Home / Rivers / Rapidan River
88 miles

Rapidan River

Rising in Shenandoah National Park below Big Meadows, the Rapidan flows east through the Piedmont, marking Orange County's line with Culpeper and Madison counties, and is the Rappahannock's largest tributary.

N10 mi
Course of the river, simplified. Orange dots are boat ramps and launches, blue squares are bait shops. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Weather at the Rapidan River (National Weather Service) ↗

River facts

Length88 miles
SourceMill and Laurel prongs at Rapidan Camp, Shenandoah National Park
MouthRappahannock River just west of Fredericksburg, Virginia
StateVirginia

Boat ramps and launches

Orange dots on the map. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps. Public ramps and launches along the Rapidan River in Virginia, from OpenStreetMap. The list may be incomplete, so check the state wildlife agency for current access.

Closest bait shops

Blue squares on the map. Tap a name to open the shop's website, or its location in Google Maps if it has none listed. Bait and tackle shops closest to the river's ramps, from OpenStreetMap. Call ahead for hours and live bait.

Fishing regulations

Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:

Facts from Rapidan River (Wikipedia) ↗ · Boat ramps and bait shops: OpenStreetMap contributors · River course: U.S. Geological Survey

← Virginia rivers · All rivers

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map to follow the river past roads and towns. Red pins are boat ramps and launches; blue pins are bait shops. Tap a pin for directions.