4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Shenandoah Crossing offers horseback riding for campers near Free Union, Virginia, with professionally managed stables and guided trail rides through the resort's wooded terrain. Horse camping options here span tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and yurts, making it accessible for different camping styles. Many campers report that the horse pastures provide beautiful sunset views over the stables. The salt water pool, mini golf, and other amenities complement the equestrian focus, making this location suitable for families with varied interests beyond horseback riding. Trailer parking is available near the camping areas, though RV sites can be somewhat uneven and may require leveling.
Horse trails at Shenandoah Crossing connect riders to scenic routes throughout the 1,000-acre property, providing access to meadows and wooded areas ideal for beginner to intermediate riders. The resort offers carriage rides as an alternative for those who prefer not to ride horseback. Daily trail rides must be reserved in advance, particularly during peak seasons when availability becomes limited. Located approximately 30 minutes from Shenandoah National Park, the campground serves as a convenient base for both on-site horse activities and exploration of regional attractions. The campground's position in Gordonsville places it within driving distance of several local wineries, creating opportunities for diverse activities beyond the equestrian experiences. While not offering private horse corrals for camper-owned horses, the professional stables and riding program make this destination popular among horse campers seeking structured equestrian activities near Free Union.
"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
Available next weekend
from $30 - $75 / night
"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
"Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner. Could get muddy if you're there after rain"
"Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."
from $12 / night
"There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses. The cabins and lodges have 2, 3, and 6 bedrooms and look beautiful. There is even a canoe-in campground. "
"Lots of beautiful hiking/biking/equestrian trails to explore. Bathrooms were very clean and nice. Bundles of firewood sold $7 each. Nice fire ring at each site. Pet friendly."
from $37 - $98 / night
"access to human food."
"Like most Virginia state parks the River Bend campground is well spaced out and great for RV camping."
Available next weekend
from $16 - $97 / night
"The trails were marked once you got on one, not all were visible as trails. With that being said my pup and I took several paths not walked often without another soul or human sound."
"Nice little state park close to Richmond and not too far from DC."
Available next weekend
from $32 - $384 / night
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"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
TravelerLong drive thru spots, lots of space between campsites. Really inexpensive laundry ($1 to wash $1 to dry) $5 showers for 10 minutes. Nice bathrooms. Dry camping at its finest. Close drive to Grand caverns and Luray caverns.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
ScoutGood facilities for a NP campground
ScoutVery clean and quiet. Good services, including firewood availability. Drawback is that it’s 7.5 miles down a dead end road. Closet gas is at least 10 miles and groceries are a half hour away. Go prepared.
GuideFirst campground in a week, that had great water pressure! Has free laundry, clean bathrooms, free mini golf, activities , restaurant and bar. Pretty darn awesome
RangerThis is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
GuideGreat summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
TravelerBeautiful spot. The campsite is across the street from the lodge. G-Maps and Apple will take you to the lodge however. Loved the Freeform and “make your own” spot vibe
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
Equestrian camping options near Free Union, Virginia extend beyond the Shenandoah Crossing facilities. The region sits at the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains with elevations ranging from 600-1200 feet, creating varied terrain ideal for trail riding. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate conditions between 60-75°F.
Trail riding in Shenandoah National Park: Located approximately 30 minutes from Free Union camping areas, the park features over 180 miles of trails with designated equestrian routes. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience. With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows Campground," notes Rachel M.
Riverside horseback experiences: The James River area provides water access combined with riding trails. "The river access did have some steep sections to navigate, but our horses handled it well. Many trails connect directly to water crossings that are safe during normal water levels," reports a frequent equestrian camper.
Seasonal equestrian events: Local ranches host weekend riding competitions and demonstrations throughout spring and fall months. "The grounds are extremely well-maintained. I was very happy to see such a clean facility, especially during peak season. Each staff member I encountered was extremely helpful and polite," mentions a visitor at Powhatan State Park Campground.
Direct water access with horses: Sites along riverbanks allow for combined water and riding activities. "This site isn't very wooded and therefore not much visual privacy but there is lots of space to spread out. The sites are generously sized and flat," notes Conni B. at Red Oak Campground.
Dark sky viewing conditions: Rural locations provide exceptional star-watching opportunities after trail rides. "James River State Park has been named an International Dark Sky Park. This is a wonderful spot for viewing the stars because of the lack of light pollution," explains Daryl L.
Primitive camping with equestrian focus: Several locations offer more rustic experiences for serious riders. "I enjoyed my stay in this wooded campground. The sites were equipped with fire rings and picnic tables and level, gravel areas to park cars. A creek ran nearby the campground and there were options for trails," reports Virginia G. about her primitive camping experience at James River State Park.
Varying trail difficulty levels: Terrain ranges from beginner-friendly flat loops to challenging mountain paths. "Lots of beautiful hikes and bike course with awesome views of the valley," mentions Tom C. about trails near Big Meadows.
Seasonal limitations: Many equestrian trails close during winter months or after heavy rainfall. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units. It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F," reports Carol B.
Limited cell service: Remote camping areas have spotty connectivity. "Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work," shares Micah B. about camping while needing remote work access.
Beginner riding options: Several facilities offer shorter trail experiences for children. "My boys are excited to rent the kayaks again. This is a great experience for couples and families," says Conni B. about activities at James River State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple locations feature regular wildlife sightings. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," notes Rachel M. while Veronica S. adds, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Educational programs: Ranger-led activities complement equestrian experiences. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground," explains Kim L. about the family programs available at Big Meadows.
Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some equestrian-focused campgrounds. "Our site (site 3) was an easy level pull-through site, making the setup/breakdown very quick and painless. All the RV sites were impressively level, with only minimal leveling needed," reports Jason G. about his experience at Fort Valley Ranch.
Access road considerations: Some horse camping facilities have challenging approach roads. "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," continues Jason G.
Water and electrical hookups: Availability varies significantly between equestrian campgrounds. "Large back in sites. Three pools, playground, marina, Minigolf, stables and bike rental," notes Kathie M. about the amenities at Shenandoah Crossing, while another camper points out that some sites may require self-contained water systems during primitive camping periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Free Union, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Free Union, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 131 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Free Union, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Free Union, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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