RV camping near Barboursville, Virginia sits within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 400-600 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows near 25°F. Campsites throughout the area feature variable terrain, from riverside locations with sandy soil to hillside spots requiring significant leveling.
What to do
River recreation: Shenandoah River access offers tubing opportunities at Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River, where the float from one end of the park to the other takes approximately 30 minutes. "Bring tubes if you have them. This place is great for tubing," notes reviewer Kristen G.
Horseback riding: Trail rides through scenic mountain terrain available at Fort Valley Ranch, located 10 minutes from river access points. "The availability of horseback trail riding was an added bonus," according to Jason G., who visited with his family.
Hiking: Skyline Drive trails connect directly to Big Meadows Campground within Shenandoah National Park. "Plenty of room to relax. So many trails to explore, walk to the Lodge, Wayside, Visitor Center and more," writes Jaclyn B. The campground sits at over 3,000 feet elevation, providing access to numerous day hikes.
Cave exploration: Underground tours at multiple caverns surround Barboursville RV parks. "Wright next to the Luray caves and near the starting point of the Skyline drive," shares Werner S. about the location advantages of KOA Luray RV Resort.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings occur regularly at campgrounds throughout the region. At Big Meadows Campground, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached," reports Veronica S.
Farm animal interactions: Feeding opportunities at smaller campgrounds like The HarmStead Campground provide unique experiences. "The hosts provided our kids with a cup of animal food to feed the goats and the emu," shares Michael, a first-time travel trailer user.
Evening natural displays: Firefly watching peaks during summer months. "The fireflies are spectacular. At dusk, the ground shimmers, and then after they disperse, you will still see them flit by the tent throughout the night," describes Veronica S. from Big Meadows Campground.
Mountain views: Panoramic vistas from campsites enhance the experience. "All level padded sites. Most with Blue ridge views," reports Sally S. from KOA Luray RV Resort.
What you should know
Cell service variation: Signal strength depends on carrier and elevation. At Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages, "We picked up a dozen channels on our antenna and the 2-3 bar Verizon LTE enabled us to stream some channels on Fire TV," notes Sara M.
Seasonal considerations: Bug activity increases during warmer months. "The bugs here were crazy, even for it being fairly cool out. The flies were almost overwhelming," warns Melissa W. about Luray RV Resort, even during cooler spring conditions.
Site selection importance: Campground layouts vary significantly across the region. "Be very particular with your site selection!" advises Sara M. about Endless Caverns, where higher sites might require 4WD vehicles.
Reservation requirements: Booking windows open 6-12 months in advance for most campgrounds. During peak seasons at Big Meadows Campground, "Reservations are essential" with sites often filling months ahead.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Site selection matters for families with children. "If you have kids definitely get closer to the play ground, you won't regret it!" recommends Casey L. from Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River.
Ranger programs: Educational activities engage children at national park campgrounds. Big Meadows offers a "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs," according to Kim L.
On-site recreation: Family activities available at Madison Vines RV Resort & Cottages include weekend social events. "Great weekend programs gave everyone a chance to mingle if they wanted to," shares Steve M., who stayed there for several months.
Wildlife education: Bear awareness is important when camping near Shenandoah National Park. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," shares Rachel M., while noting that rangers "take food clean up seriously. You can be fined for leaving food out."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Terrain challenges exist at most rv parks Barboursville, Virginia and surrounding areas. At Madison Vines RV Resort, one camper noted their "site was a little unlevel, but was really private and in the back corner."
Campground navigation: Road width can be restrictive at some facilities. "The road between the office and campsites is a bit narrow and one lane so can be tricky when people are arriving or leaving with rigs," warns Tina about KOA Luray RV Resort.
Hookup positioning: Sewer connections sometimes present challenges. "Our only complaint was that the sewage connection was slightly higher than the black tank outlet on our Airstream," reports John H. from Madison Vines RV Resort.
RV size limitations: Access roads to some campgrounds require careful driving. "The winding roads presented no issues for us. The access was smooth and hassle-free," writes Jason G. about Fort Valley Ranch, despite initially being concerned about his 50-foot total length rig.
