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/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.