Camping opportunities near Lanexa, Virginia extend across Charles City, James City, and New Kent counties. This region sits at elevations between 10-80 feet above sea level in Virginia's coastal plain, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F from June through August. Several campgrounds operate year-round while others close seasonally between mid-November and March, requiring advance planning for winter camping trips.
What to do
Biking on Virginia Capital Trail: Chickahominy Riverfront Park provides direct access to this paved trail. "A great paved biking path that goes for a number of miles," notes one visitor to Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Historical exploration: Campsites serve as convenient bases for visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. A camper at Williamsburg Campground shared, "Fabulous base camp for williamsburg. We had a site near the back which were smaller. This was a good trade-off for the shade -- it was hot!"
Fishing from docks: Multiple riverfront campgrounds provide fishing access. A visitor to Chickahominy Riverfront Park advised, "Inside tip. There is a dock down by the boat ramp. It says no fishing. Wait until dark and ignore the sign. There's a light down there that draws the insects. The fish are everywhere."
Water activities: Boat launches, kayaking, and swimming opportunities exist at several locations. "Great pool and convenient to travel to several activities incl Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Va Beach and more," reported a camper at American Heritage RV Park.
What campers like
River access and views: Direct water access ranks high for campers. At Eagle Nest Lookout, "Car camped here 5 feet from the water. There is a large shoreline area to car camp and right up the hill is a nice tent site as well overlooking the river," one visitor reported.
Pool facilities: Many campgrounds feature swimming pools as alternatives to river swimming. "The pool was incredibly large and CLEAN!!! I was surprised! It felt very refreshing and even had a adult swim time and attentive life guards," shared a camper at Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Spacious sites: Campers value campgrounds with room to spread out. A visitor to Ed Allen's Campground and Cottages noted, "So much to do here...biking, hiking... places for kids to run. The sites are clean and the owners are wonderful."
Convenience to attractions: Location between major attractions makes many campgrounds ideal basecamps. American Heritage RV Park received praise for being "very convenient to Williamsburg, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. The staff was exceptionally friendly and accommodating."
What you should know
Train noise impacts: Several campgrounds sit near active rail lines. "Nice, clean campsite. Only issue is you are right next to the train tracks so if you are a light sleeper you will hear those trains throughout the night," reported one camper at Ed Allen's Campground.
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds in the area operate limited schedules. Chippokes State Park Campground runs from "last Friday in March to first Monday in December," while Ed Allen's operates "March 28 - November 15."
Site variations: Campground quality varies significantly between different sections. At Thousand Trails Williamsburg, a camper noted, "Sites are close, many are not level, not very big rig friendly and satellite is near impossible due to trees."
Wildlife management areas: For primitive camping, permits are required. At Eagle Nest Lookout in Chickahominy WMA, a visitor emphasized, "No water, no toilet, Pack it in, Pack it out. LNT. There is a fire ring and a fire pit. The ground is well tamped down."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's activities. A visitor to Williamsburg Campground reported, "Lots to do with kids..... planned activities like Petting zoo, hayrides, and movie night, and campground amenities like a pool (was chilly though), bounce pillows, bikes, short hiking trails, and ice cream shop."
Swimming options: Pools provide safer swimming alternatives to rivers. At Chickahominy Riverfront Park, "The kids were able to ride around the park (it is small) and park is within sight. A few places to access the water and about as close as you can get to the capital trail. Dogs are allowed but must be on leashes. There is a pool and splash pad."
Safety considerations: Terrain and facilities vary greatly between established campgrounds and primitive sites. "The bathrooms and showers were good enough, typical camp showers. Bring your own soap and wear flip flops and you'll be fine," advised a camper at Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for local wildlife sightings. "We saw a fat raccoon, daring squirrels, a turtle, and vultures. There are gorgeous, HARMLESS, garden spiders that are shockingly large and bright yellow," reported one family camper.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites. At American Heritage RV Park, "Sites were concrete, level, and most had trees for shade. New section at rear of park is not well shaded but new construction."
Hookup quality: Electrical services vary between campgrounds. "Good connections for water cable and sewer. Wi-Fi was available and we had no problems connecting," noted a visitor to American Heritage RV Park, while another camper warned about other locations: "The electrical hook ups were all busted up, (I would not recommend using it without a surge guard), the water faucets leaked and the ground was soaked."
Space limitations: Some campgrounds pack RVs tightly. At Anvil Campground, one RVer reported, "This is a 4 acre parking lot with a good number and quality of very small amenities (pool, dog park) with 60 'sites' sandwiched between roads and very active train tracks."
Arrival timing: Consider mid-week arrivals for better site selection. "We arrived on opening day (March 19, 2021) for the season. They had unfortunately been a victim of the rain and the main road to the campground had washed out," warned a visitor to Thousand Trails Williamsburg.
