5 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several rustic cabin rentals are available near Chester Gap, Virginia, with options at Shenandoah River State Park and "Cabbin" offering varying levels of amenities. The Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park provides climate-controlled cabins with electricity, running water, fully stocked kitchens, and proper furniture including tables, chairs, and bunk beds accommodating up to four guests. Some cabins feature wrap-around porches with rocking chairs. "Cabbin," located near the Appalachian Trail, offers more basic accommodations with kitchen facilities, a sitting room, and an upstairs bunk room. "Our family stayed at this cabin on a camping/driving trip down Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cabin was perfectly charming and set us up to camp our way down through Shenandoah NP."
Accommodation styles range from rustic to deluxe furnished cabins depending on location and price point. The two-bedroom climate-controlled cabins at Shenandoah River State Park include kitchen necessities, dishwasher pods, and toilet paper, while maintaining a more minimalist approach to furnishings. Most cabin sites feature outdoor amenities like picnic tables, fire pits, and grills. Pet policies vary by location, with Shenandoah River State Park and "Cabbin" both allowing dogs. According to one visitor, "The cabins are basic, but just enough that you need. Electricity, water on site, fan, lots of windows for sticky nights, 2 bunk beds, and a table with four chairs."
Many cabins require guests to bring their own linens, pillowcases, and towels, especially during COVID precautions. While some cabins provide cooking utensils, cutlery, and dish soap, others maintain a more rustic approach with limited amenities. The "Cabbin" location has food items available for purchase in their freezer, including pizza and other convenience foods. North Fork Resort offers more developed amenities with activities every weekend such as concerts and group gatherings. Most cabin areas provide access to clean bathroom and shower facilities nearby, with Shenandoah River State Park maintaining particularly well-kept facilities that include shampoo and body wash dispensers.
"Stayed in Camp Cabin 41 in middle August 2022. The cabins are basic, but just enough that you need."
"tl;dr- We stayed in a cabin February. The park and the cabins are very clean and well maintained. We enjoyed the many trails and walking our dog along the river."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $384 / night
"The picnic table and fire pit at each campsite was fantastic, and Pam was great and very helpful."
"The site is located near a highway, so getting a spot in the back is ideal. It is minutes from the Shenandoah State Park and multiple canoeing and tubing companies."
"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."
"Lots and lots of folks about, but still enough space to NOT feel encroached upon."
Available this weekend
from $30 - $75 / night
"had to stay here for a climbing trip in the offseason when other sites in the park were closed. definitely glamping with people all around. seems like a fun time for a family."
"beautiful location, nice campground. not a lot of woods but lots to do including jumping pillows, paddle boats, swimming. the cabins are spacious and nice though you have to bring your own linens. the"
"There are also overflow sites and those really aren’t bad (I’d avoid overflow #3 due to the proximity of portapotties). Most, if not all, sites have a fire ring and picnic table."
"Electricity is on the RV site, there is a dumping place for black/grey water. Positive: Friendly staff, near the river, close to Shenandoah NP, quiet camping, every site has a fire pit."
from $30 - $125 / night
"Pet friendly; two dog parks."
"First time visiting North Fork, didn’t explore as much as I wanted to, Campers are tightly parked next to one another, was invited by my Uncle to come have a good time and enjoy the atmosphere, go tubing"
"Usually go camping with a Little Guy teardrop trailer, but with the current state of the country, didn’t feel comfortable with sharing bathroom facilities. We booked Yurt #1. It was fantastic."
"We stayed in a level back-in site(#39) with picnic table on a concrete patio, Adirondack chairs under a pergola on a second concrete patio, clean gravel surface, and fire pit."
Available this weekend
from $31 - $219 / night
"Our family stayed at this cabin on a camping/driving trip down Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway."
from $25 - $155 / night
"This campsite is right off of the highway (not super busy at night)…if that is something you think will bother you, don't stay there. That being said, we loved it. It is quiet and clean."
"Clean restrooms. Camp store has everything you need. New pool and nice playgrounds. Rocking trolley to the Dairy Queen was great."
from $38 - $77 / night
"Even with a full campground, bathrooms and showers were always available. The campground also doubles as a water tubing outfitter on the Shenandoah River."
"One of my favorite parts of Virginia. This place is great because they have a bus to bring you back up river after a day of kayaking. Clean facilities and a nice little store."
from $32 / 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.
GuideLovely spot to camp as the temps drop. $30/night, first-come. Restrooms, fire pits, picnic tables, and mostly flat spots.
