3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
James River State Park provides equestrian camping with dedicated facilities for horses. The park maintains equine-specific amenities including horse stalls and miles of equestrian trails. The campground features sites that can accommodate both riders and their horses with ample parking for horse trailers. Campsites include standard amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and access to restroom facilities. The park is well-maintained with clean bathhouses and generously sized camping areas that provide enough space for equestrian needs.
Trail access is extensive throughout James River State Park with interconnected riding paths that showcase the natural Virginia landscape. Riders can explore hardwood forests and river views along the park's trail system. The park borders the James River, offering water access points for horses after trail rides. Multiple terrain options accommodate riders of different skill levels. Sites at the equestrian campground must be reserved in advance, especially during peak seasons. The camping experience is enhanced by the park's International Dark Sky designation, providing exceptional stargazing opportunities after a day of riding. Most equestrian sites are partially shaded, offering comfort for both horses and campers during warmer months.
"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
"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."
Available next weekend
from $32 - $427 / night
"The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail. Still worth the hike to see the peaceful water though."
"We camped here again at Staunton River State Park, this time we stayed in site 21, which is an electric site near the bathrooms/showers and one of the best for viewing stars."
from $27 - $121 / night
"We have a larger trailer so we had to stay in the equestrian area. There weren’t showers by us but there was 1 bathroom."
"If you have dogs like we do that hate squirrels they drove them nuts- squirrels running around in our campsite and up trees in our campsite. And while walking around."
Available next weekend
from $21 - $427 / night
"Very nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and shor t walk or drive to the water"
"One mile walk to Buffalo park a beautiful place with lots of history. I love it .Great day for a picnic ."
from $22 - $53 / night
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.
RangerI've read reviews about noise levels and lack of privacy. But we experienced the opposite, at least at our campsite.
GuideWe stayed here Memorial weekend 2026. We had a tent only site with no hook ups. It was site 48 which is the first site you come across when pulling into the campgrounds.
Site was built into a hill and had several steps leading up to it. Much smaller site than we are used to at VA State parks. Looking at the other sites they were also on the smaller side and oddly shaped.
Easy access to the River Bank trail and Captain Staunton trail directly from the campsites. Great when you have kiddos that don't want to walk a ton.
Great views throughout of the Staunton River & Dan River. Lots of deer sightings in the morning and early evenings. Great activities with the rangers including a wagon wide through the park.
It was rainy during our stay so no chance to take advantage of the Dark Sky classification. When skys are clear they do have an astronomer that comes out on the weekends in the summer.
RangerThis campground is one of our stops coming from VT or going back home - would love to spend more time then just passing through
LegendLots of trails, 2 boat launches and nice campground. We stay here every once in a while since it is so close and such a amazing state park.
Check out our video of all the sites.
https://youtu.be/g3tsJATaSis?si=3Cl29wwqTO1JF9FW
GuideWent there with my family in March over spring break. Can’t say this was exactly camping the way we did it, but the cabin was absolutely amazing. Each cabin is probably on a 2 acre plot of land and most of them have fantastic views of Kerr Reservoir.
Kitchens are nicely appointed, rooms are nicely decorated, just bring your own sheets and linens and get ready for a fantastic time.
ScoutDecent bathhouse on Iron Bow. Sites are really close together and narrow so doesn’t leave a lot of room between campers. Not terrible but also have had stayed at more spacious state park campsites. 7$ bundles for firewood for sale near the bathhouse. The Visitor center is nice with some good souvenirs for purchase and history section. Plenty of spots for fishing and launching watercraft. No designated swimming areas though. No WiFi. Verizon device at the campground worked okay. Clarksville town is quaint with some shops worth checking.
ScoutNice campground in line with expectations for most Virginia state parks. 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
TravelerSpent 4 nights here (during a heat wave, no less) and really enjoyed it. Campsites are large and not right on top of each other, and especially if you can book one of the campsites that are on the water, they really do have beautiful views (see pictures).
Pros:
Kid-friendly. We spent an afternoon at the splash pad, which is a great way to cool off in the summer and free once you're in the park. I never felt unsafe with my kids running around up to the bath-house or the loop, felt very secluded and safe.
Lake is scenic, we saw fireflies at dusk, it was a great setting for a camping trip.
Everything seems pretty well-maintained. Bathrooms are aging but were cleaned at least once a day, it was fine. There is firewood at every bathhouse you can take on the honor system and pay for via cashbox, which is nice. Campsites are clean and well-maintained.
Lots of lake recreation options (boat rental, fishing, etc.) in or near the park.
Cons:
Maybe it was just our campsite, which backed up to a large wooded area, but they were the most aggressive squirrels I've ever come across. If we went to the bathroom for five minutes and left food on the table, the squirrels would be there eating it when we came back. And would hover at the edge of the campsite or get into the car if the hatchback was open.
