shenandoah vs first landing

[mkcom1]

Hey der
    We are planning a vacation in may (last two weeks) and was wondering what info I could generate regarding these two places.  I have heard good things regarding Loft Mountain in the Shenandoah and a state park Called ? Douthat also another park just south of the shenandoah in the usda forest with electric.  Now my wife has talked about virginia beach and First landing.  We have three small kids 5-3-11/2.  and would be camping in our Niagara and coming from Chicago.  My original thought was to stay in the above mentioned park's and do day trips to see things, perhaps 3-4 days and then go to the north end of the park and do the same.  But now the beach comes into play?  Any ideas?   THANKS  Ken

Also can someone give an idea on the weather at that time of year.

[vjm1639]

May in Virginia is usually pretty wonderful, although, you can have some real cold or real hot days slip in....The past couple of years we've had rain, rain, rain on our end of May trip.  We usually take a week the end of May but it's one of those times of year you have to pack both winter and summer clothes! LOL One thing to keep in mind...While Loft Mountain IS beautiful..as are all the Shenandoah campgrounds, it isn't open until May 19, it does not take reservations (will most likely fill up for the holiday weekend!!!), and there are no hookups. I believe the park south of the Shenandoah's you're referring to would most likely be Sherando Lake. No reservations there either...GREAT park...but get there in the middle of the week if you can! The hosts we talked to last year said that since they opened up the two small loops with electricity they are filled to capacity most every weekend.
 
 
Beach over mountains is just a matter of your personal preferences..I'd always choose mountains...but that's just me... ;>

[mkcom1]

Thanks For The Input

[vjm1639]

Hope you have a great trip where ever you decide. Take lots of pictures and let us all know how it was!

[Starmasterman]

Hi Ken,

Another option in Virginia is Westmoreland SP on Northern Neck. While there you can hike down to the water where there is a small beach (not really a swimming beach, at least I wouldn't swim there, but you can walk out into the water) where you can hunt for fossils. Stop at a dollar store and get a colander for each kid. They can put sand in the colander and sift it out. You'll find fossilized shark's teath, fossil bone fragments, and the like. Near the park is George Washington's birthplace if you like historic places to visit. As I remember some of the sites have electric and I think water. Westmoreland takes reservations.

If you're into Civil War history, you can camp at Pocahontas SP south of Richmond. This gives you access to all the museums and historical sites around Richmond. Pocahontas is RV friendly with pull through sites, electric, water, nice bathhouses, etc. Pocahontas also takes reservations, I believe all the state parks in VA do.

The Shenandoah is a nice place to camp, but is US. Park Service, and none of the parks there take reservations. It would be a drag to pull your pop-up all the way there and not be able to get in. If you decide to go there, I'd show up in the middle of the week, rather than on the weekend when it may be full. Also, pulling a popup on the Skyline drive will be difficult if you have a "marginal" tow vehicle. You'll need lots of tow capacity to get up and down all the hills (some of which are a tad steep). If you go there, I'd enter the park from the south entrance, that will put you closer to Loft Mt.

Steve

[SherryandFamily]

This could have changed because the last time I went to Loft mountain was years ago but at that time you had to pay to get on the parkway.  That would mean each time you went sight seeing you would have to pay to get back to the campground.

Also, it takes about 45 minutes to get off the parkway.

Loft Mountain is a beautiful park, but (again this could have changed) but one thing I didn't like when we went is that they have pay showers.

Now, First Landing would be my choice.  It is on the Cheasapeake Bay, but only a short distance from the ocean.  There are TONs of things to do in the Virginia Beach area.  Even if you hit bad weather the kids won't be bored.

First Landing has some water and electric, I am not sure how many.

If you don't have your heart set on state parks Virginia Beach has two nice campgrounds, Holiday Trav l Park and a KOA.  I prefer the Holiday Trav l Park. They have playgrounds, game room, basketball, putt putt etc. In season they show outdoor movies for the kids.  Neither of these parks are on the ocean, you have to drive or take the trolly.

Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg are about 45 minutes from Va Beach and would be fun day trips.

I hope you have a wonderful trip enjoy Virginia.
Sherry

[vjm1639]

DH and I are members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club so we're in the Shenandoah national park quite frequently.   In the Shenandoah's you can make reservations at Big Meadows Campground, but it is the only one that takes reservations.  Most are full on holiday weekends but during the week you can usually find a space at Loft and Mathews Arm.  Lewis is a very small campground and fills up quicker. All showers in the Shenandoah National Park are pay showers....4 quarters for 5 minutes. Mathews Arm has no showers at all, but we just go into Big Meadows for showers (and blackberry milkshakes!!!) You do have to pay an entrance fee to get on the parkway...I think it just went to $15..however, the ticket you get when you pay is good for 7 days. You don't pay everytime you come in and out!   If you already have a National Parks Pass the Shenandoah's are included on that one.

[springer02]

Loft Mountain is a gorgeous park.  The deer aren't at all shy, especially on Sunday afternoons after most everyone has left their sites.  They do have pay showers but even our teen-aged daughter can get a shower for $1.  There is a small camp store and a nice restaurant maybe a mile away.  Great hiking, not much fishing.

Douthat State Park is our all time favorite place to camp.  This year, however, one of their loops is closed for shower house renovations so the other loops are filling up on the weekends.  The loop we love, White Oak, has I think 30 sites.  The shower house is OK although there are only 2 showers in each.  Douthat has good trout fishing and a nice beach to use in the summer.  You can reserve on reserveamerica.com.

Send us an e-mail if you want any more info on these great parks!

Hope you have a great time where ever you go!

Tena

[SheBantam]

Another possibility is Newport New City park, has a nice campground, big sites on a reservoir, west of NewportNews Actually, and about 7 miles from Busch Gardens, just a few more from Colonial Williamsburg.  Virginia Beach is not too far and is a day trip into Richmond.