9 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Campgrounds surrounding Smithfield, Virginia range from state parks to family-operated facilities that accommodate various camping styles. Isle of Wight Family Campground offers tent sites, RV hookups, and rental cabins approximately 10 miles southwest of Smithfield, while Chippokes State Park Campground, located across the James River, provides camping in a historic plantation setting. Several properties in the region feature waterfront locations along rivers, lakes, and the Chesapeake Bay, with most campgrounds accessible within a 30-minute drive of downtown Smithfield.
Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though state parks like Chippokes have seasonal closures from early December through late March. "This is a beautiful 456 acre education and wildlife facility. Born from garbage dumps and it is great example of what can be achieved," noted one visitor about Sandy Bottom Nature Park, which offers primitive tent sites with sand platforms. Road access to developed campgrounds is generally well-maintained, though some tent-only areas require short hikes from parking areas. Cell service varies by provider but remains reliable near developed areas. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly.
Campers frequently mention water access as a significant draw to the region's camping areas. The James River and its tributaries provide fishing, kayaking, and scenic views from several campgrounds near Smithfield that cater to outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all types. While proximity to water enhances the experience, some reviews note highway noise affects certain camping areas, particularly at Sandy Bottom Nature Park. RV campers will find numerous full-hookup options at commercial campgrounds like Isle of Wight Family Campground, which provides amenities including pools, fishing ponds, and playgrounds. The best campsites near Smithfield often combine natural surroundings with convenient access to local attractions, making them ideal for weekend getaways or longer stays. One reviewer highlighted that "the sites were located about 1/4 mile from the parking lot down a trail. They were spaced nicely apart and had nice sand tent platforms with a picnic table and a fire ring with a grate." Military facilities like Fort Eustis Recreation Area also offer camping options with favorable pricing for eligible personnel.
"We've stayed here pretty often as it's only a few hours from home and near everything in Williamsburg, Virginia. The park is against the James river and theres easy access to the riverside."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $37 - $311 / night
"The sites are quiet, very spacious, nicely spaced, some surprisingly so, but many are deceptively unlevel, particularly on the outside of the loops, and are heavily wooded."
"A bit of a long walk to the bathroom, as we need to walk around the entire loop to get to it. Gorgeous, spacious sites with electric and water at each site. Some sites back up to the St."
"FLSP is a real Gem in the midst of a very busy Virginia Beach. The campsites range from tenting with no hookups to 20, 30, and 50 foot sites with water and electric."
"Our game ground was surrounded by the forest but your in walking distance to the beach. The shower and rest rooms are sit up nicely the best I’ve seen at a campground."
Available this weekend
from $32 - $147 / night
"The park is centrally located with easy highway access. Plentiful parking, lots of trails to choose from. The staff was top notch and super kind and helpful. "
"Sites: 11 primitive tent sites 2 of which are group sites 4 tent cabins that sit right on the edge of the lake
The individual campsites are FCFS and you must park and hike in."
from $11 - $42 / night
"There is a small playground in the campground area, but right next to the campground is a large play area that has a rock wall that our kids really loved playing at. "
"There is a lake for fishing with boat rentals available. Not very quite as it’s located near a busy road. (Saunders road). You can hear cars ambulance etc. all night."
from $15 - $30 / night
"You walk into the woods which is kept neat and pick a spot to set up your tent - I looove that! Fishing on the lake was a blast!"
"It is a little ways out of town in any direction bit it's very nice and quiet out here as you're surrounded by woods. They also have a fishing pond and trails on-site."
from $25 - $40 / night
"Lovely small campground located inside a National Park land. Full hookup sites are named after the original 13 colonies. Nicely situated between Williamsburg, Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach."
"One of the most scenic and peaceful campgrounds in the state of Virginia, you are right by the water (it’s almost like an island), 2 minutes walking distance from a secluded beach, add two more minutes"
from $25 - $59 / night
"The campground is very close to all Williamsburg activities. A great walking trail was right down the road."
"The historic-city of Williamsburg is very nearby. Also the traintrack and big road are wright next to the campground. Spots are correct some have a bit to much sun for us (there are parasols provided)"
from $46 - $235 / night
"The lakes are fun and we always have a great time. Some sites are amazing. Only 4 stars because of proximity to highway."
