Address: 18019 Country Store Drive, Culpeper, VA
If you’re looking for an inexpensive place to kayak or canoe, Lake Culpeper (also known as Lake Pelham) is your spot. Watercraft hourly rates start at $5.00 per hour. Daily rates are only $20.00 per day.
Park Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Rental hours of Operation (May – October, weather permitting)
Monday – Saturday – 7:00 am – 7:00 pm (last rental is at 5:30 pm–per sign we saw during our 7/2023 visit)
Sunday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (last rental is at 5:30 pm –per sign we saw during our 7/2023 visit)
- Watercraft (excluding paddle boats) Hourly Rate – $5.00 per hour (calculated in 30 minute increments after the first hour)
- Watercraft (excluding paddle boats) Daily Rate – $20.00 per day
- Paddle Boats Hourly Rate – $10.00 per hour (calculated in 30 minute increments after the first hour)
Lake Culpeper is only a 40-minute drive from Fredericksburg. It’s located in Culpeper and is adjacent to the Ole Country Store and Bakery.
Parking for Lake Culpeper Adventures is behind the Ole Country Store and Bakery. If that parking is full, you can park in the gravel parking lot adjacent to the store.
To rent a watercraft, you’ll need your driver’s license or picture ID and the rental agreement. They usually have copies available or you can print yourself. (Here’s a link for the rental agreement.) The rental facility also has life jackets that you can borrow for free.
The rentals are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. No reservations needed. On a busy day you may have to wait awhile. We have never had to wait.
You will leave your driver’s license with the attendant and pay when you are finished on the water.
After turning in your rental agreement and driver’s license, head to the shed. Find a life jacket that fits, grab a paddle, and head to the water. Most kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats are at the water’s edge. You’ll find the paddle boards in the shed.
For more information see — Lake Culpeper Adventures. You can also see our most recent review HERE.
More Area Finds
Make sure to grab lunch or ice cream at the Ole Country Store and Bakery: The Ole Country Store & Bakery | Country Market | Culpeper VA.
The Ole Country Store boasts made-to-order sandwiches and has the largest ice cream scoops for the best prices. Their small cones are only $2.49. Their ice cream comes from Krieder Farms in the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania. If you’ve been to the Battlefield Country Store in Spotsylvania, it’s almost a carbon copy of this store.
If you want to order a sandwich, head to the back of the store. Fill out a made-to-order sandwich form and leave on the counter. Your name will be called when the sandwich is ready. They also have weekly lunch specials.
You may want to make a day of it and stop at Yoder’s Country Market. Yoder’s has a small play area and petting farm. My kids love feeding the animals. You can buy feed inside the store. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Lake Pelham.
Yoder’s Address: 2105 S Seminole Trl, Madison, VA 22727
Yoders Country Market, Inc. in Madison, VA, specialty grocery, baked goods, country store
If your kids need to run off some steam, then a stop at Rockwater Park may be the answer. It’s only a 5-minute drive from Lake Culpeper. This park has a splash pad, extreme obstacle course, fun playground, disc golf course, and climbing boulder.
Rockwater Park Address: 421 Madison Road
Culpeper, Virginia 22701
Check out one of our reviews of Rockwater Park.
Culpeper Tourism | Rockwater Park (visitculpeperva.com)
More Fun in Culpeper, Virginia
If you like indoor rock climbing, State Climb is your spot. It’s located in downtown Culpeper. There isn’t much parking, so you may have to find street parking. State Climb is a pay-what-you-like spot. They also provide all the climbing equipment (including shoes) for FREE.
Just down the road from Charming Hill Farm is Old Town Brewery. There’s always something fun going on there, and they have a great playground for kids. Check their schedule as they are usually only open Thursday-Sunday.
Additional Eating Spots in Culpeper
You won’t have problems finding great places to eat at in Culpeper. Here are a few of the spots we’ve been to:
At Uncle Elder’s BBQ Restaurant, kids eat for FREE on Tuesdays. Check out our review HERE.
You’ll find fun cookie creations at Bailey’s Cookie Bar. Find our review HERE.
If you love Thai food, then head to Pinto Thai. The best part is watching the robot deliver the food. Find our review HERE.
If you’re looking for farm fresh food, head to Moving Meadows Farm.
Seasonal Fun in Culpeper
Visit Culpeper in February for their Mardi Gras Celebration.
In July, Culpeper has a Wonderful Wizard Weekend to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday which is on July 31.
In December, you’ll find a walk-thru nativity at the Ole Country Store.