Tent and RV camping options within a 30-mile radius of Richmond provide access to the rolling Piedmont terrain along the James River watershed. The region maintains average summer temperatures of 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions in the 60-70°F range. Winter camping remains available at several year-round facilities with overnight lows occasionally dropping below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Outdoor exploration: Pocahontas State Park Campground's network of trails supports various skill levels for hiking and mountain biking. "Great State Park campground! No sewer hookups (they do have 30/50amp). Lots of hiking, fantastic mountain bike trails, lots of history. LOVE the staff. 20 mins from every store you can imagine, but super quiet at night," notes Ashley I.
Kayaking and fishing: Powhatan State Park provides James River water access with dedicated launch points. "Great park! Campground is waaayyy back in the back of park. Only a few years old. No full hookup (yes 30/50 amp). Well maintained trails, level sites. No river access in campground," reports Ashley I. The park maintains multiple river access points separate from the campground area.
History exploration: Chickahominy Riverfront Park serves as a central base for regional historical attractions. "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," writes Ashleigh M. Sites typically fill quickly during summer historical tours, requiring reservations 3-6 months in advance.
What campers like
Level camping pads: Richmond North - Kings Dominion KOA maintains well-graded sites. "From what I observed, the sites were all pretty level. Close to the Interstate so made it great for a one night stay," notes Cat R. The campground features concrete pads at premium sites with most standard sites utilizing crushed gravel surfaces.
Convenient location: Americamps RV Resort provides highway-accessible camping with urban amenities. "Just north of Richmond Virginia, off interstate 95, this park is located between the interstate and Ashland Industrial Airpark. If that doesn't sound appealing please read on....Americamps is mostly surrounded by woods," explains Sharon P. The campground maintains a gated entrance with 24-hour security code access.
Natural surroundings: Pocahontas State Park Campground offers wooded sites with substantial privacy. "Some of the campsites are surrounded with forest. Very quiet and peaceful," states Gregg S. The campground maintains three distinct camping loops with varying levels of tree coverage and site spacing.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most dog-friendly campgrounds near Richmond require advance bookings, especially during peak seasons. At Powhatan State Park, "There are 29 tent/RV sites and three yurts. The sites are gravel and include a picnic table, lantern/trash pole, and a fire pit with grill gate," explains RL. Reservations open 11 months in advance with holiday weekends typically filling 6-9 months ahead.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience sound from nearby attractions or highways. At Americamps RV Resort, "it's right up against interstate 95 so it's a constant drone of traffic. And the sites are one right after the other. No real privacy," notes Donna A. Sites further from the entrance road typically experience less traffic noise.
Seasonal differences: Richmond-area campgrounds offer distinct experiences across seasons. "Every camper's dream spot. Seriously, this modern giant state park has it all: mostly private sites, a paved road for biking, plenty of tree cover (even in winter) a lifetime's worth of trails to explore, and clean, legit bathrooms and showers," writes N P. about Pocahontas State Park Campground. Most facilities reduce water service from November through March to prevent freezing.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Multiple dog-friendly campgrounds near Richmond maintain swimming facilities. At Chickahominy Riverfront Park, "The swimming pool was incredibly large and CLEAN!!! I was surprised! It felt very refreshing and even had adult swim time and attentive life guards," reports Katie B. Most campground pools operate Memorial Day through Labor Day with limited hours.
Playground options: Cozy Acres Campground RV Resort features well-maintained play areas. "They have a play area for the kids, swimming pool, several fishing ponds, bike trails and more. Bath house is very clean. The sites are a good size and laid out well," explains Glenn F. The playground includes climbing structures suitable for ages 4-12 with safety mulch surfacing.
Organized activities: Many campgrounds schedule regular family programming. At Williamsburg Campground, one visitor notes they "had big jumpy things for the kids, an out door movie theater and a nice playground. our dog enjoyed the dog park." The campground maintains a regular schedule of weekend activities from April through October.
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: When booking at pet-welcoming campgrounds, consider specific site requirements. At Pocahontas State Park Campground, "Site 118 was perfect for our camper van. Could see one site across the road but other neighbors were mostly hidden. Short walk to showers and toilet," notes N P. Corner sites typically offer more privacy and space for pets.
Utility connections: Check hookup locations when making reservations. At Americamps RV Resort, "We picked Americamps because we were traveling through the Richmond area and it was very convenient to I-95. We usually pass up on RV parks because most are wide open fields with large trailers and/or motor homes parked close together," explains Steve V. The campground provides full hookups with properly positioned connections that don't require extension hoses.
RV-specific amenities: Some facilities offer dedicated RV services. "Check-in is at noon, but our road trip got us there about 11:20 and the staff had no problem letting us in early. Thanks! A host guides you to your site and assist you in positioning if needed," reports Steve V. about Americamps RV Resort. Several campgrounds provide pull-through sites specifically designed for larger rigs with towed vehicles.
