RV Parks In Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake camping splits between a city-run riverfront park and a full-hookup private park. Northwest River Park & Campground is a 763-acre City of Chesapeake park on the Northwest River, with about 70 wooded sites, 44 of them with 30-amp electric, plus a dump station, boat rentals, and disc golf, open April through November. Chesapeake Campground in the Deep Creek area is the private pick, with 133 full-hookup sites at 30 and 50 amp, a pool, and a camp store, open year-round. Just east in Virginia Beach, First Landing State Park adds around 108 electric and water sites with Chesapeake Bay beach access. Between them you can camp on the river cheaply or settle into full hookups near the interstate.

Yes, at the private park. Chesapeake Campground offers full hookups, meaning water, electric, and sewer right at your site, with 30 and 50-amp service across 133 sites. The public options are different: Northwest River Park & Campground provides 30-amp electric at 44 of its sites with shared water hookups and a central dump station on the way out, but no sewer at the sites, so bring a long water hose. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach offers electric and water hookups but not full sewer at the site. If full hookups are a must, book Chesapeake Campground. If you are happy with electric and a dump station in exchange for a wooded riverfront setting and lower rates, Northwest River Park is a great choice.

It depends on public versus private. Northwest River Park & Campground is the budget pick, with wooded electric sites at low city-run nightly rates, though it offers 30-amp electric and shared water rather than full hookups and closes from December through March. Chesapeake Campground runs in the moderate range for a nightly full-hookup site with 30 or 50-amp service, and as a Good Sam park, members save around 10 percent. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach sits in a similar mid-range band, with premium pricing on the busiest beach weekends. Weekly and monthly discounts at the private park lower the effective cost for longer stays. Overall you can camp cheaply on the river in shoulder season or pay a mid-range rate for full hookups near the highway.

It varies by season. For summer and holiday weekends, reserve months ahead, because Chesapeake is the gateway to the Virginia Beach oceanfront and the Outer Banks, and the parks fill fast in warm weather. Northwest River Park books through ReserveAmerica and its popular riverfront sites go early for peak weekends. Chesapeake Campground, being year-round and full-hookup, also fills on summer weekends, so a week or more of lead time is wise. First Landing State Park is one of the most popular in Virginia and can book out months in advance for beach-season weekends. On a spring or fall weekday, you can often find a site with little notice at the Chesapeake parks, which is part of what makes the shoulder seasons appealing here.

Spring and fall are the sweet spots, with mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s and lower humidity than summer. Summer is the busiest season and it is hot, muggy, and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms and the start of Atlantic hurricane season, so parks fill on weekends and you should watch the tropical forecast. Fall stays warm and comfortable with cooler nights, and Northwest River Park remains open through November 30, making it a great-value window. Winter is cool, wet, and windy off the water, and the city campground closes, so you would rely on a year-round private park. For the best mix of weather, lower crowds, and availability, target spring or fall.

Yes, with some care about where you book. Chesapeake Campground handles big rigs well, with 30 and 50-amp full-hookup sites and an easy approach near the interstates in Deep Creek. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach has sites built for rigs from 20 up to 50 feet with 50-amp service, so it takes larger RVs too. Northwest River Park is more wooded and geared toward mid-size rigs, so confirm your length and site type when you book there. The Hampton Roads interstates, I-64, I-464, and I-664, all handle big rigs well; the main thing to plan around is the harbor tunnels and rush-hour congestion around the water crossings. Confirm your length at booking and big-rig owners will find comfortable options here.

Yes. Northwest River Park & Campground is run by the City of Chesapeake on 763 acres along the Northwest River in the southeastern part of the city. It has about 70 single-family sites, 44 of them with 30-amp electric, shared water hookups, a dump station on the way out, restrooms with hot showers, and a laundry. The park itself is a big draw, with boat rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, mini golf, a fragrant garden, horseshoes, and multi-use trails. The campground is open April 1 through November 30 and books through ReserveAmerica. It is the most scenic and affordable camping in Chesapeake proper, ideal if you want a quiet, wooded riverfront base over resort amenities.

