Powhatan State Park and surrounding areas offer diverse glamping options within central Virginia's piedmont region, situated at elevations ranging from 300 to 450 feet above sea level. The area experiences mild winters and hot, humid summers with average July temperatures reaching 87°F. Year-round camping opportunities exist throughout the region, with most campgrounds featuring both modern amenities and natural settings that showcase Virginia's distinctive forests and waterways.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Holliday Lake State Park Campground provides excellent fishing access with multiple dedicated areas. "I fished for crappie, but it was too hot on the shore and dogs aren't allowed in rental boats. While I was shore fishing several people rented the park's fishing boats with outboard motors," notes one visitor. The park has a designated panfish boat trail at one end of the lake.
Archery practice: Several parks offer archery ranges for beginners and experienced archers. "There are programs every weekend. There is even an archery range," shares a camper at Bear Creek Lake State Park. These ranges typically provide targets at various distances and some parks offer introductory lessons during summer months.
Horseback riding: Shenandoah Crossing features equestrian facilities with guided trail rides. A camper mentions, "Beautiful sunsets over the stables and horse pastures." Another visitor shares they "saw people riding horses. Looked like a good time!" The resort maintains multiple riding trails through forested areas.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Powhatan State Park Campground maintains exceptionally clean bathhouses and common areas. "I was very happy to see such a clean bathhouse, especially during the current pandemic. Each staff member I encountered was extremely helpful and polite," shares one camper. The individual shower rooms receive particular praise for their cleanliness and privacy.
Night sky viewing: The limited light pollution around many campgrounds creates excellent stargazing conditions. A visitor to Bear Creek Lake State Park noted, "Great view of stars on clear nights." The open meadows at Powhatan State Park provide unobstructed views of constellations and occasional meteor showers.
Lake swimming: Twin Lakes State Park Campground offers supervised swimming areas with special features for children. "The swimming area is so amazing. Great area for the kids to enjoy a safe and fun swimming experience," reports a visitor. Another camper adds, "The swimming lake has a nice beach and we happened to be there this last weekend and the temperature was nice and warm and the kids enjoyed playing on the beach and on the water playground."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region require additional equipment for proper RV leveling. At Christopher Run Campground, "The sites are a good size, but not very level. We did finally get ours squared away," notes one camper. Another visitor specifically advises, "Bring leveling supplies! Some sites are reservable, some are not."
Limited cell service: Expect poor connectivity at most campgrounds in the area. A camper reports, "It's completely off grid, and we like that! With busy jobs during the week it's nice to unwind and enjoy nature." Some parks offer WiFi hotspots near main buildings, but coverage throughout campgrounds remains limited.
Shower facilities vary: Bathhouse quality differs significantly between campgrounds. One visitor noted, "The shower left SO MUCH to be desired. First, the shower head is on the ceiling which is about 10 feet tall. There is a push button to turn water on (no temp adjustment) and it only allows 36 SECONDS of water before it shuts back off."
Tips for camping with families
Water playground access: Several parks feature dedicated water play areas for children. A visitor to Twin Lakes State Park shares, "We saw some incredible sunsets over the water. There is a small camp store with some supplies if you forget something." The floating platforms and shallow swimming areas are designed specifically for younger swimmers.
Educational programs: Look for ranger-led activities that combine learning with outdoor fun. "Staff were wonderful, huge place that is well kept, trails are trimmed back daily. Lots of geocaching on grounds, fishing, hiking, boat launch, canoe racks, playground, a store with a nature center, and a Junior Ranger program for the kids," reports a Powhatan visitor.
Campsite selection for privacy: When traveling with children, choose sites away from main roads. At Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground, a camper advises, "We chose a reservable waterview site (#18) and I'm glad we got the one we did! It is not directly on the water, there is a fence around the site and then a short walk to the water. I'm glad we had the beautiful view of the lake while camping, but didn't have to stress about the kids getting in the water the whole time."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: RV campers should research site dimensions before booking. At Cozy Acres Campground RV Resort, "Level sites with brick paver pads, full hookups, RV storage, playground, pool, store, fire rings, 3 fishing ponds, awesome owners. Mid sized campground," shares one RVer. Another notes, "The site was clean and everything worked great! Only reason for the 4 was spacing was pretty close between sites."
Hookup limitations: Check what electrical and water services are available at your specific site. "Sites are spaced well and still very close to everything. Very bike friendly and lots of trails. Large playground and a good boat launch for tubes and kayaks," reports an Isaac R. at Powhatan State Park, where water and electric connections are standard but sewer hookups are limited.
Access road considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads for larger vehicles. A camper notes, "The sites were a good size but were very difficult to get even a small trailer into the site due to the narrow roads." Research turn radius requirements and site approach angles before arrival.
