Lake Anna State Park

General Information

The park has a beach on one of Virginia's most popular lakes, a fishing pond accessible to children and the disabled, a bathhouse-concessions complex and a boat launch. Overnight stays are made possible by camping, six camping cabins, four yurts, two six-bedroom lodges and 10 two-bedroom cabins. Seven cabins and the lodges have views of the lake. With more than 15 miles of trails, the park offers many hiking, biking and horseback riding options. Visitor center exhibits trace the history of the area's gold mining and highlight the park's natural features. Nature and gold panning programs are popular, and the park offers guided tours of the Goodwin Gold Mine.

Note: Day-use parking areas near the beach and picnic areas fill up rapidly when the summer weather is nice on weekends and holidays. When this happens, park staff close the park road to additional traffic until enough parking spots have been vacated. Park closure may remain in effect until 4 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Anglers may access the park's boat ramp as early as 5:30 a.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays in the summer. After Labor Day, the gate opens at 5:00 a.m. for fishermen and waterfowl hunters. Lights have been added to help with early and late boat ramp activity. An automatic gate allows campers to exit the boat ramp area and return to the campground after hours.

Hours

Dawn - dusk.

Location

The park lies adjacent to Route 601 off Route 208, 25 miles southwest of Fredericksburg and 60 miles northwest of Richmond.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, one hour; Richmond, one hour; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, three hours; Roanoke, four hours

Directions:

From I-95, take Exit 118 at Thornburg and travel west about four miles on Rt. 606. At Snell, continue through the traffic light on Rt. 208. Stay on Rt. 208 west for 2 miles. At the stoplight, continue straight for a short distance to another stoplight. At this light, turn left onto Courthouse Rd (Rt 208 west). Continue on Rt. 208 through the stoplight at Spotsylvania High School. In 8 miles, turn right onto Rt. 601 Lawyers Road and drive 3 miles. You’ll see the state park sign on your left.

Going east on I-64, take Exit 143 at Ferncliff and stay on Rt. 208 east for six miles. Go through Louisa and continue five more miles on 208 east to Mineral. Turn left at the traffic light, crossing railroad tracks. Take an immediate left onto Rt. 522 north and stay on the road for six miles to the intersection just before Dickinson Store. Take a right there onto Rt. (New Bridge Road) and travel eight miles. You’ll cross a bridge. When you get to Rt. 601 (Lawyers Road), turn left and go three miles. The park sign will be on your left.

From west on I-64, take Exit 159 at Gum Springs. Take Rt. 522 north for 11 miles until you reach the village of Cuckoo. Stay on Rt. 522 until you reach Mineral. Turn right at the traffic light, crossing railroad tracks. Take an immediate left onto Rt. 522 north and stay on the road for six miles to the intersection just before Dickinson Store. Take a right there onto Rt. (New Bridge Road) and travel eight miles. You’ll cross a bridge. When you get to Rt. 601 (Lawyers Road), turn left and go three miles. The park sign will be on your left.

Traveling south on Rt. 522, it’s best to go past the state park sign at the Rt. 612 intersection and, instead, stay on Rt. 522 for eight miles. At that point, you’ll see Dickinson Store. Turn left onto Rt. 208 east. Stay on that road for eight miles. You’ll cross a bridge. When you get to Rt. 601 (Lawyers Road), turn left and go three miles. The park sign will be on your left.

Park Size

3,127 acres with 10 miles of lake frontage. Lake size: 13,000 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

For information on the 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.

Visit a Flickr photoset of typical cabins and lodges at the park. Cabins and lodges vary. Dwellings may not match what's shown in the photos.

Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for cabin stays.

Boat launching is free for overnight guests. During prime season, a day of guarded beach swimming per night's stay is free to overnight guests. (Parks will not refund rental fees should guarded swimming be unavailable.) Read more about swimming in the park's Recreation section.