"We stumbled across Davis Lakes Campground last year when we brought our camper down to visit our son and grandchildren."
from $72 - $105 / night
"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."
"The campground is in a great location to Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestowne, and Yorktown and is a great home base for exploring those sites. They have a modern bathhouse and a pool."
TravelerOur first time with our new camper. Everyone was very friendly. Amazing views! We had a tight spot, so our hosts helped us get in with their tractor. When we got back the next day we found a bottle of champagne to celebrate our maiden voyage. Very nice rec room, fishing pier. There is also a beach and playground, corn hole field, and an outdoor Pavillion. Lovely place !
TravelerA beautiful campground. Nice wooded sites with decent space between sites. Bathroom and laundry were clean. Showers were just ok. Nice trails and the walk along the James
river was nice. Will definitely stay again.
GuideThere are not a lot of spaces available but still a decent amount. They spread out amongst several roads leading down to the water. The trees surrounding are gorgeous. There is a shooting range nearby but we didn’t mind the sound.
TravelerDO NOT WAIST YOUR MONEY! THIS IS A SCAM!! Our 3 campsites flooded with 6 inches of water within an hour of arriving before high tide. Very difficult to get ahold of staff due to limited hours of business. I have requested a refund for failure to render services due to unusable campsites. I have left several voicemails and sent emails with attached pictures. Management has been avoiding my phone calls, will not call back. Very unprofessional. I received one call from"management" at 7:20 pm to tell me that he received a message to call me, but he hasn't looked into why he needs to call me and he will call back the next day. I never heard back from him and that was a week ago. I have followed up daily with phone calls without a return phone call. My family makes several camping trips through the year, will never return here.
TravelerGenerous sized sites but only semi-private. Excellent facilities
ScoutThis campground was very enjoyable. I spent a lot of time at the fishing pier, learning to ID birds I had never identified before. Brown pelicans were everywhere near the sunken ships. I also talked to the Hawkwatch people for a bit.
My campsite was far enough from the bathroom I couldn't hear the door slam, but since I was the only one in the F loop, that wouldn't have mattered. Since the loop was so empty, it was an absolute pleasure.
Had the campground been full, I would have felt too close to the people in tents in the sites next to me.
One great thing was that there weren't tent pads so we didn't have to worry about how to fit two tents on to one tent pad.
GuideEnjoying this campground. Close to all the attractions. Incredible staff, super friendly. Pool and game room are wonderful.
TravelerNote to Self: No Primitive Site reservations...EVER. I love this park. It's situated far enough from the busy traffic noise...beautiful Virginia city of Hayes. When I arrived, it was such a scorching day and there wasn't nearly enough tree cover to shield my tent from the "son of Hades". Suffered heat exhaustion almost to the point of death...Literally. Night was my only respite. If it hadn't been for the wonderful camp attendants who came to my rescue, it would've been an utterly failed experience. Bless their hearts. Other than that, this was a great training experience for an old Novice camper. Now that I'm a bit more practiced, I'm going back 😁, armed with knowledge and more confidence.
TravelerThe good: super clean and new restrooms / showers. The entire parking immaculate. Stayed at site 12. Offers water views and shade. Site 13 is similar and is probably the most ideal site.
Cons: zero privacy. The sites are basically scattered around an open grassy area and fairly close together.
Be aware: sites are not vehicle accessible. Need to carry your kit 50-75 yards.
Camping spots near Smithfield, Virginia range from waterfront sites to historic parks, with most campgrounds situated between 10 and 30 miles from town. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions better suited for tent camping. Most sites offer limited cell service that varies by carrier, with stronger signals closer to developed areas.
Kayaking on the Chickahominy River: The waterways around Chickahominy Riverfront Park provide excellent paddling opportunities. "Definitely recommend following the river inland and kayaking through the marshland," notes one visitor to Chippokes State Park Campground.
Biking on the Virginia Capital Trail: This paved path runs near several campgrounds in the region. "A great paved biking path that goes for a number of miles," reports a camper at Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Historical exploration: Many campsites serve as convenient bases for visiting nearby Colonial sites. "There is a short drive to Virginia Beach areas and beach access from the park," writes a visitor to First Landing State Park, while another mentions the park is "close to all the activities that Virginia Beach has to offer."
