Bentonville, Virginia offers several established campgrounds along the Shenandoah River, with options ranging from developed sites to more rustic experiences. Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground provides tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, yurts, and glamping accommodations within its boundaries. Low Water Bridge Campground offers riverside tent and RV sites with electric hookups approximately 5 minutes from downtown Bentonville. The area features both state park facilities and privately operated campgrounds with varying amenity levels for different camping preferences.
Most developed campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though some like Mathews Arm Campground in nearby Shenandoah National Park are seasonal, typically open from May through October. "The sites are spaced out and neat. Some shade. Pretty view across from our site," noted one camper about Shenandoah River State Park. Many campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, with several offering sanitary dump stations for RVs. Cell service can be limited throughout the region, with Verizon coverage particularly spotty at Low Water Bridge Campground. Temperatures vary significantly by season, with summer offering ideal river recreation opportunities and moderate weather compared to urban areas.
The proximity to the Shenandoah River represents a defining feature of camping experiences near Bentonville. Campgrounds along the river provide access for fishing, kayaking, tubing and swimming. One visitor remarked, "We stayed for 4 nights and were the only RV. Rest of the sites is for tents. Electricity is on the RV site, there is a dumping place for black/grey water." Bathhouse facilities receive mixed reviews across campgrounds, with Shenandoah River State Park consistently praised for cleanliness while Low Water Bridge facilities are described as more basic. Many sites feature fire pits, picnic tables, and level camping pads. The region provides excellent access to hiking trails both within the campgrounds and nearby Shenandoah National Park, approximately 30 minutes from most Bentonville camping locations.
$27 - $427 / night
"Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms. Nice hiking in the park. Near SNP. Responsive and friendly rangers."
"In my opinion it has the best location of the 3 Turks they have. It’s it the woods close to a boat landing you can see a bit of the river. In the fall or spring I’m sure the view is amazing."
$30 - $75 / night
"This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!)"
"There are a few trails encompassing and leading out from the campground, and it's nice to have a central location from which you can out on small hikes."
$30 - $75 / night
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
"Our site had the AT running right behind it. The was plenty of access to trails, and pretty central to the park. The campground is near showers, laundry, campstore, and visitor center."
"We are tent campers and we’re looking for a place close to Shenandoah to ride our motorcycles. This was 3 miles from the north entrance to the park, perfect."
"Hike up a trail or up through the creek itself to a swimming hole only accessible to campers. Saw some decent sized fish swimming around in there."
"Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."
"They had plenty of appearances of Yogi or Cindy bear at activities and just driving around the park on a golf cart."
"It is suitable for novice campers to experienced off-trail campers. You'll never tire of the wonders this beautiful piece of America has to offer."
"There was definitely a lot less privacy/space between sites here at SNP than I’ve noted at other parks across Virginia."
$31 - $230 / night
"Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites. The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean."
"We stayed at this KOA on our way to Virginia Beach but wanted to a day in Shenandoah National Park. "
$20 / night
"In the valley outside of Shenandoah, it was a nice spot to return to at night. There are also some hiking trails across the street."
"Campground Review: What a great find, so close to a town….though feels like you are deep in the forest!"
$30 - $125 / night
"Positive: Friendly staff, near the river, close to Shenandoah NP, quiet camping, every site has a fire pit. Negative: sanitary fascilities are old."
"Sites 31 and 32 (despite being near the campground’s public river access) look large and private. Both riverside."
$26 - $47 / night
"We spent 2 nights at Creekside Campground in Edinburg, VA on our way to West Virginia—- and found a real gem. We paid$50/night for Back-in Creekview FHU Site#20."
"We had a large grass space with water and power on the edge of a beautiful creek and enjoyed the sounds of it both nights."
TravelerVery nice spot, good tent setup pads and fire rings at all the sites, my one complaint is that it is right next to the road that while not frequently used, the occasional car can often take away from the remote experience. There are some sites a little further in but the diff is minimal. Overall very great, well maintained spot
ScoutThis was a great place to camp. Lovely. The price was affordable. We stayed in the cabin. Electricity. Air conditioning. Running water. The property owner manager is very accommodating and pleasant to talk with.
Highly recommended.
~Robert
art505.com
ScoutThis KOA was quiet and perfect for a short stay. We enjoyed our time here. The staff was friendly.
GuideI chose Big Meadows to stay at because my traveling companion is definitely a bit bougie and was anxious about camping in the mountains of a NP. Due to this site having showers, toilets, a laundromat, camp store(s) and even a lodge/taproom, they felt more comfortable. We stayed at site D142, right near the entrance by the registration office and showers. I didn’t expect the site to be so nice and quiet and still feel quite private despite the location! We checked out the loops and besides the tent sites, I actually preferred our site. We stayed the week before Memorial Day weekend and I was pleased with how quiet it was. Quiet hours were strictly adhered without rangers having to ask, other campers were respectful toward each other and we had no issues. The NP staff were awesome and the concession employees for the showers, camp store, and the Wayside grill were genuinely friendly and obviously cared about their jobs, which I sincerely appreciate. Wayside grill with attached camp store was fun and had some great gift items as well as some pretty solid quality hiking and camping items. The grill even had a beyond burger which I greatly appreciated! The lodge was funky but not my cup of tea, the taproom was ok, although the employees were really nice.
