also able to rent one of the telescopes they have at the Visitors center (for free!) and use it throughout the stay.
We came the weekend after the fourth of July which was hot but surprisingly not too crowded. We participated in some of the parks' programs this time around and it made it such a great experience, especially for the kids. They had smores around the fire on a Friday night, where they handed out smores ingredients around a big campfire near the visitors center and you could chat with other campers. It was so nice! Then they had a outdoor movie afterwards. The next day we went to a "feed the animals" program, where the kids got to meet and help feed all the animals in the visitors center and learn more about them. There were turtles, snakes, fish! The kids loved it! We did the Junior Ranger hike and the kids all got badges. Hopefully the pool will be open next summer because it was so hot and that would have been awesome! But there is another Virginia State Park nearby, Occoneechee, that has a splash pad that we went to. Such a fun time!
RangerCampground Review
As one of the best and biggest parks in my area, I've spent a good bit of time at Cedarock Park. There is SO much to do for any outdoor fan. The park is almost 500 acres in size and offers:
Cedarock Park offers a handful of sites along Rock Creek, which runs through the park. The sites are only available via hiking in (though the "hike" is a short quarter mile down a wooded forest path). Each site includes a fire pit and bench with ample space to set up tents. The sites are all super flat, which makes finding some place comfortable to set up a tent that much easier. Sites are $10/night for groups under 10 people in size and cost an additional $1 for each person over 10. Reservations are required (though they do accept walk-ins at the park office). You can reserve a site either by calling the park office or by going online. There is a 3 night limit for camping. Park hours are as follows:
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to test and review products from time to time. At this campground, I tested OOFOS OOmg low shoes for women.
As someone with perpetually flat feet (due in part to being a swimmer most of my life and in part because I do everything in my Birkenstocks) it's always been hard for me to find a pair of shoes that I not only like but will actually wear. I can say with confidence that OOFOS OOmg shoes will be added to my very small list of shoes I love. Here's a few of the reasons why:
Overall I would recommend these shoes in a heartbeat. They're comfortable, breathable, and light weight, making them the perfect pair of shoes for outdoor lovers of any variety.
GuideWe stayed here Memorial weekend 2026. We had a tent only site with no hook ups. It was site 48 which is the first site you come across when pulling into the campgrounds.
Site was built into a hill and had several steps leading up to it. Much smaller site than we are used to at VA State parks. Looking at the other sites they were also on the smaller side and oddly shaped.
Easy access to the River Bank trail and Captain Staunton trail directly from the campsites. Great when you have kiddos that don't want to walk a ton.
Great views throughout of the Staunton River & Dan River. Lots of deer sightings in the morning and early evenings. Great activities with the rangers including a wagon wide through the park.
It was rainy during our stay so no chance to take advantage of the Dark Sky classification. When skys are clear they do have an astronomer that comes out on the weekends in the summer.
Equestrian camping near Danville, Virginia offers access to the southern Virginia terrain characterized by rolling hills and mixed hardwood forests at elevations between 400-800 feet above sea level. The region typically experiences mild winters with occasional snow and humid summers with temperatures averaging 85-90°F from June through August. Horse riders can access over 20 miles of interconnected trails across multiple parks within a 75-mile radius of Danville.
Stargazing after sunset: Staunton River State Park has been recognized as an International Dark Sky Park where campers can borrow telescopes for free from the visitor center. "If you love stargazing this is the park for you. It is an International Dark Sky Park... The park offers rentals of telescopes too," notes Bridget H.
Hunt for fairy stones: At Fairy Stone State Park, visitors can search for the unique cross-shaped mineral formations. "We hunted and found fairy stones which made the trip that much more fun," shares Bridget H. The stone hunting site is located just outside the park boundaries near a gas station.
Kayaking on Buggs Island Lake: Occoneechee State Park provides direct water access for paddlers. "We paddled around Bugg's Lake. Used the boat launch near the office - nice place to put in," reports RL. The lake offers 800 miles of shoreline with numerous coves for exploration.
Disc golf in wooded settings: Cedarock Park features two complete disc golf courses with 36 total holes. "There are two fantastic disc golf courses (I personally enjoy the Wellspring course)," mentions Kelsey L. The courses wind through both open fields and forested areas.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses and amenities. At Staunton River State Park, campers appreciate "Clean bathrooms, friendly rangers, beautiful scenery," according to Bonnie T.
Lake swimming areas: Many parks offer designated swimming zones. "The lake is perfect for little ones and even grownup kids," Ryan Z. shares about Fairy Stone State Park. Some parks like Staunton River also feature constructed pools with admission included for overnight campers.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The natural settings provide chances to observe native animals. At Occoneechee State Park, "The whole trip we saw lots of birds, squirrels, deer, and raccoons," notes RL. Morning and evening hours offer the best viewing times.
Historical features: Several parks preserve structures from earlier eras. "The park has been amazing for our family. I love the care and attention that they've put into restoring and preserving the older buildings," comments Ashley I. about Staunton River State Park.
Cell service limitations: Several parks have minimal connectivity. "No Verizon service or WiFi. We go here to get away," keith F. mentions about Fairy Stone State Park. Consider downloading maps and information before arrival.
Variable site conditions: Not all campsites offer the same amenities or terrain. At Occoneechee State Park, "The sites have ample room and they're spaced far enough apart that you actually have privacy (unless you camp on the waterfront where they're smaller and close together)," explains Lisa M.
Gravel tent pads: Some equestrian campgrounds require tents on gravel surfaces. "Who tents on gravel when you have to sleep on the ground? Not cool," notes Kelly J. about Occoneechee State Park. Consider bringing extra padding or selecting sites with natural ground.
Gate closure times: Parks enforce strict entry/exit hours. "The downside is they lock the gate at night and no one else is there so if you have an emergency or just need to leave you can't, you're literally stuck," warns Summer C. about Cedarock Park. Check specific gate times when making reservations.
Splash pad access: Some parks offer water play areas beyond swimming beaches. At Occoneechee State Park, Samantha G. shares, "They also have a new splash pad that the kids loved." These areas typically operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Educational programs: Cedarock Park offers historical learning opportunities. "The park is also home to a historical farm that sheds light on what life was like as a farmer in 19th century North Carolina," explains Kelsey L. Programs run primarily on weekends during summer months.
Playground availability: Multiple parks maintain playground equipment. "They had a great playground for the kids nearby," Katie M. mentions about Fairy Stone State Park. These areas provide alternative activities during non-swimming times.
Animal observation opportunities: Some visitor centers house educational exhibits. "They also have a nature learning lab, some cool animals, and a fantastic gift shop," says Bridget H. about Staunton River State Park. Rangers often conduct feeding demonstrations at scheduled times.
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts campground access and comfort. "We stayed in site #5 this time - at the top of the hill because the sky was rather ominous," shares Kirsten J. about Fairy Stone State Park. Higher elevation sites drain better during rainy periods.
Electric hookup locations: Not all sites provide the same utility access. At Cane Creek Campground, "The 40s sites seem to be the best spots to get for a view or access to Lake activities," advises Mandy L.
Backing challenges: Some sites present positioning difficulties. "Most of the sites are not level and it felt very crowded," notes Jacqueline F. about Fairy Stone State Park. Arriving during daylight hours makes setup easier.
Tree canopy considerations: Overhead branches can impact larger vehicles. "The sites have been beaten down from regular equestrian use, making them easily navigable for riders of varying experience levels," reports Chaz M. about trail conditions at Staunton River State Park, where similar maintenance applies to camping areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Danville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Danville, VA is Staunton River State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Danville, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Danville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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