6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
James River State Park Campground provides equestrian camping options with dedicated horse facilities and trails. The campground features specialized horse stalls in a separate equestrian camping area and accommodates riders with trail access to over 15 miles of bridle paths. Tent sites, RV spots, and cabins are available for equestrians looking to stay overnight with their horses. The park maintains well-marked trails suitable for various skill levels and offers water access points for horses along several routes. Horse owners appreciate the clean facilities and ample space between campsites. The grounds are well-maintained with level, gravel areas to park horse trailers.
Connected to the James River with multiple river access points, the trail system offers varied terrain for riders seeking both challenging and leisurely experiences. The equestrian trails wind through wooded areas, open fields, and along waterways, providing diverse riding environments. Riders can access the trail system directly from the campground, eliminating the need to transport horses after arrival. The park provides amenities including picnic tables and fire rings at each site, with bathhouses featuring clean shower facilities. Seasonal programs and guided activities are available, including occasional ranger-led trail rides and equestrian events. The campground remains open year-round with varying seasonal conditions affecting trail access and riding opportunities.
"There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses. The cabins and lodges have 2, 3, and 6 bedrooms and look beautiful. There is even a canoe-in campground. "
"Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly."
from $37 - $98 / night
Check Availability"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $32 - $427 / night
Check Availability"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner. Could get muddy if you're there after rain"
"Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."
from $12 / night
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ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
ScoutGood facilities for a NP campground
ScoutVery clean and quiet. Good services, including firewood availability. Drawback is that it’s 7.5 miles down a dead end road. Closet gas is at least 10 miles and groceries are a half hour away. Go prepared.
GuideFirst campground in a week, that had great water pressure! Has free laundry, clean bathrooms, free mini golf, activities , restaurant and bar. Pretty darn awesome
RangerThis is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
GuideGreat summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
TravelerBeautiful spot. The campsite is across the street from the lodge. G-Maps and Apple will take you to the lodge however. Loved the Freeform and “make your own” spot vibe
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
GuideI chose Big Meadows to stay at because my traveling companion is definitely a bit bougie and was anxious about camping in the mountains of a NP. Due to this site having showers, toilets, a laundromat, camp store(s) and even a lodge/taproom, they felt more comfortable. We stayed at site D142, right near the entrance by the registration office and showers. I didn’t expect the site to be so nice and quiet and still feel quite private despite the location! We checked out the loops and besides the tent sites, I actually preferred our site. We stayed the week before Memorial Day weekend and I was pleased with how quiet it was. Quiet hours were strictly adhered without rangers having to ask, other campers were respectful toward each other and we had no issues. The NP staff were awesome and the concession employees for the showers, camp store, and the Wayside grill were genuinely friendly and obviously cared about their jobs, which I sincerely appreciate. Wayside grill with attached camp store was fun and had some great gift items as well as some pretty solid quality hiking and camping items. The grill even had a beyond burger which I greatly appreciated! The lodge was funky but not my cup of tea, the taproom was ok, although the employees were really nice.
It did rain half the time we were there with extremely heavy fog so we only did a few hikes but they were still a lot of fun. We didn’t see any bear either! The number one animal we had invade our campsite on the regular were birds. Two catbirds regularly tried to involve themselves in everything, including landing on a pot of oatmeal I was actively cooking and standing next to! We followed leave no trace of course but any chance the birds got, from catbirds, robins, brown thrashers, towhee, and even a redstart, they would try to investigate.
There is clean drinking water listed on the campsite maps, there are utility sinks for grey water (don’t use the bathroom sink!), bathrooms were always clean and bathrooms and showers are open 24/7 and are well lit. I didn’t buy the firewood so I’m unsure how much it is but the little camp store was open from 9-6 (right by the bathroom) for firewood, ice, and other various supplies.
