Searching for the best camping near Portsmouth, VA? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Portsmouth is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Portsmouth, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
First Landing State park camping site type:
EW-20ft: Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 20 feet long. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20-amp service.
EW-30ft: Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 30 feet length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20, 30 and 50-amp service.
EW-50ft: Electric/Water site for RVs only 32-50 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20, 30 and 50-amp service.
Std-20ft: No electric/water on this site. Accommodates tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 20 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers.
Sites 44 - 65: Group Campground - No electric/water on these sites. Three-site minimum purchase required. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. Good for tents. Group camp area - site specific; maximum six people per site. A large shelter, which is available to only group campers, may be rented.
Each yurt has a large wooden deck, two picnic tables, a pedestal grill and a fire ring with cooking grate. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is allowed for each yurt. Those with additional vehicles must pay the daily parking fee and park in available overflow spaces in the campground.
$28 - $40 / night
Welcome to Holiday Trav-l-Park in Virginia Beach! Our sites, amenities and activities offer something for every person in the family along with every type of camper from tent to motorhome. On top of that, getting to the beach is a breeze – we are the closest campground to the resort area with a parking lot 1 block off the beach for our guests, take the seasonal city trolley or ride your bike to the beach.
$25 - $92 / night
At Virginia Beach KOA Holiday®, we make it easy to try it all! We're your perfect base camp to enjoy the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, iconic three-mile Boardwalk and many local area attractions. Relax and have fun with your family and friends in the great outdoors at our beautiful campground, full of amenities and fun-filled activities for all ages.
Cabin, RV and Tent Camping in Virginia Beach
Our Virginia beach campgrounds have experiences to suit every kind of camper. Whether you prefer the comfort of glamping in one of our Deluxe Cabins, or a more rustic, outdoorsy experience, you'll feel right at home at Virginia Beach KOA Holiday®. We even have big-rig access and tons of great RV-friendly amenities so that we can serve as your local Virginia Beach RV resort. Our fully furnished Deluxe Cabins offer a luxurious, yet cozy, atmosphere complete with bathrooms, kitchen supplies, comfy beds, linens and a big screen TV. Or try our Camping Cabins for a rustic feel, yet with the convenience of electricity, beds and air conditioning. Park your RV at our Pull-Thru RV Sites with KOA Patio®, all with free cable and Wi-Fi. Or pitch a tent and enjoy a traditional camping experience. Whatever accommodation you choose, you can rest assured you will enjoy your stay in this beautiful location.
$30 - $47 / night
At Cherrystone you'll find over 300 acres of natural waterfront on the Chesapeake Bay with over 700 sites, many shaded by tall trees. Our many features makes for great camping near Virginia Beach - including camping cabins, on-site camper rentals, five swimming pools, four fishing piers, beautiful beach, large dog park and their very own dog beach, newly renovated Cafe/Lounge, a well-stocked General Store and the Bait and Tackle Shop. Our waterfront location will delight you with breathtaking sunsets, wildlife and a wide variety of birds. And don't forget all that there is to do! Throughout the season, we have themed weekends and plenty of planned activities for the entire family including fishing and crabbing, taking full advantage of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!
The Colonies RV & Travel Park is located in a historic and scenic setting on Fort Monroe National Monument. 14 full-service camping sites with 30/50 amps and paved pads. We also offer nine sites with 30 amps, electricity, and water. Tent Sites by reservation or walk-in. Enjoy rich history, gorgeous scenery, an abundance of activities all surrounded by water, and magnificently unspoiled beaches. So avoid the crowds on your next trip, and visit one of America’s best-kept secrets.
24-Hour Laundry Facility
Bicycle Rentals
Club House – Full Kitchen, TV Room, Bathroom
Country Store – Gifts, Beach Necessities, RV Supplies
Picnic Tables
Cornhole, Pickleball Court, and Volleyball rental
Charcoal/Gas Grill rentals (Delivered to Site)
Fire Pit rental and purchase, wood delivered to site
Bath House with restrooms and showers
Pavilion Rentals$25 - $59 / night
Just across the James River from historic Jamestown in beautiful Surry County, Chippokes Plantation is one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country. A working farm since 1619, the park offers modern recreational activities and a glimpse of life in a bygone era. Visitors tour the historic area with its antebellum mansion and outbuildings, stroll through formal gardens, and view antique equipment at the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum.
