Best Tent Camping near Mechanicsville, VA

Hello,

Wow is all I have to say about this camping trip. It was partially our own fault because we had to rush in and didn’t research local bug populations. But holy crap! We kayaked in a sunset which was gorgeous and their were six tent sites. 4 of which were close together and two new ones which were really nice. No one was there but us. You can boat or hike in. We did primitive tent camping and it was so beautiful with our own lake view and private site for the time being but the BUGS were from another planet. We had super mutant mosquitoes and horse flies. They were resisitant to citronella candles, essential oils, and bug spray with 40% deet. We only found relief in the water. They invaded our tent as well and spent an hour in the evenings killing them before bed but still woke up with welts. If we come back it will be in winter when there are NO BUGS!!!!!! (Hopefully)

My son and I went here at the end of August for our first tent camping trip and even with the heat it was still great it’s a beautiful spot and the camp host was super friendly

We've spent a number of nights tent camping at Christopher Run. The people who manage the site are very nice. The campground and bathrooms are kept clean. The bathrooms are even air-conditioned. Christopher Run has a boat launch as well.

Beautiful area with views of the York River. Tons of cabins and house rentals along with RV and tent camping sights. It is located on a military base so access is limited to those with base access. The base is more of an industrial area with lots of traffic but some of the cabins sit back on the water so noise is not an issue.

I could not wait to get there! I was so excited to go fossil hunting! Camping was way too cramped for me as we tent camp and were stuck surrounded by RVs. The people next to us could be heard whispering! That being said, the fossil hunting was fun and my hubby found a few neat sharks teeth. The hiking was a blast and fishing was productive and fun! Next time though we will just day trip it as I never want to camp that closely to others again - ugh

We ended up staying here because everything else was booked and we needed a place to stay for the kiddos soccer tournament. The sites are close but not on top of each other. We have an RV but there are cabins and tent sites. There are paved and dirt roads/trails, a pond, shower areas and is right on the water. They also have a light game by the showers that the kids loved. We’ll be back!

The best thing that is offered here is there is a pool! There are many amenities in addition. There are boat rentals, fishing, beach, docks, picnic areas, cabins, tent camping, rv camping, trail hiking, etc. The visitor center is large with a small gift shop/camp store. The group sites are very nice. The whole park is very well maintained and large. The cabins are clean and accommodating. The view from most cabins along the water are so nice. There are random exercise machines placed along trials to enhance workouts. My only gripe is the camp site pads. They're made of very loose gravel which I find bothersome as the little rocks get into our shoes and the tent stakes slid out easily.

We just got back from spending the weekend here. We chose to spend our weekend tent camping and could not have been happier with our decision. My daughter LOVED being able to walk all trails. We were a bit disappointed the boardwalk was closed (but we still loved walking the rest of the trails). There were lots of families here and everyone was happy to be there. Both beaches were very walkable on the trails from campsite C. We felt like we had all out own space, but when you walked around it was great to have the feeling of a small community of people who were all there for the same reason...to enjoy being outside!

Love this park. Lots of biting flies and mosquitoes during the summer! The left loop sites are a good size but not much shade or privacy. I would definitely stay in the right loop area next time for tent camping. Newer bathrooms and showers. Pretty basic camping setup with fire ring and picnic table. 

We love the pool in the summer! Free pool passes when you camp there. It has never been too crowded for us. The plantation area is pretty cool with a farming equipment museum and  farm animals. Great playgrounds for the kids. Love the hiking trails here and hunting for fossils at the beach. 

Overall, not a bad experience, just bring your bug spray and sunscreen!

While we only camped here for one night, we enjoyed the park from check in to checkout!

Since we tent camp our site was dry and had no amenities but there were full hook up sites available. Our site was nestled in with the full hook up sites so it was as far away from the bathrooms as possible, not a big deal just something to note.

Since we visited in March, the trees did not have much foliage so the sites were more exposed than I tend to prefer and lots of the campers around left their outside RV lights on all night.

Being in campground A, we were only a short walk to the trail leading to fossil beach which was beautiful!

I LOVE this park. The tent sites are awesome and mine have always been pretty private feeling despite being somewhat near others. Bathhouses are always SO clean and heated in the winter. So appreciate the recycling bins. I love the sharks’ teeth display in the shop and when I was there they were working on putting bones together of a whale that was found! At the time of my visit a couple of weeks ago there was a bit of algae in the water that could cause irritation to stomach and skin, so just be mindful of this. I did hike down to fossil beach but definitely avoided the water. If you’re anything like me, traveling for peace and quiet and solitude, I highly recommend Sunday and Monday nights if you have flexibility with jobs etc. It was SUPER quiet during my stay. Absolutely wonderful. Oh - and check for ticks and bring your bug spray. Gotta love humid Virginia summers! I had site A22 and it was away from a bit compared to other sites.

