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Fort Valley Ranch provides primitive and RV camping options for horse enthusiasts near Casanova, Virginia. The 45-site campground accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins with full hookup amenities including electric, water, and sewer connections. While the campground doesn't feature dedicated horse corrals, it offers facilities suitable for equestrian visitors with ample trailer parking. The campground maintains clean bathroom facilities with showers and provides picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Most sites are sufficiently sized for both living accommodations and horse trailers, though advance reservations are recommended during peak seasons.
Trail access connects riders to the surrounding terrain with multiple bridle paths accessible directly from the property. The campground's location provides convenient access to regional riding destinations in the broader northern Virginia area. Water sources for horses are available, and campers should inquire about specific horse-related policies when making reservations. The campground enforces standard equestrian camping etiquette including manure management requirements. Seasonal considerations include higher occupancy during fall foliage and spring seasons when weather conditions are optimal for riding. Nearby Shenandoah National Park offers additional trail riding opportunities with established horse trails, though overnight horse camping within the park has different regulations than at Fort Valley Ranch.
"History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."
"We have lived in northern Virginia for over 30 years and never been to this campground until this month! Very nice campground with friendly staff and friendly campground hosts."
from $43 - $100 / night
Check Availability"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
"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. "
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"We have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids."
"We enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night and walking the dogs down to the water. We were right next to a hiking trail that went down to the water and a beach area."
from $37 - $170 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"We picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop."
"There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"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
Check Availability
LegendI grew up going to this campground. It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice.
There is a nice pool, arcade, camp store, horse riding, and the camp sites are pretty nice.
All around good place to camp.
GuideWe picked up the camping registration outside the office at the entrance, no need to speak with anyone. Then we just drove down to our campsite in the family camping loop. We could hear and smell horses when we got to our campsite, but it didn't last forever.
The site was mostly clean, had a few pieces of small trash scattered around when we arrived. The sites were decently spaced out from one another, it didn't feel like we were right on top of the people across and next to us. Our site was close to the restroom, it had a little path leading to the restroom, and it looked like there was little trail paths all around leading to the restrooms from the different parts of the loop. The path leading to the restroom from our site was gravel and easy to walk on. The restrooms were clean, but the floor was wet almost the entire time we were there (likely due to the showers).
If you need to buy wood it is $5 for 8 pieces and you call a number given to you in your registration packet. The ranger will then drive by and drop off the wood at your campsite. The inner ring of this loop has electricity, and the electric box was just on the far side of the picnic table in the corner.
GuideLooked forward to camping at Graves Mountain and enjoy the festivities. The campsite is very very small. They say dispersed, but it is a small field as you can not access the others fields. Horse trailers, rvs, tents, and overland trailers all park right next that to each other. We set up away from everyone to properly distance ourselves due to their covid protocols. They told us to move next to others but there was no space. We got our money back and moved to another site. I would avoid this campsite. If you want to visit it for the apple or Fall festival just camp somewhere else and drive to it. No amenities. No cell service.
TravelerBOTTOM LINE: 3.5 Stars. We had a fine time camping here, but probably would not stay again unless some friends were going and wanted to stay. Not bad, but not great and not my personal preference for camping. Any recommendation to stay would be dependent on what you're looking for--it might be for you, but just wasn't for us.
Acknowledging that reviews are totally subjective, here is a brief summary of some of the pros and cons (in our humble opinion):[
PROS/CONS
Pros:
Cons:
Again, we recognize a lot is subjective; but it just wasn't for us. We'd camp here again if others wanted to, but wouldn't choose to come back.
I'm happy to elaborate on any particular bullets.
HELPFUL TIPS:
LegendLovely time in the yurt! Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites.
GuideSaw a snake, alligator snapping turtle, and rabbits, before we even reached the gates. Moderate privacy and space, especially considering how close it is to DC. There are some abandon camp loops around the open campground which makes for some cool walks with your dog. Very pretty area with lots of trails and overgrown roads to walk. Equestrian trails go deep into the woods if you want a longer trail. Bathrooms don’t look like much from the outside, but the inside is very nice. Clean, hot water, and good water pressure. The have a new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower. It was hot, so it was OK. Hahaha. They sell firewood, but they were huge pieces and getting them to start burning was tough. LOTS and LOTS of ticks. I got one, but my wife and dog got about a dozen each. Just bring tweezers. Each site had picnic table, fire ring, and pretty level parking spot.
ScoutBeautiful sunsets over the stables and horse pastures. We reserved a “pull-through” RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level. Also, after staying for two weeks, the bathhouse next to our site was closed because of lack of electricity. Which forced us to drive up to the indoor pool (nice) and use the showers there. Inconvenient, but we made it work.
