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Best Equestrian Camping near Wakefield, VA

113 Reviews

Chippokes State Park Campground provides equestrian-friendly accommodations near Wakefield, Virginia, with sites that accommodate horses and their owners throughout the camping season from late March to early December. The campground features water and electric hookups at most sites, with a sanitary dump station available for RV campers. While no dedicated horse corrals are listed among the amenities, the park allows pets and offers spacious sites that can accommodate various camping styles including tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options. The campground maintains clean facilities with showers and toilets that are regularly serviced, and fire rings with available firewood for purchase from the camp host.

Located along the James River, Chippokes offers access to trail riding opportunities throughout the 1,400-acre working farm that dates back to 1619. The trail system includes routes suitable for horseback riding that wind through forest areas and along waterfront sections. Horse owners should note that trailer parking is available, though reservations are recommended, especially during peak season. The park features multiple loops with varying levels of shade and privacy, with the right loop generally offering better conditions for tent campers seeking more seclusion. Water access points provide opportunities for horses to drink and cool off after rides. The park's historic plantation grounds and farm animals add cultural interest to the equestrian experience, with several miles of scenic riding paths available for daytime exploration.

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Best Equestrian Sites Near Wakefield, Virginia (3)

    1. Chippokes State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Jamestown, VA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (757) 294-3728

    "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."

    2. Pocahontas State Park Campground

    78 Reviews
    Chester, VA
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (804) 796-4255

    $35 - $40 / night

    "Largest State Park in Virginia - nearly 8,000 acres. We stayed two nights and paddled around Swift Creek Lake on Sunday. The staff was amazing."

    "There is a small gift shop at the main entrance. The camp store was closed during our stay. We did not make use of the laundry, bathrooms or showers."

    3. Chesapeake Campground

    6 Reviews
    Williamsburg, VA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (757) 485-0149
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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Wakefield, VA

2 Photos of 3 Wakefield Campgrounds

Equestrian Camping Reviews near Wakefield, VA

113 Reviews of 3 Wakefield Campgrounds

  • RL
    Jun. 29, 2020

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    Biggest State Park

    Largest State Park in Virginia - nearly 8,000 acres. We stayed two nights and paddled around Swift Creek Lake on Sunday. The staff was amazing. Camp store has ice, drinks, snacks, souvenirs, and wood is $5 a bucket (honor system). Bathhouses (showers separate of restrooms) were very clean. The first campground you come to definitely has more shade than the second loop so if you're looking to hammock camp, pick the first campground. In both campgrounds, some sites are a bit close together and/or close to the road. Tons of trails, some for mixed use and other for mountain bikers, some for horses, and some for hiking only. Great location! Will definitely be back!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 6, 2022

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    Awesome State Park Campground

    We spent three nights here (May 17-19, 2022). This is an awesome State Park CG with wide, level pull through and back-in sites.

    There is a small gift shop at the main entrance. The camp store was closed during our stay. We did not make use of the laundry, bathrooms or showers.

    Activities include: hiking/walking, mtn biking (three levels of difficulty– wish I brought my mtn bike), boating, fishing, swimming, equestrian, etc. The trails are excellent. The forest and lakes are absolutely amazing. There is so much to see and do.

    This is the kind of park that you hate to leave. We would most definitely stay here again (and again). How fun!

  • Andrea N.
    Jul. 18, 2016

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    A great park for a weekend get-away

    The trails at this park are very well maintained. They are designated as hiking, biking, and/or horseback riding, so you'll know which trails are best for your activity.

    This park has some of the best bike trails in the state - over 25 miles. Several new mountain-bike-only trails opened just this year. The difficulties are clearly marked as Novice through Expert. They even installed maintenance equipment at the entrance of each new trail so you can make minor adjustments without carrying your own equipment.

    A number of the hiking trails through this park are wide fire roads. Smaller paths wind throughout the park connecting the larger trails together. Be sure to get a park map before you start your adventure. This is the largest state park in Virginia and it's easy to get turned around.

