Powhatan State Park is located in the northwest corner of Powhatan County on the historic James River. The park has three car-top boat slides accessing the river as well as diverse wildlife habitat, from open fields to upland hardwood forests. Other amenities include a full-service campground, a primitive canoe-in/hike-in campground, a group campground, multi-use trails, wildlife observation areas, picnic shelters and a playground.

Powhatan State Park was the vision of many in the Powhatan County community and several members of the general assembly. In 2003, 1,565 acres were transferred from the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the development of a park. It is meant to fill a need in central Virginia for a state park with access to the James River and with day-use and overnight facilities.

Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, they're a cross between a tent and a cabin. The park has three yurts in the main campground. Each yurt has a large wooden deck with patio tables, a picnic table and a fire-ring with cooking grate. Reservations are required. Parking for two vehicles is allowed.

River Bend Campground has 29 campsites with electric 20/30/50 amp and water hookups for various equipment tents, popups and RVs up to 60 feet long. The campground offers no river views. All sites are available for site-specific reservations. The campground is open from the first Friday in March to the first Monday in December. The campground has a bathhouse with restrooms with hot showers. Sites have fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders.

Primitive - A canoe-in or hike-in campground, accessible by the James River, has nine primitive sites no electricity or water and is open year-round. Those sites can be reserved by calling 800-933-7275. Some are held for walk-in or canoe-in only park staff cannot guarantee the availability of those sites prior to your arrival. Up to six guests and two camping units are allowed per site. Sites have one 12 x 12 pad with a picnic table and grill and one 16 X 16 pad with a lantern hanger. The campground has a composting toilet but no bathhouse. There's also a parking lot .2 miles away campers may hike with gear to the campground.

Group Camp - The park has a four-campsite campground for tents only. It's for clubs, scout troops and large family events and accommodates up to 24 campers total. There's a restroom without running water, but there are two water spigots in the area. The River Bend Campground bathhouse is about .5 miles away. Call the park at 804-598-7148 before making a reservation to ensure that this campground is suitable.