7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Shenandoah Crossing offers equestrian camping with on-site stables and horse pastures that provide scenic views during sunset. The campground features dedicated horse riding trails, horse-friendly RV sites, and yurts for glamping. Campers can arrange horseback rides or carriage rides through the property. The RV sites include full hookups, though some campers report uneven terrain that can be challenging to level. Primitive camping areas are available for those seeking a more rustic experience with horses. The campground maintains free laundry facilities, outdoor pools, and a restaurant on the premises.
Located approximately 30 miles from Rappahannock Academy, Powhatan State Park Campground provides multiple horse-friendly trails that connect to the James River. The park features several loops with varying levels of amenities, including the River Bend Loop with water and electric hookups for RVs, and a more primitive canoe-in campground accessible by foot or boat. Horse riders appreciate the well-maintained trails that accommodate both riders and hikers. The park's trails range from very easy to moderate difficulty, with some designated specifically for equestrian use. Campsites in the River Bend Loop offer less privacy than the primitive sites, though the hookup campground fills quickly during warmer months. The park's location provides a peaceful camping experience within reasonable driving distance from Richmond.
"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"We have lived in northern Virginia for over 30 years and never been to this campground until this month! Very nice campground with friendly staff and friendly campground hosts."
"History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."
from $39 - $100 / night
Check Availability"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
"There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"access to human food."
"Like most Virginia state parks the River Bend campground is well spaced out and great for RV camping."
from $16 - $97 / night
Check Availability"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $18 - $30 / night
Check Availability
LegendI grew up going to this campground. It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice.
There is a nice pool, arcade, camp store, horse riding, and the camp sites are pretty nice.
All around good place to camp.
GuideWe picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop. We could hear and smell horses when we got to our campsite, but it didn't last forever.
The site was mostly clean, had a few pieces of small trash scattered around when we arrived. The sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us. Our site was close to the restroom, it had a little path leading to the restroom, and it looked like there was little trail paths all around leading to the restrooms from the different parts of the loop. The path leading to the restroom from our site was gravel and easy to walk on. The restrooms were clean, but the floor was wet almost the entire time we were there (likely due to the showers).
If you need to buy wood it is $5 for 8 pieces and you call a number given to you in your registration packet. The ranger will then drive by and drop off the wood at your campsite. The inner ring of this loop has electricity, and the electric box was just on the far side of the picnic table in the corner.
LegendPowhatan State Park is a relatively new addition to the VA State Parks system; the park itself has only been open since 2003. The primitive, canoe-in campground opened with the park, and the loop with electric and water hookups opened in 2016.
**Canoe-In Campground: **
When we stayed, we stayed in the canoe-in campground, although we hiked in the approximate 1/4 mile from the parking lot, rather than coming in by boat. This is a quiet, beautiful loop, with 8 sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. There are composting toilets here and no potable water, so you will need to bring enough water for your trip or purification methods. Proper food storage is also essential back here; while this section of Virginia does not have the bear activity you’d find in the mountains, there are still raccoons and other wildlife who should not have access to human food. There are no bear boxes, so treat food storage as you would in the backcountry.
-Sites 7 and 8 are closes to the toilets, and back up to the woods leading towards the Turkey Trail; hikers are visible from site 8 and audible from site 7.
-Sites 4 and 5 back up to a very wooded area, and are further back from the gravel loop. Site 4 is closest to the boat ramp and is visible; site 5 is probably the most private in the loop.
-Sites 1,2, and 6 are in the center loop, but have more space between them than inner-loop sites usually have. Sites 1 and 2 are right against the River Trail however, so will have hikers walking directly past during the day.
The canoe-in loop sits against the James River; there is a rack to stow your canoe/kayak overnight, and a pay by honor-system pile of firewood. Due to the thick foliage there is no actual river-view during the warmer months, but it’s easily accessbile. When we stayed in early spring there were a lot of vines that served as “natural playground” for our kids; they used them as swings, monkey bars, and enjoyed getting their feet wet at the base of the canoe ramp, so much that they declined hiking or driving to the park’s man-made playground. This loop makes a great “trial run” site for anyone considering a future backcountry trip; the walk to the parking lot is short enough to make multiple trips if you need to, and you still have access to the park amenities if you don’t mind a walk/drive to get there.
River Bend Loop
The River Bend Loop has 29 sites with water and electric hook-ups, though very little privacy between sites. The surrounding trees give all but the first three sites decent shade and a wooded atmosphere, and this is a great loop for RVs or tent campers who enjoy being close to other sites. If you are looking for a feeling of isolation however, you would be better off minimizing your gear and walking to the primitive sites, or going to a different park altogether. The bathrooms here have electricity, flush toilets, and showers with hot water. Sites 1-14 are available for advance reservation, and sites 15-29 are first-come first-served. Site 25 offers the most privacy for tent campers, and it’s very large, but if the campground is at full occupancy all sites are going to have a crowded feel.
There are several hiking trails at this park ranging from very easy to moderate, and a couple of them are horse-friendly; our kids enjoy seeing horses on the trail with them, but be mindful if you have kids/dogs who may be afraid of the horses. The park also has a playground, picnic shelters, and ranger activities on the weekends, and there are three yurts available to book.
This is a very open, well-maintained park, and the camping options should appeal to a wide spectrum of campers, and my only reason for giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the lack of privacy in the drive-up campsites. It feels a lot like a hidden gem; the hookup campground fills up during warmer weather, but all of our visits here have been very quiet and peaceful. If you are looking for camping options near Richmond, I highly recommend this park!
