Campgrounds and RV parks near Alton, VA

Alton sits in rural Southside Virginia along the Dan River, close to the North Carolina line and best known as the home of Virginia International Raceway. VIR is located on Pine Tree Road (Route 63), with US-58 east from Danville and VA-63 north forming the main approach. The area draws RV travellers for lake access on Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), motorsports weekends, and quiet state-park camping within a short drive. The nearest public campgrounds are inside the Virginia state park system. The 2,400-acre Staunton River State Park offers woodlands, meadows and shoreline along the Dan and Staunton rivers, with cabins built in the 1930s by the CCC, a campground, and an equestrian campground with large sites and horse stalls. Down the lake, Occoneechee State Park covers 2,698 acres along Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), a 48,000-acre reservoir. Forty-eight campsites are available for tent and RV campers, and the park also has 13 cabins, an equestrian campground with 11 sites and 11 covered horse stalls, plus picnic areas near the lake, a playground, boat rentals and a lakefront amphitheater. Private options fill in the gaps for RV renters who need full hookups closer to town or the track. Paradise Lake and Campground, Triangle RV Park, and Jones Station RV Park and Campground handle travellers who want simpler check-in, longer stays, or overflow space during major race weekends at VIR.

Virginia State Parks use a single reservation system for both Staunton River and Occoneechee, including the equestrian loops. Reservations must be made one day ahead of arrival and can be made up to 11 months in advance. Bookings go through www.reservevaparks.com or by calling 1-800-933-PARK. Site-specific booking applies to most inventory. Camping is available from the first Friday in March until the first Monday of December, with check-in at 4 p.m. and check-out at 1 p.m., and all sites are reserved by a specific site. At Occoneechee, only Campground C has waterfront sites with water and electric. Equestrian campers should book stalls with the site: reservations made prior to thirty days before the check-out date must rent at least one horse stall per site. Private parks such as Paradise Lake and Campground, Triangle RV Park, and Jones Station RV Park and Campground are booked directly through the operator. Reserve early for race weekends at VIR.