Equestrian camping near Orange, Virginia offers a variety of accommodations including horseback riding opportunities, cabins, RV sites, and primitive tent camping. The region sits at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with elevations ranging from 400-600 feet, creating moderate temperatures ideal for year-round camping. Horse-friendly campgrounds typically provide trailer parking, access to riding trails, and proximity to natural attractions.
What to do
Trail riding in Shenandoah National Park: Located about 20 miles from Big Meadows Campground, the park offers extensive riding trails with mountain views. "There are several campsites available at this National Park. I like this campsite particularly because its close to one of my favorite waterfall hikes in VA," notes reviewer Tom C.
Visit local wineries: Several wineries operate within 15 miles of the camping areas. At Shenandoah Crossing, one camper mentioned, "Beautiful grounds, something for everyone. Large back in sites. Three pools, playground, marina, Minigolf, stables and bike rental. Several wineries near by."
Fishing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer stocked ponds or river access. A camper at Fort Valley Ranch shared, "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill. Also, the availability of horseback trail riding was an added bonus."
What campers like
Private camping sites: Campgrounds with good spacing between sites are highly rated. At Powhatan State Park Campground, campers appreciate the layout: "Sites are very spacious and good distance between other campers. Nice privacy. Large Bath house dump stations were great."
Wildlife viewing: The area offers frequent wildlife encounters. A Big Meadows camper reported, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses are frequently mentioned. "The bathrooms were a nice short walk away," noted one Big Meadows visitor, while another camper at Powhatan stated, "The park and grounds are extremely well-maintained. I was very happy to see such a clean bathhouse."
What you should know
Site selection impacts experience: Not all sites are created equal. "After staying for two weeks, the bathhouse next to our site was closed because of lack of electricity. Which forced us to drive up to the indoor pool and use the showers there," reported a visitor at Shenandoah Crossing.
Weather considerations: The mountains create variable conditions. A camper at Big Meadows noted, "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water."
Bug activity: Insects can be problematic in some seasons. "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head and try to enter every orifice for some reason. A head net was helpful to get the tent and screen room set up," reported one Big Meadows visitor.
Reservation planning: Most equestrian camping sites near Orange fill quickly during peak seasons. At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, a visitor advised, "Sites are first come, first served -- there are a few 'primo' spots, but get there before noon to nab them."
Tips for camping with families
Farm activities: Horse-friendly campgrounds often have additional farm attractions. At Graves Mountain, one camper noted, "For kids, there is a duck pond, chicken coop, shallow brook, disable farm tractor, and some other stuff to play with/on/in across the street near the lodge."
Ranger programs: Educational opportunities abound at national and state parks. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground," shared a visitor at Big Meadows.
Playground access: Some campgrounds provide dedicated play areas. A visitor at Lichtman Camp mentioned facilities specifically for children, while another camper at Powhatan State Park noted, "Many picnic areas and a playground."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Be prepared for uneven sites at some campgrounds. A Fort Valley Ranch camper shared, "All the RV sites were impressively level, with only minimal leveling needed," while another at Powhatan noted, "Some sites were very level. We were on site seven which was very long but very unlevel."
Road access: Check road conditions before arrival. "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us," reported a Fort Valley Ranch visitor.
Hookup availability: Connections vary between campgrounds. At Graves Mountain, primitive camping is the norm, while Powhatan campers note, "No full hookup (yes 30/50 amp)."
