Powhatan State Park

There is no shortage of 5-star campgrounds throughout this beautiful country of ours. But I have to tell you, Powhatan is unique in its layout and relative newness. This coming September of 2023 will mark its anniversary celebrating ten years of service.

Almost every site in this park is private and large. Our site #5 was perfect. Water and electricity, level lot, clean gravel base, and plenty of room to stretch out if needed. The restrooms and shower rooms are all separate with their own locking entry doors. Clean and large and the best-designed we have ever been in. Two bars of ATT 5-G. Relatively flat roads for geezers like me to ride a bike. Plenty of beautiful and well-groomed trails to hike. A large playground area a mile and a half away, not to mention the historical James River with two canoe launches in separate areas of the park. The wide dump station was the largest and best we have ever seen with eight holes and enough room for at least four RVs at a time. There is no typical check-in as your parking pass and reservations are all clipped to the site post on arrival. We spent five days at the campground which averaged around $44 per night.

The Richmond area has much to offer. We were here to visit relatives and to check out the city and its surroundings. Time did permit us a long visit to the Poe Museum downtown and it was very rewarding. Next trip through we’ll get to the art museum as well as the history museum.

Historic Tuckahoe is the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. It is a short 22-mile drive from the campground and is also situated on the banks overlooking the James River. We visited the original 25,000 acre plantation on Independence Day and we were the only visitors on the property for our self-guided tour. The honor system requires a fee of $5 per person and is worth every penny. Cash, check, or Venmo payment is available. Private tours of the house are available on Sundays with a reservation.

Nearby the campground in Goochland is a decent little breakfast and lunch cafe where the locals come to hang. Also only a mile from the campground entrance is the Maiden Cafe which is a renovated old gas station and is very charming. They boast having the “World’s Best Biscuits and Gravy” and the dish was prominently featured during our visit as the day's special.

One morning we hiked the Coyote Run which had an historical cemetery on a short spur off the trail. Well, actually two private cemeteries. We ran into not one person on the approximately 2.2-mile trail.

The Big Wood Trail is another dandy trail to hike. It connects to other trails so your hike can be as long as you like. All shaded and it was perfect for the mid ninety temps we were experiencing. We connected into the Cabin Trail which led us to the remnants of an old cabin, its stone foundation and free-standing fireplace and chimney.

This park is in a great location, easy access, only 15 minutes from a grocery store, and 40 minutes to Richmond. The sites are large, spaced out, and well maintained. The showers are private, new and clean. The laundry room prices are very reasonable. There are a decent amount of hiking trails within in the park to enjoy, otherwise just a great place to relax and unwind. We loved this campground and wouldn't hesitate to come back again!

Great place to camp. Its less than an hour from our home and we are new to camping. The site was mostly level and it was very big, especially with our Class B.

Our first time camping at a state park. We liked most if it. There were some loud neighbors. The people next to us blasted a movie until deep into the evening. Not sure why your go camping to watch TV but to each his own.

Dimpnstations great, hiking trails awesome.

This is a very peaceful, well-maintained 29 site state park. All roads are newly paved and every site is gravel with a large picnic table and fire ring area. Water and 30 / 50 amp electric hookups provided. The campground is a bit hilly and some of the sites have an incline to get into them. We have a 35’ fifth wheel and site 18 required 4 wheel drive to push our RV up the incline. (It had rained and the ground was wet) There was a ditch on the opposite side of the road and our front tire was partially in it as we made the cut to back in. Our favorite back-in sites would be: 26, 24, 22, 20 and pull-thru 7 & 8 are nice as well.

There is not a lot happening here - this is a great place to relax, fish, go for a short hike or do some boating. Birds are singing, you will hear a train in the distance - the tracks are across the James River - and that’s about it. The Park Office was closed to visitors because of COVID - but they would answer questions and check you in at a window. The restrooms were clean, showers were private cubicles and there is a laundry on-site- $1.50/washer/dryer. Wood is $6 a 12-stick bundle, enough for one night’s campfire. There is a park picnic area 1.5 miles away from the campground, with a nice playground for the kiddos.

To reach the campground, we followed Park directions for I-64 heading East; the directions match the RV driving directions from RV Trip Wizard and the Google Maps app also followed the park directions perfectly. Driving to the Park for the first time, I wished there was more signage along the way. There are a few turns to make, none of them difficult, but you are in the middle of nowhere with a big rig that cannot easily be turned around if you make a wrong turn. It’s basically - just follow the two-lane 522 S as it meanders, making a right turn where it is named Maidens Rd, then another right turn onto Rt 617 - Old River Trail. This last road is narrow with no center line - drive SLOW. In 1.5 miles the Park entrance is on the right. Then it is 2.5 miles further on the Powhatan Park Rd. before you reach the campground loop.

In May 2021 - the first contact station was closed and had yellow envelopes for day use fees. For campers - drive through the contact station and proceed to the Park Office to pick up your camping packet. We had reservations and just drove right to our site…didn’t realize we should have stopped at the Office to get the color map, etc, as we arrived after 5pm. In a nutshell, it is about 13 miles off the interstate to this state park, where you are treated to the tranquility of a private campsite in the woods.

The park and facilities were really some of the best that I’ve seen at a state park. Campground was really well taken care of, plenty of hiking trails, and is a nice quiet place to relax for the weekend. Level sites and easy access to electric and water. Dump station has four stalls, two on each side and it too seemed well maintained. Overall, I’d highly recommend this park.

Far Out Frizzle stayed here from Sunday-Thursday. The campground was busy towards the beginning of my stay but cleared out towards the middle of the week. Mix of families, couples, and solos.

This campground was lovely. The sites are spaced far apart and there is privacy. Trees are tall and stately but are not in the way or obstructive. The bathhouse was amazing and included all private bathrooms and shower.

Goochland is the nearest hamlet at about 15 minutes away. Groceries, post office, etc. can be found there.

Internet worked great. Got about 2 bars on Verizon and perhaps a little more on AT&T. The latter seemed to work better.

This park is great for hikers, bikers, equestrians, and kayakers/canoes.

Since everything within 200 miles is booked every weekend all summer, we decided to spend some time down the street at Powhatan State park. Since we were there from Sunday to Friday, I had to work a few days while camping. Cell signal was fine for the VPN connection on T-Mobile and Verizon. Were able to do Netflix during the rain showers but had a great time hiking and biking during the sunnier times. Would definitely recommend for a nice quiet stay. Showers and restrooms are clean and well thought out. Will bring some tubes to float the river next time!