Day-use guests will be unable to travel to the cliffs overlook from mid-November to mid-April due to construction. Some waterfront picnic area parking will be closed. Fencing along the river walkway will restrict access to the shoreline. The picnic area, shelters and river walkway interior paths will remain open. Boat ramp access will be unaffected. Overnight facilities will be open, but Potomac River Retreat renters will be unable to go beyond its back deck.
GENERAL INFO: Westmoreland State Park lies within Westmoreland County, from which it takes its name. The park extends about one and a half miles along the Potomac River, and its 1,311 acres neighbor the former homes of both George Washington and Robert E. Lee. The park’s Horsehead Cliffs provide visitors with a spectacular view of the Potomac River. In addition to the scenic beauty at Westmoreland, the park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming. Visitors can enjoy the park’s vacation cabins as well. The visitor center, open during summer, gives an informative historical and ecological perspective to an important natural area on the coastal plain. Westmoreland also offers the Murphy Hall Conference Center and the Potomac River Retreat, which is an upscale overnight accommodation.
Note: Construction from July 2009 through May 2010 of a visitor center and offices will reduce access to an open field and an overlook of the Potomac River. The project will occasionally be noisy and require roadwork from Murphy Hall (including its parking lot) to the Big Meadow field and trailhead. The park plans to keep Murphy Hall and cabins 19 through 25 open, although parking may be redirected to nearby areas. Road construction will also impact access to the current visitor center, amphitheater and Big Meadows trailhead.
AT-A-GLANCE: The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: Facing the Potomac River, the park is six miles northwest of Montross and just off Route 3.
Drive Time: Northern Virginia and Washington D. C., two hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half hours; Roanoke, five and a half hours
Click here for a Google Map.
PARK MAP: Click here (PDF).
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: Cabins, camping, group camp, camping cabins, Potomac River Retreat. For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees. Rates are subject to verification by DCR's state parks reservations staff. First determine the season, which varies by park, then the rate.
Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for overnight stays.
Cabins: Weekly rentals start Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Cabins have:
Total sites of each type: One-room Log Efficiency, 3; One-bedroom Log, 4; Two-bedroom Log, 4; Two-bedroom Frame, 2; Two-bedroom Cinderblock, 13; Potomac River Retreat, 1
Site type:
One-room Log Efficiency - double bed
One-bedroom Log - two single beds
Two-bedroom Log - one double bed and two single beds
Two-bedroom Frame - one double bed and two single beds
Two-bedroom Cinderblock - one double bed and two single beds
Potomac River Retreat - only one available, sleeps 16
Total cabins: 26, 1 retreat
Potomac River Retreat - This unique abode, which faces the Potomac River, is similar to a timeshare or resort. It accommodates 16 people, adults and children included, and is located in the park on the main road near pool parking lot (separated by privacy fence). The facility has a deck fronting the Potomac, and the deck has patio tables, chaise lounges, and a charcoal grill. There are five bathrooms (one is accessible for persons with disabilities); one half bath, one shower only, and three with tub/shower.
There are five bedrooms (one is partially accessible for persons with disabilities):
All bedrooms have closets, chests, dressers and night stands.
Additional sleeping accommodations can be used in combination with the bedrooms not to exceed maximum occupancy of building: two queen sofa beds (in living room), two loveseat type chairs in master bedroom that open into twin beds, two living rooms with sofas, loveseats, occasional chairs, coffee tables, end tables, display cases, TV/VCR.
Large common area (for use as a conference room or social gathering space) faces the Potomac with many windows and sliding glass doors onto the deck; available with 20 chairs for auditorium style seating (extra fee for tables and chairs), flip-chart, audiovisual equipment, etc. There is an extra charge for audiovisual and flip-chart equipment.
Site type:
EW - Electric and water hookups, various equipment, RVs of up to 40 feet, bathhouse available. Campgrounds A, B, C.
Std - No hookups, various equipment. RVs of up to 40 feet, bathhouse available. Campgrounds A, B, C.
GrpTentStd - One group site for up to 40 people, no hookups, tents only. Bathhouse available. Campfires and cooking allowed in provided fire-rings or grills only.
Buddy - Three group campsites for up to 24 per site (one site is in Campground B, two are in Campground C). Each has four 20' x 20' tent pads, one fire-ring, a large pedestal grill and four picnic tables.
The cancellation fee for a group camping reservation (GrpTentStd and Buddy) is higher than is that for a typical campsite.
Total sites of each type: EW, 42; Std, 74; GrpTentStd, 1; Buddy, 3
Total campsites: 133
Camping cabins:
Camping cabins (CampCabin) - sites 26-31
SWIMMING: The pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A bathhouse and concessions are located in the pool area. Click here for park fees. In the summer, swimming is free for overnight guests in campsites, cabins and the lodge, however it cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require that swimming be closed. We do not give refunds for swimming to overnight guests under any circumstances. Swimming is not allowed in the Potomac River here.
TRAILS: Hiking and one bicycle trail; no bridle trails. Seven trails, including self-guided interpretive trails, cover six miles. Hikers can observe the flora and wildlife present on the coastal plain. The park’s location beside the Potomac River allows visitors to see how the changing river level affects the land. The park has a beach trail that offers a stunning view of the Potomac River. Swimming is not allowed from the park's shoreline.