    If you're into Geocaching, or want to learn how, you can pick up a hand-held GPS from the park office along with a list of the geocaches located in the park. The geocaches are rotated on a fairly frequent basis, so there will always be new caches for you to find.

    Pocahontas State Park has a great Nature Center where you can pet or hold some of the smaller snakes, and watch the box turtles wander around. Here you can learn about the local plants and wildlife so you know what to look for out on the trail. There are even craft activities for the little ones. Just check with the park office or the Nature Center for a schedule of events.

    For water lovers there is a large swimming pool that is open during the summer months. If you're camping for the night, your entrance to the pool is included in your stay. Or, if you prefer kayaks and canoes, you can put in at Swift Creek Lake for a flatwater paddle. The park has rental equipment if need to borrow gear.

    The southern end of the park has been designed for the horse lovers. There is ample parking for trailers and miles of wide trails so you don't have to ride single file. The park includes new facilities for your horses including two exercise rings. There are no overnight facilities for horses at this park.

    The camping sites are nothing special. Tent and RV camping are in the same area. They do provide plenty of room for your tent, and include a picnic table and fire ring. Many of the sites are in almost full sun, so you may want to bring a shade of some type with you.

    Beware that there is a huge tick population in this park. Be sure to wear bug spray if you'll be out in the woods at any point.

    All-in-all, this is a fantastic park for families. There is a little bit of everything for everyone in your family.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 3, 2024

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    Huge park with plenty to do!

    Our site was nice and level. Covered by shade the majority of the day. Playground was decent and pretty centrally located on the campground. Firewood for sale by QR code was convenient. The trails were nice and it was a nice walk to the aquatic recreation park. Access to the aquatic park is free for campers. The bathrooms were clean but the one close to my site the outside was falling apart. Don’t know how the camp store is because it is only open Thursday to Sunday and has almost different hours every day. Overall great campground we will be going back

  • Philip S.
    May. 11, 2018

    Chippokes State Park Campground

    Great park, clean, and close to tons to do!

    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. There's also a large pool during the season with a camp store, snacks. The staff are always great, the sites are level and not too close together, with plenty of shade. The bathrooms and showers are kept clean and the showers are huge! There's plenty to do on the grounds, hiking, biking, touring the plantation, geocaching, and yes, even Pokemon Go! About 5 miles away is the ferry to Williamsburg...its free and usually a highlight of the trip for the kids! You can follow history or ride plenty of roller coasters at Busch Gardens.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 20, 2024

    Chippokes State Park Campground

    Great park for cultural and natural history

    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. The land grant was huge, and as a state park now it provides a rich opportunity to learn about the James River, the natural and indigenous history of the region, the settlement history and role of this plantation in Virginia History, and more. Visiting here provides hiking opportunities to learn about fossils along the river shore, the temperate forest in the woods, and history around the old plantation. Taking the ferry across the river from Jamestown to get here was part of the adventure too. There is a nature center and visitor center that provides lots of info and programs near the river , a network of easy park roads for biking, and the plantation itself, set back further away from the river, provides a wealth of learning, including about the history of crops and trade in this area, and about the lives of the slaves who worked the plantation. The grounds right around the plantation are, in fact, a memorial to the hundreds of souls who lived and worked the land here. It was an amazing learning experience to come to the park, and the options to stay over in the park include standard campsites in a wooded campground, or cabins. The campground has all the usual state park amenities, and was very quiet when we were there in November—so late fall is a great time to come, as the fall weather was amazing

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2020

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    State Park with Some Limitations

    This was the first time camping with just my grandson and me, and I looked forward to him playing in the water, playing at the playground, fishing, and kayaking on the water. Unfortunately, the pandemic restrictions caused the playgrounds, the boat rental, and the swimming complex to be closed. With no swim beach and no play area, that stretched my imagination to keep him entertained. I took this into consideration when reviewing this campground, but there were other reasons for disappointment. 

