Glamping sites around Henrico, Virginia feature a mix of accommodation options positioned along Kerr Reservoir, also called Buggs Island Lake, covering 50,000 acres along the Virginia-North Carolina border. This water-dominated region sees moderate summer temperatures, with July highs around 90°F and winter lows rarely dropping below 30°F. While the existing yurt accommodations provide canvas-walled comfort, numerous state parks and recreation areas offer additional camping alternatives throughout the region.
What to do
Stargazing from certified dark skies: Staunton River State Park Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. "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., who visited with grandchildren. The park features a large open field by check-in perfect for astronomy.
Lake-based recreation: Water activities dominate the region's camping experience. At Kimball Point Campground, "The water is very clear! You can see probably about 5-6 feet down," reports Jess, who stayed at a waterfront site. The park includes "a small playground, several sandy beach areas and a boat launch."
Hiking historic plantations: Explore the region's past through trail systems. "We hiked the Plantation Trail, a large historical site that was once a homestead. Mellow, family-friendly walk with a cemetery, historical markers, and an old chimney," writes one camper who explored the preserved homestead areas where centuries-old plantings still thrive.
What campers like
Waterfront camping options: Lakeside sites are highly coveted across multiple campgrounds. At Bullocksville Campground, "Many nice sites right on the lake however. We booked the day of our stay, so many where reserved for the up coming weekend," notes Beverly T. The campground offers both electric and non-electric sites with varying proximity to the lake.
Clean facilities: Campground bathrooms receive consistent praise throughout the region. "Bath houses are in good shape," reports Kristen W. about B.W. Wells Campground, which she describes as "very wooded and quiet" with lake access and good star viewing.
Varied accommodation types: Beyond the glamping yurts, traditional cabins provide solid alternatives. At Staunton River State Park, Elena B. reports: "The cabins are rustic (they date back to 1936) but very cozy and clean. While staying there I saw a skunk, a groundhog, several deer and a great variety of birds."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Securing prime waterfront sites requires advance planning. At Kimball Point, Steven D. advises: "Only negative it's hard to book a space. You need to book it EXACTLY 6 months out, call at 08:00 in morning."
Site surfaces vary: Many campgrounds throughout the region have gravel tent pads rather than grass. Kelly J. notes at Occoneechee State Park: "Well I have a cot so I was good on the gravel area that they want you to put your tent on but the person I was camping with did not and they asked her to move to gravel. Who tents on gravel when you have to sleep on the ground?"
Seasonal considerations: Weather affects glamping comfort significantly. Katie M. reports about the yurts: "We stayed in September so the fact that there is no AC or electricity in the yurt was not an issue because the weather was moderate." Summer visitors should prepare for heat in non-air-conditioned accommodations.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple parks offer play areas for children. At Falls Lake Recreation Area, facilities include "a playground near the site. The site itself was gravelly and not super private but it was great- the hikes around were stunning," according to amanda L.
Educational opportunities: Look for parks with nature programs. At Staunton River, Katie mentions: "Park rangers had great kids programs including animal feeding frenzy where we learned about snakes and turtles and we invoked in feeding. Also lots of any pelts to learn about."
Swimming areas with supervision: Designated beach areas provide safer water access. Shannon S. describes B.W. Wells campground as having a "roped off area for swimming with a great little sandy beach area next to a playground and toilets."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many lakefront sites require careful setup. At Hyco Lake State Park, Danielle W. cautions: "Nice swim area, nice roads but the sites could use some updating. A lot of them are sloped. Very hard to level out a RV."
Hookup locations: Check the positioning of utilities before booking. At Kimball Point, adam B. mentions: "My only gripe is that not every site has its own water. I had run 60ft water hose to the next site over."
Size restrictions: Some camping loops have limitations for larger vehicles. Michael P. from Kimball Point explains: "Be warned that the sites vary pretty widely in size and grade. We have a 32' travel trailer that fit in spot 65 with no problem but there were many more that we could not fit in because of the steep grades."
