Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.
National Kids to Parks Day - May 18, 2024
Kids to Parks Day is a nationally coordinated day designed to connect kids and families with their local, state, and national parks. By discovering our public lands, kids across the country are learning about park stewardship, outdoor recreation, STEM, and history.
Virginia State Parks have special events planned to celebrate this day of outdoor play. The programs include walks and hikes, arts and crafts, learning about wildlife and the natural world, and outdoor activities like fishing, paddling, and archery. Programs vary by park so check out what each park is offering below.
Visit a Virginia State Park to join in the fun.
April 22, 2024. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days. Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.
April 26, 2024. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days. Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.
May 18, 2024. 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park The Discovery Area
Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day at Twin Lakes. This year, Twin Lakes will is offering the following free programs, which meet at the Discovery Area, previously known as "The Spot" or the concession building: 10 a.m. - Lake Explorers The edges of our lakes feature a tiny world teeming with life.
May 18, 2024. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Westmoreland State Park Discovery Center
Interested in the world of fossils?
May 18, 2024. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Holliday Lake State Park Park Office
Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide celebration connecting families with the beauty and wonder of our public lands.
May 18, 2024. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bear Creek Lake State Park Lakeside Snack Bar
Make today the day that you get your kids to a park for the healthy benefits and outdoor activities.
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park Dock 'n Shop
Ready to learn the ins and outs of kayaking?
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Machicomoco State Park Interpretive Area: Picnic Shelter 2
Come out and explore nature using tools like the park rangers use to investigate the park's wildlife in this self-guided adventure. Use your current outdoor skills and develop some new ones too as you learn to use binoculars, a magnifying glass, butterfly nets, and a compass to discover our park in a brand new way!
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park Playground between Campgrounds
Spend National Kids to Park Day at Natural Tunnel State Park as we celebrate our outdoor resources and get everyone excited about parks; there's more than just meets the eye!
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pocahontas State Park CCC Museum
Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day by discovering more about Pocahontas State Park.
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Occoneechee State Park Visitor Center
Kids to Parks Day is a nationally coordinated day designed to connect kids and families with their local, state, and national parks.
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Natural Bridge State Park Blue Ridge Trailhead Parking Lot
Get outside and learn a new game along the Thistle Ridge Disc Golf Trail. Rangers and volunteers will be on hand to teach you and your family how to play disc golf by sharing tips and tricks before you hit the course.
May 18, 2024. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Widewater State Park Aquia Creek Paddle Launch
Do you want your kids to learn how to kayak?
May 18, 2024. 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Connect your family to nature with our special programming for Kids to Parks Day.
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
High Bridge Trail State Park Camp Paradise - 1466 Camp Paradise Road, Rice, VA 23966
Enjoy the great outdoors with High Bridge Trail for a full day of programs for kids. Each program will begin in the Camp Paradise Access area.
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Kiptopeke State Park Picnic Shelter 2
Want to become a Junior Park Ranger? Join us for some fun activities, games and arts & crafts. We will have a Park Ranger dress up station, build your own bird house station, shell identification station and our self-guided Junior Ranger Booklets. Saturday May 18th from 10 am to 12 pm. Meet behind Picnic Shelter #2. .
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park RV Bathhouse
Kids love Virginia State Parks!
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
First Landing State Park Picnic Area
Kids to Parks Day at First Landing is a time for fun and exploration in your local slice of nature.
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Caledon State Park Visitor Center
Come celebrate National Kids to Parks Day at Caledon!
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sweet Run State Park main parking lot, near pollinator garden.
National Kids to Parks Day was created to encourage kids and their families to visit one of America's national, state or local parks and promote environmental stewardship and healthy outdoor activity. 10:00 am Connect with Nature on a mini adventure to explore the Nature Play Area.
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Clinch River State Park Sugar Hill Trail Head
Join a Park Ranger in bringing your kids to Clinch River State Park.
May 18, 2024. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
York River State Park Amphitheater
Put down your electronic devices and discover life outdoors! We'll begin with a kid-friendly Pick Your Paddle trip on Taskinas Creek at 10:00 AM. The popular Fossil Frenzy Hike will begin at 1:00 PM. Meet at the amphitheater for both activities. Reservations and prepayment are required for the paddling trip.