    According to the website, you can purchase a fishing license at the park office. This was not true, so I had to drive seven miles to purchase one. While I was there, I also bought two bags of ice since it was more reasonable than the price at the campground. When I was ready to dispose of the trash, I discovered that the nearest trash disposal was not within a reasonable walking distance, so driving to the trash bin was the best option. The sites were level, and many of them were either paved or gravel. I liked the separation and privacy between most of the campsites. The lower numbered sites had lots of shade. Unfortunately, most of those had been reserved. The site we had was large, but the shade was minimal. I guess the site being so large is a double-edged sword. We had a small teardrop, and the distance from our little kitchenette in the back of the camper to the picnic table on the gravel pad was quite a walk to carry a heavy cooler by yourself.

    I’m glad I wasn’t staying in a tent this time. The gravel pad between the pull-through and the picnic table would not have been pleasant. The two nights that we stayed at this campground, the temperature was in the mid-90s for most of the day, so not being able to swim made us miserably hot. The worst part, however, was going to the bath house and shower. The showers were large, and the bath house was clean, but there was NO ventilation. There were no windows or exhaust fan. Stepping inside was like stepping into a sauna. Immediately after turning off the water in the shower, I started sweating from the heat in the shower. It looked as though there might have been a heater, but without having ventilation during the summer, it was TERRIBLE planning. 

    There is a boat ramp, but when I got there, it said“swimming prohibited.” I was hoping my five-year-old grandson could at least play in the water. I let him anyway(technically, he wasn’t swimming). The boat ramp is small, and motors are not allowed. The only place to fish was really from a boat. There were not many places from the shore to cast. Fortunately, we did take a kayak with us. At the boat launch site, there was a swing set, but it was also closed. To get to the boat ramp and lake, we had to drive 1.8 miles to get there, which isn’t a bad thing, but everything(camp store, trash dump, etc.) seemed out of walking distance. We got a chance to hike a little on one of the trails, which was fairly easy. If the whole family would have come camping with us, I could have tried one of the bike trails. From the campground, I saw one of the bike trails, which looked pleasantly challenging. 

    There are two camp stores, but the one within walking distance of the campground was closed for the summer. The camp store near the entrance was a decent size, but you would have to drive to it from the campground. There are picnic shelters, meeting facilities, a CCC museum(which was closed), a snack bar(which was closed), and laundry facilities. Overall, it wouldn’t be such a bad campground to stay at if everything was open.  Also, despite so many things not being open (swim complex, all of the playgrounds, one of the camp stores, the boat rentals, the CCC museum, etc.), I was charged FULL PRICE!!!  However, even with everything open, there are reasons I would prefer to camp elsewhere next time.

  • Gary G.
    Jun. 20, 2022

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    Excellent camping with a variety of activities available!

    The campsites were private, well maintained, and shady.  The facilities were also well maintained.  Flush toilets and free hot showers were abundant.

    With only 120 sites, the traffic and noise was acceptable.  There was cell coverage for our Verizon phones.  There was a nice playground for the grandkids, a small campground store, dry firewood, and friendly campground hosts.

    The day use area is incredible and less than a mile walk through the woods on a hike/bike/crawl/stroller gravel surface.  The day area includes awesome MTB trails, hiking trails, kayaking/fishing spots and a water park.

    No doubt we will return to this Virginia State Park in the future!

  • V
    Jul. 18, 2016

    Pocahontas State Park Campground

    Not a pretty area

    I grew up near this park and only went twice. While the trails are extensive, they are not very interesting. Also, the ticks in this part of virginia were out of control and i found myself spending more of my hike picking them off than looking at the scenery. The scenery however left much to be desired. I would not recommend this park. There are far better ones like Prince William State Park near D.C.