A campground and four overnight cabins allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds. The park has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a visitor center with a gift shop. It also provides opportunities to bike, hike, ride horseback and picnic. Chippokes Plantation also offers wedding packages and meeting facilities.
Cabins, yurts and camping. For information on the availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 800-933-PARK. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, dwelling and park. First, determine the appropriate season, which can vary by park, then the relevant rate. You also may want to learn about the cancelation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for cabin stays.
Located in Gates County 10 miles south of North Carolina's northeastern border with Virginia, Merchants Millpond State Park centers on a 760-acre millpond more than 190 years old. Hiking the surrounding trails or paddling the placid, shallow waters of the pond offer a great way to explore this wetland environment. Old-growth cypress trees adorned with Spanish moss create an "enchanted forest," particularly at Lassiter Swamp. Visitors have even spotted the American alligator here, at the northernmost point of its range.
$15 - $110 / night
If you haven’t experienced Virginia Beach Camping, get ready for an amazing experience at North Landing Campground RV Resort & Cottages. From RV sites to cottage rentals, North Landing Beach RV Resort & Cottages has it all!!
First Landing State park camping site type:
EW-20ft: Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 20 feet long. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20-amp service.
EW-30ft: Electric/water site for tents, pop-ups, RVs up to 30 feet length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20, 30 and 50-amp service.
EW-50ft: Electric/Water site for RVs only 32-50 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. 20, 30 and 50-amp service.
Std-20ft: No electric/water on this site. Accommodates tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 20 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers.
Sites 44 - 65: Group Campground - No electric/water on these sites. Three-site minimum purchase required. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-grill. Bathhouse with hot showers. Good for tents. Group camp area - site specific; maximum six people per site. A large shelter, which is available to only group campers, may be rented.
Each yurt has a large wooden deck, two picnic tables, a pedestal grill and a fire ring with cooking grate. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is allowed for each yurt. Those with additional vehicles must pay the daily parking fee and park in available overflow spaces in the campground.
$28 - $40 / night
Welcome to Holiday Trav-l-Park in Virginia Beach! Our sites, amenities and activities offer something for every person in the family along with every type of camper from tent to motorhome. On top of that, getting to the beach is a breeze – we are the closest campground to the resort area with a parking lot 1 block off the beach for our guests, take the seasonal city trolley or ride your bike to the beach.
$25 - $92 / night
At Virginia Beach KOA Holiday®, we make it easy to try it all! We're your perfect base camp to enjoy the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, iconic three-mile Boardwalk and many local area attractions. Relax and have fun with your family and friends in the great outdoors at our beautiful campground, full of amenities and fun-filled activities for all ages.
Cabin, RV and Tent Camping in Virginia Beach
Our Virginia beach campgrounds have experiences to suit every kind of camper. Whether you prefer the comfort of glamping in one of our Deluxe Cabins, or a more rustic, outdoorsy experience, you'll feel right at home at Virginia Beach KOA Holiday®. We even have big-rig access and tons of great RV-friendly amenities so that we can serve as your local Virginia Beach RV resort. Our fully furnished Deluxe Cabins offer a luxurious, yet cozy, atmosphere complete with bathrooms, kitchen supplies, comfy beds, linens and a big screen TV. Or try our Camping Cabins for a rustic feel, yet with the convenience of electricity, beds and air conditioning. Park your RV at our Pull-Thru RV Sites with KOA Patio®, all with free cable and Wi-Fi. Or pitch a tent and enjoy a traditional camping experience. Whatever accommodation you choose, you can rest assured you will enjoy your stay in this beautiful location.
$30 - $47 / night
At Cherrystone you'll find over 300 acres of natural waterfront on the Chesapeake Bay with over 700 sites, many shaded by tall trees. Our many features makes for great camping near Virginia Beach - including camping cabins, on-site camper rentals, five swimming pools, four fishing piers, beautiful beach, large dog park and their very own dog beach, newly renovated Cafe/Lounge, a well-stocked General Store and the Bait and Tackle Shop. Our waterfront location will delight you with breathtaking sunsets, wildlife and a wide variety of birds. And don't forget all that there is to do! Throughout the season, we have themed weekends and plenty of planned activities for the entire family including fishing and crabbing, taking full advantage of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!
