Cabin camping near Broadway, Virginia offers access to both the Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah National Park. The area sits at elevations ranging from 1,000 feet in the valley to over 3,000 feet along Skyline Drive, with seasonal temperature variations of 30°F to 85°F depending on altitude. During fall foliage season, cabins situated at higher elevations provide earlier color viewing opportunities than valley locations.
What to do
Swimming and tubing: At Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River, visitors can take advantage of river access for water activities. "The ride down the river from one end of the park to the other is around 30 minutes," notes Joe, adding that "they even have a spot for you to get in and swim."
Mountain biking: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground maintains trails for various skill levels. "Park offers very doable hiking and mountain biking options for beginners," states Laura N. The park has "tons of trails, wildlife and activities in and near the park."
Stargazing: Cabin locations at higher elevations provide excellent night sky viewing. At Big Meadows Campground, Rachel M. mentions they "love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night." Another camper, Veronica S., notes "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."
What campers like
Privacy levels: Many campers appreciate sites with natural buffers. At Loft Mountain Campground, Annie B. notes, "The sites were fairly close, but separated by trees, so you felt private. You could hear people on the other side of the trees, but no one was loud and it was very quiet and peaceful at night!"
Winter amenities: Some cabins remain accessible year-round with heating systems. Carol B. reported staying at Big Meadows "the last night of the season (Nov30)" when temperatures dropped to "a low of 14F" and was "very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water."
Wildlife encounters: The region offers opportunities to safely observe wildlife from cabins. Lexa L. from Lewis Mountain Campground mentions, "My husband and I brought along our 10 month old daughter and 2 German Shepherds" and "came across numerous friendly backpackers!" Other campers report regular deer sightings with Kim L. noting the "busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground."
What you should know
Availability patterns: Most cabin facilities fill quickly during peak seasons. At Lewis Mountain, Danielle V. warns, "Reservations are first-come, first-served, which makes it a bit tricky. Out of the 31 sites (including host site), only 3 remained when we arrived at about 1:45 PM on a Friday afternoon, and those remaining filled up within the hour."
Internet connectivity: Cell service varies significantly by location and carrier. Dale Y. at Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA 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."
Weather considerations: Mountain locations experience rapid weather changes. John B. mentions about Shenandoah River State Park: "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. Water and electrical available at all the spots even though it was winter."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. Casey L. advises about Luray RV Resort: "If you have kids definitely get closer to the play ground, you won't regret it! Bathhouse was clean, very well manicured campground, amazing views of the mountains and riverfront access for tubing."
Educational programs: Look for ranger-led activities that engage children. Kim L. notes Big Meadows has a "nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs" and is "meticulously clean with daily restroom cleaning and trash pick up."
Swimming opportunities: Natural swimming areas provide family recreation. Sarah C. at Rivers Edge Campground appreciates this "small, comfortable, family run campground that has enough amenities to keep the littles entertained and adults relaxing" noting "they have an honest to goodness swimming hole!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Check campground reviews for level pad information. At Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA, Sara R. comments, "Hookups were well positioned. WiFi worked pretty well. Overall a great KOA."
Winter accessibility: Some cabin locations remain open year-round with services. Kathy L. describes Harrisonburg KOA as having "clean, full RV hookups, easy in and out" and being "about 3 miles off highest 81, and no highway noise at all."
Store proximity: Plan for supply runs since on-site stores vary in inventory. Matt S. notes about Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, "Less than 20-minutes from Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns" making it convenient to restock supplies from town while staying in a cabin.
