2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Beaver Dam Campground in Douthat State Park provides equestrian facilities for horse owners camping near Thaxton, Virginia. The campground features multiple camping areas, including one specifically designed for visitors traveling with horses. Located in a wooded setting, the horse-friendly campground offers relatively flat terrain making it accessible for horse trailers. The bathrooms and shower facilities are well-maintained and clean. Camp sites include picnic tables and fire pits. The equestrian campground area connects directly to horse-friendly trails throughout the park. Firewood is available for purchase at $6 per bundle from campground hosts.
The trail system at Douthat State Park offers numerous riding opportunities on well-maintained paths. Equestrians can access miles of designated bridle trails directly from the campground without trailering to other locations. The park combines wooded mountain terrain with valley views and lake access, creating diverse riding experiences for all skill levels. Visitors should be aware that swimming in the lake is restricted to designated areas. Horse owners should properly store food and supplies as wildlife, including bears, have been spotted in the area. The park is particularly enjoyable during spring and fall months when the temperature is moderate for both riders and horses. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak seasons, as the equestrian camping area books quickly.
"General: There are four campgrounds in Douthat State Park - White Oak, Whispering Pines, Lakeside, and Beaver Dam (equestrian), each in a separate location. This review is for White Oak."
"The hiking and lake is amazing."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $37 / night
"I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets."
"This was our first camping trip to actually visit lake Moomaw in Warm Springs Virginia. We had been close before but never made it to the lake itself."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $85 / night
"There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses. The cabins and lodges have 2, 3, and 6 bedrooms and look beautiful. There is even a canoe-in campground. "
"Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly."
from $37 - $98 / night
"The Yurt we stayed in was a little weird because the Fire Pit and Picnic table is behind and almost under the yurt, down a decently step slope and the yurt sits on stilts on the back side."
"This weekend was a great adventure in SW Virginia. We stayed in a Yurt. It has no electricity or water but the bath house was close."
Available next weekend
from $27 - $311 / night
ScoutVery clean and quiet. Good services, including firewood availability. Drawback is that it’s 7.5 miles down a dead end road. Closet gas is at least 10 miles and groceries are a half hour away. Go prepared.
ScoutThis is a nice little place with level sites and easy shower/restroom access. I thought it was a little pricey and we had to drive to the lake, but it's a nice place to paddle board or kayak because they don't allow motor boats. They have a nice beach that our kid liked. You also have to the fairy stone hunting ground - we didn't find any. But there's a cool hiking trail with a couple of abandoned mine entrances.
ScoutBeautiful campground, all sites are paved with designated tent pads,h20,and power 20/30/50 amp. There is plenty to do at park fairy stone hunts, paddling, hiking, beach etc.
LegendThis campground is one of our stops coming from VT or going back home - would love to spend more time then just passing through
ScoutDouthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them (i.e. not Whispering Pines) are located near the lake. Each one had a campground host (volunteer) and wood for sale.
White Oak Campground is larger, wooded, and has a significant elevation change between different sites. Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles.
Beaver Dam Campground is relatively flat and similarly wooded while also providing equestrian facilities.
Lakeside Campground is smaller but the front row sites provide great lake views. Unfortunately swimming is only allowed in the Beach area which is not directly connected to this campground.
Whispering Pines is a few miles away along the entry road and has a different character. It’s a very flat and wide-open campground perfect for big RVs with much larger sites.
The Lakeside Camp Store is nice and has a to-go counter for food. The facilities, overall, were well maintained and clean. Firewood is for sale for $6 per bundle.
TravelerPretty much what a campground should be. Absolutely 0 service. No place to get ice if you’re out. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.
ScoutNice campground in line with expectations for most Virginia state parks. Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work
ScoutSwimming in this beautiful and very swimmable and safe lake is limited to a kiddie area - useless if you're looking for exercise. Count on a ranger yelling if you go elsewhere despite the absence of "no-swimming" signs. (Lots of signs about not feeding the wildlife). Tennessee state parks, for example, allow swimming in huge lakes swamped with jet-skis and speed boats. Lake Norris, Harrison Bay... What's wrong with "swim at your own risk?" No cellular signal which can be a plus. Old fashioned pay phone available for the generation that knows how to operate those.
LegendWe were in site #5. It was not level yet nothing in the mountains is level. The electric showed 30 & 50 amp yet the 30 amp was disconnected and that's what we need. We had to use the 50 amp hook up. The electric bo is on the wrong side of the site, most in this loop are on the wrong side. We filled with water this loop you have to fill with water.
The site was nice sized and shaded.
There isn't any cell service yet near the camp loop 2 the loop below ours behind spot #10 as you walk to the lake at a specific spot you can get service.
The lake is beautiful. Our neighbor was catching nice fish out in his boat. Many different kinds of fish and very nice sized brown trout.
There is a swim beach which you can launch a kayak or canoe from the beach.
The Marina is closed yet there is a boat launch near the marina.
They really need to update the campground area's was told it was all closed for a few years too bad they didn't update the campgrounds.
