There are many great campgrounds near Charlottesville, VA that will give you access to some of the best parks, forests, mountains, rivers, streams, and waterfalls in the region.
You’ll also find excellent hiking trails in and around Charlottesville. I recommend taking some time to explore those as well, including the Rivanna River Trail and the Saunders-Monticello Trail.
When you’re in the area, downtown Charlottesville itself is definitely worth exploring! The Downtown Mall is your place to find great restaurants like C&O, The Alley Light, and Nook.
11 Best Campgrounds Near Charlottesville, VA
Map of Campgrounds Near Charlottesville, VA
11 Best Campgrounds Near Charlottesville, VA
There are a number of great campgrounds within about an hour’s drive of Charlottesville. They can accommodate RVs and tents, and many sites include cabins, yurts, and even townhouses!
Below are some of my top recommendations for campsites near Charlottesville.
1. Shenandoah Crossing Resort
If you want to take your camping experience to the next level, then Shenandoah Crossing Resort is a great option.
The property is one of the highest-rated and most luxurious campsites in the region.
It’s really more of a resort, rather than a pure campground, however it does include RV sites with patios and summer kitchens. Some sites even have personal hot tubs and stainless steel barbecue grills.
Shenandoah Crossing also features 2 and 3-bedroom cabins. You can even find townhouses with full kitchens and balconies.
You can also book a stay at a luxury yurt, which includes flat-screen TVs, bathrooms, and full kitchens.
The resort itself has plenty of amenities. It’s located on an immense 1,000 acres and even has a 60-acre lake.
There are plenty of planned activities too that will guarantee you have plenty to keep you busy, including bonfires, haunted trail walks, storytelling, and crafts.
Plus there are multiple indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs for the whole family to enjoy in the summer.
Beyond all of these amenities, Shenandoah Crossing has an arcade, pool room, general store, fitness center, and much more.
2. Horseshoe Flats Campground
Horseshoe Flats Campground is located right along the James River in Scottsville, VA. It’s just 20 miles south of Charlottesville.
Because of its prime location right by the river, there’s no shortage of great water activities nearby.
You can go kayaking, canoeing, tubing, or fishing, with plenty of rental companies available nearby in case you need any equipment.
The town of Scottsville is an easy walk or bike ride away. It’s home to a number of great parks where you can find hiking trails, picnic areas, tennis courts, playgrounds, and more.
Some of the local parks are Bruce Park, Dorrier Park, and Levee Park.
The campground itself is small, with 15 sites, but it has enough room for even the biggest RV.
3. Waynesboro Elks Lodge #2270
The Waynesboro Elks Lodge #2270 is available to members of the Elks Lodge. The property is located in Waynesboro, which is about 30 miles west of Charlottesville.
The site is small and only has 3 RV sites, however, the cost is only a $15 daily minimum donation for water and electricity.
You’ll find a Club Room with a bar and full-service restaurant, plus a Lodge Room that hosts regular lodge events.
Outside, there is a covered pavilion for picnics.
Waynesboro itself is a great outdoor destination. It’s called the Gateway to Shenandoah National Park and features sites like the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail and Ridgeview Park. You can find out about even more of the best things to do in Waynesboro, VA!
4. Devil’s Backbone Camp
Devil’s Backbone Camp is another one of the best campgrounds near Charlottesville. It’s located in Roseland, VA, which is about 35 miles southwest of Charlottesville.
The camp has plenty of space for your camping needs. There are 25 full RV hook-up sites, 22 standard non-electric RV sites, and 24 tent sites. There are also showers available near the tent sites.
Devil’s Backbone has a great location that gives you easy access to the Appalachian Trail (it’s only 7 miles away!), plus many trails and waterfalls in nearby George Washington National Forest.
And after a busy day of exploring everything that the region has to offer, you can unwind at the Devil’s Backbone Basecamp Brewpub and Meadows, which serves food and local craft beer.
5. Loft Mountain Campground
Loft Mountain Campground is located about 50 miles outside of Charlottesville, right off Skyline Drive. This means it’s the perfect location for accessing some fabulous hikes in the area.
In fact, the campground is technically located inside Shenandoah National Park on the top of Big Flat Mountain.
The campsite features incredible views of the surrounding landscape.
Some nearby hikes you can take are the Patterson Ridge Trail and Doyles River Falls Trail, which leads to not one but two waterfalls!
6. Misty Mountain Camp Resort
Misty Mountain Camp Resort is about 17 miles to the west of downtown Charlottesville. It is close to the town of Crozet.
You can find a great variety of accommodations at Misty Mountain, including RV sites, tent sites, cabins, and even a bunkhouse.
All of the cabins include air conditioning, heat, a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, a fire ring, and a picnic table. Most cabins are also pet-friendly.
Misty Mountain also has a number of additional amenities, including a bathhouse with showers, toilets, and sinks; laundry; pool; fitness room; bounce pad; playgrounds; fishing pond; store; gem mining station; and live music performances.
The campground is also close to some wineries that are worth visiting! Septenary Winery is right nearby. King Family Vineyards is also close.
7. Charlottesville KOA Holiday
Charlottesville KOA Holiday is one of the best places to go camping near Charlottesville, VA. It’s part of the national Kampgrounds of America (KOA) chain of campgrounds.
