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Best Campgrounds near Afton, VA

915 Reviews

Camping areas near Afton, Virginia encompass a range of developed campgrounds situated along the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. The region includes established facilities like Misty Mountain Camp Resort and Sherando Lake Campground, which provide tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Several campgrounds in the area feature full utility connections, while others maintain a more rustic camping experience with basic amenities. Most locations sit within 30 miles of Afton, making them convenient base camps for exploring Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and nearby attractions.

Seasonal patterns heavily influence camping availability in the Afton region, with many campgrounds operating primarily from April through October. During peak summer months, advance reservations are strongly recommended at popular destinations like Loft Mountain Campground in Shenandoah National Park. Several campgrounds, including Misty Mountain Camp Resort, Walnut Hills Campground, and Shenandoah Valley Campground, offer year-round operation with winter camping options. Terrain varies significantly between facilities, with some campgrounds featuring steep access roads and variable site conditions. A camper noted, "The top sites have two very steep hills and pretty tight to get around with camper."

Sites along creeks and streams receive particular praise from visitors to the Afton area campgrounds. Water-adjacent camping spots provide pleasant ambient sound and scenic value, though they may present flood risks during heavy rain. Many campgrounds maintain family-friendly facilities, including swimming pools, recreation areas, and organized activities. According to one review, "Lower area is nice and open with close access to the activities. Upper area is a little more quiet and still an easy walk to the lower area." Tent and RV sites vary considerably in size and privacy levels, with some locations offering spacious wooded sites while others feature more open camping areas with limited separation between neighbors. Proximity to breweries, wineries, and historic sites makes the region particularly appealing for campers interested in day trips and local attractions.

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Best Camping Sites Near Afton, Virginia (119)

    1. Misty Mountain Camp Resort

    39 Reviews
    Crozet, VA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 647-8900

    $35 - $75 / night

    "Misty Mountain Camp Resort is located in Crozet, Virginia, off of 250 below Afton Mountain. I'm familiar with this resort."

    "The winding layout allowed for more distance between other sites. The woods were beautiful with easy walking trails right from the site."

    2. Devils Backbone Camp

    39 Reviews
    Nellysford, VA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 817-9708

    $25 - $140 / night

    "First time camping in any part of Virginia, very nice and clean campground, not too much outside noise besides the random car driving on the one road near by."

    "We set up camp then walked over to the brewery/ restaurant for some flights and dinner. I recommend grabbing some growlers to go. Showers and restrooms were clean."

    3. Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    64 Reviews
    Dyke, VA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 823-4675

    $30 - $75 / night

    "This campground is perfect for those looking to just get away from things for a couple of days."

    "We got a walk in site, so our tent was way far away from cars and other people. The site included a fire pit w/grill grate, picnic table, and metal bear box."

    4. Sherando Lake Campground

    33 Reviews
    Tyro, VA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    $25 - $47 / night

    "Sherando Lake is a well-maintained, popular campground located in the George Washington National Forest near Lyndhurst, VA."

    "The lakeside is wonderful for sitting, reading and swimming.  The "upper lake" is great for fishing. "

    5. Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    20 Reviews
    Stuarts Draft, VA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 337-3920

    $45 - $99 / night

    "You can fish in the lake though we didn't catch anything. Wifi is free and open so no password and therefore, not secure. Trash picked up each day."

    "Good location close to I81 but little road noise. I did hear a train."

    6. Shenandoah Valley Campground

    25 Reviews
    Staunton, VA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 248-2267

    $36 - $132 / night

    "We spent 2 weeks at SVC while our trunk was in the shop(our travel trailer got towed there- highly recommend Good Sam Roadside policy). Everyone on staff was accomodating, helpful and friendly."

    "It was clean, but had a trail of ants get into my belongings. Sites are close to one another and the cabins are not near the water. They are near the bath house though."

    7. Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley

    12 Reviews
    Stuarts Draft, VA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 337-2267

    $29 - $45 / night

    "And of course their lake that has two jumping decks, water slide, snack bar , restaurant and off to the side a little store for floats with putt putt golf and Jenna,etc."

    "Lots for them to do, great swimming lake, employees were a pleasure. Trash pick-up was awesome !! Our site was gorgeous. Not a full hook up(more on that later), but absolutely perfect."

    8. Crabtree Falls Campground

    20 Reviews
    Montebello, VA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 377-2066

    $28 - $55 / night

    "The tent sites we stayed in were 10 ft away from the Tye river, we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night."