Cabins | Lodges | Yurts | Camping Cabin | Bunkhouse | Camping

Cabins

• Check-in is at 4 p.m.; check-out is at 10 a.m. Pick up the access code at the park office. Late arrivals should call the park ahead of time during office hours, Monday through Friday, to get the access code.
• Cabins 1, 2 and 3 have no view of the lake.
• Kitchen: Refrigerator, stove, coffeemaker, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster, can opener, clock radio.
• Bring food, dish detergent, dish towels, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, body wash/soap, bath towels, board games or cards.
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels.
• No dishwasher, phone, TV, washer or dryer, but there is a coin laundry in the campground's south loop bathhouse from March 1 through November.
• Rustic furniture.
• Fireplace.
• Living area: Fold-out sofa (queen), dining table, chairs.
• Bedrooms: Bed(s), nightstands, dresser, closet with hangers, clock radio.
• Heat -pumps (heating and AC).
• All cabins are two-bedroom and meant to sleep four, but six are allowed. In the latter case, the fold-out queen-size sofa bed is used for the two extra people. No bed rentals. Each cabin has a queen-size bed in one bedroom, two singles in the other, plus the fold-out sofa bed. With six occupants, the cabin is a tight fit.
• Picnic table and a charcoal pedestal grill in the yard beside the cabin.
• Wrap-around deck; open porch with rocking chairs and end tables.
• The park provides one bundle of complimentary firewood. Extra firewood is available for a nominal fee. No open fires are permitted outside the cabins.
• Cabin 10 is universally accessible.
• Two vehicles are allowed per cabin. A daily parking fee is charged for all other vehicles.
• Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. through 8 a.m. Only overnight guests are allowed in the park after 10 p.m.
• Docks near the cabin are available for use by cabin guests only. One boat slip is available for each cabin. You must park the boat trailer in designated overflow areas around the cabin loop road.

Site type: Two-bedroom frame, 3; two-bedroom frame waterview, 7. All cabins have two bedrooms and wood-frame construction (cedar siding), metal roof, drywall and wood laminate flooring. Ceramic tile flooring in the bathrooms. Units have shower-bath. Each sleeps six, no bed rentals; a queen-size bed in one bedroom, two singles in the other bedroom. Also a queen pull-out sofa in the living room.

Lodges

Lake Anna has two 6-bedroom lodges. When a week-long stay is required, the week for lodge 11, a.k.a. Pigeon Lodge, starts on Saturday; for lodge 12, a.k.a. Finch Lodge, it starts on Sunday.

Each lodge has:

• Kitchen: Refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, coffeemaker, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster, electric can opener, clock radio
• Bring food, dish detergent, dishcloths, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, soap, bath towels, etc.
• No smoking
• No phone (cellular service may be limited)
• Rustic furniture
• Front and back decks with rocking chairs
• Maximum occupancy: 16; no bed rentals
• Maximum six cars, including trailers, per lodge. The maximum number of vehicles allowed to park at the lodge proper varies. A daily parking fee is charged for additional vehicles All vehicles must be parked in designated areas, at the lodge or in the overflow parking area.
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels.  You may wish to bring your own pillow as well as a comforter for chilly nights.
• Two bedrooms have queen-sized beds, two have two single beds and two have two sets of bunk beds
• Three bathrooms
• Next to the lodge are a picnic table, a charcoal pedestal grill and a campfire ring
• The boat launch is free to overnight guest. (There are no designated swimming areas.)
• Universally accessible: kitchen, dining area, living room, two bedrooms and one bathroom
• Climate-controlled
• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and towels.
• Gas logs
• Washer and dryer
• Pets are allowed. There's an extra fee per night per pet plus tax.

Yurts

Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, it's a cross between a tent and a cabin. Lake Anna has four yurts in the back section of the campground and tucked neatly into a wooded area for privacy and extra shade. Each yurt has a large wooden deck and includes a ground-level picnic pad with a picnic table, fire-ring and separate cooking grill. Reservations are required. Parking for two cars per yurt is available at each yurt as well as additional overflow parking at the start of the "yurt village," where those with more than two vehicles may park. These vehicles, however, must pay a daily parking fee as only two vehicles are included in the cost of the rental. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. The rental season begins on the first Friday in March and ends on the first Sunday in December. Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply. There is a two-night minimum rental during the rest of the camping season.

• Maximum occupancy 4. Sleeps 3 - One queen-sized and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens.
• No smoking, cooking or pets are allowed in the yurts.
• Yurts have no electricity or water.
• Dining table seats 3.
• No heat or air-conditioning.
• Guests use campground bathhouse, about 500 feet away.
• Yurt 1 is ADA-accessible, has a level gravel parking lot and is about 70 feet from the bathhouse.

Camping Cabin

Camp Cabins - six sites (Camp Cabins 01-06)

• Check-in is at 4 p.m.; check-out is at 10 a.m.
• Linens not provided
• Four people maximum; no extra bed rentals
• Two-night minimum
• Week-long stay not required during prime season
• No bathroom, kitchen, fireplace, air conditioning or heat
• Four walls, a roof, two sets of bunk-beds with mattresses, a table, four chairs, porch with two rocking chairs, no bathroom, screened windows, four electrical outlets, one lighted ceiling fan, an outside picnic table, a fire ring and a lantern post
• No tents, campers or other camping equipment allowed at sites
• Use campground bathhouses for bathroom and showers
• Two-car parking area
• Camp Cabin 5 is universally accessible
• Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. through 8 a.m.