FISHING, BOATING: Fishing in the saltwater of the Potomac River is available throughout the year. A valid Maryland or Virginia saltwater fishing license is required when fishing from a boat. If fishing from the pier or shore, no fishing license is required. Striped bass, spot and bluefish are among the most common sport fish found in the river. Rock Spring Pond boasts a variety of fish including catfish, bream, bass and crappie.
Power boats are permitted, and a boat ramp is available. There's also a boathouse that sells gas, ice, bait and other fishing supplies. Paddleboats can be rented Memorial Day through Labor Day (no powerboat rentals). Call 1-800-933-PARK to buy money-saving annual boat launch pass.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: Exhibits include marine, bird and other wildlife displays. A collection of sharks’ teeth is also on display. It's open on weekends from noon until 5 p.m. during May, September and October as well as Wednesdays through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: Conducted and self-guided walks, evening and children’s programs, Virginia’s State Parks: Your Backyard Classrooms participant. Kayaking, fossil hiking and night hiking programs are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
Kayak Interpretive Trips: The trip includes basic instruction, safety tips, a guided tour of the shoreline and plenty of kayaking. The park offers two types of trips: the Pirates, Privateers and Patriots trip on Fridays, mid-June through mid-August, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and the Fossils, Eagles, Herons and History trip on Sundays, Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The latter is also offered on Saturdays, May through October, 10 a.m. to noon. There's an extra fee charged for tag-alongs.
Pre-register by calling 1-800-933-PARK at least one day prior to the trip. Park guests wishing to pre-register for available slots may do so at the contact station. Participants may also transfer reservations by calling 1-800-933-PARK up to seven days prior to the date the kayak trip is scheduled. Transfers and refunds are unavailable after the transfer deadline date. A cancellation fee will be charged if you cancel your trip more than seven days prior to trip. Refunds will not be made within seven days of the trip. Refunds will be made, however, if the trip is canceled because of small craft advisories or dangerous weather. If the park cancels the kayak trip for any reason, Virginia State Parks will not waive cancellation penalty fees for any overnight cabin or camping reservation.
Children 6 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult; no pets or children under six allowed. All trips begin at the Osprey Boathouse. Paddles and jackets are provided. Capacity is 16 per trip; walk-ins may check in person at the boathouse for open slots. Click here for a list of all state park events.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Stratford Hall (birthplace of Robert E. Lee and boyhood home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence) is five minutes from the park; Washington’s Birthplace (National Monument) is 10 minutes from the park; King’s Dominion (amusement park) is one hour from the park as are the Fredericksburg Civil War Battlefields. Learn more about nearby offerings by visiting the Northern Neck Tourism Council, Westmoreland Travel and Tourism and Colonial Beach sites.
PICNIC SHELTERS: The picnic area, overlooking the Potomac River, has tables, shelters, restroom facilities and fire grills. Picnic shelters are available by reservation by calling the Reservation Center at 1-800-933-PARK or first-come, first-served. Parking and swimming fees are not included in shelter rental. One large and one small shelter may be rented from 8 a.m. to dark. Click here for park fees.
Amenities: Both shelters have a grill, picnic tables and access to a restroom.
Shelter 1: This shelter, the larger of the two, is near the pool. The shelter has a handicapped accessible ramp and is atop a hill. It accommodates 32 people under its room; there's seating for another 30 people on the deck surrounding the shelter. The picnic area as whole is not reserved, and the general public is permitted to use the other tables around the shelter.
Shelter 2: This shelter, the smaller of the two, is a distance from the parking area along Potomac. No vehicles allowed. All guests will need to walk there. (One vehicle is allowed access for only drop-off and pick-up. A pass from the contact station is required for access.) The shelter accommodates 32 people under the shelter. The picnic area as whole is not reserved, and the general public is permitted to use the other tables around the shelter.
Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.
Helen and Tayloe Murphy Hall. To reserve this day-use facility, call the Reservation Center at (800) 933-7275 up to 11 months in advance. Murphy Hall has a large meeting room, an executive meeting room, a kitchen and grounds. The rental period is from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The executive meeting room may be rented separately from main meeting room only within 30 days of event by calling the park at (804) 493-8821. Tent rental is also handled separately by park.
Cancellation Policy: Reservations must be paid in full within 14 days of the date the reservation is made. There’s a fee for cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the reservation arrival date. For cancellations made within 30 days of the arrival day, a fee of 30 percent of total charges – which vary according to the number of days and equipment rentals – will be charged. Note: A $75 per hour fee is charged by staff when necessary for use beyond the reservation period.
Rent and the cancellation fee for Murphy Hall vary by rental period. One-day rent is $500, and the 30 percent cancellation fee is $150. Each additional day's rent is $350, and the cancellation fee is $105 per day.
CONCESSIONS: Snack bar, camp store and Osprey Boat House in-season (at park office in off-season)
LAUNDRY: Facilities in Campground A.
HISTORY: Westmoreland State Park is one of the six original state parks opened in June 1936. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The project created numerous jobs during a period of great hardship. Most of the roads and trails found in the park were originally dug by hand. Located on the Northern Neck Peninsula, the park is just minutes away from George Washington’s birthplace and Stratford Hall, the birthplace Robert E. Lee.
