Guide to Solo Camping for Women
Camping is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but as a single female, you may feel hesitant
updated April 2023
Here are the top 8 campgrounds in the State of Virginia for family camping in 2023. Whether you are looking for a place to bring your RV, a private tent site with running water, a primitive campground for your whole group, or a Yurt or Cabin – these campgrounds have it all! Camping with the family doesn’t have to be stressful or boring for the kids! There are many campgrounds in the state of VA that have all sorts of activities aimed to keep the whole family enjoying their vacation and experiencing quality family time together. Want to set up the perfect campsite? Read this first.
As parents ourselves, we know what’s important for a successful family camping trip.
CLEAN BATHROOMS – so important for tent campers who rely on clean, well-maintained bathrooms and showers! Even if you have a bathroom with your RV, its essential to have nice bathrooms when you are out and about exploring the parks.
KIDS’ AREAS & ACTIVITIES. While it isn’t essential to have organized activities for children, they are nice to have as an option. In addition – playgrounds and kid-friendly hiking trails are a must. First time tent camping with kids? Read these quick tips.
CAMPSITE PRIVACY. No one wants to drive a couple hours from home with all their camping gear to just be crammed into a campsite practically on top of their neighbors! We know we aren’t exactly back-packing into the wilderness, but bonus points for those campsites who have a measure of privacy so you can at least pretend you are miles away from society.
With these criteria in mind, here is our suggested list of best campgrounds for families (listed North to South in the state of Virginia):
1. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center
2. Shenandoah River State Park
3. Bull Run Regional Park
4. Westmoreland State Park
5. Hidden Acres Family Campground
6. Douthat State Park
7. Pocahontas State Park
8. Holiday Trav-L-Park
Location:
37410 Adventure Center Lane,
Purcellville, VA 20132
Phone: 540-668-9007
Camping at Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is all about non-stop activities, exciting challenges, and family fun. Camping options include cabins, riverside tent sites, mountaintop tent sites, and mountaintop platform camping (raised wooden platforms to put your tent on to keep it level and off the wet ground).
The most difficult part of staying at Harpers Ferry will be choosing which activities to do as a family – there are so many choices. From whitewater tubing to zip lines and ropes courses – there is something for every age, ability, and daring level in your group. There is also an adventure day camp for kids ages 9-14 that includes activities specifically tailored to that age group.
| Facilities | (all activities are fee-based) Tubing (whitewater, flat water) Rafting Duckie Kayaking Zipline Ropes Course Team Building Kids’ Camp Segway Tours River shuttles |
Cabins Rentals
| Cabins: | 11 |
| Site Features: | A/C, picnic table, grill/fire ring. Bathhouses are a short walk away. No linens provided. Two sets of bunk-beds and a twin loft. Sleeps 5 |
Riverside Camping
| Sites: | 24 |
| Site Features: | Must have 4-wheel drive to access camping area with personal vehicles. Each campsite equipped with picnic table, fire ring, and charcoal grill. Access to portable outhouse nearby, 10-minute hike to the bathhouse with hot showers/indoor plumbing. Each site accommodates 1 tent and 4 people |
Mountaintop Camping
| Sites: | 10 |
| Site Features: | Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and charcoal grill. Bathhouse with indoor plumbing and hot showers is a short walk away. Each site can fit 1 large or 2 small tents, sleeping 5 total. |
Mountaintop Platform Camping
| Platforms: | 7 |
| Site Features: | Same as the mountaintop campsites, but with your tent being off the ground on a dry, level, wood platform. Can hold tents up to 10 ft x 10 ft. Each campsite has a picnic table and a grill/fire ring combo. |
Virginia State Parks
Location:
350 Daughter of Stars Drive
Bentonville, VA 22610
Phone: 540-622-6840
The Shenandoah River State Park is perfect for families who enjoy quiet nature settings and water sports like fishing, canoeing, and wildlife watching. The park features 5.2 miles of shoreline along the Shenandoah River and has riverside tent sites, cabins, and camping cabins.
