RE: Camping in Virginia

[ecbrady]

 
The family is considering a possible relocation from Massachusetts to the south.  Possible locations are Virginia, and the Carolinas.  One of the biggest questions that we have is the duration of the camping season in Virginia.  While I m sure that it is longer than Massachusetts, is it possible to camp in Virginia year round.  The PUT has a heater and we like to sleep in the cold.  If the night get to 45ø that s doable.  We try to camp at least until mid-October hear anyway.
 

[Tim5055]

 ecbrady
I consider Maryland/Virginia about the same.
 
 We usually camp into at least November/December and are usually back out in March.  The only thing that really changes for us is the location.  Our winter camping moves a little to the east.  During the summer we are up in the National Forest dry camping.  As it begins to cool down we move into campgrounds that provide electric for both the fan on the furnace as well as a ceramic heater.
 
 We have camped into the low 30§ area and have been comfortable with the LP furnace.
 
 Obviously in North Carolina you will be a little warmer at the lower elevations, but in the western areas it may be just as cold or colder than Virginia.
 
 

[CampNfan]

 ecbrady
There is just no place better than VA! We got it all! Cold in the winter, Hot in the summer. We drive 2 hours in one direction we have the beach. We drive 2 hours in the other direction we are in the Mountiain s. All 4 seasons are just what they are supposed to be. So come on to Va. ! After all " Va is for Lovers" .[]

[vjm1639]

 ecbrady
Where in Virginia??  The East coast has much milder winters.  Here in Northern Virginia you never know what you re going to get....The frosts usually start late October early November, but you can usually camp through November if you don t mind the cold. We also usually start camping again in March-April...except for this past year....seems we had snow coming down (and lots of it) until summer!  Mostly rain since then!  We have a hassle getting to the beach areas...only because of the traffic...but can normally head west to the mountains with no problem at all. The state parks in Virginia are beautiful.
 
 
 
 
 

[ecbrady]

 ecbrady
At this point in time we re looking in 2 different areas.  The first being in the Richmond area and the other being around Danville.  We re leaning more towards the Richmond area because based upon my looking at the help wanteds (ie Monster board) the potential to find a job similar to what I m doing in Massachusetts is better.  The high taxes, the cold winters, and just the future outlook for the state have led us to begin to look for greener pastures so to speak.  Besides I love country music, Nascar, am a strong conservative, and a fundamental baptist.  There aren t many us up here in the land of the Kennedy s.

[CampNfan]

 ecbrady
Sounds to me like you would make a great Virginiaoun.......[]

[springer02]

 ecbrady
We love Virginia!
 
 Our favorite place to camp is Douthat State Park, located not too far from where I-81 and I-64 meet.  Grogeous!
 
 We usually camp from March through late October although our last trip last year was in Oct. and we just about froze!  The high was 45 and then the rain started......  
 
 Anyway, our vote is for Va.
 
 Tena

[Gone-Camping]

 ecbrady
As a born and raised Mass native that has been residing in Virginia for the last 25 years, I can offer you a fair comparison, I think...
 
 First of all, I grew up in/around Worcester County, Graduated from Blackstone Valley Tech in Upton, joined the Navy and wound up here....never really left.
 
 Ok, now that you have my life story (condensed version), here are a couple of things to consider.
 
 Yes, the winters are definately warmer, especially here in the Tidewater (Norfolk/Va Beach) area along the coast. Rarely snows here, but almost always get at least a couple of dustings each winter. About every other winter we get one or two 6 inch snow falls (shuts us down for 1-2 days due to lack of snow removal equipment), and one time in the 25 years I ve been here we had a real blizzard, back in 81 I belive we got 17"  of the stuff. So moving here to get away from the cold and snow isn t going quite far enough south! Places further inland like Richond & Danville get far more snow by contrast!
 
