James River State Park offers equestrian camping opportunities within a 1,500-acre property at 1,020 feet elevation. The park's equestrian sites are designed for campers traveling with horses, providing direct trail access throughout the property. Several campgrounds in the area cater to riders with varying levels of facilities ranging from primitive sites to full amenity destinations.
What to do
Overnight horseback adventures: At James River State Park Campground, enjoy camping near your horses with convenient facilities. "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," notes one camper.
Trail riding and fishing: At Red Oak Campground, riders can explore trails then fish in the James River. "Activities that can be done include tubing on the river, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding trails, wagon ride, and lots of park events," reports one visitor who appreciated the variety.
Stargazing sessions: Red Oak Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "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," shares a camper who values this unique feature.
What campers like
Clean facilities: The bathhouses at Bear Creek Lake State Park Campground receive consistent praise. "The bathhouse is kept very clean. It has a lake for swimming, boating, and fishing. There are programs every weekend. There is even an archery range," mentions a satisfied visitor.
Private campsites: Campers appreciate sites with good separation between neighbors. "The tent pads are filled with shredded tires instead of gravel or dirt, which provides a little extra cushion, but can be uncomfortable on bare feet," notes one Bear Creek Lake camper, highlighting the unique ground covering.
Water access: Several equestrian campgrounds near Scottsville provide direct water access. "We camped here with our new born daughter and son, with that being said the campground was very quiet and accommodated our family very well! We enjoyed the large bathhouses and the large tentpad spots!"
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Popular horse campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "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," explains a visitor to Powhatan State Park Campground.
Seasonal considerations: During summer months, central Virginia experiences high humidity and temperatures. "Cumberland County is only at 455' elevation, so the heat and humidity in the summer is intense—we were very uncomfortable our first night because of this, so fall would probably be the best time to go."
Cell service limitations: Mobile connectivity varies throughout the region. "Nice 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."
Tips for camping with families
River activities: The James River provides swimming and boating opportunities for families. "The best part of both trips was the River. Absolutely clean, crystal clear water and never crowded. Both of my trips were during the summer and over a weekend and we seldom came across others."
Ranger programs: Shenandoah Crossing offers family-friendly activities beyond horseback riding. "We enjoyed a fire making class followed by s'mores on Friday night and then an owl searching hike on Saturday night. We hiked many miles while here and had a great weekend."
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "We loved this place! It was a small quiet campground with easy hiking trails, a small lake and some friendly bears poking around in the camp office. The sites were pretty close together."
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, RVs share open field camping with equestrian trailers. "They say dispersed, but it is a small field as you can not access the other fields. Horse trailers, RVs, tents, and overland trailers all park right next to each other," warns one camper about space limitations.
Hookup availability: Water and electric connections vary between campgrounds. "Sites in the River Bend Loop have water and electric hook-ups, though very little privacy between sites. The surrounding trees give all but the first three sites decent shade and a wooded atmosphere."
Length restrictions: Some parks limit RV sizes. "Limit on RV length to 35 feet. This includes tow vehicle and trailer," cautions one camper about Bear Creek Lake State Park's restrictions.