Bunkhouse

One bunkhouse - No weekly requirement.

The park rents a camping lodge (bunkhouse) that's next to the bathhouse in the north camping loop. The bunkhouse is not a full-service lodge. The north loop's bathhouse includes the only restroom facilities for your stay. It's a two-room trailer with seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a coffee pot, and a window heat and air unit. The bunkhouse also has a charcoal grill and deck outside. Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside the lodge. Five vehicles are permitted with the rental of the lodge; the daily parking fee must be paid for additional vehicles.

This facility becomes available in March each year. Unlike most overnight facilities, it is not sold 11 months in advance. Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. Late arrivals should call the park beforehand for directions and the lodge's key pick-up arrangement. Transfer deadline, cancellation, and pet fees are the same as those for cabins.

• No linens are provided. Guests must bring their own linens and pillows.
• Maximum occupancy is 14. Guests are responsible for any damage.
• The minimum stay is two nights.
• It has no bathroom, kitchen or fireplace.
• A fee is charged per pet per night.
• There is no cable hookup.
• Electrical outlets are available but limited to 20-amp service.
• No extra bed rentals are available.

State law permits alcohol use only in private areas (inside a cabin or camping unit) or in areas designated on permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The camping lodge is next to the park's north camp loop bathhouse, which may be rented by calling the Customer Service Center, (800) 933-PARK (7275). 

Camping

Camping is available from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December.

The campground offers sites with and without water and electric hookups, centrally located restrooms with hot showers, fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders. Half the sites may be specifically reserved; the rest are assigned upon arrival. A table showing site-specific sites can be found here. Click here for pictures of the sites.

• Campground check-in is at 4 p.m.; check-out is at 1 p.m.
• Accepts outlets for 20, 30 and 50-amp current.
• Firewood is for sale at the park office. Do not bring firewood.
• Two vehicles, in addition to camping unit, are allowed at each campsite. Extra vehicles must park in parking lot and pay a parking fee.
• Each campsite has a steel fire-ring that can be used for cooking and campfires.
• Visitors to overnight guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. and are required to pay the daily parking fee.
• Quiet time is from 10 p.m. through 8 a.m.

Total sites of each type: STD, 23; E/W, 23

Site type:

STD - No hookups, various equipment (tents, popups. RVs) up to 60 feet; bathhouse with hot showers. Tents must fit on 20’ x 25' tent pad.

E/W - Electric and water hookups for various equipment (tents, popups, RVs) up to 60 feet; bathhouse with hot showers. Tents must fit on a 20’ x 25' tent pad.

Recreation

TRAILS

The park has 11 trails totaling more than 15 miles. All are for hiking with 12 miles designated as shared, multiple-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. All trails also allow travel in both directions. They pass over moderate terrain through mixed hardwood and pine forest. All trails except Big Woods, Pigeon Run and Gold Hill trails are rated "easy," those three are rated more difficult. Download a Old Pond Trail guide published by Friends of Lake Anna State Park. Click here to download a guide for the Railroad Ford self-guided trail.

SWIMMING

Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee. A snack bar and bathhouse also are available. 2019 hours are:

• All weekends and holidays: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Weekdays May 27 - Aug. 9 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• The snack bar is open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Aug. 11 - Labor Day hours will be determined based on renovations to the snack bar and bathhouse.

Weather and other issues may at times force suspension of guarded swimming. When guarded swimming is unavailable, guests may swim at the beach’s designated area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is not advised. Sun shelters are allowed on the grassy areas around the beach but not on the beach sand. Beach umbrellas are recommended for use there. Also, camping tents are not allowed in any day-use area.

Annual parking passes are available through the Customer Service Center or park. Discount swim coupons and annual swimming passes are available at the park only.

Day-use parking areas near the beach and picnic areas fill up rapidly on summer holidays. At such times, the park closes the park road to additional traffic until enough parking spots have been vacated. Park closure may remain in effect until 4 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.

FISHING, BOATING

Fishing: Lake Anna is well-known for its largemouth bass, crappie, bream. A variety of other freshwater fish can also be found. A valid Virginia fishing license is required. A 2-acre fishing pond designed for children and disabled persons only is located near the visitor center. Also, a public boat launching ramp is available, along with many areas for bank fishing. Call 1-800-933-PARK to purchase an annual boat launch passport. Click here for park fees.

HORSES

None, but there are bridle trails. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Click here for its general facilities guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Nearby Attractions

Visit Lakeanna.guide for local businesses in the Lake Anna area that offer private campsites, lodging, restaurants, boat rentals, etc.