If your family enjoys hiking, you’ll find over 24 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding as well as a new zipline by Virginia Canopy Tours! The park also offers nature programs such as guided night hikes, map & compass reading, wetland walks and more.
| Facilities | 1,600 acres along 5.2 miles of shoreline Large riverside picnic area Picnic shelters 24+ miles of trails River access Car-top boat launch Hiking Biking Horseback riding |
Campground
| Campsites: | 31 |
| Site Features: | Water, electric hook ups – for tents, popups, and RVs up to 60 ft. Centrally located restrooms with hot showers. All sites have fire rings, picnic table and lantern holder. |
River Right Campground
| Campsites: | 10 |
| Site Features: | Tent only. Canoe or walk in sites. Each site has a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. Full service bathhouse and potable water. |
Cottonwood Primitive Group Campground
| Accommodates: | Up to 30 people |
| Site Features: | Bathhouse nearby. Campground is 100 yards from parking lot. |
Cabins
| Cabins: | 9 – two bedroom cabins 1 – three bedroom cabin |
| Features: | Kitchen with appliances, utensils, cookware. No linens provided. Fireplace, bathroom, picnic table, fire ring, charcoal grill. NO SMOKING. Pets allowed for extra fee. |
Lodge
| Lodge | 1 six-bedroom lodge, sleeps 16 |
| Features: | Kitchen with appliances, utensils, cookware. Washing machine, rocking chairs on deck. 3 bathrooms. No linens provided. Max 6 cars. Picnic table, charcoal grill, campfire ring. Gas log fireplace. NO SMOKING. Pets allowed for extra fee. |
Yurts
| Yurts: | 3 |
| Features: | Large wood deck, picnic table, charcoal grill, fire ring. 1 queen size bed and a twin-size trundle pull out. No pets. Dining table (seats 4). Bathhouse is near by. |
Camping Cabin
| Camping Cabins: | 4 |
| Features: | Sleep up to 4. No linens, no heat. Cabins are basically 4 walls, a roof, 2 sets of bunk beds (with mattresses), a table, 4 chairs, and electric outlets. Picnic table, charcoal grill. 2 night minimum. |
Fred Dunn
Location:
7700 Bull Run Drive
Centreville, VA 20121
Phone: 703-631-0550
Virginia state parks
Location:
145 Cliff Road
Montross, VA 22520
Phone: 804-493-8821
Westmoreland State Park is located on the Potomac River’s Northern Neck and is only 1.5 hours car drive from Richmond, VA. Families who are camping or staying in the park cabins have FREE access to the Olympic size swimming pool and adjacent bathhouse (open Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day Weekend). The park offers six miles of hiking trails including one dedicate bicycle trail. Throughout the park and trails, you can see amazing views of the Potomac River as well as local flora and wildlife.
Power boats are permitted on the Potomac and there is a boat ramp available. Fishing is available throughout the year but does require a valid saltwater fishing license and annual registration in Virginia’s free saltwater angler identification program. During summer months, you can rent paddleboats, kayaks and stand up paddle boards.
| Facilities | 1,321 acres 6 miles hiking trails 1 biking trail Swimming pool (Memorial Day-Labor Day) Fishing Boating Boat ramp Boathouse (sells tackle, bait, ice) Rental paddleboards & kayaks) – summer Picnic shelters Visitor center Playground Fishing pier Ranger station Conference center |
Cabins Rentals
| Cabins: | 3 – one room log efficiency 4 – one bedroom log 4 – two bedroom log 2 – two bedroom frame 13 – two bedroom cinderblock |
| Site Features: | Linens not provided. Full kitchen with cooking utensils, pots, pans, and silverware. Wood burning fireplace, grill, picnic table. Pets OK. |
Potomac River Retreat
| Lodge: | 1 |
| Site Features: | 5 bedrooms, sleeps up to 16. No linens provided. 2 living rooms, TV & DVD player. 3.5 bathrooms. |
Standard Camping
| Standard Sites: | 30 |
| Site Features: | Back-in only. Pets OK, picnic table, firepit. 7000 ft to bathhouse. |
Standard Electric (30 amp) Camping
| Standard Sites: | 21 |
| Site Features: | Back-in only. Pets OK, picnic table, firepit. 1200 ft to bathhouse. |
Group Camping
| Site Features: | Up to 24 people. 3 group sites made up of four campsites each. No electric or water hook ups. Pets OK. Campfires and cooking allowed in provided fire-rings and grills only. |
Location:
17391 Richmond Tpke
Milford, VA 22514
Phone: 804-633-7592
Kids really enjoy all the things to do at Hidden Acres Family Campground. There is a swimming pool, mini-golf, shuffleboard, a stocked pond for fishing, biking, boating, and hiking. Families can rent cabins or use their RV or tent sites for camping.
