3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Fort Valley Ranch accommodates equestrians with 45 campsites located near Harpers Ferry. Horses are permitted at the sites, with camping options including tent, RV, and cabins. The ranch offers electrical hookups, water access, fire rings, and picnic tables, making it suitable for overnight stays with horses. Facilities include trash disposal, shower access, and toilet facilities. The property features drinking water sources and sewer connections, particularly beneficial for extended stays. Staff at the campground are known for being friendly and laid-back, creating a welcoming environment for horse owners. The property maintains clean grounds and provides firewood for purchase.
Located within reasonable driving distance from Harpers Ferry, The Cove Campground provides another option for equestrians seeking camping opportunities. The campground connects to miles of trails suitable for riding, with terrain varying from wooded paths to open areas. Horse owners can access multiple water sources throughout the property. The campground supports various camping styles including tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with electric and water hookups available at select sites. The Cove features a lake offering additional recreational opportunities after trail riding. Spacious campsites provide adequate room for horse trailers and camping equipment. While the facility does not have dedicated horse corrals, the ample space allows for appropriate containment setups brought by campers. The camping areas are spread out enough to accommodate horses while maintaining a peaceful environment.
"There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation."
"History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."
Available next weekend
from $43 - $100 / night
"Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone. The bathrooms are ok. "
"Several rustic campsites with a large lake for the kids, and miles of off road trails for atvs, jeeps, and dirtbikes."
"This park is a perfect location if you want to explore Gettysburg National Historical Site as you can literally walk across the street and be in the park or venture½ mile up the road and you come to the"
"Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded."
"I always appreciate the near solitude experience of this campground as 90% of the sites are RV sites, that are kept away from the tenting area."
"If you’re looking for a backwoods, off-the-beaten-path type of campground, this isn’t it."
"Some reviewers have confused nearby State Parks with the actual State Forest, resulting in inaccurate information."
"Every January for the last few years some friends and I have gone and camped along the Appalachian Trail."
from $10 / night
from $100 - $150 / night
from $10 / night
"We recently stayed at Fort Valley Ranch Campground, near Luray, VA and I can only say good things about our experience and the FVR's management."
from $30 - $45 / night
from $10 / night
GuideGreat campsite. Fire pit, picnic table, swimming pool ( not open), miniature golf course, laundromat, bathrooms, showers, dump station, gathering areas for groups, playground, and even a horse area and stalls for horses. Dog friendly. Staff was very helpful and curious.
GuideWhere we were camping had blown up their dump station. Artillery Ridge helped us out. $10. to dump. If we come to camp in Gettysburg, it will be hear.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
ScoutStaff is friendly and everything is kept up well, newly renovated pool and pavilion area.
LegendWe spent 4 nights at Gettysburg Campground to attend the AIM Club Rally(Lincoln’s Legacy- Gettysburg 250), and it served as base camp for the event.
WHAT I LIKED:
Location, Location, Location: This park is an absolute winner for convenience—just 5 minutes from the Gettysburg battlefields, museums, and the heart of town.
The Atmosphere: The staff gave us a warm reception at check-in, and the site itself was clean, well-maintained, and spacious enough to back up to a running creek. Lots of mature trees offer lots of shade and character.
Big-Rig Friendly: Navigating a 45-foot motorhome with a toad can sometimes be stressful, but this park was easy to maneuver.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH:
Late-Night Power Struggles: On our final night, the campground experienced grid strain. Our Hughes Watchdog Power Center saved the day—but it had to shut off our power 7 different times due to low voltage. Aside from losing a few hours of sleep to the chorus of appliances cycling off and on, no harm was done. I recommend using a surge protector/voltage regulator if you stay here.
WOULD WE COME BACK?
ScoutFlat grounds, level campsites, nice pool, kids have tons of fun!
ScoutI am writing this review because what happened to me at Bull Run Regional Park Campground was not just inconvenient—it was humiliating, unprofessional, and completely avoidable.
I camp in my Tesla. I have already stayed at this exact campground before with no issue. Their online reservation system allowed me to book again—no warnings, no restrictions, nothing to indicate a problem. So I drove all the way from North Carolina to Virginia trusting that everything was fine.
When I arrived to check in, the office staff was literally handing me the paperwork. Out of nowhere, a ranger barged in and bluntly told me: “You cannot camp in a Tesla. You need a separate rig.”
His tone was rude, dismissive, and made me feel like I was doing something dirty or cheap. There was zero respect, zero empathy—just instant judgment. I felt like I was being treated as if I was trying to sneak in or break rules, even though they allowed the booking and accepted my reservation.
If they have such a rule, why wasn’t I notified during booking? Why was I allowed to stay the first time? Why let me drive for hours only to embarrass me at the check-in counter?
The office employee even tried to defend me, but he couldn’t convince the ranger. Instead, they told me I could not stay and promised an immediate refund.
After a long drive, being spoken to like that was extremely disappointing. I’ve camped all over North Carolina and never been treated with such disrespect. Camping in a Tesla is clean, quiet, zero-emission, and safe, yet I was made to feel like I didn’t belong.
