Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

A short drive from the nation’s capital, Leesylvania State Park is a great place for boaters, anglers and weekend picnickers looking to escape the city. A $7 entrance fee gives visitors access to over 500 acres rife with recreational, educational and historical activities that the whole family can enjoy.

For boaters, a large boat ramp and plenty of large trailer parking are available. Motorboats are allowed with no horsepower limit. Sailing is also a popular activity in the area. Next to the boat ramp are docks and a store where boaters can stock up on ice, snacks and gas. The park is also a popular fishing destination both from boats and from the shore. A 300-foot fishing pier is located at the east end of the park, where anglers can cast out for largemouth bass and sturgeon.

Other recreational activities include various hiking trails, beaches with swimming areas and a 20-station fitness trail. For smaller boats, there is a kayak and canoe launch allowing access to the waters of the Potomac River. Canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available at the park. A large area with picnic tables, hammocks and a playground dominates the park and is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch or cook out on a nice day. There are four large picnic shelters that are available to rent. To reserve one of these, call the park office.

Leesylvania State Park was a long-time home of Native Americans and visited by famous explorer Captain John Smith during his exploratory missions of the New World. Lee’s Woods Trail sends hikers on a loop through historical sites including an old Confederate battery at Freestone Point. The area is also the ancestral home of two famous Virginia families; the Lee and Fairfax families.

Limited camping opportunities and overnight boat storage are both available at the park. 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

Great fishing. Swimming opportunities.

Cons

Lots of boat traffic.

Features

ADA accessible
Amphitheater
Campgrounds + Campsites
Historically significant
Flushing toilets
Boat ramp(s)
Bicycling
Potable water
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Volleyball
Marina
Fishing
Playground

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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