Lake Anna State Park

Great experience x2! I stopped at lake Anna spot #32 twice within a week. I stopped there headed north, and when I headed back south. I made a reservation, in traffic, for the wrong day. I called and the clerk changed it with no issues. Lake Anna is a man made lake, and had a railroad to accommodate the train cars shipping out gold! You cannot pan for gold though without a "Special use permit" so I didn't end up doing that. I did however park my camper, hook up to power and water, then I dumped my tanks in the large clean area designated. There is also fresh water at the dump site. Staff is friendly, informed on the history of the area, and very prompt with site turn over. I look forward to exploring on day when I'm not just passing through.
There is a handicapped accessible yurt, and cute cabins available, and by cute, I mean they seem tiny! I haven't seen the inside, so I can't be sure what's in them, but maybe a bed and a fridge? I can't imagine much more.
Cool park though, no discounts, no military, nothing, but it was a convenient place to stop.

Lake Anna is truly one of the best weekend getaways. Its tranquil atmosphere makes it a delightful destination for quality time with friends and family. The proximity to Washington DC adds to its allure, providing a convenient escape. Highly recommended for those seeking a calm and enjoyable retreat.

Had a great time with friends and their families, it was full by the time I got there but people left kinda early so got better after.
The kids had a blast, it’s dog friendly. Weather was great and the park is kept well maintained, the bathrooms were a mess but I guess that’s expected in a place with a lot of people going and not time to clean it.
Overall it was a great weekend.

Our weekend at Lake Anna State Park was fabulous. The fall colors were absolutely beautiful. We hiked about 10 miles total over two days and enjoyed staying at the campground.

We went on the gold mine tour and it was great! Lots of good information, super family friendly and the tour guide (Lauri I think?) Was amazing with the kids. This tour requires walking up/down a hill in the forest so not recommended for those with mobility difficulties. It was really cool panning for gold and I could see the pyrite sparkling in the water as I looked! So cool!
Be sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray!

My wife and I tent camped for 2 nights at the park. It was a lovely time to go (early April) so it was very peaceful and quiet. I bet in the summer time it's a busy campground. They had ice, wood, and some odds and ends at the camp store. Their staff is very friendly and knowledgeable of the park. The bathrooms were pretty decent compared to other VA state parks. The showers are private with locking doors and that's a big upgrade from other parks. There is many pretty trails to enjoy and our dog loved every moment around the lake and the park.
I highly recommend Lake Anna State Park for anyone looking to get away for the day or camp for several days.

Lake Anna State Park is always a great experience. I come for walking the trails with the pup, and to put the kayak in on nice days to do a little bit of fishing. Camping here in the past was just as fun, especially with access to the water in walking distance.

Nice place to spend the day. Five mile run and a picnic. It was such an enjoyable place to visit. The trails were fun and I barely tried them all. Had a picnic on the hill overlooking the beach. Looking forward to returning soon.

Gorgeous lake with lots of trails! Fun play area for the kiddos. Easy to get to restrooms. The visitors center was closed but it looked big and nice. Staff were amazing! Definitely recommend stopping by.

Top notch campground hidden deep into VA woods. Suitable for any size camper or RV. Remote, dark, quiet, large gravel sites well spaced out. Very well maintained and paved roadway. Some with 50A and water. Clean restrooms and laundry.

Loved Lake Anna! Very tranquil, water looks pretty clear for a lake! Lots of fun things to do on the water.

Took a Boat Ride on the Lake and docked the boat and ate at Vito's...such a Beautiful Lake

The enormous parking lots speak to the popularity of this spot in the summer. We came in early spring and enjoyed having the place to ourselves. Lots of birds to be seen and we even came across a deer running through the woods. The beach area looks like fun for swimming. We stopped at the Weirs Cove area. Hard to find the trail heads, but the one we found meandered right along the lake shore. Several picnic tables and a shelter at this spot make it a really cute area for a picnic.

Super pleased with this state park
The water is beautiful and I can't wait to come back to kayak/sup. Tails are clean and easy. Railroad trail has great water views and was great for dogs. Lots or parking near by.

Lake Anna park is the perfect weekend destination for families with children of all ages. It has an awesome public beach, warm waters for swimming, very good boat ramp, and great attractions for adults and families like the Sandbar, the Islands, and many other aquatic attractions!

One of my favorite Virginia State Parks. The lake is beautiful. The campground is quiet with large sites. Several nice hiking trails.

One of the nicest state parks in Virginia. It is really nice at dusk. It has a beautiful beach and really awesome views. Kids really enjoyed playing here. While the trails are mostly kids friendly, some of them do not accommodate a stroller. If the snack bar is opened, you can find all kind of drinks and small bites. Highly recommended.

This place is beautiful. You can go and spend a day and even more. Picnic areas, boating in a lake, fishing, well maintained beach area with life guards, camping. The place is lovely. There are restrooms a tuc shop and a huge kids play area. There are some mre activities depending on the schedule like kids can see turtles while getting fed and few more.

Beautiful. We have gone there several times; however, this time we were sadly disappointed in the cabin! There were numerous NUMEROUS maintenance issues that needed to be handled!! Window screens missing, exterior lights not working, refrigerator needing a water filter change, outside gutters filled to the brim with vegetation growing out out them. There is just too much to mention. We were saddened by this Christmas experience!

This is a review for the Lodge Accommodations:

We stayed at the wonderful Pigeon Run Lodge over the weekend and it was perfect for a weekend getaway for you and your 15 closest friends! I took lots of pictures of the space because I couldn't find any when we were looking in to booking it.

The whole building has a central HVAC which kept the space comfortable for the entire stay. Somewhat odd was that some of the bedrooms were warmer than others, so if people in your party have specific temperature preferences they may need to trade around if they don't like it too hot or too cold.

There are 6 bedrooms in total. 2 with a queen bed each, 2 with a pair of singles each, and 2 bunk pair rooms: sleeps 4 in each room.

The couches are also very comfortable for a mid-afternoon nap, or to get away from a snoring roommate. :)

There are 3 bathrooms, one of which has a walk-in shower and is accessible to people with disabilities. There is a fully equipped kitchen with an electric range, and a washer dryer, really great if you are planning an extended stay.

We made use of the gas fireplace and the outdoor fire ring and both were wonderful on a crispy fall evening. The fireplace has a 60 minute auto shut off so you don't forget to turn it off before bed and burn the place down.

All and all I give this a 10/10 would definitely recommend this for a large family outing or Friendsgiving!

Notes:
-There ARE liquid soap dispensers in all of the bathrooms
-You need to provide your own coffee filters for the coffee maker they are BASKET filters not cone
-There is NO TV at all in the entire place
-There ARE plenty of electrical outlets to plug in your devices.
-There IS Toilet paper in all of the bathrooms (and a backup roll too).
-You need to bring your own bedlinens, blankets, and towels
-Kitchen is fully stocked with enough plates, bowls, cups and utensils for 16 people.
-if you plan on using this make sure to bring either a dish soap and a sponge and/or dishwasher liquid/tablets because you are required to clean up after yourself.

I took lots of pictures of the place, but you really should see it for yourself!