Dog-Friendly Camping near Providence Forge, VA

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    Dog-friendly camping near Providence Forge ranges from free primitive sites to developed campgrounds with RV hookups and cabins, giving pet owners several options along the Chickahominy and James rivers. Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area offers free camping for visitors with pets, spanning over 5,000 acres along the Chickahominy River. This primitive site permits tent and RV camping in designated areas with no reservations required. Campers with dogs must purchase a $4 daily WMA access permit or show a valid Virginia hunting or fishing license for complimentary 14-day camping. Pets must remain leashed when outside vehicles. The grass areas accommodate approximately four camping spots with minimal shade, and many visitors note the site has parking areas within 5 feet of the water, offering direct river access.

    The Eagle Nest Lookout dispersed camping area within the WMA features a secluded tent site overlooking the James River, accessible via a narrow path from the road end. Visitors should be aware that weekend traffic can be heavy with fishermen using the area, and noise from the nearby shooting range continues until evening hours. Chickahominy Riverfront Park, located near Williamsburg, offers pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins, though sites are positioned extremely close together with little privacy between neighbors. Water recreation opportunities abound with boat launches, fishing piers, and kayak rentals available. The Virginia Capital Bike Trail runs adjacent to the park, offering excellent riding opportunities for visitors with dogs that can handle longer distances on leash.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Providence Forge (56)

      1. Chickahominy Riverfront Park

      4.0(20)15mi from Providence ForgeRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Huge grass area to walk the dogs or hit golf balls. Trails lead to hidden docks or beaches on the river. Full hook up. We hit Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens from here."

      "There is a nice bike/running path, (the Virginia Capital Trail-51 Miles from Jamestown to Shiplock Park) a playground, pool & splash pad, fishing pier, and group sites."

      2. Ed Allen's Campground and Cottages

      4.6(7)6mi from Providence ForgeRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "They have a cute little park that was perfect for my 3 and 5 year old, a big pond for fishing, and it’s such a pretty area if you’d like to go for a nice walk as well, they were all super nice and all"

      "There is a huge lake to go fishing, great restuarant nearby, the campground had a barbeque dinner for everyone. Lots of trails to walk. "

      from $30 - $45 / night

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      3. Williamsburg Campground

      4.0(27)19mi from Providence ForgeRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "We chose one without a bathroom, and the bathhouse was a very short walk. They have plenty of recreational activities for the kids. The staff was friendly and helpful."

      "roasted s’mores. the general store was fully stocked. the pool and water park area were my daughter’s favorite. they had big jumpy things for the kids, an out door movie theater and a nice playground. our dog"

      4. Pocahontas State Park Campground

      4.5(81)30mi from Providence Forge131 sitesGlamping

      "They even installed maintenance equipment at the entrance of each new trail so you can make minor adjustments without carrying your own equipment."

      "Largest State Park in Virginia - nearly 8,000 acres. We stayed two nights and paddled around Swift Creek Lake on Sunday. The staff was amazing."

      from $37 - $459 / night

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      5. American Heritage RV Park

      3.8(16)16mi from Providence Forge6 sitesRVs, Cabins

      "Well kept, family and pet friendly. Nice pool and clean bathrooms. Sites are blacktop with concrete patio pads."

      "This park was very convenient to Williamsburg, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. The staff was exceptionally friendly and accommodating. The bathrooms were clean, air conditioned, and well supplied."

      from $69 - $160 / night

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      6. Rockahock Campgrounds & Resort RV Park

      2.8(6)6mi from Providence ForgeRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      7. Anvil Campground

      4.0(20)20mi from Providence Forge8 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Pet friendly. Features: beach park, dog park, nature trails, play grounds, corn hole, tiki toss, arcade..... Beautiful new bath house. Discount tickets to attractions available."

      "The campground is very close to all Williamsburg activities. A great walking trail was right down the road."

      from $46 - $235 / night

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      8. Thousand Trails Williamsburg

      4.0(11)15mi from Providence ForgeRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It is a serene campground with beautiful walking trails. All the amenities for our two toddlers too… big pool outside, plus an inside pool and hottub. Also, a park, put-put + arcade room!"

      9. Eagle Nest Lookout

      3.8(6)12mi from Providence Forge

      "There are 5,217 acres in Charles City County, Virginia. Mainly forested in the coastal plains of tidewater, Virginia. There are no established campgrounds but you can primitive camp."

      "There's a couple more conventional pull outs before it and I stayed at one which was relatively peaceful besides someone going birdshooting with their incredibly panicked dog nearby and someone running"

      10. Chickahominy WMA

      3.3(3)13mi from Providence ForgeRVs, Tents

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Providence Forge, VA

    449 Reviews of 56 Providence Forge Campgrounds


    • Donita A.
      Sep. 26, 2019

      Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay

      Very Nice

      This is the first time we have camped at this Thousand Trails RV Resort and we were pleasantly surprised. Beautiful campground that is well maintained. This campground is very family oriented and offers an abundance of activities for children and adults alike. It is also pet friendly and offers a dog park for your furry friends. We will definitely be back!!

