7 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Beaver Dam Campground at Douthat State Park provides dedicated equestrian facilities while maintaining the standard amenities of a Virginia state park. Located within the sprawling 4,500-acre park near Millboro, this horse camping destination features level sites that accommodate both riders and their horses. The sites offer water and electric hookups for RVs while maintaining easy access to horse facilities. Trail riders frequently return to Douthat for its well-maintained grounds and clean bathhouse facilities with private showers. Camping options include tent sites, RV spots with 50-amp service, and cabin rentals, though horses must remain in designated equestrian areas. The campground provides picnic tables, fire rings, and access to firewood purchases, creating comfortable camping conditions for both horse and rider.
The extensive trail system connecting to Beaver Dam Campground allows for varied riding experiences through the mountainous terrain surrounding Douthat Lake. Horse owners can access multiple difficulty levels of trails directly from the campground, avoiding the need to trailer between rides. The park maintains miles of designated bridle paths that wind through wooded areas with moderate elevation changes, providing scenic views of the surrounding valleys. Stream crossings along several trails offer natural water access for horses. The camp store near the lake provides basic supplies, though equestrians should bring specialized feed and tack. Weekend availability becomes limited during peak season (May through September), necessitating advance reservations for equestrian campsites. Proper manure management and adherence to park guidelines helps maintain the quality of this popular horse camping destination.
"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."
from $37 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $16 - $85 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite, Located between Clover Lick and Clawson, WV (south of Sharp's Tunnel) The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most"
"GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL MILEPOST 69.6 PRIMITIVE CAMPING AREA, Clover Lick, WV The Greenbrier River Trail is a converted C&O Railway that travels 80 miles from Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown,"
"Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, Watoga, WV West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail** (GRT) **stretches from its Northern Terminus at the Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown"
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.
ScoutBeautiful and secluded. Primitive camping area for boondocking or tent camping. Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses.
RangerThis 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.
GuideThis is a real gem in the woods . I have no idea why it is listed as closed when it is open and very nice. Call them to book a site as the apps will not let u
Equestrian camping near Lexington, Virginia offers access to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests which cover over 1.8 million acres. The region features terrain with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 feet above sea level, creating varied riding conditions throughout the year. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F while spring and fall provide cooler riding weather in the 60s.
Horseback riding trails: At Douthat State Park Campground, trail riders can explore extensive trail systems through mountainous terrain. "We love to camp this park you have all you want if you love outdoors: lake, hiking trails, horseback riding trails, RV's site, tent site, cabins... the rest is pure fun," notes Wilfredo D. The park maintains designated bridle paths with moderate elevation changes.
Fishing opportunities: James River State Park Campground offers excellent fishing access. According to John R., "It's $8 a day for a fishing pass and you can rent John boats or kayaks here as well. In season the lake and creek are stocked with plenty of Rainbow trout." Fishing spots are accessible from most equestrian camping areas, allowing riders to combine activities.
Mountain biking: When not on horseback, many trails accommodate cyclists. "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," says Robyn S. Many trails allow multi-use access for both horses and bikes with proper trail etiquette.
Clean facilities: Red Oak Campground maintains quality restroom facilities, which equestrian campers particularly appreciate after trail rides. "The bathrooms were impeccable and close to the cabins," reports Bridget H. Most equestrian sites include access to bathhouses with hot showers to wash off trail dust.
Spacious campsites: Equestrian campers need extra space, and many sites deliver. "The sites are generously sized and flat," notes Conni B. about campsites at James River State Park. This extra space allows for proper distance between horses, tents, and vehicles.
Water access: Many campers appreciate the streams and lakes. "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," explains Joanna G. from Bolar Mountain Recreation Area. After a day of riding, both horses and humans can cool off in the water.
Seasonal considerations: Summer months bring higher temperatures and insects. "My only advise would be to bring bug spray- especially in the summer. Those black flies were relentless!" warns Molly G. Spring and fall offer more comfortable riding conditions with fewer pests.
Availability challenges: Popular equestrian sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "Weekend availability becomes limited during peak season (May through September), necessitating advance reservations for equestrian sites," according to park guidelines. Some locations accept reservations 6 months in advance.
Trail conditions: Weather affects trail quality significantly. "We stayed in the beginning of June and it was kind cold that night," mentions Mandi R. at Bolar Mountain. Recent rainfall can create muddy conditions on some trails, especially in spring, so check trail status before riding.
Educational opportunities: Don's Cab-Inns Campground offers structured activities for children. "Explore Park is run by Roanoke County, who partners with different vendors to create a full outdoor experience for folks who want to the gamut of outdoor adventures without having to drive all over the place," explains Tara S. Many parks offer junior ranger programs specifically about horses.
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for sites with playgrounds and shallow water access. "A short walk up the street they have biking, hiking, kayaking and tubing available. We just enjoyed walking to the river and jumping in to cool off!" shares Mel T. Most equestrian campgrounds include family-friendly spaces away from horse areas.
Safety considerations: Keep children and horses separated appropriately. "The park is part of the Dark Sky Parks Association and if you are into astronomy and stars this is the place to stay," notes Bridget H. Evening stargazing provides a quiet activity after horses are settled for the night.
Site selection for large rigs: Greenbrier River Trail MP 69.6 offers insights for equestrian RVers. "Because of the wetter climate, there were soggy sections that would cause difficulty for thin tires, especially when laden with panniers," cautions Dave V. Similar challenges exist for horse trailers, so select sites carefully based on ground conditions.
Hookup availability: Many equestrian sites have limited services. "Campground is very new and bath facilities are immaculate. No shade at sites (hot July day)," notes Ross P. RVers should come prepared with extra water storage for both human and equine needs when full hookups aren't available.
Maneuverability challenges: Some access roads present difficulties. "Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles," warns Jeremy W. about certain areas of Douthat State Park. Horse trailers require extra care on the narrow mountain roads leading to many equestrian camping areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lexington, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lexington, 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 Lexington, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Lexington, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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