Private wooded sites: Campers appreciate shaded areas during hot Virginia summers. "Large, private sites among really cool, bent trees. Clean, up-to-date facilities," notes one visitor to First Landing State Park Campground.
Waterfront access: Many sites offer direct water access for fishing and swimming. "Spacious campsite with amazing views. Could take kayaks straight into the water from our site," shares a camper at Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean restrooms and modern amenities receive positive reviews. "The shower and rest rooms are sit up nicely the best I've seen at a campground," according to a review of First Landing, while another visitor to Isle of Wight Family Campground mentions "the bath house is always clean."
Train noise affects some sites: Several campgrounds have railroad tracks nearby. "Not very many secluded sights, in the middle of a very busy area of the city of Newport News," reports one camper at Newport News Park.
Seasonal closures and weather: While many commercial campgrounds operate year-round, weather impacts comfort. "I wouldn't recommend tent camping in the middle of summer - my husband and I both got sick," warns a camper at First Landing State Park.
Uneven terrain at some parks: Several campgrounds have challenging topography. "Many sites are deceptively unlevel, particularly on the outside of the loops," notes a visitor to Newport News Park, suggesting campers "make sure you have leveling chalks as some of the sites are too uneven for auto leveling to work."
Limited supply stores: Some campgrounds offer minimal provisions. "Store is very limited on what it has," cautions a visitor to Davis Lakes Resort.
Pools and water features: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities for children. "Nice swimming area for kids especially," notes a camper at Davis Lakes Resort, while another mentions that Chickahominy Riverfront Park has "a pool in the summer."
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Family-friendly amenities enhance the experience. "Lots of space assigned to each site. No septic per site but convenient dumping station. Large, spacious park with trails and other activities," writes a visitor to Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Cabin options for mixed comfort levels: For families with varied camping preferences, cabin rentals provide alternatives. "We stayed in the Eagles nest cabin. It had plenty of room for 5 adults and 2 teenagers. The cabin was very clean and offered everything that you would need," shares a visitor at Davis Lakes Resort.
Site leveling challenges: Many campers note uneven sites. "Some are hit or miss when it comes to bare dirt, grass, mossyness, leaf/pine covered grounds. Same with levelness of sites for rvs," notes a visitor to Newport News Park.
Hookup variations: Different parks offer varying levels of service. "Sites: 22 with 1 pull thru 13 full hookups 12 Tent sites. Electric: 30-50 amp," reports a camper at The Colonies RV and Travel Park, which receives positive reviews for its waterfront location.
Low clearance issues: Tree canopies can present obstacles for larger rigs. "There are a lot of low hanging branches on the roads through the park," warns one camper about Newport News Park, suggesting RVers with taller vehicles proceed with caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the campgrounds in Smithfield, Virginia?
While Smithfield itself has limited camping options, several excellent campgrounds are located within a short drive. Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area offers a basic but quiet camping experience with waterfront sites about 30 minutes away. Virginia residents can camp for free for up to 14 days with a permit. For a family-friendly option, Isle of Wight Family Campground is just a short drive from Smithfield, providing reservable sites with water and toilet facilities. Other nearby options include campgrounds in Suffolk and Newport News, all within 30-45 minutes of Smithfield.
What RV camping options are available in Smithfield, Virginia?
RV campers near Smithfield have several well-equipped options within driving distance. American Heritage RV Park offers concrete, level sites with full hookups and is praised for its exceptionally friendly staff and clean facilities. It serves as an ideal base camp for exploring the region. The Colonies RV and Travel Park is another good choice, featuring full hookup sites named after the original 13 colonies. For those willing to drive a bit further, Chickahominy Riverfront Park and Davis Lakes Resort also accommodate RVs with various amenities and hookup options.
How far is Smithfield, Virginia from nearby cities like Richmond, Norfolk and Williamsburg?
Smithfield is strategically located in Virginia's Tidewater region, making it convenient for day trips to major cities. Norfolk is closest at approximately 30 miles (35-40 minute drive) southeast of Smithfield. Williamsburg is about 35 miles (45 minutes) to the northwest, making First Landing State Park Campground a good base for exploring both areas. Richmond is the furthest at roughly 75 miles (1.5 hours) to the northwest. Many campers use Thousand Trails Williamsburg as a central location for accessing all these cities, though the campground itself has mixed reviews regarding site quality.
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