Top bunk or bottom? Our bunk rooms for a Williamsburg family trip

The top-bunk argument usually gets settled in the back seat, somewhere before the turn onto Capitol Landing Road. The Rochambeau Roadside Inn is a 22-room independent boutique hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia, with custom-built bunk rooms and Family Suites. Its Bunks room sleeps up to four, with a queen mattress on the lower bunk and a full mattress on the upper bunk. This guide is for families of four or more, cousin weekends and William & Mary parents bringing siblings along. It covers who sleeps where in each room, how to compare room costs, other family stays in town, and how to plan the weekend around the room.
Key takeaways
The short version, for the person in the group doing the booking:
- The Rochambeau Roadside Inn in Williamsburg, Virginia, has 22 rooms, including custom-built bunk rooms and Family Suites built for families and small groups.
- The Bunks room has a hand-crafted bunk bed with a queen mattress below and a full mattress on top. It sleeps up to four.
- The Family Suite is 465 square feet. A bunk room and a Standard King room connect through an interior passage, and each has its own en suite bathroom.
- Parking is free, on site and outside your door. Complimentary bicycles are available for guests.
- Evenings can end at the firepit, where firewood is free. S'mores kits are sold in the lobby or can be added before arrival.
- Rochambeau is not right for every group. Dogs stay only in Classic Double rooms, and larger parties should contact the inn before booking.
| Rochambeau for families | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | 929 Capitol Landing Road, Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Total rooms | 22 |
| Bunks room | Queen lower bunk, full upper bunk, sleeps up to 4 |
| Family Suite | Bunk room plus Standard King room, 465 sq ft, two en suite bathrooms |
| General's Quarters | 470 sq ft, king bedroom plus queen fold-down sofa |
| Mattresses | Handcrafted in Norfolk, Virginia, by Paramount Sleep |
| Getting around | Free on-site parking and complimentary bicycles |
| Evenings | Firepit with free firewood; s'mores kits sold in the lobby |
| Arrival | Check-in from 4 PM |
| Heritage | Built 1952, first documented guest 1954, reopened in phases from December 2024 |
See bunk room dates - Book Now
The bunk rooms at Rochambeau in Williamsburg, Virginia
Rochambeau's bunk rooms were custom-designed as part of the restoration. They opened in February 2025 in the inn's second building, which added 11 rooms, family suites and bunk rooms among them (Our Story). Each bunk is hand-crafted and built into the room. The bottom bunk holds a queen mattress, so it is a real bed for a parent or two younger kids. The top bunk holds a full mattress.
That arrangement gives families an alternative to a standard room layout. With these rooms there is no air mattress required. You can explore our family-friendly rooms to see each layout.
Who sleeps where, room by room
The Bunks room works for up to four guests. Families who want two bathrooms, or a door between the adults and the kids, can consider the Family Suite. The table below shows the beds in each room the inn sells to families (Rooms; FAQs).
| Room | Adult bed | Bunks | Sleeps | Dogs allowed | Minimum stay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunks | Queen (lower bunk) | Full (upper bunk) | Up to 4 | No | None | Two adults and two kids, sibling or cousin sleepovers |
| Family Suite | King in the Standard King room | Queen lower, full upper in the bunk room | Bunk room sleeps 4, plus the king room | No | None | Families who want two bathrooms and separation |
| General's Quarters | King bedroom plus queen fold-down sofa | None | King bedroom plus living room with queen fold-down sofa | No | Two nights | Groups who want a separate bedroom and living room |
| Classic Double | Two full beds | None | Two full beds | Yes, $75 cleaning fee per dog, max two | None | Families traveling with the dog |
What else is in the room
From the bunks, it is a few steps to a tiled walk-in shower. The adult bed has a mattress handcrafted in Norfolk, Virginia, by Paramount Sleep. Every room also has:
- individually controlled heating and air conditioning
- a ceiling fan
- high-speed Wi-Fi
- a 32-inch smart TV
- a mini fridge
- an in-room safe
- a hair dryer
The mini fridge is useful for leftover park snacks and milk for breakfast. The General's Quarters adds a kitchenette with a microwave, a 50-inch smart TV and a private patio. You can see the hotel before your stay.
Top bunk or bottom: settling it before you arrive
Each bunk has its own advocates, and the argument goes faster with a few ground rules. One rule is not up for debate. Federal bunk-bed warnings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission say never to allow a child under 6 on the upper bunk (CPSC Bunk Beds Test Manual).
The case for the top bunk
The top bunk suits:
- Older kids who sleep through the night without a bathroom trip.