It did rain half the time we were there with extremely heavy fog so we only did a few hikes but they were still a lot of fun. We didn’t see any bear either! The number one animal we had invade our campsite on the regular were birds. Two catbirds regularly tried to involve themselves in everything, including landing on a pot of oatmeal I was actively cooking and standing next to! We followed leave no trace of course but any chance the birds got, from catbirds, robins, brown thrashers, towhee, and even a redstart, they would try to investigate.
There is clean drinking water listed on the campsite maps, there are utility sinks for grey water (don’t use the bathroom sink!), bathrooms were always clean and bathrooms and showers are open 24/7 and are well lit. I didn’t buy the firewood so I’m unsure how much it is but the little camp store was open from 9-6 (right by the bathroom) for firewood, ice, and other various supplies.
Only downsides to the site are 1) showers are not cheap ($5 for 10 mins) and don’t stay warm for long so you’re showering in chilly water. Some stalls last a bit longer than others. 2) The biggest issue though was surprisingly the bear boxes. They are quite large and fit a lot of stuff which is great. However, you are expected to keep your cooler in them. I have a bear proof cooler (IGBC) so I’ve never had to experience this situation before. The bear box being made of metal, heated everything up in it which caused rapid melting of ice. Despite pre-chilling it and my ice usually lasting for days and days, we had to refill it daily. The camp store thankfully sold ice (10 lb bags for $5) but it was frustrating that there was no other option for bear proof items. I didn’t fight the rangers regarding it because it’s their rules, it’s for the safety of the bears and people, and the rangers and park staff have enough stuff to deal with.
All in all, I’ve never really glamped before so it was quite a luxurious trip even with the rain and fog for half the trip. I’ll most definitely be back and would even stay at the same site or a tent only site with no driveway.
GuideThe sites are close together. The park was not full Mother’s Day weekend. It is a very nice park. The bathhouses were clean. The amenities were good although we didn’t utilize them. The national historic site was very close and we walked over day 1 rode our bikes day 2. The C&O canal is accessible but you must walk your bike across the lower town bridge and carry it down the stairs. This section of the trail was very good and we completed 38 miles.
GuideMy wife and I stayed here one night, while driving south to north, Skyline Dr. the drive has been awesome and this campground is the perfect resting spot for us, for the night. Had a couple drinks at the lodge while watching a spectacular sunset. I’d definitely come back.
ScoutClean facilities, each site has plenty of space. Never had an issue with noisy neighbors. Excellent access to the river. 10/10
ScoutI will start with the negatives. They do not enforce quiet hours. At all. We had multiple nights with a large group neighboring campers partying well past midnight. Yelling, slamming car doors, absolutely no regard for fellow campers. I would not recommend staying along the road sites unless you are equipped to deal with noisy neighbors in close proximity.
And the good... The sites in the more wooded areas on the edge of the campground are beautiful. You are less likely to deal with groups of campers there to party. Bathrooms were clean and well maintained, with pay showers available. Firewood, though expensive, was plentiful. Being close to hiking, the lodge, camp store, and visitor center are excellent perks for the price of each site.
I really wish the staff was there to better enforce the quiet hours, as there were multiple campers that struggled to sleep/relax with the raucous crowd so close.
ScoutI have a great spot right by the river. It is away from all noise but the flow of water. Right on the river
Dispersed camping sites near Bentonville, Virginia sit at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet along the Shenandoah Valley floor, with nearby mountains rising to over 3,500 feet. The area receives approximately 44 inches of annual rainfall, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows reaching 20-30°F. Most primitive campsites in the region don't require reservations, but established campgrounds fill quickly during peak fall foliage season from late September through early November.
Waterfall hiking: 3.1 miles one-way to Overall Run Falls within Shenandoah National Park from Mathews Arm Campground. "Great campground! A lot of hiking and nature everywhere. We even had a doe and fawn right in our campsite! Just be careful of the black bears," notes Stephen K. The trailhead begins at the campground parking area and descends approximately 1,500 feet in elevation to the 93-foot waterfall.
Tubing and kayaking: Easy access from Low Water Bridge Campground with on-site rentals and shuttles during summer months. "Love the fact that they have an outfitter to shuttle you up the river. We got a site right on the river bank so we just hopped out and were at our site!" reports camper RL. The river current varies based on recent rainfall, with float trips ranging from 2-4 hours depending on water levels.
Mountain biking: 15+ miles of trails at Shenandoah River State Park. "Go bike, fish, swim, hike, relax," explains Jonny D. The park maintains trails for all skill levels, with Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park offering rentals from April through October. Most trails remain open year-round, weather permitting, though muddy conditions often close trails after heavy rainfall.
Accessible primitive sites: The riverfront camping at Gooney Creek Campground provides direct creek access with basic amenities. "Absolutely loved this campground. Small and quiet with the creek running through," shares Adelle C. Sites include fire rings and picnic tables, with tent spots costing approximately $25-35 per night depending on location.
