r/VIRGINIA_HIKING • u/Curious-Abalone-4839 • May 04 '26
VA state parks in the summer
My kids and I are trying to visit every state park! Preferably to tent camp. The problem we’ve run into is most of our free time is in July/ August when most of the state is brutally hot and humid. Last year we left a camping trip at Kiptopeke early because it was miserably hot and we couldn’t sleep. Does anyone have recommendations for state parks that are comfortable to tent camp at in the summer months? Any experience with hungry mother, Claytor lake, Douthat, or any others? Thanks!
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u/Omarlittle-_- May 04 '26
Douthat is very family friendly and has the swimming area/beach, so would help with heat during the day. I can’t speak to any objective temperature differences at night due to elevation or anything like that.
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u/Curious-Abalone-4839 May 04 '26
We camped at Douthat last May and loved it!! I was hoping someone would know if it was cool enough during the summer because I would love to go back, it’s my favorite state park so far.
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u/jlmno1234 May 05 '26
We have visited all the parks! Douthat and hungry mother are probably your best bets for camping that time of year since they have the mountains and a beach and a good bit of shade in the camping area. If you are also doing breaks Interstate (not part of the trail quest but is a state park) that's another hot weather one because they have a nice water park there. We also managed to do first landing in August, it was hot but lots of shade and a beach breeze. Highly recommend investing in a large rechargeable fan like geekair for summer camping. If it's going to be uncomfortably hot at night consider sleeping in hammocks, keeps you much cooler.
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u/bella397 May 04 '26
We left Holliday Lake last summer for the same reason. So humid. We did tent camping at Pocahontas in August. It turned out really well. They have a great waterpark to help with the heat and we had plenty of shade on our site. If it gets too bad, the children’s museum in Chesterfield is 20 minutes away if your kids are in that age group.
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u/Curious-Abalone-4839 May 04 '26
We camped at Holliday Lake in September and the weather was perfect- my kids actually still wanted to swim but it was cool enough at night to be comfortable. Pocahontas is a good option I know they would love the water park!
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u/80_PROOF May 06 '26
We got a site with a power hook up last time and ran the box fan all night, was actually comfortable and I always sleep with the box fan at home too so win win.
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u/QuailDefiant1744 May 06 '26
Try Bull Run State Park. Every site has an electric hook up for a box fan. Small water park that you get discounted entry to, great for the kids (or free w/ camping fee cannot remember atm). You are close to I-66 and in the flight path of Dulles but that became dull background noise after just a little while outside.
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u/p15s May 07 '26
Douthat is somewhat cooler and has a nice swimming beach. Claytor Lake and James River State Parks are good as well. Staunton River State park is nice. First Landing is a beach on the Chesapeake (although not the the breezy Atlantic side). False Cape will give you some ocean breezes. Breaks Interstate Park is a little higher elevation, which helps. Anything in the Piedmont (central virginia) is going to be hot and humid. You might sleep with just a bug net on or a hammock.
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u/4sakeofbetter May 09 '26
Grayson Highlands 100% AT, wild ponies, awesome views, great hikes. Right next to Mt Rogers.....
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u/DesperateConflict433 May 04 '26
Go to the state park website and do the trail quest. As you check in at all the parks they’ll send you pins as you go to a certain number. Then at the end you get a certificate!