Stopped off at this campground after finding it while passing though just before Labor Day weekend. While it was the last weekend for the pool before its closure and while they were in the process of working on some of the plumbing at the campground, it was a well put together campground which was very impressive.

Located somewhat remotely from the larger community and near several places of interest along the road, this camp was a great stop for a tent camper like myself. They offer a basic tent site for $26 with nice bath houses. For full connections the price does rise slightly offering both both 20/30 amp and 50 amp connections for RVs.

The roads around the camp are gravel and a little bumpy but the sites themselves were pretty level and grassy for tents which was pretty nice. Sites are located far enough off the road that road noise is minimal.

I did also notice they have cabin rentals available and a pretty nice little store with lots of options for those who didn't bring everything with them.

For being a state park, Lake Anna is one of the best I've been to. Although we only tent camped, I noticed a lot of things about the campground that would welcome RVs as well. There were large back-in sites as well as pull-through sites. There was also a dump station. Campers can choose sites with or without electricity. This campground is ADA accessible with the lantern hangers having lower hooks for those in wheelchairs, and at least one of the cabins has a wheelchair ramp. The bath house was clean, and I especially liked the privacy of individual shower rooms. Since it is a state park, it lacks some amenities that privately owned campgrounds have, but camping in a state park is about enjoying the natural features of the park, There are opportunities for motor boating, kayaking, swimming, hiking, fishing, etc. The only downside I found was that the grass really needed mowing. Even though there had been a few rainy days, the grass at our campsite was knee high and higher.

This state park is amazing, it is close to the Richmond metro but allows an easy and wonderful retreat to nature. I was there in early June, and it wasnt crowded, though I can imagine it might be later in the summer. There are numerous camping options here, ranging from tent camping to RV’s to camper cabins to yurts, to regular full service glamping cabins, all in different sections. There is also an area set aside that could be rented for a group retreat or group summer camp, with groups of cabins around meeting space and dining hall area. The full service cabins are new and very upscale; the camper cabins are older but well maintained. The yurts are lovely too. I car camped in a standard site, all the campsites are wooded, shady, fairly private and well spaced. The park is huge and has lots of recreation, from miles of hiking and riding trails, biking and more. Very family friendly, with playgrounds, an incredible waterpark and pool, and nature programs at the visitor center. There is also a summer series of concerts etc in the park. Highly recommended!

This campground is family and dog friendly and close to Williamsburg tourist destinations.  It has multiple sites for rvs, tents, camping cabins, yurts, and nicer more fully equipped cabins with bathrooms.  They even have a fantastic dog bath and holding kennel in case you have more than one dog.  They have a pool with a sprayground and a grassy area with ping pong and corn hole.  Plus, they always have activities for the kids.  Love this place and can't wait to go back.

So much to say! We’ve loved our trips to Pocahontas, even in the cold months of December and March. For one, the bathrooms/showers are nice and toasty (and super clean). I was there in December for a camping and mountain biking trip with Scouts. The group site we were at was very spacious and private. There were a few RV/tent sites nearby but not very close. We felt quite secluded but it wasn’t too far to walk to the bathrooms. The bike trails were epic fun! Some areas were more challenging than others, likely because there had been a lot of rain and wet leaves on steep bike trails can be tough to avoid slipping/sliding. But we made the best of it. I returned a few months later for a NOLS Wilderness First Aid course that was held in a large dining hall on the park’s property. It couldn’t have been more perfect! We camped there and drove to the dining hall each day for class. It was very well-organized! I have fond memories of this park and look forward to returning during other times of the year for more fun things to participate in!

Chippokes is a gem! Quaint park with a variety of activities. You can tour the mansion on the property along with some other historical sites, or just take a stroll along the shoreline of the gorgeous, sprawling James River. My son, furbaby, and I camped in their RV/tent site with easy access to their bathrooms which were spotless (and maintained multiple times a day) and warm! We bought firewood (there is a drop where you can just deposit money and grab a bundle) next to the bathrooms along with a locked ice bin so you can buy ice from the campground host. Everything we saw was well-maintained. We navigated our way to a mile-hike to the river so we could fish off a kayak dock. I was surprised when we arrived that they don’t rent kayaks (though it appears they have the capability to, perhaps they only do it for special occasions or times of year). All the staff we encountered were super friendly and helpful. You can even buy ice cream at the visitors center! This was a big plus for my son. We’ll definitely be returning!

