Surrounded by land that was once dubbed "Gold Hill," Lake Anna State Park is an outdoor activists' dream, featuring amazing views of tall trees and lush green grass. Located in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and 25 miles southwest of Fredericksburg, this park is perfect for your RV excursion. You'll have numerous opportunities for outdoor fun in an exclusive reservoir setting. From biking and hiking to horseback riding and nature programs, Lake Anna State Park offers a vast amount of outdoor adventures.
The tree field areas around Lake Anna State Park are breathtaking with 3,127 acres and 10 miles of lakefront views. Learn about how the area was a mining destination in the 1800s and how the park was developed while you explore the natural surroundings.
After you park your camper at Lake Anna State Park you can head out to one of 12 hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate. Gold Hill is a three-mile hiking trail that takes you along the areas where gold was discovered many years ago. If you wish for a more relaxed, easy stroll then take the one-mile Fisherman's Trail that runs along the lakeshore. Lake Anna State Park is a great RV destination no matter when you visit, with sun-filled summer days and crisp cool winters.
Lake Anna State Park is easily accessible in any vehicle since it's adjacent to GA-601, just off of GA-208. It's just 25 miles southwest of Fredericksburg and 60 miles northwest of Richmond, Virginia. If you like wine, check out the winery, about five miles to the southeast on GA-208. There is also a Civil War Museum about 28 miles to the west if you are into history. Local roads take you to all the places you want to go in the park, from the picnic area and day-use areas to the campgrounds and trailheads. If you prefer walking after you park at the day-use facilities, walking to the visitor center or boat launch is easy.
There are numerous options for parking RVs and trailers, with several lots located throughout the park. You'll be able to find spots near the day-use facilities, boat launch, and equestrian trail entrance. Of course, you can park at the campground if you’re staying the night.
The parking area near the beach and picnic areas gets busy during the summer months, and the park will close park roads until enough parking spots have been vacated. There are no other driving restrictions for RVs or trailers, so getting around will be easy, whether you are in your rig or another vehicle.
The newly updated multiple award-winning Richmond North / Kings Dominion KOA campground is located immediately near the Kings Dominion Theme Park and Soak City. Discounted tickets are available through the campground office or website for you and the kiddos. Other area attractions include the Richmond Raceway, the state fairgrounds, and all the educational, historic, and cultural opportunities that the state capital has to offer. The Richmond North / Kings Dominion KOA campground features Wi-Fi and cable, a free shuttle, restrooms and showers, and laundry machines. They even have a swimming pool, recreational facilities, a well-stocked camp store, a dump station, and a dog park. Food delivery is available as well.
With a handful of Civil War battlegrounds, restaurants, local shopping just a short drive away, and Washington DC's major attractions an hour by train, Fredericksburg, VA is a centrally located and easily accessible base. Bring big rigs up to 95 feet to Fredericksburg / Washington DC South KOA and you’ll have a choice of full-hookup patio sites by the pond with up to 50-amp service, or perfectly shady water and electric sites. You can also rent a bike and bring your pets. Amenities include cable TV, Wi-Fi, a pool, and snack bar. There’s also firewood and propane available on-site for purchase.
Lake Anna State Park offers 46 pet-friendly campsites available for RVs and tents from March until December. The campsites are divided into those that are site-specific and non-specific. In other words, the 12 non-specific sites are randomly chosen by the staff. When you reserve one of these sites, you know you are going to get a spot, you just will not know the specific details or number of the campsite until you get there. The park has 13 primitive sites while the rest provide 50-amp electric and water hookups.
Amenities at this campground include hot showers and restrooms. Each site has a gravel pad, picnic table, a lantern holder, and a steel fire ring that can be used for campfires and cooking. You will be close to nature trails and recreational facilities. Most sites provide shade under scenic forest views. There is no generator use allowed, and quiet time is observed from 10 PM through 8 AM. You can stay for up to 14 days in a 30-day period, and reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. Your RV or trailer must not be longer than 60 feet in length.
For the avid adventurist and historian, the rangers at Lake Anna State Park offer guided tours of the Goldwin Gold Mine. Getting to the gold mine involves some walking so ensure those comfortable shoes are in your rig. You will start at the Mill Pond Trail and travel to a path that meanders along the lake, where the ranger will let you know this is where Hailey's Mill stood. Next, you will trek along the Pigeon Run Trail and on the path that goes into the quiet forest and crosses over a stream. The final leg brings you to the gold mine, but you will travel a long way back up the road before you actually reach the gold mine in the forest. You will be able to explore the trenches of the gold mine, along with the ruins as you learn about the historical significance it brings to Lake Anna State Park.
If you want to learn more about the history of the park, leave your rig at the campsite or park at the Visitor Center while you check out the cool exhibits inside. There are displays you can walk through at the Visitor Center that will teach you all about the gold history, cultural history, and native animals residing in the park. You will also get to ask park rangers any questions you may have about the park or the wildlife that make their home here.