    • Trina C.
      Jun. 24, 2018

      Anvil Campground

      Fantastic campground with a multitude of amenities!

      Beautiful recently renovated family owned/run campground since 1954. Super friendly staff! All sites provide 50/30/20 amp electric, water, cable and WiFi. Premium to standard include sewer. Big rig friendly, log cabins and cottages. Only campground to provide shuttle service to area attractions, events and restaurants. Pet friendly. Features: beach park, dog park, nature trails, play grounds, corn hole, tiki toss, arcade..... Beautiful new bath house. Discount tickets to attractions available. Reservations recommended, deposit required.

    • NThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jan. 1, 2022

      Newport News Park

      Uptown Country

      Sites: 188 

      Reservations: 757-888-3333 or 800-203-8322 

      Fees: $33.00-$50.00 

      24 hour security 

      Store, heated showers, toilets, picnic table, grills, dump station, electric and water hookups, laundry, playground, group sites Pets welcome with a rabies certificate This is a beautiful country, woodland natural setting with RV/tent sites interspersed among the forest with nice separation between sites. Paved road in good shape. There is an 18 hole championship disc golf, archery range, Fido Field dog park giving the fur babies an acre to roam. The park itself has 7,111 acres to include a aero model field. Hiking, biking, birding, so may options and pursuits. 

      LNT 

      Travel safe

    • Taylor D.
      Oct. 30, 2020

      Americamps RV Resort

      Most Dog-Friendly

      Enjoyed my corner pull-through site F2 even though it was gravel with some muddy spots. There are some paved spots near the entrance (7-10 and 15-19 plus VIP 1 & 2). Fire pits and wood for $6 upon request. Nice office with two small dogs to greet you and a jar of dog treats. Was decked out for Halloween during my stay, and the flower beds, pond, playground, basketball court and dog park were among the nicest. There is even an on-site dog walker, so dog people will really appreciate staying here. I noticed one side of the park (around site 22) is very noisy during the work day as there is a big lumber yard there. The proximity to the Great Outdoors and a couple of cute pub houses was a nice surprise. Recycling dumpster on site.

    • B
      Aug. 21, 2019

      Williamsburg Campground

      Very nice campground

      The cabin we stayed in was very nice. It had a very large back deck with a picnic table. We chose one without a bathroom, and the bathhouse was a very short walk. They have plenty of recreational activities for the kids. The staff was friendly and helpful. The playgrounds and pool were very clean, and the store had everything we needed. It is a very short drive off the highway and an easy commute to all of Williamsburg’s attractions. My only complaint is that my dogs typically travel everywhere with me, but I was not allowed to bring them on this trip because pit bulls are the ONLY breed they don’t allow on the campgrounds. However, if you have other breeds there is a very small dog park for them to run around and play. Other than that we really enjoyed our stay and will definitely stay at other KOAs when the dogs are not with us.

    • Brandon W.
      May. 4, 2019

      Sandy Bottom Nature Park

      Great for outdoor activities

      This campsite and park is a ton of fun. We've never camped here but we lived about 5 minutes down the road from the park and absolutely loved it. There are miles of trails around the lake and through the woods you can follow. It is extremely dog friendly with a fenced in dog park as well. There are kayaks and paddle boats you can rent by the hour. This park has plenty of camping spots and also has some yurts that are available to rent out. I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants a convenient family friendly camping/outdoor experience.

    • Amy I.
      Jun. 7, 2018

      Williamsburg Campground

      our first trip in Tex the Apex

      this was our first trip in our travel trailer, so we didn’t know what to expect. the campground was very clean, we constantly saw crew keeping it up. we had a campfire and roasted s’mores. the general store was fully stocked. the pool and water park area were my daughter’s favorite. they had big jumpy things for the kids, an out door movie theater and a nice playground. our dog enjoyed the dog park.

    • Sean M.
      Jun. 12, 2022

      Williamsburg Campground

      Great Choice in Williamsburg

      One of the best campgrounds we’ve stayed at. It’s our first experience with a KOA, and so far impressed. The whole campground is shady, and while some sites appear pretty on top of one another most, including ours, are are standard. Great amenities, including a pool and a small splash pad. The jumping pillows are awesome for the kids. The only criticisms are that the dog park is very small, and the sewer hook up for our site is nearly above the outlet (although this seems site specific). We are in Williamsburg a lot and will definitely be back.

    • Samantha G.
      May. 31, 2020

      Richmond North - Kings Dominion KOA

      Good campground

      We stayed during the covid pandemic when things were just starting to open back up, so the play grounds weren’t available. The bathrooms are clean and the laundry facility is a plus. They also have a dog park which we used a ton. Most spots are shaded and there are paved and gravel roads. The spaces are very snug so forget privacy when they’re busy, but at the time we were the only ones on our little road. The store is super pricey, but overall a good campground.


