Best Campgrounds near Pamplin, VA

Campgrounds near Pamplin, Virginia range from developed state parks to rustic camping areas, situated in the heart of central Virginia's forested landscape. Holliday Lake State Park Campground offers tent, RV, cabin and glamping accommodations approximately 10 miles southwest of Pamplin, while Paradise Lake Family Campground provides water-oriented recreation with tent and RV sites about 15 miles to the west. The area features multiple public and private campgrounds with varying levels of development, from primitive tent sites to fully-equipped RV parks with hookups. Most campgrounds in the region sit within forested areas near lakes or rivers, creating diverse options for outdoor recreation.

Seasonal patterns significantly impact camping experiences in this region, with most campgrounds open from spring through fall. "This park was well maintained, as most state parks have been. However, the sites were a good size but were very difficult to get even a small trailer into the site due to the narrow roads," noted one visitor about Holliday Lake State Park. Several campgrounds, including Holliday Lake and Twin Lakes State Park, operate on seasonal schedules with limited or no availability in winter months. Cell service varies considerably throughout the area, with some parks having essentially no coverage—a feature some campers appreciate for disconnecting. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly.

Water access stands out as a defining feature of many campgrounds in the region. Several visitors mentioned swimming in lakes as a highlight, particularly at Holliday Lake State Park where the beach area includes features for children. The combination of fishing, hiking, and swimming makes these mixed-use campgrounds appealing for family trips. According to feedback on The Dyrt, campgrounds in the area typically have clean facilities but visitors should prepare for varying site conditions. "The sites are a good combination of sun and shade, great view of stars on clear nights," one camper reported. Terrain throughout the region tends to be hilly, which affects campsite leveling and hiking difficulty—several reviews recommended bringing leveling blocks for RVs. Most developed campgrounds in the region offer at least basic amenities including showers, restrooms, and picnic tables, though quality and maintenance vary between locations.

Best Camping Sites Near Pamplin, Virginia (62)

    1. Holliday Lake State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Prospect, VA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 248-6308

    $30 - $80 / night

    "Campground Review Holliday Lake State Park is located in the middle of the Buckingham State Forest, so it is completely surrounded by protected forest."

    "Short walk to the beach. Awesome staff. Awesome kids and learning program for the weekend. Really loved the lights in the water at night and nighttime walk."

    2. Canoe Landing Group Campsite — James River State Park

    27 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    25 miles
    Website

    $15 - $80 / night

    "We spent one night with our dogs at the walk-in campground at James Lake. It is a wonderful piece of nature. The campsites are far away from each other. Everything was very clean and taken care of."

    "Campsite was right next to lake, beautiful views and easy water access. While we were there in April we only saw a couple other groups, and no other campers were anywhere near us."

    3. Paradise Lake Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Appomattox, VA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 993-3332

    "Has beautiful pool and lake, playground, arcade, and boat rentals. Fishing, hiking, basketball. Very friendly staff all the time."

    "The bathroom was a good walk up the hill so bring your bikes. We would definitely go back though!"

    4. Twin Lakes State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Burkeville, VA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 392-3435

    "We hiked some of the trails, there is beautiful nature thT surrounds you. Close to the High Bridge and different Daily excursions."

    "The swimming lake has a nice beach and we happened to be there this last weekend and the temperature was nice and warm and the kids enjoyed playing on the beach and on the water playground."

    5. Red Oak Campground — James River State Park

    17 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    26 miles
    Website

    $35 / night

    "Nice campground in line with expectations for most Virginia state parks."

    "This state park was a great find on my way south, Off the beaten path with plenty of river frontage and ponds around. There are plenty of places to fish!"

    6. Thousand Trails Lynchburg

    7 Reviews
    Rustburg, VA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "The campground is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking trails (a plus!) but, definitely opt for a full hook-up site!"

    "This was the perfect spot to stay after a long drive. We saw bunnies and then lightening bugs. The pool was great for the kids."

    7. Walnut Grove — James River State Park

    11 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 933-8061

    $15 - $18 / night

    "Lake James is a true gem, clean and beautiful, with amazing views of Linville Gorge, Shortoff Mountain, and Table Rock. The State Park has several camping areas."

    "This is a lovely little campground set on the shores of James Lake. Sites are big enough for 2 small tents or 1 largish family tent. All sites have a picnic table, fire pit with grate, and bear box."

    8. Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Cumberland, VA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (804) 492-4410

    "The trails were marked once you got on one, not all were visible as trails. With that being said my pup and I took several paths not walked often without another soul or human sound."

    "Nice little state park close to Richmond and not too far from DC."

    9. Branch Pond — James River State Park

    9 Reviews
    Greenway, VA
    26 miles
    Website

    $15 - $18 / night

    "Located in the middle of nowhere off of narrow Virginia secondary roads, we were surprised to get good Verizon reception. We stayed on site 15 which is a long pull-thru."

    "Private, flat, and well maintained sites with great facilities, hiking/biking trails, and floating opportunities make this campground a good one to visit with family and friends!"

