Camping in Virginia: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Virginia's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from April to June and from September to November, with average highs of 60 to 85 F and lows of 40 to 65 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from November to March, most often in January, when they average 18.4 a month. State park sites are booked through Virginia State Parks reservations, up to eleven months ahead.
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The best months for camping in Virginia
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Virginia is mild April to June and September to November. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan49° / 31°Freezing nights
- Feb52° / 32°Freezing nights
- Mar60° / 39°Freezing nights
- Apr70° / 47°Mild
- May77° / 57°Mild
- Jun85° / 65°Mild
- Jul89° / 70°Hot
- Aug87° / 69°Hot
- Sep81° / 62°Mild
- Oct71° / 51°Mild
- Nov60° / 40°Freezing nights
- Dec52° / 34°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Norfolkelevation 30 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51 F | 34 F | 14.2 |
| February | 53 F | 35 F | 10.2 |
| March (mild) | 60 F | 41 F | 4.2 |
| April (mild) | 70 F | 50 F | 0.1 |
| May (mild) | 77 F | 59 F | 0 |
| June (mild) | 85 F | 68 F | 0 |
| July | 89 F | 73 F | 0 |
| August | 87 F | 72 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 81 F | 67 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 72 F | 55 F | 0 |
| November (mild) | 62 F | 44 F | 2.6 |
| December | 55 F | 38 F | 9.4 |
Richmondelevation 164 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48 F | 29 F | 20.3 |
| February | 52 F | 30 F | 17.3 |
| March | 60 F | 37 F | 9.5 |
| April (mild) | 70 F | 46 F | 1 |
| May (mild) | 78 F | 56 F | 0 |
| June | 86 F | 65 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| August | 88 F | 68 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 81 F | 61 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 71 F | 49 F | 0.3 |
| November | 60 F | 39 F | 7.8 |
| December | 52 F | 32 F | 17.3 |
Roanokeelevation 1,175 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47 F | 29 F | 20.6 |
| February | 51 F | 31 F | 17.2 |
| March | 59 F | 38 F | 9.8 |
| April (mild) | 70 F | 46 F | 1.4 |
| May (mild) | 77 F | 55 F | 0 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 63 F | 0 |
| July | 88 F | 67 F | 0 |
| August | 87 F | 66 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 59 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 70 F | 48 F | 1.1 |
| November | 59 F | 38 F | 8.9 |
| December | 50 F | 32 F | 17.7 |
How to book a state park campsite in Virginia
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (Virginia State Parks) takes reservations through Virginia State Parks reservations. The longest advance booking its page states is eleven months.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations are accepted 11 months in advance and up to 2 p.m. on the day of arrival.Virginia State Parks (DCR), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
When the campgrounds are open
Primitive campgrounds are open year-round and do not offer a bathhouse.Virginia State Parks (DCR), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
Twenty-nine state parks throughout the state offer campingVirginia State Parks (DCR), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Cancellations
There's a $10 fee to cancel a camping reservation and a $30 fee to cancel a group site reservation (sites designed for seven or more people).Virginia State Parks (DCR), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (Virginia State Parks) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Virginia
Dispersed camping in one location is allowable up to 14 days in any 30-day period.George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (USFS), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Virginia
Campfires in state parks and forests
Some exceptions to the law are made for campfires at Virginia State Parks.Virginia Department of Forestry, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
Virginia's statewide burning law – which prohibits outdoor burning between midnight and 4 p.m. – is in effect from Feb. 15 through April 30.Virginia Department of Forestry, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Virginia Department of Forestry.
Virginia camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Virginia. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.