Traveler
Plenty of room..showers/bathrooms huge..water NOT at all sites but easy to fill tanks. Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic.
Scout
Very clean and peacefully. Rigjt by the river.
Scout
I was visiting the Yorktown battlefield the next morning so I chose to camp here for the first time. The facilities are nice and modern, and the environment is quiet. Just what I was looking for.
Traveler
Great spot for families. A lot of activities for everyone. The adult pool was very nice and clean. My son and his wife kayaked and had a great time. Cape Charles is a quaint town for shopping and is only 10 min away. Only issue we had were the kids on bikes riding in front of the golf cart and cars. No parental supervision. Very scary and unsafe. Other than that it was a great trip and we will be back.
Scout
I arrived at the location and, within 10 minutes, police officers showed up to monitor me, despite my behavior being no different from that of others around me. The next morning, I returned and, once again, within 10 minutes, the police were called to watch me. I plan to document these incidents and file a formal complaint, but I want to warn other Black individuals to exercise caution when visiting this place. I'm unsure whether the issue lies with the organization itself or if it's the Bethel campers falsely reporting my actions, but it’s striking that simply walking to decompress has led to repeated police presence. I plan to document each experience, timing my arrival and the police arrival and then look into why I believe I'm being racially profiled. While this isn't blatant racism, it sure aligns with interpersonal racism is much harder to detect if there isn't a pattern and you know how it operates.
Guide
Good campground as usual. bathrooms well maintained and cleaned twice a day when we were there. Campsite is right next to the bathroom and has a good amount of shade. Bathrooms had two sinks to clean dishes. Boardwalk nearby to the beach was very convenient, however quite a few boards look like they need replacement. One highlight was watching the school of dolphins from our kayaks, not far from the beach. Never saw that before.
RangerThere were a lot of events and options for the family. Cape Charles is also a nice place nearby.
GuideMost of the sites have shade a few do not have any shade. If you do not like traffic noise, stay far away from the main road that the park is located off.
You can not see the water from any campsite and all sites are a little walk to get to the beach of the bay.
Light waves on the bay. It has beautiful sunsets with dolphins playing there in the evening.
We stayed in site 5 which is literally in the bathroom front yard with NO SHADE.
Traveler
We stayed here for two nights during our trip along the Outer Banks. We had a great time and enjoyed our stop here. Our site had a great view of the water and we could see the Currituck lighthouse at night. Our boys enjoyed kayaking around the sound and riding their bikes to the playground. It seemed like they are working to add more amenities and upgrades so I’d stay again next time we make it that way. Also, Diggers Dungeon is only a few miles away so if you have kids make sure to stop and let them see the monster trucks.
GuideWe had a very hot stay. We stayed at campsite 13 which had wonderful shade in the late afternoon. Be prepared with a wagon to transport items from your car to your campsite if choosing the no water/electric sites. Short walk from parking to sites.
The interpretive area was really fun to explore in the evening during golden hour and beyond. Great view of the sunset over the river.
Scout
Annuals run the place and take up the most desirable sites. Other sites are unlevel and muddy. Coreen, Donna and other management and rangers are grumpy and less than helpful. Many rules obviously being broken are ignored, including large dogs not on leads, children running around unsupervised, fences being put up around rugs next to trailers, large refrigerators up around trailers, campers being parked and left for days at a time in order to save the spot for themself for the weekend, excessive alchole use while driving golf carts, so many golf carts. Requiring golf carts being electric by Management but they still use gas powered everything including lawn mowers. Water, electricity, and the pool do not work consistently. They have an excuse for everything there. Bad pot holes in roads. RV’s being washed by a business advertised there and spray getting on others property and cars. Noisy. Putt putt and other amenities in disrepair.
TravelerWebsite is not active. Potential Spam.
Traveler
Great pad sites but sparse vegetation and zero privacy. Road noise was constant and lots of traffic on the beach access highway.