Less crowded weekday camping: Most campgrounds near Bentonville experience significant weekend crowds but remain relatively quiet Monday through Thursday. "Quiet during the week. I have heard that weekends can get a little rowdy," warns Glen W. regarding Low Water Bridge Campground. This pattern holds true year-round but intensifies during summer months when river activities are most popular.
Fall foliage viewing: Early to mid-October provides peak color. "The mountains are among the most beautiful in the fall. The leaves turn golden, and it is absolutely beautiful and worth your time," explains Daniel P. who stayed at Mathews Arm Campground. Color progression typically starts at higher elevations in late September and moves down through the valley by late October, with campgrounds at higher elevations offering earlier views.
Limited cell coverage: Coverage varies significantly by carrier and location throughout the area. "No cell service with Verizon whatsoever not even the hotspot," reports Ashley F. about Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites. AT&T generally provides better service in the valley, while most carriers have minimal to no coverage in backcountry areas and deep ravines.
Bear activity requirements: Food storage regulations apply at all campgrounds. "You'll never tire of the wonders this beautiful piece of America has to offer," writes Teresa K., but also notes the importance of proper food storage. Most campgrounds require food to be stored in vehicles or bear-proof containers, not in tents. Rangers at Shenandoah National Park issue fines for improper food storage.
Seasonal campground closures: Several area campgrounds operate on limited schedules. "We stayed here on the night of December 11, 2020. No problem finding a spot, campground was about half full when we got there around 4pm," shares John B. about staying at Shenandoah River State Park when many other options were closed. Mathews Arm Campground typically closes from late October through early May.
Kid-friendly activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers extensive recreational facilities. "This isn't my idea of camping, but I brought my 11 year old nephew. He was able to run around and make friends with his aunt always looking over his shoulder. He had lots of fun at pool, movie night, making s'mores, and jumping on bouncy mound," writes Anne K. The park schedules daily activities for children during summer months, though most require additional fees.
Primitive sites with wagon access: Some campgrounds provide equipment for transporting gear. "The primitive spots are right next to the river. The spots are a short walk from the parking area and the campground provides wagons to transport your stuff. Great fishing and swimming right at your camping spot," explains Matt P. about Shenandoah River State Park. These walk-in sites typically cost $5-10 less than drive-up sites but offer more privacy and river access.
Ranger programs: Educational opportunities available May through October. "The children's programs offered on the weekends were great too," notes Melissa T. Programs typically run 30-60 minutes and cover topics from wildlife identification to night sky observation, with most offered Friday through Sunday during peak season at no additional cost beyond park entrance fees.
Campsite size considerations: Many campgrounds have length restrictions and limited pull-through sites. "We stayed for 3 nights in August for our little guy's 8th birthday. Our only real drawback was our site was not even close to level. It probably shouldn't have been available for a 40'+ RV," warns Jen O. about Elizabeth Furnace Campground. Sites accommodating larger rigs must typically be reserved months in advance.
Elevation changes on access roads: Be prepared for steep grades when traveling to campgrounds. "This is a very nice little campground offering several types of non-hook up sites. We stayed in site 18 which was large and had a nice long flat space for us to park our class B camper on and dry camp," shares Chris C. about Elizabeth Furnace. Access roads to many campgrounds feature 7-10% grades requiring engine braking when descending.
Limited full hookup availability: Partial hookups more common than full. "Electricity is on the RV site, there is a dumping place for black/grey water," reports Catharina L. about Low Water Bridge Campground. Most campgrounds in the area offer water and electric only, with dump stations rather than sewer connections at individual sites. Reservations for sites with hookups typically fill 2-3 months in advance during peak season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best camping spots in Bentonville, Virginia?
Bentonville offers excellent camping options with Low Water Bridge Campground being a prime spot directly in Bentonville, providing riverside camping with boat access to the Shenandoah River. Just a short drive away, Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park offers a more secluded experience with well-maintained facilities and access to hiking trails including the path to Overall Run Falls. These campgrounds provide different experiences - riverside camping in town or forested sites within the national park - making them perfect basecamp options for exploring the Shenandoah Valley region.
What outdoor activities are available near Bentonville, VA?
The Bentonville area is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Water activities dominate with river floating, whitewater rafting, and fishing on the Shenandoah River. Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders offers guided river adventures just a short drive away. Hiking opportunities abound with access to portions of the Appalachian Trail and numerous scenic trails in Shenandoah National Park. At Loft Mountain Campground, you'll find easy access to multiple hiking trails with varying difficulty levels. The area also offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, mountain biking, and cave exploration at nearby Endless Caverns.
When is the best time of year to camp in Bentonville, Virginia?
Late spring through early fall offers the best camping experience in Bentonville. May and June provide warm days, cool nights, and vibrant wildflowers, while September and October showcase spectacular fall foliage throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views offers year-round accommodations with beautiful seasonal views of the surrounding mountains. Summer (June-August) brings warmer temperatures ideal for water activities on the Shenandoah River, though campgrounds like Big Meadows Campground can be busier during this peak season. Winter camping is possible but limited, with fewer facilities open and potential weather challenges.
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