    "I’ve camped at a completely different part of this place before which was a site without access to bathrooms and showers."

    9. Waynesboro North 340 Campground

    6 Reviews
    Crimora, VA
    7 miles
    +1 (540) 943-9573

    "Good area close to hiking trails and historical sites. Dog friendly. Only negative was the closeness of the sites."

    10. George Washington National Forest Sherando Lake Campground

    3 Reviews
    Nellysford, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    $50 / night

    "Close to National Forests and Shenandoah NP. Pretty lake, lovely wooded sites that are really private. Sites are fairly basic, typical State Park style. We had a canoe that made this extra fun."

    "So beautiful and peaceful, sites are awesome, they have 2 stocked lakes, swimming lake, great hiking, particularly for young or new hikers. Bring your own kayak or canoe, bring your dog!"

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Recent Camping Photos near Afton, VA

395 Photos of 119 Afton Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Afton, VA

915 Reviews of 119 Afton Campgrounds

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Quiet, lots of room

    This is a National Park campground so there are no hookups! Generators are allowed during designated hours. (Please don’t bring one.) Hot shower, bathrooms and laundry are available. Camp store with basics. The sites are large, some are not level but are workable. Lots of wildlife. Near trails.

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Perfect Shenandoah stopover

    Good amount of first come first serve spots. We visited during a weekday and there was more than enough availability. Nice small trail that runs around the campground. The campstore offers more than enough! We bought a smores-kit, very handy. I dont know if there are (enough) full hook ups?

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Shenandoah Crossing, a Bluegreen Vacations Resort

    Not really camping

    This is a very developed campground…mayme over developed for me. Concrete pads, paved roads, street lights. Lots of amenities, like pool, playground, very nice showers, There is a gate house do you need the code to get in.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Paradise Lake Family Campground

    Not more than one night

    This is an older campground and shows its age…and wear. There are several semi-permanent residents here. Some facilities need repair and/or maintenance. Water in the shower was hot, but the showers were small, and there was no place for d as iso, shaving things, shampoo, ets. And no place to sit to. There is a pool and a lake with a swim beach. Kayak rental. Playground, laundry, showers/ bathrooms are passable. Internet is very slow.

  • madison F.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    WALNUT

    first arrived weary of storm headed our way only to find out our campsite was the only in our section that wasn’t a flood zone.

    saw some liquid being pumped into naturally flowing creek water??! also if you want to see ducks… stay close to the pond.

    super honorable mention - lower bathhouses did not have warm water and had to hike up the hill to use, extremely nicer, bathhouse.

    POOL had a “tlc makeover” only to have a surmount of chemicals still not diluted by 5pm - MURKYYYYYYY

    also had a campsite that was placed between three trees - super tight but made it work.

    only stayed in passing - get what you get

  • madison F.
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages

    Tracy Knows What’s Up

    This resort has EVERYTHING!! clean showers/bathrooms, pool, pickleball, volleyball, playgrounds, hiking trails, full hookup with water pumps at EACH site, laundry (paid), arcade, and a rec center. so cool staying on top of the caverns

  • Anna B.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Gorgeous Tent Camping 🤩

    One of the best sites I've had the fortune to stay at recently. The campground has a wide variety of sites, with the majority as pull throughs and a good handful of walk in tent sites. This site is large and an easy downhill walk from parking to set up camp. The view is unreal, especially for sunset. While you can definitely hear your neighbors, it still has a decent amount of privacy.

  • Aaron S.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Stoney Creek Resort

    Lovely people, lovely place

    Overall a nice place to stay. We stayed one night. Hook ups were good, site was somewhat level. The staff are just lovely people, very friendly, helpful, and they go out of their way to do the next right thing.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge

    Helpful staff and nice amenities

    It has all the bells and whistles you’d hope for at a Jellystone. It sounds like staffing has been challenging but the fellow campers and wonderful staff that are here make it well worth staying. We partook in all we could and enjoyed the swimming hole, pool, splash pad, jumping pillow and arcade. I’d stay again and would love to head down to the river for some tubing and fish in the stocked pond.