 However, winter here is much milder, and much shorter! December isn t really cold here, and still quite " campable"  I suppose, my last camping trip of the year will be Mid-November down at Ocean Waves just before they close for the winter. If we do get snow, it usually falls in Jan or Feb. By the end of Feb the tree s (here in Tidewater) are budding, and by early March spring is usally in full bloom! Our first campout is usually in early to mid-April.
 
 Year round camping in a PU around here might be pushing your luck, but there are campgrounds that are open year round. You would also be a lot further south, which might make runs to Florida for a mid-winter camping trip very possible.
 
 Keep one other thing in mind. I ve been here for 25 years, and still can t stand the heat and humidity! Think about your very worse summer days up there, and that s a normal summer day down here (very serious on that too). And worse yet, the summers are longer too! You ll find it getting hot as early as April (May is more normal though) and stay hot through Sept and into early October. It s not unheard of to keep running the A/C in November and even into early December.
 
 As for Richmond vs Danville... Danville is a bit out of the way, and a very small city, so will have more of a " country feel"  to it. Richmond is the capital, very busy place, and has lots more to offer. Richmond is also quite " hilly"  and reminds me a lot of the Worcester area. Where I m at here, it s flat as a pancake!!!

[labontefan]

 ecbrady
Well, I m a Virginian born and raised and I don t think you could pick a better state!! I live in the far southwestern corner of the state in the mountains and I love it! (In NASCAR geography, I m about 50 miles NW of Bristol Motor Speedway! []) (Yes, I have tickets!!! [])
 
 I m a small town girl so my vote would be for Danville. I ve never actually been to Danville, but I head to that general vicinity twice a year because Danville is right next door to Martinsville. Martinsville is one of my favorite tracks. The area around Danville is beautiful. And all the people I ve met from that area are friendly.
 
 Of course, there s more happening around Richmond. You re only about two hrs. from DC, and from the mega-city that is Northern VA. Also, only about 2 hrs. from the other mega-city that is the Hampton Roads area. I went to school in that area (Williamsburg) but that was a long time ago.
 
 The track in Richmond is great also. I ve only been there once, but I loved it! Even though I live in Virginia, Richmond is a pretty good drive. I m closer to Bristol (TN), Charlotte (NC), and Atlanta (GA) that to Richmond! One of our long-standing sayings here in the SW part of VA is that we re closer to five state capitals that we are to Richmond! (Nashville, TN; Charleston, WV; Frankfort, KY; Atlanta, GA; Columbia, SC)
 
 Whatever you decide...welcome to VA!!!

[vjm1639]

 ecbrady
Some great advice and information here...if those were my choices...Danville or Richmond, I d have to pick Danville.  The Army brought me here (with my ex..and I stayed because the schools were so good around here). We started out in Virginia Beach years ago, then ended up in Nothern Virginia for the past 15 years. I live more in the large city areas now but relaly prefer the smaller....actually, I d pick Big Stone Gap where Ann is from!!! []  That s beautiful country.  As far as country music, Nascar,  strong conservative, and a fundamental baptist. ...sounds more the Western portion of Virginia  ( I grew up closer to there in East Tennessee right next to Bristol!).... Now...North Carolina..which you also say is an option....ahhh, that definitely would be my preference.  Not sure of the work you do, but North Carolina  in the Raleigh/ Durham area is pretty high tech, more jobs, better pay, decent cost of living, and BEAUTIFUL!!
 

[ecbrady]

 ecbrady
I work in the high tech industry and am looking to stay in it for the 3-5 years.  Although I know that winters can still get snow and cold, it doesn t come close to New England.  Cliff I was born and raised in the Marlborough area but now call Pepperell home.  I would like to be in a more rural area, but I know that in order to stay in high tech (my company makes chemistry for the circuit board and semiconductor industry) I ll need to stay fairly urban.  Thanks for all of the input.  I m hoping to have the house on the market before next years spring season.  But if a job falls in my lab.  Well we ll just have to wait and see what happens.  Thanks again for all of the info.
 
 Ed