Smart visitors to Williamsburg, Virginia, grab an RV rental to explore the city, the surrounding area, and beyond. The most popular RV rental choice is the travel trailer, which travelers can park in a central location while visiting sites in the region. Also popular are Class C motorhomes with hitches to tow vehicles. Of the two, the trailers are the least expensive starting at $70 per night. Class C motorhomes are generally more costly, at a starting price point of $179 per day.Â
Jamestown was the first English colony established in North America. Its story draws visitors by the thousands. Presidents, ambassadors, and even the queen of England have visited the location to pay homage to those brave people who ventured into a new land to establish the foundations of a new nation. People often spend weeks near Jamestown to explore its surroundings.
Located 13 miles east of Williamsburg, Yorktown is a historically significant town. It was the site of the American Revolution's final battle, a great Civil War campaign, and is an important original colony. Many vacationers spend their entire time at Yorktown, seeking to understand the events there.
Richmond, located 52 miles inland from Williamsburg, was the capital of the doomed Confederacy in the 1860s and remains the capital of Virginia today. The city is a business hub with many restaurants and shops to support a dynamic community.
Few today realize the significance of Williamsburg to the history of the United States. The initial reason for the construction of the town was as a bulwark against attack. Unlike most early Colonial communities, Williamsburg was placed on an elevated terrain with little access to navigable water and thus was supplied by land. The defensive point withstood attacks while Jamestown — the original colony — was burned to the ground. Because of its defensible position, Williamsburg became the capital of the Virginia colony from 1698 to 1780. During that time, William and Mary University, one of the premier colleges in the United States, was founded. Shortly after the capital moved to Richmond, Williamsburg declined in population, business, and social standing, with only the university drawing visitors to the area.
Today, the town is a visitor’s haven with shops, restaurants, and points of interest that other communities envy. A check of the Williamsburg local guide demonstrates how the fortunes of the town turned. At the beginning of the 20th century, Williamsburg was a small, sleepy city with quiet streets and little business. However, in 1923, a successful campaign to revive the town brought substantial investment from such philanthropists as John D. Rockefeller. The investment in funds, time, and energy created a 301-acre area in downtown Williamsburg dubbed Colonial Williamsburg that celebrates the patriotism and early history of the area. Museums filled with information of a previous time and its relationship to the present drew visitors from across the nation. Shops specializing in colonial antiquities and restaurants providing traditional American meals began popping up throughout the town and the surrounding countryside. Forgotten points of interest were revived, polished, and presented to the public, drawing even more visitors, leading to improved hotels and RV campgrounds to service the growing crowds.Â
Other communities in the area grew along with Williamsburg.Â
Yorktown, Virginia - Yorktown followed Williamsburg’s example and delved into its history to attract visitors. Today, Yorktown provides:
Hayes, Virginia - Hayes lies 17 miles east of Williamsburg across the York River from Yorktown. It is a substantial city with a fantastic amount of amenities, including:
Newport News, Virginia - Newport News is 21 miles southeast of Williamsburg and has a population of over 100,000. Its businesses are a blend of the old and the new. Some familiar amenities include:
Shenandoah National Park is a stunning vacation waiting to happen that is only a two-hour drive from Williamsburg. Encompassing over 300 square miles, the park is a maze of high ridges, deep valleys, streams, and lakes. Visitors find hiking and biking trails that venture into the deepest realms of the tree-covered park.
Though more than a half-day drive away from Williamsburg, the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia is a fascinating place to visit. The New River is the oldest river in the eastern United States and carves through the hardest granite known to exist in the country. The gorge is reminiscent of the deep canyons found in the west, like the Grand Canyon or the Columbia River Gorge.Â
A trip to Congaree National Park takes more than a half-day but is well worth the time. Located in South Carolina, the park features a large swamp with bald cypress, alligators, exotic birds, and hiking trails that run on the dry land above the swamp and boardwalks that travel through the swampy areas.
Chippokes Plantation State Park lies on the James River 13 miles southwest of Williamsburg. It is the longest continually operated agricultural venture in the nation. Buildings from the 17th century still standing include the plantation, barns, and enslaved people's quarters.
Located 69 miles north of Williamsburg, Belle Isle State Park features seven miles of shoreline along the Rappahannock River with a wide range of tidal wetlands.
First Landing State Park is 59 miles southeast of Williamsburg. The park is steeped in history and is believed to be where the first English colonists stepped onto North American soil before moving slightly south to the Jamestown location. Visitors see a land much as it was when the first colonists arrived.
Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg get to experience life as it happened in the 1700s. The site is listed as a Virginia landmark. Refurbished homes, barns, and shops play a part in this “living museum” experiment where the transportation, restaurants, and people are decked out just as they were during Colonial times.
In Jamestown, seven miles southwest of Williamsburg, another living museum takes visitors back in time to the 1600s. Located near the ruins of the original settlement, these structures accurately portray the site. The site also holds replicas of the three ships that brought the settlers from England.
Outside Yorktown is the Colonial National Historical Park. This park is the American Revolution's final battle site, where General Cornwallis surrendered his forces to General Washington. It is dedicated to the memory of the horrific struggle that birthed the nation.
The American Heritage RV Park in Williamsburg offers 145 full hookup RV campsites, 70 of which are pull-throughs. Guests enjoy a heated swimming pool, a mini-golf course, playgrounds, and a rec hall with an impressive game room. A robust Wi-Fi system and cable TV are free amenities guests enjoy.Â
One of the few RV parks awarded the coveted National RV Park of the Year Award, the Anvil Campground offers 48 big-rig RV campsites with full hookups. A complimentary WiFi and cable TV system are available for use by guests. An enclosed dog structure lets your pets run while you enjoy the heated swimming pool, playgrounds, and rec hall.
Public dump stations are available in six locations within the city limits of Williamsburg. These stations charge a fee for use:
There are a number of other dump stations near Williamsburg.Â
There are 10 RV Storage units near Williamsburg. The nearest is Victory Personal Storage in Yorktown. RVs up to 40 feet in length fit into covered storage units. The site gets rave reviews with prices that start at $99 per month.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Williamsburg, VA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Williamsburg?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Williamsburg from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Williamsburg?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.