To make matters worse, it has now been seven days and not a single dollar of the refund has appeared. When I called, the office representative didn’t even ask for my reservation details and seemed completely clueless. She first said she couldn’t do anything, then suddenly changed her story and said she would “leave a note.” When I asked to speak with someone who could actually help, she put me on hold and suddenly claimed the manager had “just refunded” me and that I would see the money in two business days.
After everything that happened, it felt like another layer of indifference and incompetence.
This entire experience—from the rude ranger to the unprofessional refund handling—left me feeling disrespected and upset. For a campground that charges over $75 a night after fees and taxes, the treatment I received was unacceptable.
Guests deserve honesty, clear communication, and basic respect.
TravelerNice clean and open sites but we stayed in the 400 section which was separate from the main campground. Very easy check in. Did it online and just pulled up to the little shack they have and grabbed our packet. We didn’t use the bathhouse but it was very clean. A little older and could probably use a little updating. The campground is only a mile and a half from town which was awesome and direct access to battlefield trails right there. The only complaint we had was the WiFi was awful. Maybe it was because of the section we were in but once the campground filled up it was useless.
Horse campgrounds near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia sit within the Blue Ridge Mountains where elevations range from 240 to 1,650 feet. The area encompasses diverse terrain including riverfront access, wooded hills, and open meadows. Weather conditions vary seasonally with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms between June and August.
Horseback trail riding: The Cove Campground in Gore, Virginia offers extensive trail systems for equestrians. "Great trails for both riding and hiking. Spent a weekend here in mid May. Bugs weren't a problem at all. Several rustic campsites with a large lake for the kids, and miles of off road trails for atvs, jeeps, and dirtbikes," notes Jacob I.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds feature fishing access with stocked ponds. At Fort Valley Ranch, "kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," according to Jason G. The ranch provides easy access to river activities within a 10-minute drive.
Historical exploration: Located near Gettysburg, Artillery Ridge Campground provides direct access to Civil War history. "Behind the campsite we stayed at, we learned connected to Stangler Farm, which served as a hospital for the wounded. Literally right outside the entrance of the campgrounds is where the battlefield starts," shares MJ B.
Equestrian-friendly amenities: Equestrian campgrounds near Harpers Ferry provide ample space for horse trailers and camping equipment. The Cove Campground receives praise for its multiple activity options: "This Campground had everything I wanted. Shooting range, ATV trails, fishing, hiking and great campsites," says Ben M.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms rank high with campers in the region. Bull Run Regional Park gets specific praise for shower quality: "The best review I can give us of the bathrooms. They're with staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had," writes Yvonne B.
Proximity to attractions: Campgrounds near historic sites offer convenient access to tourist destinations. "Gettysburg Campground is very close to an historical National Park not to mention shopping and restaurants," notes Jim G. Many sites are within 5-10 minutes of major attractions.
Seasonal considerations: Michaux State Forest has specific seasonal regulations. "Designated motorized sites... are open April 2 until the 3rd Sunday after Thanksgiving. Designated motorized parking lot sites... are open year-round," explains Bridget D. Fire regulations also vary by season with complete bans from March 1 to May 25.
Site conditions: Terrain and site layout can affect comfort at campgrounds. At Bull Run Regional Park, "the sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone... Our site was very level, but I could see that some others were not so much, so you might want to ask about that," advises Roberta K.
Permit requirements: Some camping areas require advance paperwork. For Michaux State Forest, "camping is free in several areas... BUT you usually need to have a camping permit (also free) and you can only stay in designated campsites," explains Jen S. Contact forest district offices for site availability and permits.
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple campgrounds offer dedicated children's recreation. "Artillery Ridge Campground has a pool, mini golf and live music. Also amazing location to the battlefield and all the tourist attractions," notes Brett D.
Educational opportunities: Historical locations provide learning experiences for children. At Bull Run Regional Park, families appreciate the educational components: "my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish. This park has too many amenities to list. They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides," shares Bridget H.
Bathroom accessibility: Consider the distance to facilities when camping with young children. At The Cove Campground, "WiFi signal weak and intermittent, even close to router. We camped in sites with hookups near office and entrance and the toilets are really far. The showers are even farther-like a 15-20 minute walk with bad signage directing to," warns Nancy L.
Site leveling needs: RV campers should prepare for variable site conditions. At Gettysburg Campground some sites may require adjustment: "we were in tent sites which felt bigger than most and were right by river. not far to go anywhere walking," notes Kelly J.
Access considerations: Access roads to equestrian campgrounds near Harpers Ferry can present challenges. At Fort Valley Ranch, one RVer noted: "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us. The access was smooth and hassle-free."
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary between campgrounds. The Cove Campground has limitations at some sites: "We stayed in camp one which offered electrical hook ups. There are 4 water spigots in camp 1. However all the travel trailers hooked up, which means you either had to make friends or disconnect their water in order to have access," explains Christopher K.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Harpers Ferry, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Harpers Ferry, WV is Bull Run Regional Park with a 3.9-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Harpers Ferry, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Harpers Ferry, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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