E
Elaine S.
Scout
ScoutGwynns Island RV Resort
Nice spot!
Mostly seasonal, people are very welcoming. Only downside was we had no t mobile service and WiFi was unreliable.
Camping near Onancock, VA
50 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
Camping near Onancock, Virginia spans coastal and inland options on Virginia's Eastern Shore, from waterfront RV parks and tent sites to cabin rentals, with campgrounds situated between the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Notable facilities include Kiptopeke State Park Campground near Cape Charles and Thousand Trails Virginia Landing in Quinby, both offering waterfront access. The region features several state parks and private campgrounds accommodating tents, RVs, and cabin rentals, with many sites providing direct water access for boating and fishing. Campers can explore nearby attractions including Assateague Island National Seashore, known for its wild horses and pristine beaches, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge with its extensive wildlife viewing opportunities.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, typically from March through November, with limited year-round options. Summer months bring hot, humid conditions with significant insect activity, particularly mosquitoes in marshy areas. According to reviews, bug spray is essential during warmer months. Fall camping is recommended for milder temperatures and fewer insects. Reservations are strongly advised, especially for waterfront sites and during peak summer weekends. Many campgrounds require bookings months in advance, particularly for holiday periods. Weather conditions can change rapidly in this coastal region, with potential for strong winds and occasional storms.
The camping experience varies significantly between oceanside and bayside locations. Oceanside campgrounds like those at Assateague offer direct beach access but have more exposure to wind and sun with limited shade. As one visitor noted, "If you're camping at Assateague, bring stakes for sand and guy your tent properly. I witnessed many collapsed tents due to wind." Bayside campgrounds typically provide calmer waters ideal for families with small children and more protection from ocean breezes. Inland options like Pocomoke River State Park offer shaded forest camping with access to kayaking and canoeing, serving as convenient base camps for exploring both beach areas and inland attractions while avoiding coastal accommodation prices.
Best Campgrounds near Onancock (50)
1. Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday
"We stopped for one night in order to see some friends and wished we would have had more time because the surrounding area looks like there is lots to do and see."
"The seasonal weekenders had gone home, and we preferred the larger, more private area behind the site to walk our dogs."
from $35 - $159 / night
Check Availability2. Janes Island State Park Campground
"There are fire road trails which are more like paths through the woods. Very flat. Be sure to wear DEET as the chiggers and ticks are crazy hungry there."
"There are fire road trails which are more like paths through the woods. Very flat. Be sure to wear DEET as the chiggers and ticks are crazy hungry there."
from $21 - $87 / night
Check Availability3. Thousand Trails Virginia Landing
"Was a nice place to stay about 1.5 hour drive to either Virginia Beach or assateage."
"We stayed near the water with full hookups. This place is absolutely beautiful and must have been amazing in its prime. No updates are being made and most everything was shut down."
4. Jellystone Park™ Chincoteague Island
"Campground has easy walking access to the National Park, shops, restaurants, and mini golf. Just outside the gate is the water park and food truck court."
"BUT we do pick them based on the outdoor activities we can do from the campground itself via bike riding or walking. Since we don’t bring a car location is very important to us."
5. Tom's Cove Park
"People driving around in golf carts cheering, people playing board games at the campsite next door...sleep was difficult."
"Close to the Marina, Downtown, The Blvd and the Beach. Staff are helpful but also gives you space to live."
from $4200 / night
Check Availability6. Sun Outdoors Cape Charles
"It's nearby for Tidewater Virginia campers. Great swimming, fishing, boating and playground opportunities"
"This campground is close to Virginia Beach and is super accessible . My kids loved the paddleboats as well as the waterpark. There is a general store and a little arcade ."
7. Bayside Assateague Campground — Assateague Island National Seashore
"We enjoyed bike riding around the island, catching glimpses of the wild ponies and running around on the beach."
"If you don’t mind wild horses joining you for dinner and trekking around your campsite at night, then this is your place!! The beach is absolutely gorgeous and so is the scenery."
from $40 - $80 / night
Check Availability8. Kiptopeke State Park Campground
"Virginia has some wonderful state parks and this is one of my favorites. Its got a nice beach, boat launch and a couple miles of hiking trails."
"We love staying in the yurts at Virginia State Parks because they are always an affordable, easy way to camping without having to set up a tent or spend the extra money for a cabin."
from $32 - $459 / night
Check Availability9. Shad Landing Campground
"It’s just 45 minutes away from the beach at Assateague Island and an hour or so to Ocean City or Chincoteague."
"Open from April to September (except Waters Edge and Robins Nest loops which are open year round) the tent sites here can be a little close together. Particularly the sites at Waters Edge."
from $23 - $29 / night
Check Availability10. Assateague State Park Campground
"and was well situated, with a nice open space between the edge of the site and the dunes."
