Campgrounds and RV parks near Poquoson, VA

Water access drives most trips. Camp Cardinal RV Resort provides fishing, crabbing and kayaking on the York River, plus family amenities. At Kiptopeke, guests use the boat ramp, lighted fishing pier, picnic areas, 5.1 miles of hiking and biking trails, playground, beach bathhouse and swimming beach, and can kayak to sunken WWII concrete ships offshore. On the peninsula side, Machicomoco has 3.1 miles of paved trails and 2.4 miles of natural trails, with a car-top boat launch on Timberneck Creek. First Landing has 19 miles of varied hiking trails, 1.5 miles of sandy beach on the Chesapeake Bay, and a boat launch for anglers and paddlers. History day trips to Yorktown, Jamestown, and Colonial Williamsburg are within a short drive from most of these campgrounds.

Most public campgrounds in the region follow a March-through-early-December pattern. First Landing's campsites are available from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, while cabins can be rented year round with a few holiday exceptions. Kiptopeke's campground follows a similar window, from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, and the park itself stays open year-round even when the campground closes. Machicomoco's campground also runs from the first Friday in March to the first Monday in December. Private parks track a similar season: Sun Retreats New Point runs seasonally from early spring through late fall. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for RV travel, with mild temperatures and lighter crowds. Summer brings peak demand, humidity, and heat, plus the swim beaches at Kiptopeke and First Landing in full operation. An important rule for campfire planning: under the Code of Virginia, all open fires including wood and charcoal are prohibited between February 15 and April 30 annually, except between 4 PM and midnight, though self-contained camping stoves are permitted.

Site sizes and hookups vary widely. Hookup sites at Machicomoco can accommodate trailers and RVs up to 60 feet, with 20-, 30- and 50-amp service and a dump station adjacent to the campground, but no per-site sewer. Kiptopeke's electric/water/sewer sites take RVs up to 40 feet and accept 20-, 30- and 50-amp current. First Landing campsites accommodate tents, trailers and RVs up to 50 feet, with sites varying in size and location, some closer to the beach and others near Shore Drive. Amenities are straightforward at the state parks: flush toilets, hot showers, dump stations, and camp stores that sell firewood and basics. Machicomoco does not sell ice, food or drinks, so guests should come prepared. Expect coastal sun exposure at Kiptopeke, where RV sites are open with very little shade. Virginia State Parks recommend not bringing firewood from outside the local area to help prevent the spread of tree pests.