B
Bob B.
Ranger
RangerStaunton River State Park Campground
Surprisingly Quiet
I've read reviews about noise levels and lack of privacy. But we experienced the opposite, at least at our campsite.
Equestrian Camping near Henrico, VA
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Medoc Mountain State Park maintains the area's primary equestrian-specific camping option near Henrico, with a dedicated horse campground requiring equine accompaniment. The campground offers electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp service, and accommodates vehicles of all sizes. Campsites include fire rings, picnic tables, and are designed for easy trailer access. Horses must remain contained at campsites when not on trails. Reservations are required for the equestrian camping area, which is separate from the park's standard camping facilities. The squirrels at nearby campgrounds are notably aggressive and will attempt to access food left unattended.
The bridle trail system at Medoc Mountain connects directly to the equestrian campsites, allowing riders immediate access to woodland paths. Water hookups are available at campsites, providing a convenient source for filling horse troughs. Riders appreciate the varied terrain, which includes both wooded areas and open meadows for exercise. The horse campground accommodates group equestrian camping with ample parking for multiple trailers in the designated area. During peak season (March through November), advance reservations are strongly recommended as the limited number of horse camping sites fill quickly. Trail maps are provided at check-in, showing connections between the equestrian camping area and the park's extensive trail network. Most trails are well-maintained with natural footing suitable for unshod horses.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Henrico (6)
1. Occoneechee State Park Campground
"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."
from $21 - $427 / night
Check Availability2. Staunton River State Park Campground
"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."
from $27 - $121 / night
Check Availability3. Callahan's Hideaway
"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 ."
from $22 - $53 / night
Check Availability4. Medoc Mountain State Park Campground
"Good location off of 85. Great trails and equestrian trails!"
"Not far from the Roanoke River and right around the corner from Halifax, this spot is perfect for getting away from it all."
from $27 - $75 / night
Check Availability5. B.W. Wells — Falls Lake State Recreation Area
"There are tons of hiking trails all around and plenty of bike trails too! Conveniently located north of Raleigh, NC and close to many major highways."
"None of the sites are located right on the lake. You either walk the trails or drive down."
from $72 / night
Check Availability6. Medoc Mountain Equestrian Campground (Horse Required) — Medoc Mountain State Park
from $17 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 55 min from Durham, NC
- 1 hr 15 min from Raleigh, NC
- 1 hr 17 min from Burlington, NC
Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Henrico, VA
1 Photos of 6 Henrico Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Henrico, VA
84 Reviews of 6 Henrico Campgrounds
Kaylee G.
GuideStaunton River State Park Campground
Small tent sites with easy access to trails
We 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.
- eelizabeth L.Guide
Medoc Mountain State Park Campground
Wonderful State Park Campground
Medoc Mountain State Park campground has been recently renovated. All of the full hook up sites and primitive sites are spacious and well kept. We camped in site #26 which was level and spacious. The sites on the outside of the loop are pretty level. The bathrooms/showers are new, spacious, and clean. There is a great playground in walking distance. There are many hiking trails that start near the campground. None of them have amazing views, but they are nice and well marked. I enjoyed the Bluff View trail the most. We were able to hike 6 miles both days we were there. Added bonus: campground is close to I-95. The only drawback is the lack of a close grocery store. Dollar General is less than 5 miles away.
Adam and Suzanne B.GuideMedoc Mountain State Park Campground
Newly renovated campground
Beautiful, small, newly renovated campground. Gorgeous bath house. A few sites are level but most aren’t. Quiet. Easy to get to from I-95.
Camp With Me
LegendStaunton River State Park Campground
Hidden Gem - Dark Sky certified park
Lots of trails, 2 boat launches and nice campground. We stay here every once in a while since it is so close and such a amazing state park.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/g3tsJATaSis?si=3Cl29wwqTO1JF9FW
Brian B.GuideOcconeechee State Park Campground
Epic Cabin Retreat
Went there with my family in March over spring break. Can’t say this was exactly camping the way we did it, but the cabin was absolutely amazing. Each cabin is probably on a 2 acre plot of land and most of them have fantastic views of Kerr Reservoir.
Kitchens are nicely appointed, rooms are nicely decorated, just bring your own sheets and linens and get ready for a fantastic time.
Harry B.
ScoutOcconeechee State Park Campground
Decent Campground Iron Bow
Decent bathhouse on Iron Bow. Sites are really close together and narrow so doesn’t leave a lot of room between campers. Not terrible but also have had stayed at more spacious state park campsites. 7$ bundles for firewood for sale near the bathhouse. The Visitor center is nice with some good souvenirs for purchase and history section. Plenty of spots for fishing and launching watercraft. No designated swimming areas though. No WiFi. Verizon device at the campground worked okay. Clarksville town is quaint with some shops worth checking.
Maria Mercedes M.LegendB.W. Wells — Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Family Friendly Campground
B.W. Wells Campground at Falls Lake felt like stepping into a quiet forest hideaway, where the kids could explore trails, spot eagles over the water, and watch butterflies while we enjoyed campfires under the trees. It’s strictly hike-in and tent-only, so we had to pack light and plan carefully, but the trade-off was true peace and space to connect without the noise of RVs or busy roads. With shaded group sites, fire pits, picnic tables, nearby restrooms, and lake access perfect for paddling or fishing, it offered a rustic yet rewarding experience that was still close enough to Wake Forest for a quick meal or supply run when we needed it.
Martin T.
TravelerOcconeechee State Park Campground
Very Nice Lakefront Camping
Spent 4 nights here (during a heat wave, no less) and really enjoyed it. Campsites are large and not right on top of each other, and especially if you can book one of the campsites that are on the water, they really do have beautiful views (see pictures).