    10. 2nd 40 to 420 - The Farm

    Be the first to review!
    Pamplin, VA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 840-6898

    $30 - $420 / night

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Recent Reviews near Pamplin, VA

412 Reviews of 62 Pamplin Campgrounds


  • Bradley M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Glen Maury Park

    Beautiful place with all the amenities

    Overnight stay off I-81. Easy in and out. VERY well kept and super friendly staff. I highly recommend. Larger rigs need to stay in the lower campground and there are no sewer connections, but the dump station is all good.

  • Brian B.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Twin Lakes State Park Campground

    Very close together …

    This time we were in a tent, but I’m glad we only stayed one night. I do have to say that the lakes were nice. The swimming was OK and the facilities were decent.

    We went camping as a group and we held four campsites. The proximity was not a super big problem given that it was a group.

  • Brian B.
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Occoneechee 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.
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Occoneechee 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.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Paradise Lake Family Campground

    Not more than one night

    This is an older campground and shows its age…and wear. There are several semi-permanent residents here. Some facilities need repair and/or maintenance. Water in the shower was hot, but the showers were small, and there was no place for d as iso, shaving things, shampoo, ets. And no place to sit to. There is a pool and a lake with a swim beach. Kayak rental. Playground, laundry, showers/ bathrooms are passable. Internet is very slow.

  • madison F.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Cozy Acres Campground RV Resort

    cute - family oriented

    only planned on staying a night but ended up staying for two.

    had the most unique store filled with actual tools/useful equipment and ANTIQUES!! so cute and LOVED the game room - definitely the best options we’ve seen so far HOWEVER it closed the same time as store hours so timing was extremely awkward.

    bathhouses appeared super nice at first but were filled with water by the end of the day - absolutely disgusting to stand in other people’s shower water. water pressure was also insane haha.

    defo family oriented …. super friendly though.

    also have to call to book

    very friendly camp hosts!! helped us avoid hurricane erin

  • Steven M.
    Jul. 14, 2025

    Martin's Landing Camp

    Great Fishing Private sites

    The sites are spread out and have privacy. All but 1 site is waterfront. You can drift from your site. There are inflatables for rent. Two Porta potties on sight. There is a long walking trail and free Kayaks

  • L
    Jul. 1, 2025

    James River Wildlife Management Area

    Worth the drive for the solitude

    I was unsure if I was in the right area. I never saw another person camping, but I did get out of my rig and ask a couple of people that were using brush hogs to mow with and they said Yep come on down here and just park wherever you want to as long as it’s not within 300 feet of the boat put in. Everything else is fair game, it’s for me being in the 29 foot classy. I opted to park it in a field/parking area at the entrance. I was the only one here all day.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 10, 2025

    George Washington National Forest off 812

    Awesome sites next to creek.

    Showed up around 5pm and were the only ones there. 6-8 different sites, all are beautiful and most are right next to the creek. There was a fire ring and man made stone oven at the site we chose.


Guide to Pamplin

Camping near Pamplin, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are several campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Biking: Enjoy the trails at Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "We wanted to stay at a park that had a nice trail system attached to walk about during the day."
  • Fishing: The lakes around Red Oak Campground are great for fishing. A camper shared, "There are plenty of places to fish! The ponds are full for Largemouth Bass and Bluegills."
  • Kayaking: The Canoe Landing Group Campsite is perfect for kayaking. One reviewer said, "We kayaked to our campsite and it was private and secluded."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers at Twin Lakes State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "The bathhouse was very clean and well maintained."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peaceful environment at Walnut Grove. One camper remarked, "Peaceful, quiet, only a few sites. Separated nicely. Gorgeous views."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. At Holliday Lake State Park Campground, a visitor said, "The staff are friendly and check on you frequently."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Many campgrounds, like Red Oak Campground, have spotty cell service. One camper mentioned, "Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data."
  • Permit Requirements: Some sites, like Canoe Landing Group Campsite, require permits. A reviewer noted, "Permit required, pets allowed, picnic table."
  • Crowded on Weekends: Popular spots can get busy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground said, "The sites are pretty close together, but that's more of a personal preference!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with amenities like playgrounds and swimming areas. At Paradise Lake Family Campground, one parent said, "Has beautiful pool and lake, playground, arcade, and boat rentals."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A camper at Holliday Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "We watched a Bald Eagle and an Osprey for over an hour while kayaking on the lake."
  • Pack for Comfort: Make sure to bring comfortable sleeping gear. A visitor at Branch Pond noted, "The sites are larger too!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Conditions: Some sites may require leveling. A reviewer at Holliday Lake State Park Campground said, "For RV’ers bring your leveling blocks - you will need them!"
  • Look for Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups, which can be a lifesaver. A camper at Lynchburg RV Resort mentioned, "This campground needs some TLC but we had everything for an enjoyable stay."
  • Explore Different Loops: Some campgrounds have multiple loops with varying conditions. A visitor at Lynchburg RV Resort said, "The C Loop is very nice and in good condition, in comparison."

Camping near Pamplin, Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With beautiful parks and friendly communities, it’s a great spot to enjoy the great outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Pamplin, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Pamplin, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 62 campgrounds and RV parks near Pamplin, VA and 6 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Pamplin, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pamplin, VA is Holliday Lake State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 10 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Pamplin, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Pamplin, VA.