Camping near Broadway, Virginia offers sites situated at elevations between 800-3,000 feet throughout the Shenandoah Valley region. Temperatures typically range from 30°F in winter to 85°F in summer with rainfall concentrated in spring and early summer months. Most campgrounds in the area remain open April through October, though several provide year-round accommodations for campers seeking off-season solitude.
What to do
Hiking trails from campgrounds: Several sites provide direct trail access without driving. At Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA, "Walking trail starts at the campground," according to Sara R., while another camper notes it "Backs up to a great hike. Close to Harrisonburg with all the great breweries!"
Cave explorations: The Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages offers on-site cave tours with discounts for campers. As Clark P. describes, "Their cavern tour was lovely. Marked well, lighted, relaxed. Our tour guide, Haley, was a sweetheart, taking time for the two little kids, and still giving the information older people like."
Night sky viewing: Many campgrounds provide excellent stargazing opportunities due to limited light pollution. At Wolf Gap, campers report exceptional night viewing: "It was quiet at night in my little corner of camp and I could walk out a bit from my site and see the entire night sky which was amazing!"
What campers like
Natural water features: Several campgrounds offer sites along streams or small rivers. At Creekside Campground, campers praise the waterfront locations: "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. There were a variety of birds who frequented the stream and were fun to watch."
Wildlife encounters: Many campers mention wildlife sightings as a highlight. 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," writes Veronica S., while another reviewer noted, "We saw many deer and bear while camping."
Mountain views: Several campsites provide panoramic valley views. At Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, Matt S. describes "The best view from a campsite we've ever experienced" with "Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have limited facilities during off-season. Carol B. from Big Meadows notes: "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30)... Showers and laundry were closed for the season... It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F."
Site selection matters: Campground terrain varies significantly between loops. At Endless Caverns, Sara M. advises, "Be very particular with your site selection! Sites in section E appear tighter with less shelter. The higher sites might require your TV have 4WD."
Bug activity: Insects can be prevalent in certain seasons. One camper at Loft Mountain Campground reports: "Unfortunately our campsite was bumblebee invested. It was cool to watch them, but they got into everything," while another mentions, "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head."
Bathroom facilities: Availability and quality vary by campground and season. Some have flush toilets and showers, while others offer vault toilets only. At Loft Mountain, "The shower was about 0.3 miles away. They charge $5 for 10 min, which you have to pay in quarters."
Tips for camping with families
Campground activities: Some sites offer structured activities for children. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, families appreciate the amenities: "The kids loved running off in the open field and playing on the zip line. We loved that we could see them from our site. The birthday boy also loved the outdoor laser tag!"
Wildlife education: Many campgrounds offer ranger programs focusing on local wildlife. At Big Meadows, Kim L. mentions the "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs," while Loft Mountain has "very cool programs" at the visitor center.
Fire safety: Fire restrictions vary by campground and season. Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm has specific fire concerns: "The tall grass is too close in the more private fire circle for fire safety," according to Cindy W., while most established campgrounds provide metal fire rings or stone-lined pits.
Food storage: Bear activity requires proper food storage at many sites. Big Meadows provides "bear box for food storage" while another camper noted at Loft Mountain to "check if you need a food locker" as "not all have a bear food locker."
Tips from RVers
Road gradients: Access roads to many campgrounds include steep sections. Michael H. at Creekside Campground advises, "The drive in requires about 25-miles through the roller coaster of steep grade(7+%) hills. There's no way around that, you're in the mountains. Just be aware and be prepared."
Site leveling: Many sites require adjustment for proper leveling. At Jellystone, one RVer noted: "Our only real drawback was our site was not even close to level. It probably shouldn't have been available for a 40'+ RV."
Hookup locations: Utility placement varies by campground. At Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, Matt S. appreciates that "Hookups were well positioned" while Dale Y. at Harrisonburg KOA similarly notes, "The power pole is well positioned."
Connectivity challenges: Cell service and WiFi can be limited. Dale Y. reports, "Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees."