"We set out to hike the 12 miles down to the Virginia side of Assateague. would have been lovely if we had gotten an early start. we got stuck in a nasty storm about 6 miles into our hike and had to take"
from $28 - $39 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 3 min from Salisbury, MD
- 2 hrs 39 min from Richmond, VA
- 3 hrs 40 min from Lexington Park, MD
Recent Camping Photos near Onancock, VA
211 Photos of 50 Onancock Campgrounds
autumn L.
Thousand Trails Virginia Landing
Trey C.
Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday
Kristen D.
Janes Island State Park Campground
Sal V.
Tom's Cove Park
Susan P.
Jellystone Park™ Chincoteague Island
Samuel G.
Pine Grove Campground
April L.
Lake Somerset Campground
Jen V.
Milburn Landing Campground
Darcy S.
Sun Outdoors Cape Charles
Gina G.
Cross Rip Camp
Stuart H.
Shad Landing Campground
Recent Reviews near Onancock, VA
559 Reviews of 50 Onancock Campgrounds
Nancy W.
LegendSun Outdoors Cape Charles
Nice water views, but expensive!
This is a typical Sun Resort property with tons of amenities and activities which is great for families. There are four fishing piers, miniature golf, basketball court, baseball diamond, five pools (including one that is adult only), a large dog park, and much, much more. There are a couple of “beach” areas but there are lots of rocks so you might want to wear water shoes. We visited in May and the park was just starting to open for the summer so the pools were not open and there were not many scheduled activities. There is a large camp store and café onsite which is convenient if you don’t want to leave the property.
We booked a 50A full hook-up site (621) which was one row back from being on the water. The front row (with unobstructed water views) is about $50 more per night so I checked online to see which sites were unoccupied and booked one behind them in the second row. Luckily, no one booked a site in front of us during our stay and we had great views, especially of the sunsets. Our site had a great view of the bay since there was no camper in front of us. The site was a pull thru plenty long enough for our car and RV and level and we had a nice shade tree on our patio side. We did have a clear view to the sky with our Dish satellite and got a sufficient amount of over-the-air tv channels. Most of the sites are sandy/gravel and we didn’t have any trouble sinking as the substrate was hard packed. There are a couple of ponds which are pretty, but they attract geese and there was goose poop everywhere.
Honestly, we really liked the surrounding area but, to us, the nightly price of $71 is pretty steep (and that is with a 25% discount-it's normally over $100), especially since we don’t use any of the amenities. Sun does offer specials based on length of stay and offers discounts to military and first responders so check their special offers section before booking. We loved watching the large ships in the Chesapeake and looked on vesselfinder.com to see what they were and where they were going.
Nearby is Eastern Shore of VA National Wildlife Refuge which has a couple of nice trails and The Barrier Island Center is very interesting with exhibits and short films. Downtown Cape Charles is super cute with nice shops and eateries. Cape Charles Brewing Company has delicious fish and chips, Mason Avenue Bakery is absolutely delicious, and we recommend the pizza at Deadrise Italian Kitchen.
- Nancy W.Legend
Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday
Lots of amenities, could have stayed longer!
We stopped for one night in order to see some friends and wished we would have had more time because the surrounding area looks like there is lots to do and see. This is a really beautiful area of the Delmarva Peninsula and just minutes away from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuges and Assateague Island NS.
This campground is huge with a great selection of standard and premium RV sites that provide full hookups and spacious gravel or paved pads. Some have water views and some are back-in sites with the water directly behind them. Our site was a buddy site which worked great for our stay with our friends. It was long enough so we didn’t have to unhitch our tow car but still had enough room to maneuver into and out of the site and could reach our hook-ups. The site was perfectly level (in fact, all sites in the park are level as this is a very flat area) and the area where we parked the RV was paved and the rest of the driveway was gravel. The patio had pavers and our fire pit was raised with bricks around it. The utilities were well-placed and the 50-amp was strong and the water pressure good. Our site was in the open which we loved because it was cool when we visited so we relished the sunshine. There are plenty of other sites located under tall pines (which we really don’t like because of all the sap that gets on our coach and car). Many of the sites are rented as seasonal sites but there are plenty left for transient campers. The list of amenities is a mile long and covers the typical ones you would find at a “resort.” Some of the best ones are the zero-entry pool (which was closed while we were there) and splash park and the private beach. The sandy beach would be a nice place to bring a chair and hang out admiring the view of the bay. Most of the amenities (like the pool, recreation hall, café, and bounce pillow) are centrally located so keep that in mind when you are booking your campsite as you may, or may not, want to be in that area. The restrooms were clean and newer (keep in mind we were there very early in the season when the campground was practically empty). The laundry facilities were clean and there were plenty of machines (all but one didn’t work) and were reasonably priced. We really liked the access to water that this park provides Pocomoke Sound and the tidal pond. It’s a great place to relax in a chair, swim, or put in a kayak.
