Tucked neatly into the heart of Virginia, about 25 miles from the North Carolina border, Staunton River offers much to families and outdoor enthusiasts. The 2,400-acre park offers woodlands, meadows and shoreline along the Dan and Staunton rivers. Cabins built in the 1930s by the CCC and a campground offer overnight lodging. The equestrian campground offers large campsites and horse stalls. Access to Virginia's largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, offers freshwater fishing and boating, along with water skiing and many other aquatic activities. The park also has Olympic-sized and wading pools, picnic shelters, three playgrounds, tennis and volleyball courts, several boat launches and more than 17 miles of multi-use trails.
Camping
Half the sites may be specifically reserved; the rest are assigned upon arrival.
Each campsite has fire rings that can be used for campfires or cooking.
Swimming and boat launching free with overnight reservations, but if your stay depends on launching your boat, please call the park since boat launching is dependent on water level.
Firewood is sold at the park.
Accepts outlets for 20 and 30-amp current.
Laundry facility is in the campground bathhouse. Check with the park's visitor center for the facility's availability during off-season.
Recycling stations are throughout the park.
Boaters should remove boats from the water after use as there are no docking facilities in the camping area.
Visitors to overnight guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. and are subject to parking fees. They must park in assigned area if campsite area already has the maximum of two vehicles parked.
All camping equipment and vehicles must be set up and parked on the timbered area of the site.
There is no access to the rivers or lake from the campground.
The campground is not on the water. There are no waterfront sites.
The bathhouse is heated and has hot showers.
There are no sewer hookups, but there is a dump station.
If you need help during the summer months, please see the camp hosts, who are on site 25.
Any equipment that will not fit on your site must be parked in the overflow parking area.
During the summer months, campsites are assigned based on reservations, equipment length, and special needs and requests.
Total sites of each type: EW 45-ft, 4; EW 30-ft, 10; EW pop/tent, 20; Tent Std., 13
Site type:
EW 30-ft - Electric and water hookups, various equipment up to 30 feet, bathhouse available.
EW Pop/Tent - Electric and water hookups, popup and tent campers up to 20 feet, bathhouse available.
EW 45-ft - Electric and water hookups, pull-through up to 45 feet, RVs only, bathhouse available.
Tent Std - Tents only, no hookups, bathhouse available.
Total campsites: 47
Equestrian Camping: Electric and water hookups and a central dump station are available. Sites 1-10 are pull-through with paved surfacing and can accommodate a camping unit up to 50 feet long and one vehicle. Sites 11-13 are back-in with a gravel surface and a tent pad and can accommodate camping units up to 30 feet long with one vehicle. There are 20 covered horse stalls, a bathhouse with showers and a picnic shelter. Picnic tables, fire-rings and charcoal grills are available at each site.
All sites have electric pedestals, which have 20, 30 and 50-amp outlets.
All equipment must be kept on the paved or graveled area at the campsite.
Proof of a negative Coggins test is required.
Horses must be kept in a stall when not being ridden. Horses may not be tied up in open areas, day-use areas or around the campsites. Horses may only be ridden on designated trails and are not permitted on paved roads within the park.
Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet and attended to at all times.
Campers are encouraged to clean their stalls. Pitchforks, wheelbarrows and buckets are available.
Recreation
TRAILS
Hiking and self-guided trails; horses allowed on multi-use trail. Ten wooded trails provide miles of hiking along the Dan and Staunton rivers as well as Buggs Island Lake. Multi-use trails are open for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Bring your own horse and bike.
Note: To prevent damage to the park's trails, trails are often closed during wet conditions. Please call the park at (434) 572-4623 prior to your visit to ensure that the trails are available for use.
SWIMMING
The park has an Olympic sized pool and a wading pool open from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The larger pool has a 70-foot waterslide known as "the Moccasin" as well as a smaller log slide in the shallow end. The Pollywog Pond has a frog slide and many fun water toys for kids and toddlers. (You must be less than 45 inches tall to play in the Pollywog Pond.) The pool complex is open from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and includes a bathhouse and concessions area. In-season, swimming is free for overnight guests in campsites, cabins and the camping lodge, however it cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require that swimming be closed. We do not give refunds for swimming to overnight guests under any circumstances. Also, prior to mid-June and after mid-August, pool hours may vary. Contact the visitor center for details.
The pool facility can be rented for after-hours use on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the visitor center for rental details.
FISHING, BOATING
The Dan and Staunton rivers and Buggs Island Lake are famous for the number and size of fish there. Bass, bluegill, crappie and perch are plentiful. The park has a boat launch. A Buggs Island Special Pass that covers boat launching and parking for Occoneechee and Staunton River state parks is available. A valid Virginia fishing license is required; purchase one in the park's visitor center. Annual boat launch passports are available by calling 1-800-933-PARK.
No boat rentals at this park. Guests must bring their own boats. Boat launching ramp is available. These facilities may not be accessible if the water level is too high or low. If your visit depends on the ability to launch your boat, please call the park in advance. Both motorized and non-motorized boats are permitted on Buggs Island Lake.
STRONOMICAL OBSERVATION
The park was designated as the 25th International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association in July 2015. The park hosts guided observing sessions monthly throughout the summer and sessions for special astronomical events throughout the year. The Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society has donated two Newtonian-reflector telescopes that may be rented at the visitor center. The telescope, two lenses, a star map, printed instructions and hands-on tutorial by park staff come with rental.
The park hosts the Staunton River Star Party, along with the Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society, every March and October. Registration is required, however each Saturday night during the event is free and open to the public.
A field next the visitor center is available year-round for astronomical observing. Parking fees apply. Contact the visitor center for more information.
HORSES
Horseback riders are allowed on multi-use trail. There are no horse rentals in the park or nearby, but there are overnight facilities for horses at the park. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park. Horses must be kept on designated trails and are not allowed on park roads, in camping areas or in day-use areas.
DISC GOLF
Staunton River is home to a challenging, woodsy nine-hole disc golf course, the only such course in the state park system. The course, created as a pilot project, opened in late 2017.