Camp store is....fine, pretty minimal in terms of provisions. But not a big deal because Clarksville is five minutes or so away and has plenty of stores.
Tents pads are all gravel. Didn't bother us but definitely would not want to tent camp here if you didn't have a good high-quality sleeping pad.
The biggest con was that there is no swimming area/beach in the park. You can try to wade in from the campsite but that generally requires scaling up/down some fairly treacherous rocks, and navigating driftwood and rocks in the water. We drove a few minutes away outside the park to find one, but would be really nice to have some kind of little swimming area inside the park, very strange to me they don't have one.
But all in all a lovely place for a camping trip, we all had a great time.
Equestrian camping near Pamplin, Virginia offers access to varied terrain with elevations ranging from 400 to 800 feet across multiple park systems. The region experiences mild spring and fall temperatures with summer highs reaching 85-90°F, making it ideal for horseback riding from April through November. The central Virginia location provides convenient access to both mountain and riverside equestrian trails within a 30-mile radius of Pamplin.
Stargazing at dark sky locations: James River State Park holds International Dark Sky Park designation, providing exceptional night sky viewing. "The park is part of the International Dark Sky Parks Association and if you are into astronomy and stars this is the place to stay. They have miles of trails, a playground, marshland, and it is right on the James River with multiple river access points," notes Bridget H. about Red Oak Campground.
Paddling on multiple waterways: Access calm lake waters or river currents depending on your preference. "The best part of both trips was the River. 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," shares Conni B. about their experience at Red Oak Campground.
Wildlife viewing and nature walks: Discover local fauna on maintained trails throughout the area. At Staunton River State Park, Elena B. reports, "While staying there I saw a skunk, a groundhog, several deer and a great variety of birds. We enjoyed gorgeous sunsets from a little beach area near the cabins."
Well-maintained equestrian facilities: Horse campers appreciate the dedicated amenities at multiple parks near Pamplin. "The park offers several activities: hiking, biking, fishing, wildlife viewing, boating (if you bring your own boat), stargazing," notes Elena B. about Staunton River State Park.
Spacious campsites designed for horse trailers: Many parks feature extra-large sites to accommodate equestrian needs. At Bear Creek Lake State Park, Stephanie J. found, "All sites have fire rings, lantern hooks, and extra long picnic tables. Tent pads are of varying sizes—we stayed in site A12 and our 6 person tent fit easily, and we could have fit a second one—many of our camp neighbors had 10 person tents set up."
Easy access to water sources for horses: Several campgrounds provide convenient water access. "The sites were close together but a few sites are worth it right on the water. It had a good weekend program for the family. The beach personnel were great and helpful," shares Ross B. about their stay at Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Plan your horseback camping trip based on regional weather patterns. At Occoneechee State Park, RL notes, "Next time we tent camp we will definitely stay in Campground C where the sites are RIGHT on the water. Check out spaces 25-31, my personal faves. Since with these sites you're kind of out in the open, I wouldn't book these in the heat of the summer."
Campsite surface variations: Different parks offer different ground materials for camping. "The tent pads are filled with shredded tires instead of gravel or dirt, which provides a little extra cushion, but can be uncomfortable on bare feet," explains Stephanie J. about Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Reservation requirements: Book well in advance, especially for equestrian sites. "We had a fun camping trip at Bear Creek Lake! We chose a reservable waterview site (#18) and I'm glad we got the one we did," shares Katie M.
Swimming options for kids: Several parks offer designated swimming areas ideal for families with children. At Callahan's Hideaway, Brett C. mentions, "Very nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and short walk or drive to the water."
Educational ranger programs: Take advantage of staff-led activities designed for children. "We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night. We hiked many miles while here and had a great weekend," shares Bridget H. about Red Oak Campground.
Kid-friendly trails: Choose appropriate riding paths for young riders. At Bear Creek Lake State Park, Katie M. reports, "We had a fun camping trip at Bear Creek Lake! We did a hike around the whole lake, lots of great views. There is a great swimming area with a little kids area that was so fun!"
Site selection for horse trailers: Choose sites that accommodate both RVs and horse trailers. At James River State Park, Virginia G. found, "The sites were equipped with fire rings and picnic tables and level, gravel areas to park cars in front of your site. You couldn't pull your car into the site because of the wood bollards but I think that is a good thing."
Length restrictions: Be aware of size limitations at some parks. At Bear Creek Lake State Park, Erica M. cautions, "Limit on RV length to 35 feet. This includes tow vehicle and trailer."
Hookup availability: Check which utilities are available for equestrian sites. "The campground is well maintained and the sights are awesome. The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail," notes Chaz M. about Staunton River State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Pamplin, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Pamplin, 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 Pamplin, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Pamplin, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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