- The child who wants the fort feeling and has been planning it since Richmond.
- The cousin who claimed it first, if everyone agreed to that rule in advance.
- Kids 6 and up, per CPSC guidance. Federal standards call for guardrails on at least two sides of an upper bunk (CPSC requirements summary).
The case for the bottom bunk
The bottom bunk suits:
- Any child under 6, following CPSC guidance for upper bunks.
- Kids who usually wake up for the bathroom.
- Whoever is worn out after a full day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
- A parent sharing with a little one, because the lower bunk is a queen.
House rules for the bunk room. Follow the CPSC guidance: nobody under 6 sleeps up top. Settle the sleeping order in the car so nobody argues at 9 PM. If the car can't agree, the best marshmallow toaster at the firepit chooses first.
Bunk room, Family Suite or two rooms: how to compare the cost
For two adults and two kids, the Bunks room is the most compact option: one room, one bathroom and one nightly rate. The Family Suite gives more separation, with a king room and a bunk room joined by an interior passage and a bathroom on each side. Two separate rooms can make sense when the group needs more beds, or when someone is bringing a dog.
Nightly rates vary by date, event period and availability, so compare on the same nights:
| Setup | Beds | Bathrooms | Space to spread out | How to price it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunks room | Queen lower, full upper | 1 | One room | One room rate per night |
| Family Suite | King plus queen and full bunks | 2 | 465 sq ft across two rooms | One suite rate per night |
| Two Classic Doubles | Four full beds | 2 | Two separate 230 sq ft rooms | Two room rates per night |
Run all three for your exact dates in the booking engine and multiply by the number of nights. Taxes apply to every room you add.
When the bunk room wins
The bunk room fits:
- Two adults and two kids who spend the day out and come back mostly to sleep.
- Sibling and cousin sleepovers.
- Trips where the budget comes first.
If the plan runs from breakfast to the firepit, one well-built room may be all the group needs.
When the Family Suite wins
The Family Suite fits:
- Families who want two bathrooms.
- Parents who want the king room closed off from the kids' side.
- Teenagers who need more privacy.
- Grandparents traveling along.
- Longer stays, where the extra room gives everyone more space.
When two rooms, or a different hotel, make more sense
Rochambeau is a 22-room inn, not a resort, and it does not suit every group. Look elsewhere, or call first, if your party:
- has more people than the room's beds hold
- needs to bring a dog into a bunk room or suite
- needs accessibility features beyond those in the Accessible King Room
If several families want rooms near one another, contact us about group accommodations in Williamsburg before booking.
Compare dates for the bunk room and Family Suite - Book Now
Family hotels in Williamsburg, VA with bunk beds and room for everyone
Family lodging in Williamsburg falls into a few stay types:
- a restored roadside inn
- the hotels operated by Colonial Williamsburg
- familiar chain properties
- smaller inns and bed and breakfasts
Each suits a different trip. Check room layouts and child policies directly with any property before you book.
| Property | Stay type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The Rochambeau Roadside Inn | Independent restored roadside inn | Families who want built-in bunks and two-bathroom suites |
| Williamsburg Lodge and Williamsburg Inn | Colonial Williamsburg-operated hotels | Guests considering Colonial Williamsburg lodging |
| Hampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Historic District | Hotel | Check room layouts and occupancy directly |
| Fife and Drum Inn | Inn | Check room types, child policy and parking directly |
| Wedmore Place | Inn | Check room types and child policy directly |
| Rodeway Inn Historic Area | Hotel | Check room types and occupancy directly |
| Cedars of Williamsburg and Williamsburg White House | Bed and breakfasts | Check room types and child policies directly |
1. The Rochambeau Roadside Inn: bunk rooms and Family Suites
Rochambeau puts its custom-built bunks to work in two ways: a standalone Bunks room that sleeps up to four, and Family Suites that pair a bunk room with a Standard King room, with an en suite bathroom on each side. Every room has a Norfolk-made Paramount Sleep mattress and a tiled walk-in shower.
The car stays parked outside your door at no charge, and contactless check-in can simplify arrival. Complimentary bicycles are available for rides into town, and the firepit, with free firewood, is waiting when you get back.
The inn is independently owned by Williamsburg native Lyle Schiavone, with his sister Anna Schiavone as Creative Director. Dogs stay only in Classic Doubles.
Why it works for bunk rooms:
- Built-in, hand-crafted bunks with a queen on the lower level.
- Two en suite bathrooms in the Family Suite.
- Parking, bikes and the firepit give families an easy base for the weekend.
You can read guest reviews from families and groups.