Lake Anna State Park features remains of a Pigeon Plantation just waiting to be explored during your RV adventure trip. You'll start out hiking on one of the trails and just end up at the Pigeon Plantation where you will also be able to see a well-preserved standing smokehouse. This plantation goes back to the 1800s and offers a marker to explain how Virginia hams are still made the same way today. There are also pictures of the layout of the actual plantation along with its history.
You can also choose to stay in one of the park’s six camping cabins. These are like a mix of camping and staying in a cabin. These sites are mixed in with the rest of the RV and tent campgrounds and can be reserved up to 11 months in advance just the same. Pets are allowed as long as you keep them supervised and on a leash at all times while you are there. In these wooden structures, you will have two sets of bunk beds, electricity, a ceiling fan, and windows with screens so you can enjoy the weather.
You’ll be able to cook indoors on your camp stove or outdoors on the provided campfire ring that has a grill for cooking. The picnic table provided by the park allows you to eat outdoors or inside although there are no chairs or tables inside. There is also no air conditioning or heat. Be sure to bring your own linens and cooking utensils just as if you were camping in your RV.
If you have never camped in a yurt, now is a good time to try this unique experience. A yurt is a large round wooden shelter covered with thick canvas similar to a circus tent. The park has four that each come with a twin trundle bed and a queen bed that can accommodate up to four people. However, no linens are provided so bring your own sleeping bag and pillows. They also do not allow pets so your furbaby has to miss out on this experience.
Although there is no heat, air conditioning, electricity, or water, you can cook outside on the fire ring or the BBQ grill provided by the park. However, it is good to bring your own portable grill just in case. You’ll have to leave your rig in the lot, but the park provides a cart to pull your belongings along the short trail to the yurt. A community water spigot, restrooms, and showers are nearby. There is also a large picnic table, so you don’t have to balance your food on your lap while you eat. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.
Thinking of spending a night or two indoors? Lake Anna State Park boasts 10 cozy cabins by the eastern edge of the park with two bedrooms. Each cabin can accommodate up to six people with two single beds, a queen-sized bed, and a pullout sofa bed with a queen mattress. The kitchen is fully furnished with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and coffee maker. You will also find dishes, towels, and cooking utensils. Bring your own seasonings, coffee, dish soap, food, and cooking spray.
The living room/dining room area has a couch, chairs, dining table and six chairs, air conditioning, fireplace, and heat. The deck has a BBQ pit, rocking chairs, and tables for eating outside. You will even have a boat slip provided on the lake. Cabin 10 is ADA-accessible and cabins one through three do not have a lake view. Pets are allowed so go ahead and bring your furbaby in with you. Reservations are needed as these are a popular camping option in the park.
If you have a large family or group of friends with you, there are two lodges at Lake Anna State Park with six bedrooms each that can accommodate up to 16 people. Two of the bedrooms have two sets of bunks, two have two twin beds, and two of them have queen beds. The park also provides bed linens and towels for each person. Although the lodge has heat and air conditioning, you may want to bring a warm comforter with you just in case you get cold.
There are three restrooms in each lodge and the kitchen has everything you need including a toaster, coffee pot, microwave, fridge, and stove. You won’t have to worry about dishes, pots, pans, or utensils either. If you brought your boat, you can park it in the boat dock that comes with the lodge rental. Just be sure to bring food, dish soap, coffee, and spices. Pets are welcome to join you, but they must be restrained and cleaned up after during your stay. Reservations are required.
If you've ever wanted to be a miner 49er and pan for gold, then Lake Anna State Park is where you want to be. You will start out with a guided tour of the Goodwin Gold Mine, learning all about its rich history, and then try your hand at panning for gold in the stream located next to it. The historical adventure has a small fee, but you will come away learning so much about gold mining. You may even find a bit of gold.
Do you have a birthday party or other special event occurring while you are staying at Lake Anna State Park? Perfect, since there are two small shelters available for rent April through October, equipped with grills and restroom facilities. The picnic shelters are available with reservations, although they are open on a first-come, first-served basis during certain times of the year. Keep in mind that if your event occurs on a holiday weekend, Lake Anna State Park does not rent shelters during this time frame due to limited parking and large crowds. Be cautious and have all of your party with you, because if parking gets full, the park closes the roads until enough spots have been vacated.
If you are a water lover, you will enjoy the guarded swimming beach at Lake Anna State Park. This swimming beach is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, offering a snack bar and bathhouse. There is a fee to use the beach. If a lifeguard is not available, you may swim in the designated area at your own risk. Swimming is not allowed anywhere else in the park. The parking facilities fill up quickly here and at times the park closes the park roads until there have been enough spots vacated. Make sure you bring sunscreen with you.
