Pocahontas State Park

We KNEW it was going to be hot during the days we'd reserved (July 19-21, 2019) but we were really quite naive about just HOW hot it was going to be!

We were able to check in shortly after noon, and when we asked about sites with shade, the woman who greeted us suggested we stay in the first loop (1-65). We chose site #60 because it was pretty shady and also close to the bathhouse.

Given the uphill slope of the gravel driveway, however, I wasn't sure if we'd be able to get our 21 ft trailer level. By backing all the way in, it worked out fine, but folks with longer rigs would probably prefer sites 66-129 since most are level and paved.

Friday evening when it was simply too hot to cook outside or inside, we drove to a nearby shopping center (about 3 miles away) to get food from the deli at Food Lion.

We'd bought firewood at the park shortly after we arrived, but when the "feels like" temp was still 99 degrees at 9 PM, we realized that sitting in front of a campfire had zero appeal. :-(

On Saturday when the daytime temperatures were in the upper 90s and the "feels like" temps were as high as 111 (!!), we knew we really had to limit our outdoor time. We toured the (air conditioned) nature center and CCC museum--which were both great--and we went to the pool twice, though only for about an hour each time.

We stayed in our trailer MUCH more than we usually do, but on the positive side, the close proximity to Richmond meant that our digital antenna pulled in 14-15 channels, and our cell phones both had decent service.

This park really has SO much to offer: miles of trails, pedal boats and kayaks to rent, and lakes for fishing, as well as the amazing pool complex, nature center, and museum. You feel like you're really out in the woods (and you ARE, given how large the park is), but stores, restaurants, gas stations, and other conveniences--if needed--are just a few miles away.

We'd LOVE to go back to Pocahontas State Park, but we'll try to be a bit more weather-wise when planning our next trip! ;-)

If you'd like to learn more about our experience at this beautiful state park, you can visit this page of my blog:
http://www.art-rageous.net/artrageousblog/?p=4500

Great park managed by Virginia State Parks. About a 25 minute drive to downtown Richmond. The park has a large swimming complex that we did not use but looked great for families. The spots are pretty level and ours was well wooded around it providing privacy from our neighbors. The bath house was nice - even had individual rooms for private showers with deadbolts. Even for the 4th of July weekend it was quiet and peaceful.

The best thing about this park would be the location which is only a 30 minute drive to the vibrant city of Richmond. Since they do not lock the gates at night, you are free to explore the area. The trails are well marked although the mountain biking trails aren't that challenging for experienced riders. The rental yurts are adorable, and the friendly employees told us that there is a great pool for kids in the summer. The showers are some of the best that I've seen in a state park with a private door and dressing area. Although you can't reserve a specific site, if you get there early, you should have plenty of options.

Our site was directly across from the bathhouse and one of the playgrounds. We were there on a weekend and there were a ton of families. At one point, there were as many as 20 children at the playground. So it was very family friendly.

Cell service was great on all four networks. This is a large campground with two sections and they are prepared with two dump stations at the entrance, plus potable water. Many unpaved makes trails for mountain biking with bike repair stations located on the trails.

We would definitely return if in the area, though it was easily one of the most expensive places we’ve camped.

Great location close to Richmond and necessary stores for supplies. We're full timers so being able to restock without a 30 minute drive is important. There is at least 30 yards between sites and plenty of room at each site to feel comfortable. Electric and water at each site, we ended up in a 50 amp site even though we only need 30 just for the closer access to an open grass field for our dogs. Trails are everywhere. Great for trail rides on a mountain bike, runs, or hiking. Showers and bathrooms are spartan, but clean and the water pressure and heat are fantastic. They have a deep sink at the restrooms for washing dishes and a laundry on site ($1 to wash and $1 to dry). We've had good service (2-3 bars) with Verizon as well on site without any booster on both our mifi and phones.

Check in went smooth and we were able to choose the site we wanted by driving through the campground. Hosts and staff were very friendly. I would recommend booking online as after we paid for our stay found that the site was listed cheaper online then we paid when we showed up.

Only downside we've seen is a lack of sewer connection at each site. Only the camp hosts get sewer connection. They have a dump station and potable water on the road in and out of the campground so if you're not staying long it isn't a real issue.

We stayed at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, VA in October for one week. We camped in a 40’ fifth wheel pulled by a RAM 3500 dually.

GPS was accurate and access to the campground was a breeze. Check in was quick and friendly. We paid $20 per night for a water and electric site. There are no sites with sewer in the campground. There are two dump stations and a potable water station toward the entrance.

Sites are very spacious but not all are level. Our site was long with a slope on each end. We were, however, able to get level. There is a picnic table and fire ring at each site. Wood is available from the store and the camp hosts.

The bathhouse was more than acceptable. Toilets are separate from the showers. The showers are large with amazing water pressure.

There are plenty of activities on site. There was a pool complex and lake that are for public use. We were there in off season and didn’t use any of the amenities. There is also a nature center on site.

We would absolutely stay again.

We only had a couple nights here on our way south from Maryland. But we definitely wish we'd had more. The sites are nice and spaced out appropriately. The big thing for us were the "bonus" features of this state park including:

• a large pool and water feature area
• an interpretive hayride through the park
• the Civilian Conservation Corps museum
• a nature center with programs for kids on various wildlife in the park

For families traveling near Pocahontas State Park, I would recommend trying to put aside three or four nights to stay here, longer if you want to explore the surrounding area.