Discover the best campgrounds near Hampton, Virginia with swimming

United States
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Virginia
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Hampton

99% (316 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Hampton

Dog-friendly getaways

Star Hosts in Hampton

100%

(12)

Wren’s Nest on Jackson Creek

12 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Deltaville, VA

Private 4-acre peninsula on Jackson Creek with 80-foot pier offers peaceful Chesapeake Bay experience. Large, level field provides plenty of campsite options and easy setup for RVs. Waterfront is gently sloped, creating a natural launch for small watercraft. Numerous marinas, boat ramps, dining, and shopping.

The Guinea Farm, Field, and Forest

4 sites · Lodging, Tents18 acres · Diggs, VA

The Guinea farm is 18 acres of feild and forest on the rural middle pennensula. Only 1 mile from 2 separate secluded beaches and a boat launch. There is verly little traffic or light polution here, nature is at your fingertips. Come visit the farm and experience agrotourism at it's finest. Pick your own veggies in the community garden and meet the Guinea fowl! Enjoy the windernes and learn about the local ecosystem here on the middle pennensula. There are 3 sites spaced out across the 18 acres set apart for privacy. Wisteria is a primative site closer to the entrance gate. Trilogy is a suspended tree tent in the pines 700' beyond that and seperated by dense forest. Stargazer Tiny cabin is an offgrid rustic camping cabin on the back side of the property. Each site is surronded by several acres of forest and close to the edge of a large feild. There are romaing guinea fowl that may come make a very loud appearance as they canvas the property eating bugs. Deer, Turkeys, Bald Eagles, foxes, and other wildlife are common guests also. Mid-summer is what I call frog season, Tree frogs are abundant and provide a wonderful soundtrack. There are free to use bicycles, an axe throwing board, and cornhole boards available. 4 miles from shopping and dining in Mathews Virginia, 15 miles to Gwynn Island. Gwynn's Island is an island located in the Chesapeake Bay off of Virginia's Middle Peninsula. The island is located in the northeast part of Mathews County, south of the mouth of the Piankatank River. It is connected to the rest of the county by a swing bridge over Milford Haven.

Shine & Rise Magic Food Forest

2 sites · RVs, Tents80 acres · Boston, VA

Our farm started as a soy field and has exploded into a biodiverse forest of fruits, nuts, vegetables, mushrooms, and more. The land is designed to mimic the strengths of a natural ecosystem so we plant to replicate the forest edge... except everything is edible. Think Willy Wonka's factory but with plants:)

5 top campgrounds near Hampton with swimming

98%

(194)

The Guinea Farm, Field, and Forest

4 sites · Lodging, Tents18 acres · Diggs, VA

The Guinea farm is 18 acres of feild and forest on the rural middle pennensula. Only 1 mile from 2 separate secluded beaches and a boat launch. There is verly little traffic or light polution here, nature is at your fingertips. Come visit the farm and experience agrotourism at it's finest. Pick your own veggies in the community garden and meet the Guinea fowl! Enjoy the windernes and learn about the local ecosystem here on the middle pennensula. There are 3 sites spaced out across the 18 acres set apart for privacy. Wisteria is a primative site closer to the entrance gate. Trilogy is a suspended tree tent in the pines 700' beyond that and seperated by dense forest. Stargazer Tiny cabin is an offgrid rustic camping cabin on the back side of the property. Each site is surronded by several acres of forest and close to the edge of a large feild. There are romaing guinea fowl that may come make a very loud appearance as they canvas the property eating bugs. Deer, Turkeys, Bald Eagles, foxes, and other wildlife are common guests also. Mid-summer is what I call frog season, Tree frogs are abundant and provide a wonderful soundtrack. There are free to use bicycles, an axe throwing board, and cornhole boards available. 4 miles from shopping and dining in Mathews Virginia, 15 miles to Gwynn Island. Gwynn's Island is an island located in the Chesapeake Bay off of Virginia's Middle Peninsula. The island is located in the northeast part of Mathews County, south of the mouth of the Piankatank River. It is connected to the rest of the county by a swing bridge over Milford Haven.

Shine & Rise Magic Food Forest

2 sites · RVs, Tents80 acres · Boston, VA

Our farm started as a soy field and has exploded into a biodiverse forest of fruits, nuts, vegetables, mushrooms, and more. The land is designed to mimic the strengths of a natural ecosystem so we plant to replicate the forest edge... except everything is edible. Think Willy Wonka's factory but with plants:)

Wren’s Nest on Jackson Creek

12 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Deltaville, VA

Private 4-acre peninsula on Jackson Creek with 80-foot pier offers peaceful Chesapeake Bay experience. Large, level field provides plenty of campsite options and easy setup for RVs. Waterfront is gently sloped, creating a natural launch for small watercraft. Numerous marinas, boat ramps, dining, and shopping.

Serenity cove

2 sites · RVs7 acres · White Stone, VA

Enjoy the natural serenity of this hideaway on the shores of the historic Antipoison Creek (so named by Capt John Smith), minutes to the Chesapeake Bay by boat or car. The area offers boating, fishing, and an abundance of wildlife (deer, turkeys, waterfowl, bald eagles, osprey. otters and more). Bring your boat and moor at our dock. Property owners reside full-time on this property in a newly constructed home.