Legend
Chippokes State Park is located on the grounds of an old historic plantation, actually one if the original plantations in the area dating back to the 1600’s. The land grant was huge, and as a state park now it provides a rich opportunity to learn about the James River, the natural and indigenous history of the region, the settlement history and role of this plantation in Virginia History, and more. Visiting here provides hiking opportunities to learn about fossils along the river shore, the temperate forest in the woods, and history around the old plantation. Taking the ferry across the river from Jamestown to get here was part of the adventure too. There is a nature center and visitor center that provides lots of info and programs near the river , a network of easy park roads for biking, and the plantation itself, set back further away from the river, provides a wealth of learning, including about the history of crops and trade in this area, and about the lives of the slaves who worked the plantation. The grounds right around the plantation are, in fact, a memorial to the hundreds of souls who lived and worked the land here. It was an amazing learning experience to come to the park, and the options to stay over in the park include standard campsites in a wooded campground, or cabins. The campground has all the usual state park amenities, and was very quiet when we were there in November—so late fall is a great time to come, as the fall weather was amazing
Legend
This is an amazing recreational campground for military families and retirees that is located right on the York River between Williamsburg and Yorktown. It is immediately adjacent to the Colonial Parkway for easy access to historic Jamestown as well, making for a great base for exploring the historic sites and state and national parks of the area. There are several Navy Bases in the area, so this is an easy retreat for active duty folks, but also open to uniformed service personnel or retirees and families from all over the country.
The campground is multi-faceted. There is everything for everyone—camper cabins (some dog friendly and some handicapped accessible) as well as an RV park with hookups as needed, and also standard tent sites as well as primitive tent cents. The various camping areas surround a central recreational area that includes golf course, playground and swimming pool, but there are also wooded hiking trails, two lakes with rowboats and kayaks and fishing, as well as shoreline and piers on the York River itself. The RV campground has a nice central bath house with showers snd toilets as well as laundry facilities. There is a small convenience store as well as a cafe if needed, but you are so close to Williamsburg and its myriad cafes and shops that you have amazing options! We have stayed here several times now, in fall and spring, and it was a great home base for exploring the whole “historic triangle
Scout
This is a wonderful spot if you want to avoid the high dollar hotel stays in Virginia Beach. There are a lot of amenities at this place, however you have to pay for some of the activities. This should be included in the price. The RV spots are not even 20 to 25 ft apart from each other. If that. It seems that this park is more in it for the money than the camping experience. That being said, there are a ton of things to do if you have a young family or just want to be rowdy. Lol. I went during memorial weekend, but I was told it's like this all of the time. The site that I had was very uneven. I had to put a 5-in lift on one side of my travel trailer and drop the tongue nearly to the ground due to the uneven pad to park on. Only room enough for one car. Overall it was a good experience, and you can't help but get to know your neighbors. Lol maybe that's what their plan was. Know your neighbors.
Traveler
That was a great experience! Go there only if Greg says it's ok. He knows how demanding it can be to get to his ground if you're not used to driving off-road. You need a 4x4 car. Wonderful five star primitive campground. No water, no toilet. Bring your own. Explore the property, the sound and the sea. We saw deer, wild horses, coyotes, eagles, turtles, dolphins but also mosquitos and ticks. Bring repellent. I will never forget the two days camping. Greg is a great host! Thank you for this incredible experience!
Traveler
Everything was wonderful! The host was a call away. But we never needed him.
ScoutI am so thankful to Greg and Mary for humbly allowing me to stay on their beautiful property. What a unique and incredible place. The wild horses came to visit me daily, bald eagles, osprey...kayaked on the calm waters of the sound..hiked the beach and biked the trails up through false cape state park. Just an incredible opportunity I am so thankful that I was given, and by the nicest of people you can find. And I'll be back one day for those tires Dave! Haha, thanks to everyone that showed me around, a memory to be cherished.
Ranger
Overall, this campground is utilitarian at best. We stayed for five nights in April in a 25' Airstream. It is on a military installation so you need to have access.
- RV office does not open; if you have any issue, you have to call the reservation line or see the camp host...but there was nothing to mark who the camp host was and they never stopped by.
- Roads are decrepit with major potholes and in need of repair. The roads and some sites flood when raining. There are two one way roads in, but without a map of the campground available, you don't know which one to turn down in advance.
- Bathrooms are dated but clean.
- Dumpster not emptied in timely fashion. It was overflowing the first two days here and people were piling trash around it until it was emptied on a Wed.