Absolutely, and it is one of the best reasons to camp here. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge sits right in Chesapeake and offers over 40 miles of earthen trails and boardwalks. The Washington Ditch Trail is the most popular for hiking and biking, a 4.5-mile route that reaches a boardwalk on Lake Drummond, a three-mile-wide cypress-lined lake that is one of only two natural lakes in Virginia. The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail runs 8.6 miles for biking and walking, with historic markers tied to the Underground Railroad. It is a day-use refuge, so you camp at the parks and drive over, but the birding, paddling, and wildlife viewing make it a highlight of any Chesapeake RV trip.

Generally yes. Chesapeake Campground welcomes pets, as most private parks do, and Northwest River Park allows leashed pets under City of Chesapeake park rules, with miles of trails to walk them. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach also permits leashed pets on most trails and at the campground under Virginia State Parks rules. Policies on breed, number, and where pets are allowed vary by park, so confirm the specifics when you book, especially at the family-focused private park. The trails at Northwest River Park and the Great Dismal Swamp give dogs plenty of room. As always, bring proof of vaccinations, keep pets leashed in the campground, and clean up after them so the sites stay welcoming for the next camper.

Plenty, and it spans nature and city. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, right in Chesapeake, has over 40 miles of trails and boardwalks leading to Lake Drummond, with birding, biking, and paddling. Northwest River Park adds boat rentals, disc golf, mini golf, and trails on the water. The Virginia Beach oceanfront, boardwalk, and First Landing State Park beaches are only about 20 to 30 minutes east, and downtown Norfolk, with its waterfront, the Nauticus museum, and dining, is just as close. You are also at the northern gateway to the Outer Banks via the Chesapeake Expressway. It is an easy base for mixing swamp and river days with beaches, museums, and city dining across the Hampton Roads region.

Yes, but your options narrow. Chesapeake Campground stays open year-round with full hookups, making it the reliable winter choice, and off-season rates tend to be lower. The public options, Northwest River Park and First Landing State Park, close their campgrounds for the winter, so they are not available in the cold months. Chesapeake winters are cool, wet, and windy off the water rather than deeply frozen, but nights do drop near freezing, so be ready to manage your water lines with heat tape or a heated hose during cold snaps. If you want hookups and reliable services through winter, book Chesapeake Campground; for the riverfront city camping, plan your trip once Northwest River Park reopens on April 1.

It is manageable with a little planning. Chesapeake sits in the Hampton Roads metro with wide interstate access: I-64 runs through the area and connects to I-464 toward Norfolk and I-664 toward Newport News, all big-rig friendly. US-17 (George Washington Highway) and US-58 are the main surface routes, and VA-168, the Chesapeake Expressway, heads south to the Outer Banks. Chesapeake Campground sits near the interstates in Deep Creek for an easy approach, while Northwest River Park is farther southeast in a quieter, wooded area off Indian Creek Road. The main thing to time around is the harbor tunnels and rush-hour congestion at the water crossings. Norfolk International Airport is only 20 to 30 minutes away for fly-and-rent trips.

It is an excellent one. Chesapeake puts you in the middle of the Hampton Roads region with easy interstate access and a mix of affordable riverfront and full-hookup camping. From here you can day-trip to the Virginia Beach oceanfront and First Landing State Park in under half an hour, explore the Great Dismal Swamp right in the city, visit Norfolk and its waterfront attractions, or run south on the Chesapeake Expressway to the Outer Banks. Camp on the river at Northwest River Park or settle into full hookups at Chesapeake Campground, and you have a central, budget-friendly base with real services. For RVers who want to combine coastal Virginia beaches, swamp and river nature, and city attractions, Chesapeake is an easy recommendation.