Lightwood Forest

1 site · Lodging110 acres · Spring Grove, VA

Lightwood Forest is an ancient forest of mixed beech, oak, poplar, and other hardwoods in rural Surry County, Virginia, and is some of the earliest settled land in English North America. The stream that runs through Lightwood Forest was the original southern border of the land given by Chief Powhatan to his daughter Pocahontas, and her husband John Rolfe, as a wedding gift. Their son Thomas's house was somewhere on the property or in a neighboring field. The forest is magnificent, and is an example of a rapidly dwindling ecosystem in Tidewater Virginia. There are many possible camping sites on the 110 acres. On the property stands Lightwood House, the 18th-century home of a Revolutionary War soldier and his family. The house is available for overnight stays, or as a central meeting place for campers and guests. The property is only rented to one party at a time, with exclusive use of the entire estate. The house can be viewed as a sort of time machine, but with all modern comforts and necessities. Lightwood provides lovers of history and nature the opportunity to enjoy both--either as campers or house guests. This unique house and property offers visitors a rare opportunity to escape the twenty-first century and venture into a haven of peace, quiet and solitude. Learn more about this land: Within the expansive and protected boundaries of Lightwood Forest, many delightful and secluded camping sites can be found. Choose between green meadows or woodland settings with ancient majestic oaks, stately poplars or silvery beeches and sycamores as your nearest neighbors. A well-trodden walking trail, over two miles long, meanders through this, your very own Hundred Acre Wood. Up hills and down ravines, along ancient cart paths and road beds, wander at your own pace through this beautiful forest, watching all the while for, and sharing your space with, Lightwood's very own forest denizens. Who might that be, you ask? Well, look for quite the array of bird species including woodpeckers and owls, hawks and wild turkeys, ravens and crows. Be on the lookout for woodland tortoises and turtles as well as raccoons and possums, who all live within the protected boundaries of Lightwood Forest. You may not see them during the day, but if you look closely on the little sandy beaches that line the mossy banks of the streams that run through the property, you'll see their tiny paw prints, letting you know they were there, drinking at leisure from the clear, clean water of their protected forest home. In the depth of winter, a house on neighboring property can be glimpsed at a distance through the woods, but other than that camping sites deep within Lightwood Forest are completely secluded from any sign of civilization. The cozy and comfortable historic eighteenth-century house sleeps up to ten guests as well as up to two doggy friends. All modern conveniences are available including WIFI, a six-foot jetted tub and walk-in marble shower in an expansive downstairs bathroom. Lightwood Forest is a land steeped in history. The main stream that traverses the property marked the southern boundary of the wedding gift given by Wahunsonacock, alias Chief Powhatan, upon the marriage of his favorite child, Pocahontas, to John Rolfe, in 1614. While the property seems far from civilization, the small town of Surry is only 1.5 miles away. Additionally, a short ferry ride away, across the mighty James River, are the nationally renowned historic museums of Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Historic Jamestowne. All lie along the beautiful, scenic Colonial Parkway. Lightwood is the perfect retreat for lovers of both history and nature as well as for souls in search of peace, quiet and solitude.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

100%

(5)

Kiptopeke State Park

Cape Charles, Virginia

100%

(4)

Chippokes Plantation State Park

Scotland, Virginia

Pelicans, seagulls, and cormorants at First Landing

97%

(18)

First Landing State Park

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping near Hampton with swimming guide

Overview

Hampton, the city, may be far from the Hamptons, but this Virginia oasis offers just as much fun, sun, and coastal character. With proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, as well as its many tributaries, Hampton is both an area—and in an area—ripe for exploration. Just beyond Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach are all about the waterfront, but campers will find plenty to do in the city itself. Opt for a pet-friendly campsite near Sandy Bottom Nature Park, or start your search for seashells at Salt Ponds Public Beach. No matter where you go, stay, or sleep, you’ll want to come back.

Where to go

Fort Monroe

Fort Monroe brings history to life. Visit the Fort Monroe National Monument and experience a Virginia that’s been around since 1619. Fort Monroe campgrounds, however, provide access to far more than just the past. Surrounded by both Mill Creek and the Chesapeake, Fort Monroe takes full advantage of the water. You can visit the lighthouse, fish along the piers, or explore the bay by beach or by boat.

Grandview Nature Preserve

Still yearning for a long walk on the beach? Grandview Nature Preserve is the place for rest and relaxation. Spend your days birdwatching from the preserve’s scenic coastal and wooded trails. From a modern yurt with wifi, a romantic cabin with electricity, or a family-friendly RV site with full hookups, your stint in Grandview Nature Preserve is bound to be, well, grand.

Along the James River

If the bay, somehow, has yet to satiate you, the James River should quench your thirst for all things leisure. Among both Virginia’s longest rivers and the Chesapeake Bay’s largest tributaries, the James River covers a lot of ground—and so do its campsites. Campgrounds come near and dear to parks, wildlife areas, and kayaking nooks. On either side of the river, campers can do it all.

When to go

Virginia summers bring humidity, so spring and fall make for the ideal camping seasons. Fall, especially, is perfect for sleeping outdoors. September and October days prolong the summer sun, so you can still manage the occasional water activity. Autumn nights, however, tend to turn chilly and crisp—perfect for huddling around your campsite’s fire pit. Camping calls for sleeping bags, after all, so come to Hampton when the weather lets you get cozy.