May 18, 2024. 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wilderness Road State Park Historic Martin's Station
Explore the 18th century through the eyes of a child.
May 18, 2024. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Douthat State Park Discovery Center
National Kids to Parks Day was created to encourage kids and their families to visit one of America's national, state or local parks and promote environmental stewardship and healthy outdoor activity.
May 18, 2024. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Belle Isle State Park Car Top Launch
It's National Kids to Parks Day and we are celebrating with a Butterfly Safari! Are you quick enough to catch a butterfly?
May 18, 2024. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park Discovery Center Pavilion
Join us at Smith Mountain Lake State Park for National Kids to Parks Day.
May 18, 2024. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Chippokes State Park Farm and Forestry Museum
Adventure into the outdoors and discover wildlife along the Trail with a ranger. All tiny participants will be given helpful hands-on bug finding tools for investigating nature signs. Let's try to use all of our senses to see, smell, touch, track and observe.
May 18, 2024. 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lake Anna State Park Beach/Lawn area of Visitor Center
Join us for a day of fun outdoor activities that will help kids enjoy the natural world.
May 18, 2024. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Caledon State Park Visitor Center
Come celebrate National Kids to Parks Day at Caledon!
May 18, 2024. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park Hillsman House
Were kites used during the American Civil War? How did they communicate during battles with all of the smoke and noise? Find out these answers and more while flying kites at the battlefield.
May 18, 2024. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Museum Museum Side Yard
To celebrate National Kids to Parks Day, the park is offering a Children's Prowl the Powell program.
May 18, 2024. 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park Stock Creek Recreation Area
Spend National Kids to Park Day at Natural Tunnel State Park as we celebrate our outdoor resources and get everyone excited about parks; there's more than just meets the eye!
May 18, 2024. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park Discovery Center - 116 Orphanage Dr. Max Meadows, Va. 24360
Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May.
May 18, 2024. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park Shelter #4
Move over NASCAR, NASDUCK is here!
May 18, 2024. 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Staunton River State Park Visitor Center
Kick your summer off with Kids to Parks Day at Staunton River State Park. We will be hosting several programs throughout the day that are perfect for the whole family: Feeding Frenzy (2 p.m.): Observe the beautiful animals in our Nature Center during their feeding times. From snakes to turtles to fish, you will be able to see all of these park animals devouring a meal. Wagon Ride (5 p.m.): Take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride. Enjoy the scenic views of the Staunton and Dan Rivers and witness some of the original work that the Civilian Conservation Corps did to build the park.
May 18, 2024. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park RV Bathhouse
Kids love Virginia State Parks!
May 18, 2024. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Caledon State Park Visitor Center
Come celebrate National Kids to Parks Day at Caledon!
May 18, 2024. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park Stock Creek Recreation Area
Spend National Kids to Park Day at Natural Tunnel State Park as we celebrate our outdoor resources and get everyone excited about parks; there's more than just meets the eye!
May 18, 2024. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park Campfire Pit behind Shelter 3
Join our amazing volunteer Darin Handy as he shows us all sorts of amazing critters, live!
May 18, 2024. 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Staunton River Battlefield State Park Picnic Shelter
Join a park ranger for interactive and hands on archery instruction. Have you ever wanted to try archery but have no idea where to start, then this is the program for you.
May 18, 2024. 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Machicomoco State Park Interpretive Area: Picnic Shelter 1
Come out and explore nature using tools like the park rangers use to investigate the park's wildlife in this self-guided adventure. Use your current outdoor skills and develop some new ones too as you learn to use binoculars, a magnifying glass, butterfly nets, and a compass to discover our park in a brand new way!
May 18, 2024. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days. Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.
This event has been canceled.
May 18, 2024. 10:00 p.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park RV Bathhouse
Kids love Virginia State Parks!
June 15, 2024. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days. Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.
Nov. 11, 2024. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days. Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.
Nov. 29, 2024. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park Throughout the Park
Virginia State Park license plate holders park for free on some of our national event days. Parking fees will be waived on Earth Day (4/22), Arbor Day (4/26), National Kids to Parks Day (5/18), Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day (6/15), Veterans Day (11/11), and #OptOutside Day (11/29) for individuals with a Virginia State Park license plate.
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