The campground is located just 11 miles southeast of downtown Charlottesville. This means you can easily take advantage of some of the top sites in town, including great restaurants in the Downtown Mall and, of course, Monticello!
There are about 65 total sites at the campground and ample room for large RVs. You can also rent space for tents, or decide to stay at one of the cabins on-site.
Some of the top amenities at the campsite include Wi-Fi, a pool, laundry facilities, fishing, a pavilion, and a dog park.
8. Charlottesville Elks Lodge #389
Charlottesville Elks Lodge #389 is another campsite that is available to Elks Lodge members.
The site is conveniently located in Charlottesville itself, right next to Darden Towe Park. The park is one of the best parks in Charlottesville. I also recommend taking time to visit nearby Chris Greene Lake Park and McIntire Park.
There are 3 RV electrical hookups at the campsite, as well as a pool and an outdoor shelter with picnic tables.
When visiting the area, I also recommend going on one of the many amazing hikes in and around Charlottesville, including the 20-mile Rivanna River Trail and the Saunders-Monticello Trail.
9. Madison Vines RV Resort and Cottages
Madison Vines RV Resort and Cottages is located about 27 miles north of Charlottesville in Madison, VA.
The property was recently renovated and features 100 RV hookup sites that can accommodate RV sizes up to 70 feet and greater.
You can even book one of the lovely cottages on-site. Each cottage features a full kitchen with stovetop, microwave, and refrigerator, plus air conditioning and heating.
The resort features many other great amenities that will ensure you never have a dull moment, including a pool, spa, basketball court, volleyball court, pickleball courts, and even two dog parks.
Madison Vines features a fabulous location near some of my favorite wineries, including DuCard Vineyards and the stunning Early Mountain Vineyards!
10. Small Country Campground
Small Country Campground is located 27 miles east of Charlottesville in Louisa, VA.
They’re a great choice for any style of camping – from big RVs to tiny tents and anything in between!
Small Country even has cabin rentals that range from primitive cabins (with no bathroom) to full cabins with a private bathroom, shower, and full kitchen.
The campground has some great amenities, including a dog park, a mini golf course, a playground, and even a lake.
Because of its central location, you can get to a lot of nearby towns and attractions relatively easily from the campground. Charlottesville is 27 miles to the west, Richmond is about 55 miles to the southeast, and Lake Anna is just 29 miles to the east.
However, because the site is further east, you’ll be a little further away from Shenandoah National Park and some of the major hiking trails.
11. Waynesboro North 340 Campground
Waynesboro North 340 Campground is 32 miles west of Charlottesville near Waynesboro, VA.
As the name implies, it’s right out of Route 340, and close to both I-81 and I-64. This means it has a prime location by the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park.
Skyline Drive is also close by and is a good jumping-off point for many of the region’s best scenic overlook hikes. Some of the top hikes nearby include the Riprap Trail and Blackrock Gap.
The campground can accommodate large RVs and camping tents.
The property features great amenities like a basketball court, swimming pool, playground, softball field, and volleyball court.
Camping near Monticello, VA
The closest campground to Monticello is the Charlottesville Elks Lodge #389. It is next to Darden Towe Park, and only 5 miles from Monticello. However, it is only available to Elks Lodge members.
The next closest campground is Charlottesville KOA Holiday, which is 11 miles southwest of Monticello.
State Parks Near Charlottesville, VA
The closest state parks to Charlottesville are Bear Creek Lake State Park (49 miles away), James River State Park (49 miles away), Powhatan State Park (52 miles away), and Lake Anna State Park (52 miles away).
Map of State Parks Near Charlottesville, VA
What to Pack for Camping Near Charlottesville, VA
When going camping, it’s important to bring the right camping gear.
If you’re going to be camping in a tent, check out some of my top recommendations for the best tents for family camping, and the best tents for stargazing.
For me, some of the most important features to consider with a tent are:
- How big is it?
- Is it waterproof/weatherproof?
- How heavy is it?
- How durable is it?
Other gear to pack for your next camping trip is:
- Hiking backpack (Click here to purchase my favorite pick!)
- Hiking shoes (Click here to purchase my favorite pick!)
- Water bottle (Click here to purchase)
- First aid kit (Click here to purchase)
- Headlamp (Click here to purchase)
- Sleeping bag (Click here to purchase)
- Snacks (Click here to purchase)
- Mess kit for meals (Click here to purchase)
- Extra toilet paper/tissues
- Reusable bags (Click here to purchase my favorite pick!)
- Walking sticks (Click here to purchase my favorite pick!)
Conclusion: 11 Best Campgrounds Near Charlottesville, VA
The Charlottesville region is an excellent place to explore the great outdoors in Virginia. There are many great parks and hiking trails in and around town, plus State Parks, National Parks, waterfalls, and more.
Within a few hours’ drive of town, you can find numerous campgrounds with great amenities to make it even easier to explore all of these attractions!
Learn about even more things to do in and around Charlottesville, VA!
Find the top Charlottesville, VA Cabins
Find the best things to do in Charlottesville
Explore the best wineries near Charlottesville
Find the best pizza in Charlottesville
Discover the best breweries in Charlottesville
Explore the best wineries in nearby Crozet, VA
