Kerr Lake campgrounds near Red Oak, Virginia provide seasonal access to shoreline camping on 50,000 acres of water. The region features rolling Piedmont terrain with mixed hardwood forests, limestone outcroppings, and sandy shorelines. Most campgrounds operate between April and October, though several remain open year-round with varying levels of services during winter months.
What to do
Stargazing opportunities: Staunton River State Park Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing as an International Dark Sky Park. "If you love stargazing this is the park for you. It is an International Dark Sky Park. The park offers rentals of telescopes too. They also have a nature learning lab, some cool animals, and a fantastic gift shop," notes one visitor who stayed during winter.
Lakefront swimming: Hibernia Campground features numerous sites with direct beach access for water activities. "Being right on the lake was awesome. Walk out of your tent and 'bam,' see the beautiful sights! Daughter had a blast swimming in the lake and catching her very first fish," reports one Hibernia Campground — Kerr Lake State Recreation Area camper.
Hiking trails: Occoneechee State Park provides hiking options through historical areas. "We hiked the Plantation Trail, a large historical site that was once a homestead. Mellow, family-friendly walk with a cemetery, historical markers, and an old chimney. Lots of old growth - from the gigantic boxwoods (hundreds of years old) to the wild daffodils growing in the woods," shares a visitor to Occoneechee State Park Campground.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Jones Station RV Park offers unusually large sites for a private campground. "Sites were huge with large space between...everything was immaculate…obviously owners take enormous pride in their property and care for their customers! Hands down THE BEST privately operated RV park we have ever experienced!"
Quiet atmosphere: Longwood Campground provides peaceful camping, especially during weekdays. "Because of the low evening temps, most of the non-electric sites were empty. We basically had run of the area. Pet friendly and very well kept areas. Rock pad for parking and tent set up," reports a camper at Longwood Campground at John H Kerr Reservoir.
Lake views: Lake Gaston RV and Camping Resort features sites with water views. "First come first serve and we got a beautiful site overlooking the lake. The staff and manager are the friendliest ever," shares one visitor at Thousand Trails Lake Gaston.
What you should know
Site reservations vary: Reservation systems differ across campgrounds. At Lake Gaston, "First come/first serve site assignments work out really well being able to choose your site." Meanwhile, other parks require specific site booking.
Bathhouse access varies: Distance to facilities differs by campground and site selection. At Mayo Lake Park, "The bathhouse isn't in the loop it is at the top of the hill. The site that is closest to the bathhouse is site 27 and it will accommodate large campers."
Site terrain considerations: Many campsites have uneven terrain requiring preparation. At Mayo Lake Park, "Mostly small sites but some larger sites. All sites have water and electricity. There is a single dump station near the entrance."
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Thousand Trails Lake Gaston offers multiple family activities. "It contains putt putt, pool, store, 2 beaches, dock, fishing areas, playground, and tons of shade. We'll be back!"
Educational opportunities: Staunton River State Park provides educational programming. "Park rangers had great kids programs including animal feeding frenzy where we learned about snakes and turtles. Also lots of animal pelts to learn about," reports a visitor at Staunton River State Park Campground.
Playground access: Multiple parks offer playground facilities. At Hibernia, "There was also a small playground that we took my daughter to," while another family reports their kids enjoying biking throughout the park, noting "the park was very quiet through the week but became pretty busy on the weekend."
Tips from RVers
Parking challenges: Access roads at some campgrounds require careful navigation. At Mayo Lake Park, "The road leading to the camping area is single lane so if you meet another camper going the other way it could get a little dicey."
Utility connections: Electric and water hookup locations vary. One camper at Hibernia notes, "Site 77 required 75 feet of hose to reach water nozzle. Website said 35' so glad we were prepared."
RV size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate large RVs. While several parks advertise as "big-rig friendly," Lake Gaston receives mixed reviews about site sizing: "Some sites uneven. Pull through sites available. Staff was wonderful. Stocked camp store, small grill, but great food."
