Christopher Run Campground Introduce
Christopher Run Campground is a cornerstone of outdoor recreation in the Central Virginia region, specifically situated on the beautiful shores of Lake Anna. Since opening its gates in 1973, this family-owned and operated destination has provided generations of Virginians and visitors with a scenic escape into nature. Nestled among tall hemlock, oak, and pine trees, the campground offers a classic "deep woods" atmosphere while providing direct access to the 13,000-acre lake. Whether you are an avid angler looking for the perfect bass fishing spot or a family seeking a quiet weekend under the stars, Christopher Run serves as a versatile hub for all types of campers.
The campground’s history is rooted in the local landscape of Louisa County. Originally started by the Bazzanella family after the lake was created to cool the North Anna Nuclear Power Station, it began as a simple boat ramp and picnic area. Today, it has grown into a sprawling facility with over 200 campsites. The property remains managed by the same family, maintaining a personal touch that many visitors appreciate. From the seasonal bustle of the summer months to the quiet beauty of the shoulder seasons, the park emphasizes a relaxed, community-focused environment that caters to both short-term vacationers and long-term seasonal residents.
Location and Accessibility are key advantages for those traveling from nearby urban centers. Christopher Run Campground is located at 6478 Zachary Taylor Hwy, Mineral, VA 23117. Its central location makes it an easy drive for local residents, sitting approximately one hour away from Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville. This proximity allows for convenient weekend getaways without the stress of a long haul. For those traveling with specific mobility needs, the facility provides a wheelchair accessible entrance, accessible parking lots, and restroom facilities to ensure all guests can enjoy the waterfront scenery.
- RV Camping: The park offers a variety of site types including full hookups (water, electric, and sewer), water and electric sites, and simple no-hookup options.
- Lodging Rentals: For those without a tent or trailer, the park provides camper cabins, deluxe cabins that sleep up to eight people, and full-service lodges.
- Propane Supplier: On-site propane filling services are available for RV users and local residents.
- Marina Services: The campground features a 50-slip wet marina and six boat ramps, making it one of the most accessible points for boaters on Lake Anna.
- Camp Store: A fully equipped store provides essential groceries, RV supplies, firewood, ice, and live bait for fishing.
- Sanitary Services: On-site amenities include clean restrooms with hot showers, a laundromat, and a sanitary dump station for RVs.
The Features and Highlights of Christopher Run Campground revolve around its prime waterfront real estate. The lake is the primary draw, offering world-class fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, and bream. For many local families, the "beach days" are a highlight of the summer, where the designated swimming area provides a safe spot for children to play in the water. The campground also hosts the annual Christopher Run Bluegrass Festival in June, an event that brings music lovers from all over Virginia to the shores of Lake Anna.
- Water Sports: Guests can enjoy power boating, skiing, jet skiing, and kayaking directly from the campground ramps.
- Equipment Rentals: Canoes, rowboats, paddleboats, and jon boats are available for rent at the marina.
- Children's Activities: A large playground and a miniature golf course offer entertainment for younger guests away from the water.
- Outdoor Sports: The facility includes a full-size basketball court, volleyball court, shuffleboard, and horseshoe pits.
- Hiking and Nature: Wooded trails surround the area, offering shaded paths for hiking and bird watching.
- Group Facilities: A large air-conditioned pavilion is available for group events, church services, and family reunions.
For those planning a visit or needing to inquire about seasonal availability, the Contact Information is straightforward. You can reach the office via their main line at (540) 894-4744. For those using mobile devices or calling from out of the area, the full number is +1 540-894-4744. The physical address for GPS navigation is 6478 Zachary Taylor Hwy, Mineral, VA 23117, USA. The campground typically operates on a seasonal schedule, opening on April 1st and closing at the end of October each year.
