Virginia State Parks are arguably some of the best in the nation. With nearly 40 parks throughout the state, each park represents its unique region, many with interactive programs focused on history, ecology, and nature. The following list doesn’t even touch half of the parks in the state, but we’ve highlighted what many believe to be the best state parks in Virginia. Of course, you truly can’t go wrong with a visit to any Virginia state park. From living history sites to some of the best mountain trails in the country, these state parks are a reminder of just how lucky we are to live in Virginia.

1. First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach
Rain 0975 / flickr
Rain 0975 / flickr
Our list of the best state parks in Virginia begins with First Landing State Park. The most visited of the Virginia state parks, First Landing is the site where English colonists first landed in 1607. This park features beaches, trails, nature and history programs, camping, boating, and swimming. When you visit, be sure to check out the boardwalk trails that meander through cypress swamps.
2. Hungry Mother State Park, Marion
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Known for its beautiful woodlands and large lake, Hungry Mother State Park got its name from a legend telling of a mother and child who escaped an attack at a nearby settlement. The park offers cabins, camping, boating (non-motorized), fishing, and a visitors center. Hungry Mother State Park also has one of the most beautiful mountain overlooks in Virginia.
3. Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane
vastateparksstaff / flickr
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sky Meadows is a historical park that shows life from Colonial times through the Civil War at the Mount Bleak Farm House. The park features history and nature programs, hiking and biking trails, hike-in camping, and fishing. Learn more about what makes Sky Meadows State Park one of the most beautiful places in Virginia.
4. Grayson Highlands State Park, Mouth of Wilson
vastateparksstaff / flickr
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Located near Virginia's highest peak, Mount Rogers, this park is also adjacent to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Wild ponies inhabit the balds area and are often spotted by visitors. Other features include camping, backpacking, horseback riding, hiking trails to waterfalls and scenic overlooks, fishing, guided canoe tours, and a visitors center. This park is considered one of the best mountain parks in the country.
5. Occoneechee State Park, Clarksville
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Named after the Native American tribe who once inhabited the land around Bugg's Island Lake (John H. Kerr Reservoir), this park offers cabins, campsites (including an equestrian campsite), picnicking, a playground, boating, hiking, biking and horseback riding. The visitor center and Native American museum provide a look into the local Native American history of the Occoneechee tribe. Learn more about this lesser-known yet wonderful state park in Virginia.
6. Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield
DM / flickr
VSPYCC / flickr
Naturally formed over several millennia, Natural Tunnel measures 850-feet in length and has been called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The park offers history programs, cave tours, campgrounds, cabins, picnicking, a visitors center, a camp store, a gift shop, the Wilderness Road historic area, a swimming pool, and a chairlift to the tunnel floor. For a quick hike with incredible views of the park, check out Lovers Leap Trail.
7. High Bridge Trail State Park, Green Bay
Richard Martin / flickr
The centerpiece of this 31-mile trail is the 125-foot high, 2,400-foot long bridge that stretches over the Appomattox River. In fact, it's one of the most incredible bridges in Virginia. Because of its mostly flat surface, this park is ideal for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park has been recognized by USA Today as one of the Top 20 State Parks in the nation.
8. Douthat State Park, Millboro
Jason Riedy / flickr
This park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in the design and development of parks nationwide. It features hiking, biking, bridle trails with stunning mountain views, interpretive nature programs, cabin rentals, camping, and a lake for swimming, boating and fishing. With two beautiful waterfalls and a manmade beach, this state park is the definition of outdoor recreation in Virginia.
9. Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Set on Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore, Kiptopeke offers exceptional migratory bird habitats, as well as a beach, lodges, RV and tent camping, a yurt, camping trailers, a bunkhouse, hiking and biking trails, and interpretive and educational programs. Plus, this park features a truly beautiful beach for exploring.