LegendLovely time in the yurt! Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites.
GuideSaw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC. There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk. Equestrian trails go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail. Bathrooms don’t look like much from the outside, but the inside is very nice. Clean, hot water, and good water pressure. The have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower. It was hot, so it was OK. Hahaha. They sell firewood, but they were huge pieces and getting them to start burning was tough. LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers. Each site had picnic table, fire ring, and pretty level parking spot.
ScoutBeautiful sunsets over the stables and horse pastures. We reserved a “pull-through” RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level. Also, after staying for two weeks, the bathhouse next to our site was closed because of lack of electricity. Which forced us to drive up to the indoor pool (nice) and use the showers there. Inconvenient, but we made it work.
TravelerWe have stayed here several times. Big beautiful paved sites with furniture to boot. Complete with gas grills and outdoor sinks. Plenty to do at the resort..... Kayak, putt putt, tennis, swim in one of the pools, hot tub, work out in the gym, walk on trails, ride horses, take a carriage ride or eat at the "real" restaurant. My favorite campground hands down!
RangerWe chose this campground based on proximity to work. This campground was priced fairly, however, it does come with its downfalls.
PROS
Let me start with the positive, we were 1 of 3 campers in this loop during our week-long stay. This made it peaceful and quiet.
CONS
It's close to a Naval base, and therefore you constantly hear airplanes, and helicopters at all times.
Other than the daily bathroom cleaning, this campground lacks maintenance on sites and walkways. They are both overgrown.
Playground, fishing, archery all seem blocked off at this time.
Trails seem open but are across and through hunting areas. They are also muddy from the rain. There is even standing water around our site which brings us to...the MOSQUITOS! We tried fans, tiki torches, and many deet free or light deet products before having to buy 100% deet so we could be outside. These things are awful!
LegendSalt water pool, horse rides, go karts, mini golf. Definitely more than a campground. It’s actually a Bluegreen Resort. Cabins are awesome and equipped with everything you need. Onsite restaurant/tavern is great. Also you can paddle around the lake - small boats avail for rent.
Campgrounds near Rappahannock Academy, Virginia offer various experiences for visitors seeking equestrian trails and outdoor recreation. Located in the Virginia Piedmont region with elevations around 200-400 feet, this area experiences moderate seasonal climate changes. During summer months, temperatures can reach the 90s with occasional thunderstorms affecting trail conditions.
Disc golf adventures: Pohick Bay Campground features an 18-hole disc golf course popular with weekend campers. "Pohick Bay is my go-to weekend camping spot. Just a few miles outside DC, Pohick Bay is a hidden gem in the area. I'd recommend taking in a game of disc golf on their 18 hole course," shares Rachel L.
Water activities: Seasonal boating options provide alternatives to horseback riding in summer months. "Boating in summer from kayaks to motorboats," mentions Anne K. about Pohick Bay Campground. The park's water features remain accessible through fall.
Trail exploration: Bull Run Regional Park offers miles of trails suitable for day hikes. "There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish," writes Bridget H. about her experience at Bull Run Regional Park.
Private wooded sites: Powhatan State Park Campground provides secluded camping spaces. "The sites in the River Bend Campground(main campground) are private and wooded, especially this time of year when the trees are so full. The map makes it look like they're really close together so I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to my site," notes RL.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses. "I'll go again just for the showers. The best review I can give us of the bathrooms. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had," shares Yvonne B. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Wildlife viewing: Some areas offer opportunities to spot local fauna. "Eagles everywhere! Large clean sites. Great staff!" exclaims Kathie M. about her stay at Pohick Bay Campground.
Campsite leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for RV setup. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," explains Drew M. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Insect preparation: Ticks are common in wooded areas, especially at certain campgrounds. "LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers," warns Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest.
Reservation timing: Popular sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "The River Bend Loop(main campground) fills up quickly. The park has 29 tent/RV sites and three yurts," advises RL about Powhatan State Park Campground.
Scheduled activities: Some campgrounds organize regular family events. "They had a scavenger hunt for the kids going all weekend, they had an outdoor movie scheduled for Friday night, a campfire story time scheduled for Saturday night and crafts scheduled for Sunday morning," reports Ben G. about Pohick Bay Campground.
Playground access: Consider site location relative to play areas. "Our site backed to the playground and the bathhouse. The site was spacious," notes Ben G. about Pohick Bay Campground.
Horse experiences: Shenandoah Crossing provides equestrian opportunities for families. "Horse riding, go karts, mini golf. Definitely more than a campground... We saw people riding horses. Looked like a good time!" comments RL.
Site selection: Choose carefully based on specific needs and equipment. "Our site was not exactly level but I think it was because we were in the first spot on a row and it had a slant. The others looked pretty level," observes Brenda L. about Shenandoah Crossing.
Proximity to Washington DC: Several campgrounds offer convenient access to urban areas. "Stayed here for 2w while visiting friends in Alexandria. Took me 25-30m to get there so you are far away from bustle of city but not so far that going in to enjoy breakfast or the sights is a feat," explains Josh J. about Pohick Bay Regional Park.
Dump station considerations: Check specific facilities before arrival. "They have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower," cautions Ben J. about Cedarville State Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rappahannock Academy, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rappahannock Academy, VA is Pohick Bay Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Rappahannock Academy, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Rappahannock Academy, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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