Guide to Wakefield

Chippokes State Park Campground provides seasonal recreational facilities from late March through early December along the James River. Sites accommodate various camping styles including RV, tent, and cabin options on 1,400 acres of historic farmland that dates to 1619. Water and electric hookups are available at most sites, with a sanitary dump station accessible to RV users and showers maintained for all campers.

What to do

Kayaking inland waters: At Chippokes State Park Campground, paddlers can explore beyond the main waterfront. "Definitely recommend following the river inland and kayaking through the marshland," notes Christina, who found the waterways ideal for both kayaking and fishing experiences.

Shark tooth hunting: The beaches at Chippokes offer unique fossil hunting opportunities for visitors. "Hunt for sharks teeth on the beach," recommends Danielle H., who also mentioned that the "pool is very clean" for when you need a break from beach combing activities.

Historic plantation exploration: The campground sits on a working farm with preserved historic structures. "The still working farm and homes are a treasure of how life and farms ran back in the day and how they can survive into the future," explains Rose H., highlighting the educational value beyond typical camping activities.

What campers like

Family-friendly swimming areas: Shallow water access points make this location excellent for families with young children. "The water at the beaches is so shallow great for my son! It's a beautiful place!" reports Susan P. from her stay at Chippokes.

Free ferry access: Pocahontas State Park Campground visitors appreciate nearby transportation options. "About 5 miles away is the ferry to Williamsburg...its free and usually a highlight of the trip for the kids!" explains Philip S., noting its convenience for accessing additional attractions.

Site privacy variations: The campground offers different loops with varying levels of seclusion. "The campsites on the A loop are a little more on an angle, they converted tent site lots to camper lots so they come with a level tent area as well," observes Johnathan M., providing insight into the site layouts and terrain.

What you should know

Weather considerations: The area can experience significant rainfall that affects campsite conditions. At Chesapeake Campground, one camper advised, "They need to know that if you go on a rainy season bring boots," after experiencing water accumulation issues during their stay.

Reservation importance: During peak seasons, securing campsites requires advance planning. "Got last available site & never felt crowded," reports John M., indicating that even when the campground reaches capacity, the layout preserves a sense of space.

Noise levels: Despite proximity to civilization, the campgrounds maintain a peaceful atmosphere. "20 mins from every store you can imagine, but super quiet at night. Sites are well spaced," notes Ashley I., addressing concerns about noise pollution.

Tips for camping with families

Teen-friendly activities: Chippokes State Park Campground offers engaging options for older children. "We took 6 teenagers camping and they had a blast! Especially the pool!" shares Virginia B., highlighting successful group camping with adolescents.

Equestrian facilities: Families interested in horse campgrounds near Wakefield, Virginia can find accommodations that welcome both horses and young riders. Sites are designed to accommodate equestrian camping needs with trailer parking and access to riding trails throughout the property.

Multi-activity options: Family groups appreciate destinations with diverse recreational choices. "Lots of trails, nature center, pool, and creek for kayaking and fishing. You can also rent water equipment while you're there. Very good for beginners," explains Samantha G., detailing the range of options available to keep different age groups engaged.

Tips from RVers

Site selection for RVs: Equestrian-friendly RV camping near Wakefield requires attention to site dimensions and angles. "Well laid out sites, clean restrooms and showers," notes Glenn T., emphasizing the thoughtful design for larger vehicles at Pocahontas State Park.

Hookup availability: RV campers should note the utilities offered. "No sewer hookups (they do have 30/50amp)," reports Ashley I., providing essential information for planning longer stays with appropriate tank management.

Weather preparedness: RV campers must monitor local conditions, particularly after storms. "A storm hit right after I got here and now I'm sitting in about 8 inches of water!" warns Kelly W., highlighting the importance of site drainage assessment for motorhomes and trailers when considering horse-friendly campgrounds around Wakefield.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Wakefield, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wakefield, VA is Chippokes State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 21 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Wakefield, VA?

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