Camping spots near Stevensburg, Virginia range from primitive riverside sites to established campgrounds with modern amenities. Located in the Piedmont region at elevations between 300-500 feet, the area experiences temperature variations of up to 20 degrees between river valleys and mountain campsites. Winter camping options remain available at several year-round facilities when Shenandoah National Park campgrounds close for the season.
What to do
Hiking with waterfall views: The Big Meadows Campground offers access to scenic waterfall hikes. "Lots of beautiful hikes and bike course with awesome views of the valley," notes Tom C. Visitor Kim L. adds that "busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground."
Lake activities: Swimming, boating and fishing opportunities abound at Christopher Run Campground on Lake Anna. According to Katie M., "We stayed here and went tubing on the Rappahannock River one day. The tubing trip was organized by the same people that run the campground so that was very convenient!"
Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing times. "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached," says Veronica S. The firefly displays during summer months add another dimension: "The fireflies are spectacular. At dusk, the ground shimmers, and then after they disperse, you will still see them flit by the tent throughout the night."
What campers like
River access: The Rappahannock River Campground provides direct water access. "Great spot right next to the Rappahannock River, plenty of place to set up camp. Had water on site with a fire pit and picnic table too! It was super easy to get down to the water and there was plenty of spots to explore," reports Nicholas S.
Privacy between sites: Site selection impacts privacy levels significantly. At Big Meadows, Veronica S. notes, "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site, B112, was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy."
Winter camping options: Some campgrounds remain open year-round. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units. The bathrooms were plentiful, heated, hot running water, and a utility sink available," writes Carol B. about her winter camping experience at Big Meadows during 14°F temperatures.
What you should know
Bathroom and shower facilities: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground, "Bathrooms and showers were nearby and clean," says John B. However, at Christopher Run Campground, one camper noted, "The shower left SO MUCH to be desired... the shower head is on the ceiling which is about 10 feet tall. There is a push button to turn water on (no temp adjustment) and it only allows 36 SECONDS of water before it shuts back off."
Site features: Fire rings and cooking facilities aren't universal. A visitor to Christopher Run noted, "There are NO CAMPFIRE RINGS or CHARCOAL GRILLS, except at the cabins. Huge drawback." Compare this to Rappahannock River Campground where sites come with "water on site with a fire pit and picnic table."
Off-season limitations: Amenities may be reduced in winter months. Carol B. mentioned that at Big Meadows, "Showers and laundry were closed for the season but are centrally located near entrance area of campground." Similarly, at Christopher Run, a fall visitor noted, "There was only one bathhouse open, however several Porta Johns were scattered throughout the campground. (Not pleasant when it was 30 degrees overnight)."
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly amenities: Lake Anna State Park Campground offers family-oriented features. "We absolutely love this camp ground. It has spacious camp sites with a great amount of natural shade. The swimming area is clean and very family oriented... Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery," shares Jennifer G.
Educational programs: Several campgrounds offer ranger-led activities. Kim L. observed at Big Meadows: "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground."
Noise considerations: Noise levels vary by campground and time of week. A Rappahannock River visitor noted, "The area of the campground is deep in the woods with the only audible intrusion coming from the infrequent airplane or helicopter passing by." However, at Lake Anna, one camper mentioned, "There is a very busy main road just across the water that is noisy. You hear traffic late into the night."
Tips from RVers
Farm stay options: The A World Away Farm LLC offers unique experiences with farm animals. "They have a farm with chickens, ducks, horses etc for our 7 yr old to enjoy. She got to feed the chickens, gather eggs and offer carrots to the beautiful horses," shares Michael C., who also notes it's "inexpensive for full hookup."
Site leveling: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. At Christopher Run Campground, a visitor observed, "The sites are good size, but not very level. We did finally get ours squared away."
Seasonal RV limitations: Winter campers should confirm water and electric availability. John B. noted at Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park, "Water and electrical available at all the spots even though it was winter." This differs from Shenandoah National Park campgrounds which close during winter months.