Madison M.
GuideAssateague State Park Campground
Beautiful views and AMAZING outdoor showers!
Campground is clean with wild horses walking through it. The beach is clean and quiet. The amenities are clean and the outdoor showers are 10/10! Hot with beautiful views! A little noisy with the generators at the non-electric sites, but they don’t detract from the experience.
- Madison M.Guide
Assateague Island National Seashore Oceanside Campground
COOLEST EXPERIENCE
Parked with my class B van! Amazing you can hear the ocean at night. No electricity so be prepared. Horses will walk through your campsite. Clean and quiet. No cell service. Lots to do with hiking and beaching! Be prepared for cold outdoor showers!
- Madison M.Guide
Kiptopeke State Park Campground
Such a cool place to stay with lots to do!
I stayed in campsite C21! It was clean, quiet, and spacious! The bathrooms were clean and the showers were hot! So much to do from hiking to beaching to fishing! Dog friendly too!
- SSteven W.
TravelerAssateague Island National Seashore Oceanside Campground
Great experience
Right off the beach wild horses, deer, turkeys, and birds. Woke up and walked right out on the beach for some early morning beach combing, was a bit windy
- Nancy W.Legend
Chincoteague Bay RV Resort & Cottages
Nice Amenities and on the Water, but Exensive
If you want to be close to the water, this is a great place to camp. There are lots of amenities and various ways to “camp” at this resort. In addition to full hook-up RV sites, there are cottages and glamping tents. Some cottages have a cool rooftop deck with furniture which would be a great place to watch the sunset.
This campground is in a nice location for exploring the area, but a bit pricey. It might be worth it if you use the amenities, but we did as we spent more time offsite. Since this campground is new, some sites look pretty rustic and it would be nice if there was more grass. Overall, we found the sites to be pretty close together. If you want to pay more, you can get a waterfront site or one with a paved patio and table and chairs, otherwise, you get a picnic table on a gravel pad. All utilities worked well and we were glad we had 50 amp since there was an unseasonable hot spell. The park is big-rig friendly and getting in and out was easy and not low hanging branches to avoid.
Some of the amenities include a food truck(not open when we were there), playground, pickleball courts, camp store, and more. There is a nice pool with a large deck but since we were early in the season it was not open. Along the water is a nice boardwalk and there is a long pier for fishing or to tie up your boat. (We took advantage of the free fishing. Saltwater anglers in VA can fish for free if you register for the Fisherman Identification Program, no license required.) If you have a large group gathering there is a large pavilion with charcoal grills and picnic tables open to campers for free.
The reason we came to the area was to visit Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and see the wild ponies. The refuge is fifteen minutes away and definitely worth it. Stop in at the visitor center to browse the exhibits before setting out to see the ponies. There is a nice viewing deck off the Woodland Trail that is a great place to see the ponies. Also stop at the Assateague Lighthouse to see the iconic red and white striped lighthouse. One more stop to make is at the Island Creamery (voted one of the 50 best places to eat in Virginia).
MsTrailBlazer 🏔.
RangerAssateague State Park Campground
My sons favoreite park
This is such a perfect way to hang by the ocean. Some sites are close but tenting is key. Showers and outdoor showers are my favorite. There isn’t much to dislike if anything? Oh, ai know. Light pollution. There is no light pollution and we always bring our telescope and then rvs will keep their leds on, but unless that is enforced. There isn’t much that can be done. 🤷🏼♀️
Guide to Onancock
Camping sites near Onancock, Virginia offer visitors access to both protected wetlands and coastal environments, with elevations generally below 50 feet above sea level. This low-lying Eastern Shore region experiences warm summers with average July temperatures reaching 87°F and mild winters rarely dropping below freezing. During summer months, the combination of high humidity and standing water creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes at most campgrounds.
What to do
Kayaking on water trails: At Janes Island State Park Campground, located about 40 minutes from Onancock, paddlers can explore well-marked water routes. "The water trails have a big variety from large channels to narrow marsh routes and bird watching is excellent. There's a beach that's an easy 1-mile paddle away with lots of room to spread out and have a private space to yourself," notes Sean F. after visiting.
Crabbing and fishing: The shallow waters around many campsites provide excellent opportunities for crabbing, particularly for blue crabs during summer months. "You can go crabbing for blue crabs. We would definitely recommend staying here," mentions Carrie N. about her experience at Janes Island State Park.
