The Morattico area lies along Virginia's Northern Neck peninsula, bordered by the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay. This coastal region maintains relatively flat terrain with elevations rarely exceeding 100 feet above sea level. Seasonal jellyfish appear in nearby waters during summer months, potentially affecting swimming and fishing activities at waterfront camping areas.
What to do
Crabbing on piers: Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay offers dedicated crabbing piers for visitors. "We had never been crabbing and this beautiful rv park has its own crabbing pier. There is boating, hiking, watching wild life and so many pretty birds," notes one visitor.
Fossil hunting: Sites near Harbor View provide access to unique paleontological finds. "We also loved going to Westmoreland park which was practically next door to Harbor View. Great trails and fossil beach was fun," reports a camper who stayed at the park.
Water activities: Bethpage Camp-Resort features multiple water recreation options for different age groups. "We love having both options for spending some time in the water. The lake and pools are fantastic," writes one reviewer, while another mentions "water park - amazing, splash pad - fun for small children, small beach, kayaking available."
What campers like
Large sites: Many RV parks in the region provide spacious camping areas. At Grey's Point Camp, "The sites are spacious and always clean when we arrive. The new bath house is excellent. The views of the 'Rivah' are phenomenal."
Community activities: Campgrounds often schedule social events to bring guests together. "They did a great job social distancing the management, while maintaining CDC guidelines even for activities... We attended the movie night drive-in, was lots of space to park your golf cart more than 6 foot apart and enjoy the movie," reports a Grey's Point visitor.
Transportation options: Several campgrounds offer golf cart rentals to navigate larger properties. "With all paved streets the campground is perfect for bike riding. The sites are all very large and accommodating for groups of multiple campers," notes a Bethpage camper, though another advises "Golf carts were difficult to reserve. Golf carts were only available for pickup at 1/2pm the day of your rental."
What you should know
Cell service variability: Digital connectivity differs significantly between locations. At Thousand Trails Harbor View, "I work full-time remote and the Verizon service was perfect with our hotspot," while at Thousand Trails Williamsburg, "very poor to non-existent Wi-Fi and cell service (both T-Mobile and Verizon)."
Seasonal considerations: Spring brings heavy pollen to some sites. "If you have allergies, avoid spring. EVERYTHING outside was covered in a light haze of pollen. I worked outside several days and had to wipe my computer off a couple times a day," notes one Harbor View visitor.
Weather preparedness: Some campgrounds experience drainage issues during heavy rainfall. "We stayed here Sept 2020 during tropical storm and covid... Was a great safe location in port of storm, the sites mostly drained well. Very few sites had issues."
Tips for camping with families
Water features: American Heritage RV Park offers multiple recreational options for different age groups. "Great pool and convenient to travel to several activities incl Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Va Beach and more," reports one visitor.
Activity planning: Several campgrounds schedule regular family-friendly events. "The staff was very friendly and put on some fun events during the time we were there like mimosas on Mother's Day and a larger race day event with a band and food trucks," notes an Americamps visitor.
Playground access: Select a site near play areas for convenience with young children. "We stayed in Spadefish 3 which was right next to the pool and playground," shares a Grey's Point camper, while another notes that American Heritage has "a pool, playground, horseshoes, volleyball, swimming pool, mini golf."
Tips from RVers
Leveling and pad quality: Americamps RV Resort offers various site surfaces. "Level sites. And clean, very clean. The only negative comments would be it's right up against interstate 95 so it's a constant drone of traffic," reports one RVer, while another mentions "We used this campground to do our shakedown with our new travel trailer... A staff member lead us to our site and stayed to help us set up."
Military options: Fort AP Hill Champs Camp provides an alternative for qualified personnel. "Clean, quiet little park on A.P. Hill base. RV hookups, great wifi, showers and laundry are spotless. Access to DoD folks only," notes a military visitor.
Satellite reception challenges: Tree coverage affects television service at some locations. "The sites are close, many are not level, not very big rig friendly and satellite is near impossible due to trees," warns a camper about Thousand Trails Williamsburg, though they add that "the staff is friendly and try to accommodate as best possible."