2. Williamsburg Lodge and Williamsburg Inn
Both hotels are operated by Colonial Williamsburg, which also sells stay packages around Busch Gardens Christmas Town. For families who want to explore Colonial Williamsburg lodging options, they are a natural place to start. Check room layouts and occupancy on Colonial Williamsburg's site.
3. Hampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Historic District
Some families prefer the predictability of a brand they already know and the loyalty points that come with it. Confirm suite layouts and bed counts on Hilton's site.
4. Fife and Drum Inn
This is an independently run inn in Williamsburg. Ask the inn directly about room types, child policy and parking.
5. Wedmore Place
Wedmore Place offers a different style of stay from a family bunk room. Check its room types and child policy before building a family plan around it.
6. Rodeway Inn Historic Area
Confirm room types and occupancy on Choice's site.
7. Cedars of Williamsburg and Williamsburg White House B&Bs
Bed and breakfasts can work well for a split stay. Each B&B sets its own child policy, so check before you plan around it.
Base camp for a Williamsburg family trip
From 929 Capitol Landing Road, families can bike into Colonial Williamsburg and drive to the theme parks, with the car parked free outside the room in between.
| Destination | How families usually go | Season note |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial Williamsburg | Inn bicycles or car | Year-round, with seasonal schedules |
| William & Mary | Car or bike | Busiest on move-in, Family Weekend and commencement |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Car | Seasonal events, including Christmas Town |
| Water Country USA | Car | Seasonal, typically late spring through September |
| Jamestown and Yorktown | Car | Year-round |
For this week's ideas, see things to do in Williamsburg this weekend.
Colonial Williamsburg by bike
The complimentary guest bicycles give families an alternative to driving into the Historic Area. Ask at the lobby about bicycle availability and sizes before promising every kid a bike.
The Historic Area takes longer than most families expect, and you won't see it properly in one afternoon. Plan to visit more than once.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA
The parks are car days, which is where free parking at your door helps. Load the cooler the night before, head out in the morning, and come back without a long walk from a garage.
Water Country USA runs seasonally, typically from late spring through September. Check the official Water Country USA site for next season's dates. For holiday visits, check Busch Gardens' Christmas Town page for the current calendar.
Jamestown, Yorktown and the Capital Trail
The inn's name connects to Yorktown. In August 1781, Rochambeau's French forces joined Washington on the march there (National Park Service), so Yorktown makes a good morning for kids who like to know why the motel has a French general's name.
Near Jamestown, the paved Greensprings stretch of the Virginia Capital Trail runs a few miles. There is parking and restrooms at Jamestown Settlement, and the roughly two-mile Powhatan Creek Trail is close by. To plan a ride, explore Williamsburg by bike with the family.
After the park: firepit, free firewood and s'mores
After the park, the kids change into dry clothes, kick off their shoes and head straight to the firepit. Firewood is free. S'mores kits are sold in the lobby, or you can add them before arrival so they are ready when you get back. The full list is under what's included with every stay.
Bunk rooms for William & Mary weekends and fixed-date events
Campus and holiday weekends can be busy, and families arriving with younger siblings may need more than a standard king. Check family-room availability before you build the rest of the itinerary.
Move-in, Family Weekend, homecoming and graduation
The Bunks room or Family Suite gives siblings a real bed instead of a sleeper sofa.
William & Mary's 2027 Commencement Weekend runs May 20–22, 2027, with the main ceremony on the evening of Saturday, May 22 (W&M). The 2027 Family Weekend date will appear on the Family Weekend page once it is published.
The General's Quarters has a king bedroom, a living room with a queen fold-down sofa, and a two-night minimum. For more ideas, celebrate William & Mary homecoming in Williamsburg.
Grand Illumination, July Fourth and America 250
Dates to know:
- December 5, 2026: Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg
- December 12, 2026: Grand Illumination
- December 19, 2026: Grand Illumination
See Colonial Williamsburg's holiday planner for the full calendar. You can also follow America 250 in Williamsburg.
When to book a Williamsburg bunk room
For fixed-date weekends such as Grand Illumination, commencement, school breaks and peak park weekends, check availability early. Quieter weeks can offer more flexibility, so price several date ranges side by side in the booking engine.
| Season | What to expect | Family note |
|---|---|---|
| January–February | Historic Area schedules and offerings vary during winter | Check the current Colonial Williamsburg schedule before planning |
| Spring and summer | Parks open, Water Country USA in season | Check bunk-room availability for school breaks |
| Fall and holidays | W&M weekends, Grand Illumination, Christmas Town | Fixed dates can draw more demand |
For warmer months, see insider tips for visiting Williamsburg in spring.