What is worth choosing at Christopher Run Campground depends largely on your preferred style of camping. If you value privacy and a traditional outdoor feel, the wooded sites like "A9" are highly recommended by long-time visitors for their seclusion and "fort-like" atmosphere. For RV enthusiasts, the limited number of full-hookup sites are the most coveted and should be reserved well in advance. Boaters will find the boat-in accessibility and the ability to tie up along the shore a significant convenience that isn't always found at other regional parks.
Ultimately, Christopher Run Campground remains a top choice for Lake Anna visitors because it balances modern conveniences with the rugged charm of a traditional Virginia campground. Its reputation for having a friendly, helpful staff and its status as a "one-stop shop" with a marina, store, and various lodging options make it a reliable home base for exploring the Mineral area. Whether you are there for the adrenaline of a jet ski or the quiet patience of a fishing pier, this local gem offers a authentic slice of the Virginia outdoors.
Location
Customer Reviews
We had so much fun at Lake Anna Cristopher Run Campground! This campground itself isn’t 100% perfect, but the experience and fun we had were unforgettable!The campground is very quiet and well maintained. The campsites were decently spaced apart, with ample room for outdoor cooking and such. Two things about the sites, one, they don’t have campfire rings, which isn’t too big of a deal but can be a little sketchy. Second, just wish there were more sites with sewers. There’s only a couple sites that have sewers which always leads to some inconveniences when it comes to the dump station.The people working here were nice and willing to help. Helped us choose out a good bait from their store that led to us catching 25+ fish! Check in was also easy, but make sure you fill about a waiver before hand, because it takes a while to fill out.Amenity wise, it was good. There were 3 basketball hoops, a playground, a volleyball court, a couple beaches, and of course the lake itself. There were nice showers and laundry facilities but the laundry is quite expensive.If you come here, you have to try the fishing! We caught 25+ bluegill with one 5 dollars worth of worms from their store! Try the boat release next to the beach in the middle of the campground.We had so much fun at Christopher’s Run Campground! Definitely worth a visit!
This used to be a great, quiet campground. Not anymore. First night back after a few years and we were immediately told by our neighbor that there was a domestic incident right before we arrived. Five Louisa County Sheriff's deputies showed up and arrested a man, and the woman he was with was kicked out for being too drunk. Their stuff was still on the site, which meant there was a real possibility the guy would return after posting bail. We didn’t feel safe, so we left first thing in the morning and cut our vacation short.To make things worse, the same neighbor said someone stole his Blackstone grill *that same day*. I told the office exactly why we were leaving and all I got was a half-hearted “sorry.” No offer of a refund for the night we didn’t stay.It’s a shame. This place used to be family-friendly, but now it feels more like a sketchy trailer park. Not coming back.
Just stayed 3 nights over the Juneteenth weekend. Reservation and check in were easy. We were not expecting a steep hillside campground with such close camp sites. Our site has too many trees so we were not able to put our awning out more than 3 feet. No septic at the site, and no real fire rings, just some rocks, very primitive. It was pretty busy especially as Saturday came with the weekend campers. Very lively in the morning time but the evenings were surprisingly more quiet than expected. My wife said that the bathroom was clean. We are not water and beach people but it looked good and was enjoyed by many. The park could use some maintenance but overall a good place.
Christopher run was a very nice campground the park has not been updated in 20+ years still has a metal slide the whole playground is unusable all day until the sun goes down the bathroom has not been painted in years it’s flaking and stained the showers the water you have to keep pushing the button ever 60sec the toilet seats are delaminated. The grounds are not kept up very well the sites could use a little grading during the off season to keep the ground somewhat level. No nighttime security of any kind. The beach has rocks all in it looks like it hasn’t been raked in years Just very sad it could be a great place but management won’t put money and effort into the property in years
My husband and I started coming here last year. This is now our favorite place to camp and fish. The fishing from shore is great! Caught quite a few largemouth and decent size as well. The ladies in the office are always so pleasant and ready to help in any way possible. We will see you in 4 days! We are super excited!
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