Picnic Shelters

The picnicking area has grills and restroom facilities. One shelter is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is reserved by calling the Customer Service Center at (800) 933-PARK. Parking fees are not included in the shelter rental. See above for details.

Lake Anna State Park picnic shelter

One shelter (formerly shelter 3) in the Warecove Picnic Area (formerly Picnic Area B) is available for rent. It can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day). Note: this is the picnic area not adjacent to the beach or boat launch. Click here for park fees. The Warecove Picnic Shelter is available year-round. However, because of large crowds and limited parking, the park does not rent the shelter on holidays or weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The shelters are available then at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are expected to be courteous and share space when possible. This is done because, in the past, guests with shelter reservations often could not be admitted into the park on busy holiday weekends; the parking lot was full. Although the shelter is free when no one has rented it, guests should understand that there’s a chance all or part of their party may be turned away if the parking lot is full. The parking capacity at Warecove Picnic area is 50 cars total.

Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before the reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

Amenities: Visitors should contact the park to coordinate payment of park admissions and/or beach admissions for their overall group. The use of a caterer to prepare the meal requires a special use permit. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. The swimming beach is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on holidays. See the particular swimming dates above for more detail.

Warecove: The shelter is a 25' x 35' wooden frame structure with a cement floor. There are four large picnic tables equivalent to eight regular-sized tables and two pedestal grills (charcoal). Two tables are wheelchair accessible, and there is a cement walkway leading to the shelter. The shelter can seat 50 people at one time; a group of more than 50 but fewer than 75 can use the site; however, people will need to bring lawn chairs. Bringing additional tables and grills is discouraged. Parking space is limited. Groups with more than 25 vehicles are not recommended during the summer season, Memorial Day-Labor Day. The shelter is within Picnic Area B with restrooms and a small playground approximately 50 yards away. No electric outlets or water hydrants. The shelter is not within walking distance of the swimming beach. Reaching the beach is best accomplished by having group members carpool about ½ mile. Boats can be launched at the park boat ramp, driven a short distance to this area, and anchored around the shoreline near the shelter. The shelter has a good view of the lake.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

None at this park.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

Open Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. The visitor center has wildlife and historical exhibits as well as varying interpretive displays on gold mining. Be sure to visit the Gold Mine Gift Shop for a Lake Anna souvenir. All proceeds from the sale of souvenirs are used to operate and maintain Virginia State Parks.

RESTAURANT

Nearby you'll find: 208 Variety Store, 6274 Courthouse Road; Chelsea Jo's, 5152 Courthouse Road; Tavern on the Rail, 81 Tavern Rd.; Anna Cabana's, 4227 Boggs Drive; and Lakeview Restaurant on Rt. 719. This park has a snack bar in season.

LAUNDRY

Coin-operated laundry in south loop campground bathhouse.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

This park has a facility for groups interested in teaching individuals about the world around them. To enhance the experience, canoe tours are available at certain times of the year. A stream, pond, lake and forest surround the center and the outdoor classroom. These facilities are great places to reserve for group programs. Educational groups may use Lake Anna’s Let’s Explore and Research Nature environmental education lesson plans, DCR’s Your Backyard Classrooms lessons, and park materials, equipment and grounds free of charge. Park staff can help plan the trip, but group leaders must conduct the programs and supervise the group. Training is available for teachers and volunteers. Contact the park for information about the training or to schedule a group activity.

SPECIAL FEATURES

None at this park.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY:

• Cabin 10
• Camping Cabin 6
• Office
• Visitor center
• Snack bar deck
• Restrooms
• Bathhouse
• Playgrounds
• Picnic shelter 3
• Fishing pond
• Rail/sidewalk to the beach
• Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Programs are held Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on various weekends the rest of the year. Programs include canoe tours, panning for gold, gold mine tours, children in nature, geo-caching and more. Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

CONCESSIONS

The park's snack bar, which is near the swimming beach, offers hot dogs, chicken tenders, French fries, ice cream, soft drinks, etc. It's open Memorial Day through Labor Day. And don't miss the Gold Mine Gift Shop, located in the visitor center, open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., open Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There's a small gift shop in the park office.

HISTORY

The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as "Gold Hill" and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829 with mining reaching its peak in the 1880s. In 1971, Lake Anna was created to serve as a water coolant for Virginia Power's nuclear plant. In 1972, work began on the acquisition and development of a water-oriented state park. Lake Anna State Park opened in 1983.

FRIENDS GROUP

Friends of Lake Anna State Park Inc., a nonprofit citizen group, helps support the park. The group's mission is to help conserve the park's natural, cultural, scenic and recreational resources. The group also helps provide various recreational and educational opportunities, and promotes environmental stewardship on one of Virginia's largest lakes. To join up or learn more about the friends group, please visit its website.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.