Camping sites near Midlothian, Virginia span across gently rolling terrain at elevations between 150-400 feet above sea level. The region's clay soil can impact site drainage after rainstorms, particularly during Virginia's spring rainy season when monthly precipitation averages 3-4 inches. Smaller campgrounds near Midlothian often maintain fewer than 40 sites, creating lower-density camping environments compared to larger parks in the region.
What to do
Archery practice: Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground offers a dedicated archery range for target practice. According to camper Erica M., "There is even an archery range. There are programs every weekend. There is hiking trails throughout as well."
Paddling options: Access multiple waterways within 30 minutes of Midlothian. At Powhatan State Park Campground, you can explore the James River. A visitor notes, "The park has lots of trails, miles of open meadows, and James River access. Great park for bicycling."
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds maintain designated swimming areas for summer recreation. At Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground, "There is a great swimming area with a little kids area that was so fun! We did a hike around the whole lake, lots of great views."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple stocked ponds and lake access points provide varied fishing experiences. At Cozy Acres Campground, "They have a catch and release pond, a nice pool, a rec center and an additional catfish pond."
Trail exploration: Access extensive trail networks suitable for various skill levels. A Richmond North KOA visitor mentioned, "Kid friendly biking around the park. Also saw many with electric scooters and golf carts."
What campers like
Privacy at select sites: Some campgrounds offer more secluded options if booked early. At Americamps RV Resort, "While the sites were close together in typical RV park style, they were not scrapping together like we've seen at some places and there were many well established trees to provide lots of shade instead of being in an open field."
Unique shower facilities: Powhatan State Park features individual bathroom units. A camper described, "Bathrooms are individual with a shower in each one. Lots of geocaching on grounds, fishing, hiking, boat launch, canoe racks, playground, a store with a nature center."
Seasonal events: Campgrounds organize special activities during key periods. At Richmond North - Kings Dominion KOA, "Had a great time for Halloween here. Will be back."
Comfort features: Some sites include improved tent pads. At Bear Creek Lake, "Our tent pad was covered in rubber pieces which made for a comfortable base for our tent, and the separate area with fire pit, picnic table and pattern hooks was awesome."
Morning amenities: Free breakfast is available at select locations. According to a visitor at Americamps, "There is a FREE breakfast every morning in the rally room. The morning we were there they were making waffles, and had bagels, pastries, fruit, and a variety of drinks to include coffee."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for leveling. At Cozy Acres Campground RV Resort, a camper reported, "We were on site seven which was very long but very unlevel."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby attractions or highways. At Picture Lake Campground, "There's a drag race strip across the lake that's extremely noisy."
Size restrictions: Vehicle length limits apply at certain parks. A visitor at Bear Creek Lake noted, "Limit on RV length to 35 feet. This includes tow vehicle and trailer."
Seasonal operations: Not all campgrounds maintain year-round operations. Cozy Acres Campground operates from April 1 through November 15, requiring off-season alternative arrangements.
Trail conditions: Hiking paths may require maintenance after weather events. A Powhatan State Park visitor noted, "Well maintained trails, level sites. No river access in campground."
Tips for camping with families
Junior Ranger programs: Engage children with educational activities. At Powhatan State Park, "Staff were wonderful, huge place that is well kept, trails are trimmed back daily... and a Junior Ranger program for the kids."
Site selection for water safety: Consider proximity to water features with young children. A Bear Creek Lake camper advised, "The water view loop was not heavily trafficked, though the water does provide a hazard if you have small children as it is not roped off in any way."
Pet-friendly beaches: Some parks offer designated areas for dogs. According to a Bear Creek Lake visitor, "Bonus is having the dog only section at the swimming beach, which made for a fun afternoon with our pups."
Theme park access: For family outings, consider parks with shuttle service. A Kings Dominion KOA visitor mentioned, "They have a shuttle service to the amusement park that runs by roughly every 25-30 mins. They even run until 12-1 in the morning for those who plan to do the Haunt the park has during the Fall/Halloween season."
Plant hazards: Watch for poison ivy during summer months. A Bear Creek Lake camper warned, "Just worth a mention that my kids came back with poison ivy everywhere, so watch out for that!"
Tips from RVers
Early arrival benefits: Some campgrounds accommodate early check-in. At Americamps, "Check-in is at noon, but our road trip got us there about 11:20 and the staff had no problem letting us in early."
Site assistance: Staff at several parks help with positioning. An Americamps visitor noted, "A host guides you to your site and assist you in positioning if needed."
Hookup types: Verify electrical service levels before arrival. A Bear Creek Lake visitor clarified, "No full hookup (yes 30/50 amp)."
Concrete pad availability: Select campgrounds offer improved surfaces. According to an Americamps RV Resort visitor, "All the sites were level, most were gravel, but some were concrete pads."
First-timer support: Novice RV campers can find assistance at select parks. An Americamps visitor shared, "We used this campground to do our shakedown with our new travel trailer. We let them know we were newbies and they were most accommodating! A staff member lead us to our site and stayed to help us set up and was most knowledgeable."