- Full hook up (electric/water/sewer) on sites; some have fire pits, some don't. Also the connection boxes are set back pretty far on the sites, so you need longer hoses/cords. We had a long electric cord that reached and had to add a second water hose and second section of sewer hose to connect. Water pressure was good.
- Concrete pads and free laundry were nice. Ground around the concrete pads were rutted where folks either parked off the pad or didn't know how to park on it.
- Free wifi if you sign up for MWR's, but we used our T-Mobile home internet with good connection (4 bars). AT&T on our phones was 1 bar at best.
- Several small hiking trails nearby on base that were good for walking the dog.
- Traffic getting off base starting around 1500-1600 is bad, so plan accordingly.
- Expect to hear aircraft all the time. You get used to it quickly, but can be loud.
- Seemed like some active duty personnel were staying here, as we saw them leaving in the mornings and coming back at the end of the day in uniform.
- We didn't find firewood for sale on base and bought some out in town near another campground.
- Follow the signs on base to the golf course and keep driving past the driving range to find a small beach on base.
Not the best look for a military campground, but if you just need a place to park to access the other amenities of the base and area cheaply, this is it.
ScoutGood: Beautiful campground. Very clean facilities and close by. Easy access to water. Close proximity to beach and hiking. 120 - was able to get two RTT on one site.
Bad: close proximity to other sites. Busy campground in general. Kids running around. Lots of standing water, once bugs start coming out would be a ton of mosquito.
TravelerGreat campground with nicely shaded sites. If you want quiet and peaceful stick to the spots on the beach side.
RangerLove coming to this spot for camping so close to the beach! Campground fills up fast and sites are kinda close together though. 1-2 bars Verizon.
TravelerI had the privilege of getting to stay on this property for a week while camping and exploring the outdoors in the obx. It was not only beautiful, but felt very safe as well! Greg and his wife Mary were extremely kind! They made an effort to help familiarize myself with the area while checking in and giving tips! I was also lucky enough to see the wild horses at camp & at the beach 3 out of 4 days i was there. This was truly one of the best camping experiences i’ve ever had. If you are ever in the area and craving a unique experience, I recommend reaching out to Greg and considering staying here.
Traveler
It is a great shame that people would desecrate such a beautiful area with trash and a blatant disregard for others! We arrived and set up camp around 3pm. There was quite a bit of trash dispersed in this are in which we picked up. Apparently this is a well used fishing location seen by the debris that was left and the still smoldering prone laying barrel fire unfortunately. Around 9pm we were graced with some visitors. To my dismay the individuals deployed a large fishing drone. I was in disbelief at the blatant disregard and disrespect that this man showed knowing that we were camping the within 30ft of their fishing expedition! This man and woman did this for several hours in the rain with their vehicle lights on. In the morning we discovered that the two had the nerve to also left there chic felt and fishing trash on the ground. What a shame and disgrace! Of course we police the location and made right.
TravelerWe stayed down by the boat ramp. There are basically two parking or camping spot closest to the ramp partitioned by some rail timbers. A large was camped out in the First section closest to the boat ramp area. There weren't very hospitable to say the least. One releaved him self at his truck on the side We were on and moved on the side with the larger group of cars ,truck and campers. To add insult to injury this group ran their generators up until 4:30 am. Very uncool and inconsiderate. Be aware that you will be able to hear the shooting range up till the evening. In my opinion these areas are not necessarily the best place for quiet secluded camping. There are other areas though. The scenery is spectacular alongside the Chickahominy River and a great place to for hiking.
TravelerFirst, Greg is an amazing communicator. He gave great instructions for finding the camp site. Plus, checked in to make sure everything was going ok and gave tips.
It was such a peaceful location and I even had the privilege of seeing a horse on the grounds on 2 different nights.
I’m so glad I had a chance to stay here and hope to have the opportunity to visit in warmer weather.
Camping near Portsmouth, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around Portsmouth, Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot or a lively campground, you’ll find it here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Portsmouth, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Portsmouth, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 70 campgrounds and RV parks near Portsmouth, VA and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Portsmouth, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Portsmouth, VA is First Landing State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 113 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Portsmouth, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Portsmouth, VA.
What parks are near Portsmouth, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Portsmouth, VA that allow camping, notably Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Assateague Island National Seashore.