Guide to Afton

Camping near Afton, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Loft Mountain Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Easy access to the Blackrock Summit and Doyles River Falls trails!" This campground is a great spot for those who love to hike.
  • Swimming: At Sherando Lake Campground, you can enjoy swimming in the lake. A reviewer said, "The lake is beautiful and refreshing. You can swim out to an island if you want to."
  • Fishing: The Shenandoah Valley Campground has a stocked fishing pond. One camper noted, "Very nice campground amenities—stocked fishing pond, big swimming pool, and really nice creek for tubing."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Misty Mountain Camp Resort said, "Great shower and laundry facilities as well."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers mention the helpfulness of the staff. One reviewer at Devil’s Backbone Camp said, "Great spot with clean facilities. Cell phones worked just fine."
  • Scenic Views: Campgrounds like Crabtree Falls Campground offer stunning natural beauty. A camper shared, "The view and sound of the creek is the best."

What you should know:

  • Crowded Sites: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Lewis Mountain Campground mentioned, "Most of the sites here are very close together and provide very little privacy."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A reviewer at Sherando Lake Campground noted, "Major water problems with the entire park. The bathhouse by the beach... are closed or off."
  • First-Come, First-Serve: Many sites operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. A camper at Lewis Mountain Campground advised, "Arrive early enough in the day to snag a better site."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly activities. One parent at Misty Mountain Camp Resort said, "Our kids had a blast on the inflatable jump pad which was open all day."
  • Safety First: Ensure your campsite is safe for children. A camper at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA mentioned, "The sites are really spacious especially for a KOA."
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of noise levels. A visitor at Canoe Landing Group Campsite shared, "Our neighbors were noisy, obnoxious, and trashy into the wee hours of the morning."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Devil’s Backbone Camp said, "The water, electric and sewer hookups are on the wrong side for half of the RV sites."
  • Bring a Booster: Cell service can be spotty. A visitor at Red Oak Campground noted, "Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal."
  • Dump Station Availability: Check for dump stations before you arrive. A camper at Sherando Lake Campground mentioned, "There is a dump station onsite. Easy to access but the wash hose doesn’t have any pressure."

Camping near Afton, Virginia, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're with family or enjoying a solo trip, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the camping options at Afton State Park?

Afton State Park offers diverse camping experiences in Virginia's scenic mountain region. While the name refers to Afton Mountain, nearby campgrounds provide various options. Misty Mountain Camp Resort is located off of 250 below Afton Mountain with excellent accommodations and updated facilities. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Sherando Lake Campground in George Washington National Forest features three camping loops, including a standard non-electric loop (A), a loop with electric sites (B), and a larger electric/water loop (C). Camping options range from tent sites to RV spots with varying amenity levels. The area provides access to hiking trails, swimming, and mountain views regardless of which campground you choose.

How do I make reservations for camping at Afton State Park?

To make camping reservations in the Afton area, most campgrounds offer online reservation systems through their official websites or recreation.gov for public lands. At Devils Backbone Camp, reservations can be made online, with the campground offering clean facilities and a peaceful environment despite its proximity to the brewery. For public land camping, Loft Mountain Campground in Shenandoah National Park uses the national park reservation system. Most campgrounds open their reservation windows 6 months in advance for peak season. It's advisable to book early, especially for summer weekends and holidays, as these popular mountain destinations fill quickly during peak seasons.

What amenities are available at Afton State Park campgrounds?

Campgrounds in the Afton region offer varying levels of amenities to suit different camping preferences. Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages provides upscale facilities with stone borders, stone fire pits at every site, and well-maintained grounds in a beautiful wooded setting. For families, Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA offers year-round camping with amenities including a seasonal pool, game room, playground, and convenient access to nearby attractions. Most campgrounds in the area feature clean restrooms with flush toilets, potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings. Some sites offer electric hookups, while others maintain a more natural setting with basic facilities. Cell service varies throughout the mountainous region, so check with specific campgrounds regarding connectivity if needed.

Are there backpacking campsites in Afton State Park?

The Afton area offers excellent backpacking opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Cave Mountain Lake Group Camp in George Washington & Jefferson National Forest provides access to numerous backpacking trails with primitive camping options away from developed sites. For a unique backpacking experience, Thunder Bridge is tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Natural Bridge State Park, offering quiet tent sites in a former CCC camp setting. The surrounding mountain trails connect to larger trail systems including portions of the Appalachian Trail. Backpackers should obtain proper permits where required, carry water or a filtration system, and practice Leave No Trace principles while exploring these wilderness areas.

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