There isn't much around so bring your supplies with you. There is a small general store that sells somethings and gas but it's not a real grocery. They did sell excellent Virginia peanuts there.
favorite campsites are:
Campground 1
sites 9 and 2 were my favorite. Sites 2, 3, 9 & 10 the electric boxes are on the correct side.
Campground 2 sites 44 and 45 are nice with water & electric.
Sites 47, 50, 53, 54, 51 and 55 have no hook ups yet they are waterfront sites.
Campground 3 there is a boat & trailer storage area.
Best sites are 69 and 70 with water & electric.
No hook ups 64, 88 and 89 are waterfront.
They had a problem with the water in our loop so the bath house was closed and they had port o potties in front of the bath house. The day use area is big and was not crowded at all. There were many people camping in our loop it was very quiet.
Equestrian camping near Thaxton, Virginia offers visitors access to heavily forested mountain terrain within the Appalachian foothills. The region sits at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 feet with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and spring/fall temperatures hovering between 45-70°F. Most horse-friendly campsites in the area require advance booking during peak seasons from April through October.
Hunting for fairy stones: Visit Fairy Stone State Park Campground where campers can search for unique cross-shaped minerals. "We learned about the mysterious 'Fairy Stones' and went to the hunt site to see for ourselves. Sure enough - we found several fairy stones and the kids were very happy!" explains Kirsten J.
Water activities: Explore the lakes and rivers throughout the region for fishing, swimming and boating. "The water was beautiful, temperature perfect for swimming. There's a separate beach that you can drive to that is roped off for swimming purposes but we rather enjoyed walking to the water from our site and having what seemed like our own little swimming spot," notes Joanna G. from Bolar Mountain Recreation Area.
Mountain biking: Take advantage of extensive trail networks suitable for various skill levels. "We did a decent amount of biking here, the main road is nice for road biking, we rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear. Beautiful country roads. And the trails are great for mountain biking. Bring your legs, lots of climbing!" shares Robyn S.
Dark sky viewing: James River State Park Campground offers exceptional stargazing opportunities. "This is a wonderful spot for viewing the stars because of the lack of light pollution. James River State Park has been named an International Dark Sky Park," notes Daryl L.
Primitive sites with water access: Campers appreciate the quiet natural settings with direct access to water. "I enjoyed my stay in this wooded campground. The sites were equipped with fire rings and picnic tables and level, gravel areas to park cars in front of your site. A creek ran nearby the campground and there were options for trails," reports Virginia G.
Large, well-spaced sites: Douthat State Park Campground provides ample room between campsites. "A favorite of our for years! All types of sites and hookups plus cabins. Fishing, lake swimming, hiking, educational opportunities galore. Security is good but not overwhelming," shares Cathy L.
Campsite selection strategy: Different camping areas offer varying levels of privacy and access. "Douthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them are located near the lake. White Oak Campground is larger, wooded, and has a significant elevation change between different sites. Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles," advises Jeremy W.
Off-the-grid experience: Cell service is limited or non-existent in many campgrounds. "We like going during the week in the summer, it can get busy on the lake on weekends. Other than that it is quiet and we've never had a noise problem," explains Nicole R. from Bolar Mountain Recreation Area.
Seasonal weather considerations: Be prepared for temperature fluctuations and bugs. "We would definitely be back to this site - but I recommend stronger bug spray. We all left with more bites than we usually do camping!" warns Kirsten J.
Educational programs: Take advantage of ranger-led activities designed for children. "The programming was also amazing for our eight and four-year old boys. Ranger Lexie hunted legendary fairystones with our kids and they haven't stopped talking about the magic of the hunt!" shares Russell C.
Alternative accommodations: Red Oak Campground offers cabins that work well for families with young children. "We rented a cabin with fantastic sunset views. This park has great walking and equine trails, a fantastic visitor center, and a wonderful outdoor park/adventure zone for the kiddos," recommends Jamie B.
Swimming areas: Look for designated beach areas with shallow sections for younger swimmers. "The lake is perfect for little ones and even grownup kids. Also love the trails that surround the campground," notes Ryan Z.
Hookup availability: Don's Cab-Inns Campground provides electric sites suitable for RVs. "All new facilities and only $25 a night. Electric on the site, water and dump station located nearby. Half a dozen RV spaces and cabin rentals and yurts," reports Terry F.
Level sites: Look for campgrounds with flatter terrain for easier setup. "Campground is very new and bath facilities are immaculate. No shade at sites (hot July day)," cautions Ross P.
Site reservation timing: Book well in advance for equestrian-friendly sites with RV access. "We stayed here for two nights in the middle of the week in the summer of 2019. I stayed in one of the lakeside sites. Generally this is a nice campground...not too big and pretty quiet. Downsides are that it is pretty pricey ($40?) and the sites by the lake are not especially private, actually the area is pretty much wide open," advises Thomas R.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Thaxton, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Thaxton, VA is White Oak Campground — Douthat State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Thaxton, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Thaxton, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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