The roadside motel behind the bunks
The bunk rooms sit on land with a long local history. In the 1930s, George A. Bryhn bought the vacant parcel with money from selling his historic home on Duke of Gloucester Street to the Rockefellers, who were funding the Colonial Williamsburg preservation effort. Here is how the property got from there to the bunk rooms:
- 1952: George A. Bryhn and his son, George W., begin construction.
- 1954: The first documented guest pays $4.00 a night.
- January 2024: Lyle Schiavone closes on the purchase from the Bryhn heirs with a small group of local investors.
- December 2024: Bookings open.
- February 2025: The second building opens with 11 rooms, including family suites and the custom-designed bunk rooms.
The name honors Comte de Rochambeau, who led 5,500 French soldiers in 1781. To read more, discover the Rochambeau story.
Before you book: parking, check-in, pets and the fine print
These are the practical details families ask about most (FAQs):
- Parking: Free self-parking with ample spaces at your door, plus two Level 2 EV chargers.
- Check-in and check-out: Check-in starts at 4 PM and check-out is 11 AM. Early check-in at 2 PM and late check-out until 1 PM are available for a fee, subject to availability.
- Pets: Dogs are allowed only in Classic Double rooms, with a $75 cleaning fee per dog and a maximum of two. Dogs stay leashed in shared areas, can't be left alone in the room or on patios, and need a signed pet policy before arrival.
- Minimum stay: The General's Quarters has a two-night minimum.
- Cancellation: Free up to 72 hours before arrival. Inside 72 hours, you are charged one night plus tax. Holiday and special-event dates may carry different terms, shown at booking.
- Weekend breakfast: Complimentary hot coffee and a light continental breakfast in the lobby on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Accessibility: The Accessible King Room has a roll-in shower, accessible bathing controls, an accessible toilet, grab bars and a roll-under sink.
- Special requests: Email general@stayrochambeau.com or text (757) 290-8969.
You'll find answers to common booking and stay questions on the FAQ page.
Your next step
Pick your dates and check the Bunks room first. If it's taken, or the group wants two bathrooms, search the Family Suite for the same nights. Then park once, borrow the bikes, and save the top-bunk argument for the firepit.
Check bunk room availability - Book Now
Frequently asked questions about bunk rooms in Williamsburg, Virginia
Which hotels in Williamsburg, Virginia have bunk beds?
The Rochambeau Roadside Inn has custom-built bunk rooms and Family Suites in Williamsburg, Virginia. The standalone Bunks room sleeps up to four, and each Family Suite pairs a bunk room with a Standard King room. For other properties, check bed layouts directly with the hotel before booking.
How many people can sleep in a Rochambeau bunk room?
The Bunks room sleeps up to four guests, with a queen mattress on the bottom bunk and a full mattress on the top bunk. The queen gives a parent or two younger children room on the lower level. Send special requests to the inn by email or text before arrival.
Are the bunks for kids only, or can adults use them?
The lower bunk is a queen mattress, so it can suit an adult. For the upper bunk, CPSC guidance says never to allow a child under 6. Contact the inn before booking if your group has questions about the bunk layout.
Is a bunk room or the Family Suite better for a family of five?
The Family Suite may suit a family of five better because it joins a bunk room and a Standard King room through an interior passage, with an en suite bathroom in each room. Confirm occupancy for your group directly with the inn before booking.
How far is the Rochambeau Roadside Inn from Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is reached by car from the Rochambeau Roadside Inn at 929 Capitol Landing Road. Free on-site parking outside your room makes park days simple. Load the car in the morning, drive out, and come back to the firepit without a long walk from a parking garage.
Can we bring our dog in a bunk room?
No. Dogs are allowed only in Classic Double rooms, which have two full beds. The fee is a $75 cleaning fee per dog, with a maximum of two dogs. Dogs must stay leashed in shared areas and cannot be left alone in the room. A signed pet policy is required before arrival.
Can a larger group book several rooms close together?
Yes, larger groups can ask. Contact the inn before booking to talk through which rooms would work together. Use the page to contact us about group accommodations in Williamsburg at stayrochambeau.com/contact, or email general@stayrochambeau.com, so the inn can help plan the right mix of bunk rooms and suites.
When is the cheapest time to bring the family to Williamsburg?
The best way to find the lowest rate is to compare the same room across several date ranges in the booking engine. Rates change by date, event period and availability. Fixed-date weekends like Grand Illumination and commencement can draw more demand. To see current rates, check bunk room dates - Book Now.