Tent campsites near Doswell, Virginia range from primitive backcountry sites to drive-in locations with basic amenities. Located in Virginia's Piedmont region, the area features gently rolling terrain with elevations between 200-400 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping offer more moderate conditions in the 60-75°F range.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Anna State Park Campground provides multiple fishing piers with comfortable seating areas. One camper noted, "It has great hiking trails and if your looking for a relaxing fishing afternoon, they have some of the nicest fishing piers with ample sitting area."
Swimming access: The beach at Lake Anna gets crowded during peak summer weekends. A visitor mentioned, "Beach area is 1/2 mile paved walk. Beach very crowded on weekends."
Stargazing: Clear nights offer excellent viewing opportunities at several campgrounds. At Cloverdale Farms, "Fields in the back lend a great view for star gazing and looking up at the Milky Way."
Hiking trails: Many campsites connect to trail systems with varying difficulty levels. A review of Lake Anna mentioned, "Nice trails, decent campsites, cabins! The paved handicapped-accessible trail and fishing platforms are a really nice addition."
What campers like
Private camping spots: Phantom Hill Forest Farm offers secluded tent sites. "The sites are large and primitive. We had no trouble getting down there in the jeep. We appreciated the dishes/kitchen set up, games, and the adorable outhouse!"
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to spot local animals. At Caledon State Park Campground, you might see "Great bird watching and bald eagles."
River access: Waterfront camping locations provide direct river views. A Caledon visitor shared, "We hiked for a few hours and finally got to our site which was right on the Potomac River. Gorgeous view and I was glad to be there after the long haul."
Quiet surroundings: Many tent sites offer peaceful settings away from urban noise. A camper at Cloverdale Farms appreciated the "Peaceful country setting" and noted you can "enjoy the peace and quiet and privacy that you don't get in a campground."
What you should know
Campsite reservations: Many tent sites require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. At Lake Land'Or General Campground, campers should note it's "only open to residents of the gated community and their guests."
Water sources: Not all campgrounds provide potable water. At Caledon State Park, "No water on site and no reasonable source to filter water from so be prepared."
Hiking requirements: Some campsites require physical effort to reach. Caledon State Park features an "easy 2.5 mile hike on groomed gravel trails" to reach tent sites.
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies widely between campgrounds. A Lake Anna camper reported, "Bath house clean, but toilet paper is thinner than dry onion skin."
Site spacing: Consider how close you'll be to neighboring campers. One Lake Anna visitor noted, "We weren't excited about being so close to so many people & the bathroom door needs to be fixed because every time some went to the bathroom we would hear the door SLAM shut all hours of the night."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds have play areas for children. At Lake Anna, "Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery."
Handicap accessibility: Lovers Lane FarmStay and some other locations have improved accessibility features. Lake Anna has "lantern hangers having lower hooks for those in wheelchairs, and at least one of the cabins has a wheelchair ramp."
Farm experiences: Some private campgrounds offer unique farm interactions. Cloverdale Farms has "pet goats, cats, a dog, and chickens that all love attention. Guests are more than welcome to help in the garden, pick flowers, and enjoy fresh produce and eggs while they're here."
Noise considerations: Campground noise can affect family sleep patterns. One camper noted Lake Anna was "Very nice, plenty to see and do, but very crowded and noisy, even after quite time."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. Lake Anna has "large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites" and "a dump station."
Electrical access: Check which sites offer hookups. Lake Anna provides "Campers can choose sites with or without electricity."
Seasonal limitations: Some campgrounds close or reduce services during winter months. Multiple tent sites near Doswell have seasonal closures or reduced facilities during colder months.
Maintenance issues: Site conditions can vary throughout the season. One Lake Anna camper observed, "The only downside I found was that the grass really needed mowing. Even though there had been a few rainy days, the grass at our campsite was knee high and higher."