RangerWe stayed at a "group" site D167, which allows up to 15 people and 4 cars. While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people. First of all, it's located in the middle of a large patch of grass right next to other family campsites, so no privacy at all. If you travel with friends you might want to stay up a little longer and have a good laugh around the fire, but this site isn't really designed this way. The quiet hours are after 10PM and it's enforced. Second, the space is really limited, especially if your group members have larger tents. Also, there's no overflow parking, except at the entrance to the campground.
The showers are nice and clean, but they are coin operated.
The rangers are very strict. We had some food related items left on the table (salt/pepper shakers) and they were confiscated while we were hiking. I'm not saying it's wrong, but be aware, because these rules are not enforced at the same level in different places. We ended up with a $80 fine.
Also, since this is a national park, you cannot bring the firewood from outside, have to buy it in the park.
Other than that, we enjoyed our stay. The campground location allow an easy access to many trails within Shenandoah National Park, as well as close by, such as our favorite Old Rag Mountain. It's also technically a part of the NP, so keep your entrance receipt to show at the Old Rag's parking lot.
Make sure you taste blackberry ice cream at the general store at the entrance. It's a local specialty and it's delicious!!!
ScoutWe camped several nights in our 23ft. travel trailer. Our site A85 was just long enough to fit our trailer and truck. We were able to use our generator at this site. 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. They were clean and even though the campground was nearly full we never had to wait in line. We also did our laundry one evening. The machines were all working and it was quite reasonably priced. Big Meadows campground is so conveniently located to the Visitor's center and many local trails. The horse stables were just down the road. The lodge/restaurant was near the campground and we enjoyed a special dinner out one evening on the deck overlooking the beautiful Luray Valley.
Equestrian camping near Casanova, Virginia offers riders access to trails through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 300-1500 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with fall bringing temperatures between 45-70°F, creating ideal riding conditions with minimal insects and colorful foliage. Most equestrian campgrounds in the area provide basic facilities with varying levels of horse accommodations.
Trail riding through Shenandoah National Park: Connect to established horse trails within an hour's drive of Casanova. "There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish," notes a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Fishing in local ponds: Several campgrounds maintain stocked fishing areas where campers can try their luck. At Fort Valley Ranch, "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill."
Explore historical sites: The region contains significant Civil War landmarks within short driving distance. One camper at Bull Run Regional Park mentions, "Lots of history near by so check out the old battle fields and buildings that housed troops during civil war. Very cool stuff."
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate thoughtfully spaced camping areas. At Big Meadows Campground, "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms rank high in camper satisfaction. A camper at Pohick Bay Campground shares, "Sites are spacious and decently level (depends on the site I'm sure). Amenities and such are what you'd expect - clean but not new."
Wildlife viewing: The chance to observe local animals enhances the camping experience. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," reports a visitor to Big Meadows Campground.
Weather considerations: Fall and spring offer optimal conditions for riding and camping. A reviewer at Cedarville State Forest notes, "We stayed in site 18. Which is next to one of the water spigots. Lots of trails but in June at least the ticks were waaaay too plentiful."
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. At Bull Run Regional Park, one camper warns, "There are occupancy AND transaction fees that really add up if you're only there a few nights. But the real kicker is a 2-night minimum stay. Even mid-week."
Site characteristics: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds. A visitor to Cedarville State Forest mentions, "The sites for tents are big enough for a 4 person tent. There are clean bathrooms and the hosts, who I have spoken to many times, are friendly and knowledgeable about the area."
Horse-focused activities: Schedule riding experiences in advance. At Shenandoah Crossing, families enjoy "Plenty to do at the resort... Kayak, putt putt, tennis, swim in one of the pools, hot tub, work out in the gym, walk on trails, ride horses, take a carriage ride or eat at the 'real' restaurant."
Rainy day options: Weather can change quickly in the region. A Bull Run visitor shares, "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it. They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Wildlife safety: Store food properly in areas with bear activity. A Big Meadows Campground camper notes, "Bear box for food storage. Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Fire ring with grate was available. Large site size."
Site leveling considerations: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven terrain. At Shenandoah Crossing, one RVer cautions, "We reserved a 'pull-through' RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level."
Access road navigation: Some campgrounds have challenging approaches for larger rigs. A Fort Valley Ranch visitor shares, "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."
Dump station availability: Plan for waste management needs. "The new dump station, but the hose has an anti-freeze up in the air with a pull cord valve. This means every time you pull to turn the water on, you get a shower," warns a camper at Cedarville State Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Casanova, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Casanova, VA is Bull Run Regional Park with a 3.9-star rating from 43 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Casanova, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Casanova, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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