We had a nice time. The campground was clean & the staff, maintenance, & volunteers were all very helpful & friendly. We stayed at tent site #7 we were right by the bathroom/shower house. When we arrived the site was clean & ready for use. We weren’t excited about being so close to so many people & the bathroom door needs to be fixed because every time some went to the bathroom we would hear the door SLAM shut all hours of the night. The bathroom toilets clogged several times but were usually fixed within the hour. We were camping when every single site was filled so it was busy. We prefer a lot more privacy we were within 3 feet of our neighbors & 10 feet of 6-7 camp sites. There were more people than there was trees & wildlife. It is a nice park, lots of beautiful trails, a small “beach”, a lake to fish in, & multiple really nice playgrounds for kids. Tons of amenities. We will likely not go back but this wasn’t because of the campground or the employees, we just prefer more a primitive campsite w/ lots of privacy, nature, & more lakes to fish in.

This is an amazing recreational campground for military families and retirees that is located right on the York River between Williamsburg and Yorktown. It is immediately adjacent to the Colonial Parkway for easy access to historic Jamestown as well, making for a great base for exploring the historic sites and state and national parks of the area. There are several Navy Bases in the area, so this is an easy retreat for active duty folks, but also open to uniformed service personnel or retirees and families from all over the country.

The campground is multi-faceted. There is everything for everyone—camper cabins (some dog friendly and some handicapped accessible) as well as an RV park with hookups as needed, and also standard tent sites as well as primitive tent cents. The various camping areas surround a central recreational area that includes golf course, playground and swimming pool, but there are also wooded hiking trails, two lakes with rowboats and kayaks and fishing, as well as shoreline and piers on the York River itself. The RV campground has a nice central bath house with showers snd toilets as well as laundry facilities. There is a small convenience store as well as a cafe if needed, but you are so close to Williamsburg and its myriad cafes and shops that you have amazing options! We have stayed here several times now, in fall and spring, and it was a great home base for exploring the whole “historic triangle

For 6 nights in late August 2018, my boyfriend and I stayed at a tent campsite with our 4 girls, ages 10-16. We needed a budget friendly option and shopped online to compare reviews. We had 3 day passes to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg and Water Country USA, so we needed to be within a short drive from the parks. Chickahominy Riverfront Park was the answer to our prayers! We had a beautiful spot along the river, so two of the girls spent every moment at the camp swimming and talking girl talk. The campsites were spacious and we had no immediate neighbors, so we spread out. The park rangers drove by every few hours and seemed very friendly and helpful, not invasive. They never complained about my boyfriend's car parked a campsite over, or about our game tent that was completely in the next site.

One secret goal was to experiment with different campfire food. We may campfire chili, biscuits and gravy, layered nachos, bacon egg and cheese English muffins, and omelettes. We also had the traditional s'mores and hotdogs, (covered in campfire chili!)

I was prepared for the passing thunderstorms. We picked up tarps and ropes and strung them up over our cooking area and the entrance to our tents. Most of the time, we were not at the campsite during the rain, but it did help while the trees drained afterwards. We were camping next to the "Jones's," so we got touches of tent envy, but then laughed to ourselves when it took them all morning to pack up thier Castle and small village.

The swimming pool was incredibly large and CLEAN!!! I was surprised! It felt very refreshing and even had a adult swim time and attentive life guards.

The bathrooms and showers were good enough, typical camp showers. Bring your own soap and wear flip flops and you'll be fine. There's a utility sink outside the bathhouse to scrub things off as well. We didn't see the dumpster the first couple days, it is across the street from the bathhouse. Use it whenever you leave or sleep, or all the beautiful wild animals will snack on it! We saw a fat raccoon, daring squirrels, a turtle, and vultures. There are gorgeous, HARMLESS, garden spiders that are shockingly large and bright yellow. My boyfriend also saw a harmless black snake on a trail.

This campground caters to fishermen. The camp store has very limited food. They do have fishing gear and ice.

I do have one regret. I opted to leave the bikes at home, not knowing this campground also caters to people riding the Virginia Creeper bike trail!!! it went for miles and was beautiful!!! Next time!

We camp a lot, and loved this gem. Check it out!

This is the largest state campground in VA. It is very pretty and clean. Nice facilities modern but not new, clean. Lots of tents and good level tent areas at each camp site. You have a little bit of room and the sites are tucked back in the trees. It was a quite night, I slept right through. North Star Truck Camper GMC 2500HD. One more in my quest for 1state park in every state, 4/50!