Wildlife viewing: The protected wetlands support diverse bird populations and other wildlife. "The hike trails are so beautiful and being by the water was a complete experience! I got to see the sunset for the first time in a long time," reports Renee P. about the trails at Janes Island.
Beach exploration: Access both bay and ocean beaches depending on your campground location. At Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday, a camper mentioned, "There is a beach area to swim but also 2 pools. The original pool from when this was Tall Pines Harbor is a traditional rectangle. The new one is larger and also has a large splash pad."
What campers like
Campground amenities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained facilities. "The bathrooms were nicer than my bath at home and sparkling clean. Staff was amazingly pleasant and helpful," shared Kristen D. about Janes Island State Park, adding that "the kayaking alone is worth the trip."
Water access options: Campers enjoy having multiple water environments to choose from. At Sun Outdoors Cape Charles, formerly Cherrystone Family Camping Resort, visitors appreciate the waterfront access. "The campground provided opportunities for exploration and outdoor activities that kept our kids entertained throughout our three night stay. The park is wide-open, which provided plenty of space for kids to roam and explore," reports Jason G.
Less crowded alternatives: Many campers prefer the quieter campgrounds away from main tourist areas. A visitor to Thousand Trails Virginia Landing noted, "This campground seems a bit out of the way, but it's in a great location if you want to get away from the more crowded parks nearby. The staff was extremely helpful and everything was clean."
Wildlife encounters: Opportunities to see animals in their natural habitat draw many visitors. "We took a ride over to the ocean camp sites and found some horses! Worth a stop just for the simplicity of it all!" comments Deanna G. about her stay at Bayside Assateague Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules. "Our first trip here and we loved it! We stayed in water view site 10. WV sites 1-7 have great views and some shade. WV sites 8-20 are more open and close together," reports Laure D. about Tall Pines Harbor, where many seasonal considerations affect site selection.
Campground layout variations: Site privacy and spacing vary significantly between campgrounds. At Pocomoke River State Park Campground, "Loop G - Acorn trail is for campers with pets. The camp sites are in the outer loop of the circular road with lots of space between each site. Lots of shade. There are several paths (like spokes on a wheel) that lead to the bathrooms which are in the middle of the loop," explains Jan K.
Insect preparation: Biting insects can be problematic, especially during warm months. "I was beyond disappointed and cancelled my upcoming trip for the following month as soon as I got home. I don't know if the experience was different Oceanside, but I will never be staying Bayside again," shared Wendy W. about her bug-infested experience at Bayside Assateague Campground.
Water conditions: Tidal patterns affect water activities throughout the day. "The scenery is amazing, especially at dusk and dawn," notes Robert P. about Virginia Landing, where waterfront activities are best planned around tidal schedules.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Jellystone Park Chincoteague Island (formerly Chincoteague Island KOA) offers numerous child-friendly amenities. "Lots to do including pools, water park lots of trails to hike or bike," according to Barbara B., making it ideal for families seeking organized recreation.
Site selection for kids: When camping with children, choosing the right campsite makes a big difference. "We stayed in water view 13 and it was a the perfect site. A little far for the kiddo to be at the park but the view was great," shares William C. about Tall Pines Harbor.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Young campers often enjoy animal encounters. "My kids loved catching tiny crabs in the mud every night," reports Angelica K. about her stay at Virginia Landing.
Off-site excursions: Using campgrounds as a base for regional exploration works well for families. "We I tent camped here for two nights as part of our trip to Assateague. The group campsite was huge, complete with plenty of picnic tables, hammock hangs, a fire pit with benches around it," notes Sara G. about Pocomoke River State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Many Eastern Shore campgrounds have specific RV limitations. "We had a premium RV site and since we were here off season in late April- the campground was not super busy. Just expect that you will be in very close proximity of your neighbors," advises Travyl Couple about Jellystone Park Chincoteague Island.
Hookup availability: Full hookups are limited at some state parks. "Been here several times. 30 amp service available on Acorn Trail and Deer Run. No water or sewer hookups but there is a dump station at park entrance with a water fillup spot," reports Jason B. about Pocomoke River State Park.
Size limitations: Larger RVs may struggle at certain campgrounds. "RV sites are very tight. Anything over 35' in my opinion will be hard to get into sites," Jason B. adds about Pocomoke River State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Off-season camping offers more space but fewer amenities. "Their website is very informative. They have RVs for rent, cabins for rent, pull throughs and tent spaces. They are on the water and have a beach area as well as pools and very nice bath houses," shares Amy R. about Tom's Cove Park on Chincoteague Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Onancock, VA?
Which is the most popular campground near Onancock, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Onancock, VA is Tall Pines / Chesapeake Bay KOA Holiday with a 4.4-star rating from 13 reviews.
Keep Exploring