Chesapeake camping splits between a city-run riverfront park and a full-hookup private park. Northwest River Park & Campground is a 763-acre City of Chesapeake park on the Northwest River, with about 70 wooded sites, 44 of them with 30-amp electric, plus a dump station, boat rentals, and disc golf, open April through November. Chesapeake Campground in the Deep Creek area is the private pick, with 133 full-hookup sites at 30 and 50 amp, a pool, and a camp store, open year-round. Just east in Virginia Beach, First Landing State Park adds around 108 electric and water sites with Chesapeake Bay beach access. Between them you can camp on the river cheaply or settle into full hookups near the interstate.

Yes, at the private park. Chesapeake Campground offers full hookups, meaning water, electric, and sewer right at your site, with 30 and 50-amp service across 133 sites. The public options are different: Northwest River Park & Campground provides 30-amp electric at 44 of its sites with shared water hookups and a central dump station on the way out, but no sewer at the sites, so bring a long water hose. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach offers electric and water hookups but not full sewer at the site. If full hookups are a must, book Chesapeake Campground. If you are happy with electric and a dump station in exchange for a wooded riverfront setting and lower rates, Northwest River Park is a great choice.

It depends on public versus private. Northwest River Park & Campground is the budget pick, with wooded electric sites at low city-run nightly rates, though it offers 30-amp electric and shared water rather than full hookups and closes from December through March. Chesapeake Campground runs in the moderate range for a nightly full-hookup site with 30 or 50-amp service, and as a Good Sam park, members save around 10 percent. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach sits in a similar mid-range band, with premium pricing on the busiest beach weekends. Weekly and monthly discounts at the private park lower the effective cost for longer stays. Overall you can camp cheaply on the river in shoulder season or pay a mid-range rate for full hookups near the highway.

It varies by season. For summer and holiday weekends, reserve months ahead, because Chesapeake is the gateway to the Virginia Beach oceanfront and the Outer Banks, and the parks fill fast in warm weather. Northwest River Park books through ReserveAmerica and its popular riverfront sites go early for peak weekends. Chesapeake Campground, being year-round and full-hookup, also fills on summer weekends, so a week or more of lead time is wise. First Landing State Park is one of the most popular in Virginia and can book out months in advance for beach-season weekends. On a spring or fall weekday, you can often find a site with little notice at the Chesapeake parks, which is part of what makes the shoulder seasons appealing here.

Spring and fall are the sweet spots, with mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s and lower humidity than summer. Summer is the busiest season and it is hot, muggy, and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms and the start of Atlantic hurricane season, so parks fill on weekends and you should watch the tropical forecast. Fall stays warm and comfortable with cooler nights, and Northwest River Park remains open through November 30, making it a great-value window. Winter is cool, wet, and windy off the water, and the city campground closes, so you would rely on a year-round private park. For the best mix of weather, lower crowds, and availability, target spring or fall.

Yes, with some care about where you book. Chesapeake Campground handles big rigs well, with 30 and 50-amp full-hookup sites and an easy approach near the interstates in Deep Creek. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach has sites built for rigs from 20 up to 50 feet with 50-amp service, so it takes larger RVs too. Northwest River Park is more wooded and geared toward mid-size rigs, so confirm your length and site type when you book there. The Hampton Roads interstates, I-64, I-464, and I-664, all handle big rigs well; the main thing to plan around is the harbor tunnels and rush-hour congestion around the water crossings. Confirm your length at booking and big-rig owners will find comfortable options here.

Yes. Northwest River Park & Campground is run by the City of Chesapeake on 763 acres along the Northwest River in the southeastern part of the city. It has about 70 single-family sites, 44 of them with 30-amp electric, shared water hookups, a dump station on the way out, restrooms with hot showers, and a laundry. The park itself is a big draw, with boat rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, mini golf, a fragrant garden, horseshoes, and multi-use trails. The campground is open April 1 through November 30 and books through ReserveAmerica. It is the most scenic and affordable camping in Chesapeake proper, ideal if you want a quiet, wooded riverfront base over resort amenities.

