I went to find out ifKiptopeke State Parkis all it is cracked up to be and this is what I saw:
Early spring you can enjoy warmer days and cooler nights which are perfect for a campfire song!Dave and Ann Marie were camping at Kiptopeke from Delaware
What a great sight of relaxation with Dave playing guitar and Ann Marie knitting. They were heading to Virginia Beach and stopped in and saw how beautiful this park and campground were and decided this was the place!
About Kiptopeke State Park
On Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore, explored by Capt. John Smith in 1608, Kiptopeke offers recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay. It's also a great place to explore unique migratory bird habitat along the Atlantic flyway. The park has six-bedroom lodges, RV and tent camping, a yurt (part cabin-part tent) and camping trailers. Guests also enjoy the park's boat ramp, lighted fishing pier, picnic areas, 5.1 miles of hiking and biking trails, playground, beach bathhouse and swimming beach. Seasonal interpretive and educational programs focus on natural history, birding and bay ecology.
From our visit
The bathhouse at the campground was clean and nicely maintained for park visitors. The outside showers/restrooms near the fishing pier were closed due to the off season, but there was a port-a-potty available.
Also being in the off season there were no crowds so we had the beach and pier and trails to ourselves! Keep in mind this also means more of a skeleton crew for park staff. Ranger Daniel Jordan was available and happy to answer questions, or assist at any time. In fact he did, when I locked my keys in the trunk of my car at the pier, he was awesome!
Campers enjoying a glass of wine by the campfire while listening to the birds and waves crash along the eastern shore at Kiptopeke State Park
Campsite 42 has plenty of shade and privacy
Tent camping is grand this time of year.Being here in the off-season you have your pick of the litter, as the saying goes, for campsites! Early spring the overnights and mornings are brisk, perfect for cooking bacon and eggs outside on the Coleman stove!
Virginia State Parks' campgrounds are a great place to reconnect with each other
The campground at Kiptopeke has a variety of 5 family lodges available for rent. Each has six bedrooms and can sleep up to 16.
See an overview map of online here.
Located on Virginia's Eastern Shore, this park offers recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay and the chance to explore a unique coastal habitat featuring a major flyway for migratory birds. Kiptopeke is three miles from the northern terminus of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which has a substantial each-way toll charge, on Route 13. Turn west on Route 704; the park entrance is within a half mile. The park has an area for swimming Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Learn more about Kiptopeke State Park here.
Location:35540 Kiptopeke Dr., Cape Charles, VA, 23310; Phone: 757-331-2267; Email here.Drive Time: (Bay Bridge Tunnel Traffic may extend time) Northern Virginia, four hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 45 minutes; Richmond, two hours; Roanoke, five hours.
This small park has everything we were looking for; we will come back with kayaks and bikes
My recommendation for Dude it's in the review!"):
GO! Bring the bikes, bring the dog (no pet fees in the campgrounds), and bring the camera for the Kodak moments: migratory birds and waterfowl, kids fishing, laughing, having fun on the sandy beach, campfires, and s'mores.
Kiptopeke State Park is all that and more!