Pros:
Kid-friendly. We spent an afternoon at the splash pad, which is a great way to cool off in the summer and free once you're in the park. I never felt unsafe with my kids running around up to the bath-house or the loop, felt very secluded and safe.
Lake is scenic, we saw fireflies at dusk, it was a great setting for a camping trip.
Everything seems pretty well-maintained. Bathrooms are aging but were cleaned at least once a day, it was fine. There is firewood at every bathhouse you can take on the honor system and pay for via cashbox, which is nice. Campsites are clean and well-maintained.
Lots of lake recreation options (boat rental, fishing, etc.) in or near the park.
Cons:
Maybe it was just our campsite, which backed up to a large wooded area, but they were the most aggressive squirrels I've ever come across. If we went to the bathroom for five minutes and left food on the table, the squirrels would be there eating it when we came back. And would hover at the edge of the campsite or get into the car if the hatchback was open.
Camp store is....fine, pretty minimal in terms of provisions. But not a big deal because Clarksville is five minutes or so away and has plenty of stores.
Tents pads are all gravel. Didn't bother us but definitely would not want to tent camp here if you didn't have a good high-quality sleeping pad.
The biggest con was that there is no swimming area/beach in the park. You can try to wade in from the campsite but that generally requires scaling up/down some fairly treacherous rocks, and navigating driftwood and rocks in the water. We drove a few minutes away outside the park to find one, but would be really nice to have some kind of little swimming area inside the park, very strange to me they don't have one.
But all in all a lovely place for a camping trip, we all had a great time.
Guide to Henrico
Medoc Mountain State Park provides equestrian facilities about 46 miles from Henrico, Virginia, including designated camping for horse owners. Located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina at an elevation of around 325 feet, the park offers a combination of woodland trails and creek access. Winter temperatures typically range from 30°F to 50°F, while summer months can reach 90°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Trail riding with water views: At B.W. Wells Campground near Falls Lake, equestrians can access trails with lakeside views. "Located on a semi rural area, the sites are very wooded and quiet. There was a lake nearby with an open sky where you could see hundreds of stars at night," notes Kristen W.
Stargazing opportunities: Staunton River State Park offers exceptional night sky viewing as an International Dark Sky Park. "If you love stargazing this is the park for you. It is an International Dark Sky Park. The park offers rentals of telescopes too," shares Bridget H., who visited with grandchildren.
Mountain biking access: Several trails at Medoc Mountain accommodate mountain bikers when conditions permit. "Nice sites and great for mountain bikers," mentions Stacey S., though riders should check trail status before visiting as some sections close seasonally.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Unlike the close spacing mentioned in the existing description, other campgrounds offer more separation. At Medoc Mountain State Park, "Large, level sites that are very secluded and far apart from each other," according to Katie M., who found it "very family-friendly!"
Waterfront camping options: Occoneechee State Park provides lakeside camping experiences. Sarah S. notes, "Lakefront sites are available and are very nice. Rangers patrol the area at night as well." This differs from the equestrian-specific sites described previously.
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the maintenance standards at regional parks. Becqui M. mentions, "Bath house had doors for shower stalls as opposed to curtains, with shelves and hooks for your things," demonstrating the attention to detail in facilities.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: While the existing description mentions equestrian camping reservations, timing considerations are important. At Callahan's Hideaway, reservation response times can vary substantially, with one camper reporting communication issues: "He never responded to the reservation request or my email. Don't waste your time, find somewhere else."
Limited connectivity: Cell service is often unreliable in horse campgrounds near Henrico. RENEE D. considered this a positive at Medoc Mountain, exclaiming "No cell service! 😀" while Rick S. noted "Limited cellphone coverage (3G was spotty)" at the same location.
Water access considerations: Unlike the equestrian camping description, many reviews mention water limitations. Rick S. warns, "There are communal water spigots throughout the campground, but they don't easily allow hose connections, so be sure to fill your water tank before arriving."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Families appreciate animal sightings at Falls Lake State Recreation Area, where one camper described it as "stepping into a quiet forest hideaway, where the kids could explore trails, spot eagles over the water, and watch butterflies while we enjoyed campfires under the trees."
Educational programs: Several parks offer learning experiences for children. At Staunton River State Park, Katie noted they "enjoyed outdoor movie on Friday. Park rangers had great kids programs including animal feeding frenzy where we learned about snakes and turtles."
Safety considerations: Some parks provide more secure environments than others. Medoc Mountain State Park accommodated one family well: "My girl rode her bike around the campground and it was perfectly safe," reports Becqui M., who was camping alone with her teenage daughter for the first time.
Tips from RVers
Site preparation: At Medoc Mountain equestrian campgrounds, the terrain differs from standard RV parks. One RVer at Medoc Mountain noted their "site required minimal leveling. Interior roads were all paved and easy to navigate -- no low-hanging branches," providing valuable information for those with larger rigs.
Water planning: Unlike the equestrian description focusing on horse troughs, RVers need to consider personal water needs. Rick S. cautions there's "no potable water at the dump station, either," emphasizing the need to arrive with full tanks when visiting Medoc Mountain.
Campsite surfaces: The ground conditions vary across horse camping areas near Henrico. William R. observed Medoc Mountain is "more for RVs," while at Falls Lake, Shannon S. found "sites were gravelly and not super private."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Henrico, VA?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Henrico, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Henrico, VA is Occoneechee State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 23 reviews.
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What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Henrico, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Henrico, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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