Chippokes State Park

Rain was in the forecast for this weekend camping trip. But we pressed on with the knowledge that this park is full of history-learning opportunities that cannot be dampened by the weather.

Chippokes State Park sits on the James River directly across from historic Jamestown. This park is another one that isn’t too far away from our home and could easily be included on our list of parks for quick weekend camping trips. The shoreline is beautiful and fun to explore. The museum is expansive and fascinating. The mansion is fun and educational. The campsites are shady with great hammock spots. And the cornfields surrounding historic cabins, pastures filled with cows, and pens of various farm animals provide a unique camping experience. 

In operation since 1619, Chippokes is one of America’s oldest continually farmed plantations. 1619, folks. Such rich history in this place. The mind is certain to wander to a long-ago era as legs wander the grounds of this incredibly neat park. The Jones-Stewart Mansion Tour was the indoor activity highlight for us, and fossil and shark teeth hunting at the James River Beach was the outdoor activity highlight (even in the chilly wind!). Tip: This is another place to pull out those sifters to aid in the shark teeth search. We did not find that they were as plentiful as they are at Westmoreland State Park, however. 

We may not have seen much of the sunshine during our visit, but fun unique experiences definitely shine at this park!

Fast Facts (and Opinions)

Location: Chippokes State Park - Surry, VA

Equipment: Travel Trailer

Date: Memorial Day Weekend 2023

Weather: Chilly, rainy, and windy

Kid-Friendly: Yes (ours were ages 10 and 9)

Dog-Friendly: Yes (We now have two! This was our adopted 12-year-old Shih Tzu's first camping trip.)

Site: A25

• Water/Electric

• Back-in

• Level

• Gravel

• Very shady

• Forest behind site

• Many good hammock trees

• Semi-close to bathhouse

• Paved roads

Bathhouse:

• 4 external shower rooms 

• Lighting in women's bathroom is pretty dim

• Ground dishwashing station

Cell Service: Yes (Verizon)

Park Highlights:

Click here to watch highlight reel.

• Jones-Stewart Mansion Tour

  • 19th-century mansion 

  • Learned about the two families who owned it

  • Viewed downstairs and upstairs rooms staged as it was when the second family, the Stewarts, lived there

  • Walked grounds that include gardens, kitchen, burial site, carriage house, and garage (which is also a gift shop)

  • Tours begin every 30 minutes during the afternoons, Friday through Monday, April through October

  • Check calendar for special events such as cooking demonstrations in the Brick Kitchen building

• James River Beach

  • Park at River House Parking and walk about half a mile on the paved College Run trail to the beach, then head right on the beach for fewer people

  • We took sifters to hunt for shark teeth and a metal detector just for fun

  • We did not have much luck finding any fossils or shark teeth (although I'm pretty sure I found one cool tooth)

  • Shoreline is pretty with trees and shells

  • There are no guarded swimming areas at this park

• Farm and Forestry Museum

  • Open-air exhibit with a vast variety of antique farming, forestry, and household machinery and tools

  • Several buildings with large garage-style doors that open 

  • Located across the street from farm animals 

• River House

  • Built in 1830 and was the original house on the plantation

  • Found out on our mansion tour that there are plans to restore this incredible building 

• Pool Complex was closed for renovation/repairs for the second year - not sure of the plans for reopening

Area Highlights:

• None that we explored

Park Hikes:

• Chipoax Trace -  2 miles out and back

• Easy trail through woods behind cornfields

• Ends at a bench overlooking a large creek

Area Hikes:

• None that we explored

Other Campsites:

• There are 2 loops that are connected

• Loop B has paved sites for larger rigs, as well as some pull-through sites and 3 yurts

• Loop A, where we stayed, has more private sites

• Each loop has it's own bathhouse and the one in Loop B is a little nicer and has a laundry facility and outdoor dishwashing sink

• Other sites we would consider in Loop A are 31, 33, 39, and 50 (50 would be our first choice - private and close to bathhouse)

• The historic 4 colonial-style farmhouse "cabins" and one larger house are set far off the park road, privately nestled in the cornfields and would be a neat experience for a park stay

Things to Do Next Visit (Because There's Just Never Enough Time!):

• Hike more trails (that the weather did not allow during our visit!)

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