If your family includes history buffs, they’ll love visiting nearby Fredrickesburg, Wakefield, Stratford Hall and other historical sites perfect for day trips around the area.
| Facilities | Bike trails Boating (motorized & non-motorized) Stocked fishing pond Golf Mini-golf Swimming pool 2 Playgrounds Horseshoes Pit Shuffleboard, basketball, volleyball Gameroom Laundry Propane (LP) gas pump station Paddle boating |
Cabins Rentals
| Cabins: | 8 |
| Site Features: | Sleeps 2 adults. Electricity, fire pit, picnic table. Restrooms and showers are close walk away. No linens provided. |
RV/Tent Camping:
| Sites: | 31 |
| Site Features: | Cable/satellite TV hookup, electrical service, fire pit, garbage bin, picnic table. |
Location:
14239 Douthat State Park
Millboro, VA 24460
Phone: 540-862-8100
Douthat State Park is nestled in Virginia’s breathtaking mountain scenery. The park offers 43 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, interpretive programs, stream fishing, a 50-acre lake stocked with trout, swimming beach, boat rentals, picnic areas, and more. There are campsites and cabins for rent as well as three lodges that can accommodate 15, 16, and 18 guests each.
Water recreation loving families will find endless activities on Douthat Lake which is stocked with rainbow, brown and brook trout twice a week during the fee season. You may also catch largemouth bass and possibly sunfish, black crappie, and channel catfish.
Horse Camping families can use the equestrian campground which offers access to the bridle trails. Horse trailer parking is located at Flat Run trailhead, but you must bring your own horses – no rentals available.
| Facilities | Interpretive programs 4 miles of stream fishing 50-acre stocked lake (trout) Sandy swimming beach Snack bar Boat rentals Gift shop & camp store 43+ miles hiking, mountain biking, bridle trails Picnic areas Amphitheater Restaurant |
Cabins Rentals
| Cabins: | 5 – one-room log efficiency 13 – one bedroom log 7 – two bedroom log 5 – two bedroom cinderblock with cedar siding 1 – two bedroom frame 1 – three bedroom frame |
| Site Features: | Rustic furniture, heat, A/C, kitchen & small bathroom with shower. No linens provided. Fireplace, picnic table, charcoal grill, rocking chairs on porch. 1 complimentary bundle of firewood – additional firewood is for sale at camp store. (Do not bring your own firewood due to risk of invasive insects). Pets OK – but there is a nightly fee. |
Douthat Lodge
| Lodge: | Sleeps up to 13 guests |
| Site Features: | 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fireplace, kitchen, washer & dryer. No Linens provided. No smoking. TV/VCR + telephone. Stone patio. |
Creasey Lodge
| Lodge: | Sleeps up to 18 guests |
| Site Features: | 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fireplace, kitchen, deck, washer & dryer. No Linens provided. No smoking. |
Beards Mountain Lodge
| Lodge: | Sleeps 16 |
| Site Features: | 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Universally accessible. No smoking. Kitchen & living area. No linens provided. Heat + A/C, washer & dryer. Front and back porch. |
ben grantham
10301 State Park Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: 804-796-4255
The Pocahontas State Park is located only 20 miles from Richmond and is the ultimate destination for families with all ages of children. There are so many activities that everyone in your clan is sure to have a memorable time camping here! Campsites, yurts and camping cabins are available year-round.
The aquatic center (open from Memorial Day until Labor Day) features activity pool, toddler pool, fountain wet deck, 3 ft & 5ft leisure pools and 2 waterslides. Registered overnight campers get a free day of swimming for each overnight reservation.
Families can also enjoy fishing and various watercraft rentals (paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats) at Swift Creek and Beaver lakes.
| Facilities | 7,919 acres64+ miles of trails for hiking/biking Swimming pool (not open during 2020) Nature & history programs Picnic areas Boating (boat rentals available seasonally) 3 lakes Civilian Conservation Corps Museum 2 Dining halls (can be rented for events) 2,000 seat amphitheater for concerts and events Playgrounds |
Yurt Rentals
| Yurts: | 4 |
| Features: | Large wooden deck, patio table, picnic table, fire ring & cooking grate. No smoking or pets inside yurt. Common-use water spigot & electric pedestal for batter charging near the parking area. Bathhouse is nearby. No heat/AC. No linens provided. |
Camping Cabins
| Cabins: | 6 |
| Site Features: | Sleeps max 4 persons. No linens provided. Each cabin has 2 sets of bunk-beds with mattresses, a table, 4 chairs, porch windows with screens, a door that locks, 4 electrical outlets, one lighted ceiling fan, outside picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Common use bathhouse with shower is nearby. |
Camping
| Sites: | 53 |
| Site Features: | Electric and water hookups. No sewer. A grill, picnic table and lantern holder at each campsite. Pets OK. |
1075 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-425-5117
Camping is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but as a single female, you may feel hesitant