    Guide to Providence Forge

    Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area spans over 5,000 acres of mainly forested coastal plains in Charles City County. Primitive camping is available along the Chickahominy River with direct water access at multiple points. Winter camping is popular with temperatures averaging 35-45°F from December through February, while summer months can reach 85-95°F with high humidity.

    What to do

    Boating access points: Chickahominy WMA offers boat ramps allowing direct water access. "There is a boat ramp with a nice sized parking lot, no toilet, no water, no trash," notes a visitor who recommends a "Pack it in, Pack it out" approach.

    Fishing opportunities: Ed Allen's Campground and Cottages provides access to excellent fishing. "There is a huge lake to go fishing, great restuarant nearby, the campground had a barbeque dinner for everyone," says Gary G., who gave the campground five stars.

    Biking on the Capital Trail: Rockahock Campgrounds offers a convenient base for cyclists. "Sites are massive and very quiet. Ideal place for a family if you are fully contained," notes Adam S., though he cautions that "Wi-Fi is spotty at best."

    Historical exploration: Located about 20 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, campers can explore regional history. "We stayed here during our historical tour of Jamestown and Yorktown. The location is fantastic and close to all things Williamsburg," explains a reviewer of Anvil Campground.

    What campers like

    Spacious sites: Thousand Trails Williamsburg receives praise for its site layout. "Decent spacing between sites," notes Mitchell B., who appreciated the "Many activities scheduled on the weekends. Lots of families camping. Indoor and outdoor pools."

    Water recreation: Camping spots with river views remain popular throughout the area. "Spacious campsite with amazing views. Could take kayaks straight into the water from our site," shares Liz M. about Chickahominy Riverfront Park.

    Kid-friendly amenities: Williamsburg Campground offers numerous activities for children. "Lots to do with kids... planned activities like Petting zoo, hayrides, and movie night, and campground amenities like a pool, bounce pillows, bikes, short hiking trails, and ice cream shop," reports Courtney O.

    Secluded tent spots: Eagle Nest Lookout provides tent camping with views. "You can't see it from the road but there is a beaten narrow path that leads from the end of the road up to a small knoll. At the top is an area about 20 feet wide covered in mature trees with a view of the James River," describes a camper who discovered this hidden gem.

    What you should know

    Access permits required: Most wildlife management areas require permits for camping. At Chickahominy WMA, a visitor notes that "WMA wildlife management area's require a permit, but i only stayed one night everything was just fine."

    Train noise considerations: Some campgrounds have nearby train tracks. "Only issue is you are right next to the train tracks so if you are a light sleeper you will hear those trains throughout the night," warns Alexas H. about Ed Allen's Campground.

    Weekend crowds: Popular fishing areas get busy on weekends. "This is more of a small boating/fishing area locals usually party at than much of a campground," reports one camper at Eagle Nest Lookout, noting they "ended up picking up a great deal [of trash] for some peace of mind."

    Weather impacts: Seasonal rain can affect access at some locations. "I would check the site before pulling off the road" after rainfall, recommends a visitor to Chickahominy WMA, where grassy parking areas can become muddy.

    Tips for camping with families

    Pool facilities: Chickahominy Riverfront Park offers swimming options for children. "The swimming pool was incredibly large and CLEAN!!! It felt very refreshing and even had an adult swim time and attentive life guards," shares Katie B.

    Playground access: American Heritage RV Park has recreation for various ages. "There's a playground for the kids near the entrance and some mini golf (I personally wouldn't call it mini golf and it doesn't look the greatest)," notes Lindsey B.

    Safety considerations: Some areas have shooting ranges nearby. "Be aware that you will be able to hear the shooting range up till the evening," warns a camper about areas near Eagle Nest Lookout.

    Bike-friendly options: For active families, some campgrounds connect to regional bike trails. "The Virginia Capital Bike Trail runs alongside the park," mentions a visitor, making it convenient for family rides.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection strategy: When booking at American Heritage RV Park, request specific site types. "Sites were concrete, level, and most had trees for shade. New section at rear of park is not well shaded but new construction," notes John D., suggesting sites in older sections for better shade.

    Full hookup availability: Pocahontas State Park Campground has electric but limited sewer connections. "Great State Park campground! No sewer hookups (they do have 30/50amp). Lots of hiking, fantastic mountain bike trails, lots of history," reports Ashley I.

    Weekend preparations: For Chickahominy WMA's primitive spots, prepare for fishermen traffic. "During hunting season you will encounter several hunters except on Sunday (no hunting on Sunday). It is heavily wooded and during the spring summer and fall it will beautiful all leafed out," notes a visitor who found the grass mowed but recommends checking conditions after rain.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Providence Forge, VA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Providence Forge, VA is Chickahominy Riverfront Park with a 4-star rating from 20 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Providence Forge, VA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 56 dog-friendly camping locations near Providence Forge, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.