Absolutely, and it is one of the best reasons to camp here. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge sits right in Chesapeake and offers over 40 miles of earthen trails and boardwalks. The Washington Ditch Trail is the most popular for hiking and biking, a 4.5-mile route that reaches a boardwalk on Lake Drummond, a three-mile-wide cypress-lined lake that is one of only two natural lakes in Virginia. The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail runs 8.6 miles for biking and walking, with historic markers tied to the Underground Railroad. It is a day-use refuge, so you camp at the parks and drive over, but the birding, paddling, and wildlife viewing make it a highlight of any Chesapeake RV trip.

Generally yes. Chesapeake Campground welcomes pets, as most private parks do, and Northwest River Park allows leashed pets under City of Chesapeake park rules, with miles of trails to walk them. First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach also permits leashed pets on most trails and at the campground under Virginia State Parks rules. Policies on breed, number, and where pets are allowed vary by park, so confirm the specifics when you book, especially at the family-focused private park. The trails at Northwest River Park and the Great Dismal Swamp give dogs plenty of room. As always, bring proof of vaccinations, keep pets leashed in the campground, and clean up after them so the sites stay welcoming for the next camper.

Plenty, and it spans nature and city. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, right in Chesapeake, has over 40 miles of trails and boardwalks leading to Lake Drummond, with birding, biking, and paddling. Northwest River Park adds boat rentals, disc golf, mini golf, and trails on the water. The Virginia Beach oceanfront, boardwalk, and First Landing State Park beaches are only about 20 to 30 minutes east, and downtown Norfolk, with its waterfront, the Nauticus museum, and dining, is just as close. You are also at the northern gateway to the Outer Banks via the Chesapeake Expressway. It is an easy base for mixing swamp and river days with beaches, museums, and city dining across the Hampton Roads region.

Yes, but your options narrow. Chesapeake Campground stays open year-round with full hookups, making it the reliable winter choice, and off-season rates tend to be lower. The public options, Northwest River Park and First Landing State Park, close their campgrounds for the winter, so they are not available in the cold months. Chesapeake winters are cool, wet, and windy off the water rather than deeply frozen, but nights do drop near freezing, so be ready to manage your water lines with heat tape or a heated hose during cold snaps. If you want hookups and reliable services through winter, book Chesapeake Campground; for the riverfront city camping, plan your trip once Northwest River Park reopens on April 1.

It is manageable with a little planning. Chesapeake sits in the Hampton Roads metro with wide interstate access: I-64 runs through the area and connects to I-464 toward Norfolk and I-664 toward Newport News, all big-rig friendly. US-17 (George Washington Highway) and US-58 are the main surface routes, and VA-168, the Chesapeake Expressway, heads south to the Outer Banks. Chesapeake Campground sits near the interstates in Deep Creek for an easy approach, while Northwest River Park is farther southeast in a quieter, wooded area off Indian Creek Road. The main thing to time around is the harbor tunnels and rush-hour congestion at the water crossings. Norfolk International Airport is only 20 to 30 minutes away for fly-and-rent trips.

It is an excellent one. Chesapeake puts you in the middle of the Hampton Roads region with easy interstate access and a mix of affordable riverfront and full-hookup camping. From here you can day-trip to the Virginia Beach oceanfront and First Landing State Park in under half an hour, explore the Great Dismal Swamp right in the city, visit Norfolk and its waterfront attractions, or run south on the Chesapeake Expressway to the Outer Banks. Camp on the river at Northwest River Park or settle into full hookups at Chesapeake Campground, and you have a central, budget-friendly base with real services. For RVers who want to combine coastal Virginia beaches, swamp and river nature, and city attractions, Chesapeake is an easy recommendation.

The highest-rated station is Military Park -Oceans Pines RV Campground with a rating of 4.0/5 stars.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Chesapeake.