Campgrounds and RV parks near Hampton, VA

The Peninsula packs a lot into a small footprint. Families base out of Hampton to visit the Virginia Air and Space Science Center, Fort Monroe National Monument, and the Hampton Coliseum, then cross the James River Bridge or the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel for aquariums, beaches, and naval history in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Outdoors, First Landing State Park has about 19 miles of trails, over a mile of Chesapeake Bay beach, bald cypress swamps, and a boat launch at the Narrows. Machicomoco State Park adds a car-top kayak launch, roughly 3.3 miles of paved trail suitable for bikes and strollers, additional natural and gravel trails, and an open-air interpretive pavilion focused on the history of Virginia Indian tribes.

Peak camping season on the Virginia Peninsula runs from late spring through early fall, when Chesapeake Bay water is warm and daylight is long. Summer is hot and humid, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and the highest monthly rainfall totals of the year. Sites at coastal state parks book far ahead for weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Spring and fall are the sweet spots for RV travelers who want mild days, cooler nights, and thinner crowds. Fall also overlaps with the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30 and peaks from mid-August into October, so watch the forecast when booking coastal sites. Winter camping is limited. First Landing State Park and Machicomoco State Park both operate from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December, so travelers looking to camp from December through February should focus on private year-round parks or cabins rather than state-park campsites. Virginia also prohibits open fires between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. from February 15 through April 30 to reduce wildfire risk.

Expect a mix of coastal-forest and waterfront settings. State-park sites at First Landing sit among maritime forest and dunes with a sheltering dune between many sites and the Chesapeake Bay; bathhouses provide hot showers, and a camp store sells firewood, ice, and supplies in season. The park sits near active military training areas, so campers may hear aircraft and nighttime training. Machicomoco is newer and quieter, with 13 water and electric hookup sites able to fit rigs up to 60 feet, 14 walk-in tent sites, three yurts, a dump station, and a modern bathhouse with hot showers. The park does not sell ice, food, or drinks, so stock up before arrival. Sites are open with limited shade at RV loops, and mosquitoes and biting flies are common in summer along the York River shoreline.