Chippokes Plantation State Park RV & Campground Guide
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You will love the stunning views of the James River when you visit Chippokes Plantation State Park near Surry, VA. Glancing across the river lets you see where the first settlers built Jamestown Settlement. You will want to explore the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum while visiting this state park. After your visit, consider touring Bacon's Castle and Smith Fort's Plantation.
Nearby cities:
Williamsburg, VA
Newport News, VA
Norfolk, VA
Suffolk, VA
Spring 38-78 F
Summer 65-89 F
Fall 40-81 F
Winter 30-53 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Chippokes Plantation State Park
Campground Accommodations
Chippokes Plantation State Park Campground
Water hookup: 51 sites
Electrical hookup: 51 sites
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 50 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, laundry
Chippokes Plantation State Park Campground
Chippokes Plantation State Park Campground offers 51 RV campsites divided into two loops. The maximum length that the paved sites accommodate is 35 feet. The campground lies beside the James River and provides a swimming beach. Licensed anglers are welcome to try their luck anywhere along the riverbank. A camp store sells firewood and ice along with fresh produce. Kids enjoy a huge playground. An outdoor swimming pool is available for kids and adults. Trails provide access to all areas of the park and welcome hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amps
Sewer Hookup: No
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, dump station
Fee: $35 to $45 per night
Newport News Park Campground
Newport News Park Campground is a camping facility located within the city limits of Newport News, VA. This publicly operated campground provides 188 RV campsites with paved pads. Every site is a 30-foot-wide back-in that handles rigs up to 55 feet in length. There is plenty of area to deploy any slide-outs that a rig may support and still leave extra room to spread out. The campground is just one part of Newport News Park that also has a golf course with a driving range and a putting green. A disc golf course, a playground, and horseshoe pits are also provided by the park. The campground sits alongside Lee Hall Reservoir. A boat ramp allows easy access to the water, but electric motors are the only engines authorized. A fishing dock is provided, and boat or paddle-boat rentals are available for visitors. A rec hall provides an arcade, pool tables, and foosball tables.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: No
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, laundry facility
Fee: $36 to $38 per night
Chickahominy Riverfront Park
Chickahominy Riverfront Park provides 120 RV spaces. Many of the campsites have scenic views of the river. There is a lighted 290-foot fishing pier that is available 24 hours per day and is ADA accessible. For those wishing to get onto the water, there is a boat ramp. The park provides a playground and splash pad for kids, horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, and a corn hole game for those who are a bit older. The park store sells ice, firewood, camping supplies, snacks, bait, and tackle.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, fire rings, picnic tables, dump station, laundry facilities
Fee: $24 to $45 per night
What to Do at
Chippokes Plantation State Park
There are 12 miles of mixed-use trails at Chippokes Plantation State Park for hiking, biking, and, in most cases, horseback riding. Freshwater fishing is available in the James River and College Run Creek. While there is no boat launch, kayakers and canoers often launch their vessels from the creek's shore for a paddling adventure. The Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum is one of the oldest farms in the Old Dominion state, and you will want to see the antique farming and forestry equipment.
You will find many things to do at Chippokes Plantation State Park, including fishing, hiking, and boating.
Inside Chippokes Plantation State Park
Visitors often use the 12 miles of trails to get from one activity to another. There are two preserved mansions built in the 19th century. The river provides an immense amount of entertainment with a swimming beach that keeps the kids happy and bank fishing that pleases anglers. Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum covers five buildings with an active farm presence. The museum is an open-air interactive display where kids and adults experience farm life realities in the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Fishing
You can bank fish in the James River. Smallmouth bass is the most caught species, but anglers often catch largemouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, redbreast, bluegill, rock bass, and muskies. Anglers fish at this location throughout the year.
Geocaching
Chippokes Plantation State Park is one of the sites along the Captain John Smith Geotrail. This trail connects to other sites that Captain John Smith may have visited as he explored areas around the Chesapeake Bay region. Visitors collecting word clues at over 15 locations may be able to get a commemorative coin.
Nature Watching
The College Run Trail is great for seeing wildlife along the creek. Especially in the spring, you are likely to see a variety of butterflies and dragonflies. Visitors may also see crabs and turtles. As the sun rises and sets, deer often come to the creek for a drink.
Flora and Fauna
Join park rangers on a tram tour of Chippokes Plantation State Park to see the different ecosystems. These tours, which happen about twice a month from March through October, allow visitors to see forest plants, open meadows, and along the river as they learn more about this park's history.
Hiking
Park rangers often lead a hiking adventure along the Chipoax Trace Trail. The hike runs through rolling farmlands and under the canopy of trees. As hikers move along, they will learn more about the history of roads and highways in this area.
Boating
While you must hand-launch your canoe or kayak, College Run Creek and the James River are fantastic locations for a paddling adventure. Launching onto the quiet waters of College Run Creek is generally more accessible.
Biking
The 1.3-mile-long Cedar Lane Trail starts near the park's main entrance and runs to near the Jones-Smith Mansion, which workers constructed about 1770, so take a break and explore it on a tour when open on weekends from March to October. Visitors can also see a brick oven and other surrounding buildings belonging to a neighboring plantation.
How to Get to
Chippokes Plantation State Park
You can get to Chippokes Plantation State Park from Surry, Virginia. Start by going east on Virginia 10. In about 6 miles, turn left on Virginia 634. In 1.1 miles, turn right on Chippokes Farm Road. Follow this road for about 1.3 miles and turn left into Chippokes Plantation State Park.
Entering Chippokes Plantation State Park
The cost to enter the state park is $7. There is an additional charge of $4 if you bring your horses. Camping at Chippokes Plantation State Park costs between $35 and $40 per night, depending on the loop chosen. Senior citizens and members of the military may qualify for admission discounts.
Most activities and tours are included in the admission fee. Some Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum programs have participation fees, especially in the summer. When available, tours of the Jones-Stewart Mansion are included in the admission fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chippokes Plantation State Park
Most attractions at Chippokes Plantation State Park, including the campground, are open from March to October. Fall is the perfect time to visit this park as the leaves are turning color. Additionally, highs in the upper 70s make it an ideal time to go for a hike or bike ride.
Deer, butterflies, and dragonflies are usually abundant at Chippokes Plantation State Park. Visitors may also see squirrels and rabbits.
There are designated camping spots at Chippokes Plantation State Park. They are arranged around two loops, with park officials recommending RVers camp on loop B because they are paved and have gravel patios.
Reservations are not always required at Chippokes Plantation State Park. They are highly recommended, especially if you want a paved site, as sites on loop A tend to be very unlevel. You can make reservations up to 11 months ahead of your visit.
Pets on a leash are allowed at Chippokes Plantation State Park. They are not permitted in park buildings and on most tours.