GuideGreat spot! Was first-come first-serve - we got there mid-afternoon on a Monday and it'd filled up by about 5pm. Clean & well-stocked facilities. All the sites are pretty close together/little seclusion, but those across from us (13) probably offered the most seclusion in the upper loop there. Firewood from the camp store (3rd party - not NPS) was $10/bundle, which was kind of expensive - will probably bring my own treated firewood next time. Very pretty sunset/sunrise. Good grassy/gravel spots for tenting.
GuideI fear that yurt glamping may have ruined me against tent camping again! This was absolutely lovely. We stayed in the painted horse yurt. Cozy, comfy, lots of amenities. The only downside here is the sulfur odor the water in the bathroom has, but it is very good for your skin at least! I’d stay here again for sure.
ScoutStayed here for 2 weekday nights in mid-October, late season. Nice & quiet. Warm showers, clean bathrooms, nice staff.
There was some vehicle activity with vehicles as they were still running river trips.
Very pleasant.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
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.
Cabins near Chester Gap, Virginia sit at the northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park, offering shelter at elevations ranging from 800 to 2,400 feet. Winter temperatures typically drop to the 20s while summer highs reach the upper 80s with significant humidity. These rustic accommodations provide shelter in an area known for its diverse wildlife including black bears, which are commonly sighted near several cabin areas.
River adventures: Low Water Bridge Campground offers prime access to the Shenandoah River. "Go bike, fish, swim, hike, relax," notes Jonny D. about nearby Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground. The park provides canoe launches and fishing spots along 5.2 miles of shoreline.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple cabin rental areas feature natural wildlife observation opportunities. "The children's programs offered on the weekends were great too. Wild life is visible everywhere you go," writes Melissa T. about her experience at Big Meadows. Black bear sightings are common during early morning and evening hours.
Cavern exploration: Luray Caverns sits just 20 minutes from most cabin locations near Chester Gap. The Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views provides convenient lodging options. "The campground is close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive as well as Luray Caverns and a few smaller tourist attractions including the Luray Zoo and Bear Mountain Zip-lines," explains Matt S.
River access sites: Riverside cabin accommodations remain particularly popular. "There are several rustic campsites located on the Southfork of the Shenandoah River, as well as modern electric sites, RV sites, and cabins. Park and campgrounds are clean and well maintained," reports Ricki F. about Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground.
Mountain views: Many cabin sites feature valley vistas. "Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening. Who could ask for more?" writes Matt S. about their cabin experience at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views. The elevated placement of many cabins affords views across the valley.
Seasonal amenities: Winter cabin stays include heated facilities at select locations. "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. The bathrooms were plentiful, heated, hot running water, and a utility sink available," reports Carol B. about Big Meadows Campground during the cold season.
Booking requirements: Many cabin rentals in the area require phone reservations. At Low Water Bridge Campground, "You have to call in your reservations - can't book online. The river sites are worth the few extra bucks, but they book up fast," explains RL.
Winter closures: Several cabin rental facilities close seasonally. Big Meadows operates from "May 6 to November 13" according to their season information. Showers and laundry facilities typically close during winter months even when cabins remain available.
Cell reception limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by location. "There is absolutely no Verizon service here (ATT seems to work pretty well). You'll have to drive 10-15 in either direction on Rt. 211 before you can catch a signal," notes RL about Low Water Bridge Campground.
Family-friendly activities: Several campgrounds provide structured children's programming. "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," shares Anne K. about her experience at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray.
Kid-friendly cabin options: When selecting accommodations with children, consider cabin placement. "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," reports Jen O. about their cabin selection at Jellystone Park.
Wildlife education: Engage children in safe wildlife observation. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," explains Rachel M. about her family's experience at Big Meadows, where ranger-led wildlife programs occur regularly during summer months.
Site selection: Choose cabin locations carefully when traveling with large RVs. "The RV sites are spaced out and have wooden fences on the sides. 30 amp service at the site. You can fill your water tanks as you enter the campground," advises Jeff H. about his stay at Low Water Bridge Campground.
Winter preparations: For cold weather stays, review heating capabilities. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," notes Carol B. about her winter experience at Big Meadows, highlighting the importance of proper cabin heating during winter months.
Maintenance considerations: Assess cabin condition before booking. "We stayed in a level back-in site(#39) with picnic table on a concrete patio, Adirondack chairs under a pergola on a second concrete patio, clean gravel surface, and fire pit," reports Matt S. about the well-maintained cabins at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Chester Gap, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Chester Gap, VA is Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 58 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Chester Gap, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 48 cabin camping locations near Chester Gap, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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