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10. Westmoreland State Park, Montross
Waqas Ahmed / Google
Located on the Northern Neck, Westmoreland State Park is surrounded by rich history. The park sits on the Potomac River and offers a beach, swimming pool, power-boat ramp and boat rentals, a visitor center, event centers, campgrounds, cabins, fishing, and trails. Home to American bald eagles, ospreys, kingfishers, great blue herons, green herons and more, it's a haven for birdwatchers. Plus, you can even look for fossils on the beach!
11. Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield
BenGrantham / flickr
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Located just outside of Richmond, Pocahontas State Park provides activities for the whole family, including boat rentals, picnicking, camping, cabins, 80 miles of trails for hiking and biking, nature and history programs, and fishing. The park also offers an Aquatic Center with a toddler pool, a fountain, two leisure pools, an activity pool, and two tube slides. Here's more on this secluded park not far from Richmond.
12. Wildnerness Road State Park, Ewing
vastateparksstaff / flickr
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Offering a truly interactive experience, this park is a living history site showing what life on the Virginia frontier in 1775 was like. The park features a frontier museum, an outdoor living history museum, and a theater showing the award-winning docudrama "Wilderness Road, Spirit of a Nation." Other activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, and sand volleyball. A restored 1870s mansion provides space for special events.
13. Chippokes Plantation State Park, Surry
VSPYCC / flickr
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Chippokes Plantation has been a working farm since 1619, making it one of the oldest of its kind in the nation. This living history site offers a swimming complex, visitor center and picnicking, as well as trails, camping, and cabin rentals. Located on the James River, the park is home to incredible wildlife, including bald eagles, fox, deer, river otters, and more. For an extended stay, you can spend the night in a cozy cabin inside this Virginia state park.
14. Claytor Lake State Park, Dublin
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Claytor Lake State Park offers a full-array of water and land activities with sandy beaches, a full-service marina, a fishing pier, hiking trails, and bike rentals. Claytor Lake also offers interactive programs, event facilities, and lakeside family lodges. When it comes to beautiful and underrated Virginia attractions, Claytor Lake is at the top of the list.
15. Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart
vastateparksstaff / flickr
MrGaryLarson / flickr
This park is best known for its fairy stones, cross-shaped stones found in the park, which according to legend, are the crystallized tears of fairies who lived there thousands of years ago. The park also offers a large lake with beaches and a water playground, cabins, camping, a conference center, hiking, swimming, and boating. Would you spend a day hiking and searching for fairy stones?
16. Lake Anna
vastateparksstaff / flickr
vastateparksstaff / flickr
With a beach on one of Virginia's most popular lakes, this park provides traditional activities like swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking and cabin rentals. But it also provides insight into the history of gold mining in the area with gold panning programs and tours of the Goodwin Gold Mine. There's so much to love about this beautiful Virginia state park.
17. Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston
vastateparksstaff / flickr
Our collection of some of the best state parks in Virginia concludes with Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Located on Virginia's second largest freshwater lake, Smith Mountain Lake State Park has water and land activities galore, including swimming, boat rentals and a boat ramp, fishing, picnicking, and miles of walking and hiking trails. The park also provides an amphitheater for special events and programs, camping, and cabin rentals.

 

Do you agree that these are some of the best state parks in Virginia? Which of your favorites missed the list? Tell us about them in the comments below!

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More to Explore

best state parks in Virginia

Beth C. | April 27, 2021

What are some other beautiful parks in Virginia?

As you might have guessed, our list of the best state parks in Virginia doesn't even begin to cover all the beautiful places to explore. There are, of course, some lesser-known but equally beautiful places you'll want to see. Some of these parks include Caledon State Park in King George, Holliday Lake State Park in Appomattox, and Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge. Learn more about these underrated state parks in Virginia.

Does Virginia have any national parks?

Yes! One of the most famous national parks in Virginia is Shenandoah National Park. Stretching along the Blue Ridge Mountains, this park features countless hiking trails, breathtaking mountain views, and endless acres of wilderness to explore. One of the best ways to experience Shenandoah National Park is by driving through it. Skyline Drive will take you through the entirety of the park, and it even meets up with the Blue Ridge Parkway at its southern terminus. One of the easiest hikes to take in Shenandoah National Park Park, Story Of The Forest Trail, will showcase beautiful views and even some wildflowers in the summer.

What are some of the most beautiful trails in Virginia?

If you love beautiful hiking trails in Virginia, Old Rag Mountain Trail is one of the best you can take. This challenging trail requires almost an entire day of hiking, but the views are positively amazing. Some other beautiful trails in Virginia include Crabtree Falls, White Oak Canyon Trail, Scott's Run Nature Reserve, the Virginia Creeper Trail, Cape Henry Trail, James River Park Trails, and Devil's Marbleyard. Learn more about some of the best hiking trails in Virginia.

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Featured Addresses
First Landing Beach, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Hungry Mother State Park, 2854 Park Blvd, Marion, VA 24354, USA
Sky Meadows State Park, 11012 Edmonds Ln, Delaplane, VA 20144, USA
Grayson Highlands State Park, 829 Grayson Highland Ln, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363, USA
Occoneechee State Park, 1192 Occoneechee Park Rd, Clarksville, VA 23927, USA
Natural Tunnel State Park, 1420 Natural Tunnel Pkwy, Duffield, VA 24244, USA
High Bridge Trail State Park, N Main St, Farmville, VA 23901, USA
Douthat State Park Road, Douthat State Park Rd, Virginia, USA
Kiptopeke State Park, 3540 Kiptopeke Dr, Cape Charles, VA 23310, USA
State Park Rd, Washington, VA 22520, USA
Chesterfield, VA, USA
Wilderness Road State Park, 8051 Wilderness Rd Trail, Ewing, VA 24248, USA
Chippokes State Park, 695 Chippokes Park Rd, Surry, VA 23883, USA
Claytor Lake State Park, 6620 Ben H Bolen Dr, Dublin, VA 24084, USA
Fairy Stone State Park, 967 Fairystone Lake Dr, Stuart, VA 24171, USA
Lake Anna, Virginia, USA
Smith Mountain Lake Pkwy, Huddleston, VA, USA