Only downsides to the site are 1) showers are not cheap ($5 for 10 mins) and don’t stay warm for long so you’re showering in chilly water. Some stalls last a bit longer than others. 2) The biggest issue though was surprisingly the bear boxes. They are quite large and fit a lot of stuff which is great. However, you are expected to keep your cooler in them. I have a bear proof cooler (IGBC) so I’ve never had to experience this situation before. The bear box being made of metal, heated everything up in it which caused rapid melting of ice. Despite pre-chilling it and my ice usually lasting for days and days, we had to refill it daily. The camp store thankfully sold ice (10 lb bags for $5) but it was frustrating that there was no other option for bear proof items. I didn’t fight the rangers regarding it because it’s their rules, it’s for the safety of the bears and people, and the rangers and park staff have enough stuff to deal with.
All in all, I’ve never really glamped before so it was quite a luxurious trip even with the rain and fog for half the trip. I’ll most definitely be back and would even stay at the same site or a tent only site with no driveway.
James River State Park expands beyond equestrian facilities to offer multiple camping experiences near Nellysford, Virginia. Located at approximately 900 feet elevation in central Virginia, the park encompasses 1,500 acres along the James River with diverse terrain including meadows, forests, and riverside spots. Camping options range from primitive sites to fully-equipped cabins, with summer temperatures typically reaching the 80s-90s°F and cooler autumn nights in the 50s-60s°F.
Stargazing sessions: James River State Park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park, making it ideal for nighttime astronomy. At Red Oak Campground, you can experience exceptional star visibility. "The park is part of the Dark Sky Parks Association and if you are into astronomy and stars this is the place to stay," notes Bridget H.
Swimming and water activities: The area offers several water recreation options beyond horseback riding. 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," shares Katie M.
Hiking trails for various skill levels: The region provides trails ranging from easy lake loops to more challenging mountain paths. At Big Meadows Campground, "With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," says Rachel M.
River access points: Many campgrounds provide convenient water entry for fishing, paddling, and cooling off. "The grounds and river access are stunning," writes Katie T. about Red Oak Campground. Another camper mentions, "Absolutely clean, crystal clear water and never crowded. Both of my trips were during the summer and over a weekend and we seldom came across others."
Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently praise the upkeep of campgrounds in the Nellysford area. "The bathhouse is kept very clean. It has a lake for swimming, boating, and fishing," notes Erica M. about Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground.
Privacy between sites: Several horse campgrounds near Nellysford offer spacious camping areas. At Big Meadows Campground, "Big Meadow has many amenities which make it popular and oftentimes crowded during weekends and holiday's... Campground was busy but never felt like we were sharing someone else's tent stakes," observes Jacob S.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. At James River State Park Campground, "Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work," reports Micah B.
Bear safety protocols: Several parks enforce strict food storage rules. "Big Meadows Campground was wonderful. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Bear box for food storage," notes Terri S. Some campgrounds may fine campers for improper food storage.
Weekend crowding: Most equestrian campgrounds near Nellysford experience higher visitor numbers Friday through Sunday. "It's an older state park with mature shade trees but well maintained... it was still pretty quiet even on a full weekend," shares Karin P.
Educational ranger programs: Many parks offer structured activities for children. At Shenandoah Crossing, "We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night," mentions Bridget H.
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Look for designated shallow sections for younger children. "There is a great swimming area with a little kids area that was so fun," writes Katie M. about Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children can observe native animals in their natural habitat. "Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife," shares Terri S. about Big Meadows Campground, where deer frequently wander through camping areas.
Site leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven parking areas. At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, "We were in the first spot on a row and it had a slant. The others looked pretty level," notes Brenda L.
Hookup availability: Services vary widely between parks in the region. "The sites were full hookup. A grill and table and chairs were also available," shares Brenda L. about Shenandoah Crossing, while some equestrian campgrounds offer only basic amenities.
Length restrictions: Be aware of size limitations before arrival. "Limit on RV length to 35 feet. This includes tow vehicle and trailer," cautions Erica M. about Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Nellysford, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Nellysford, VA is Red Oak Campground — James River State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Nellysford, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Nellysford, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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