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North Fork Resort offers a spacious dog park area and pet-friendly accommodations along the banks of the Shenandoah River. Multiple campgrounds near Chester Gap welcome pets with varied amenities, including Luray KOA with what campers describe as the largest dog park of any campground in the area. Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground allows pets at tent sites, RV spots, and cabins, while Gooney Creek Campground provides primitive creekside sites where dogs can swim in the creek. Mathews Arm and Big Meadows campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park maintain pet-friendly policies for tent and RV camping. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray accepts pets at all accommodation types including cabins, glamping options, and yurts. Most campgrounds require pets to be leashed when outside designated off-leash areas.
Fenced dog exercise areas at several campgrounds provide safe spaces for dogs to run freely. Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views features dog-friendly facilities near farmland where sheep, goats, and llamas graze adjacent to campsites. Many campgrounds provide pet waste stations throughout the grounds, with several offering convenient amenities like on-site firewood delivery while pet owners remain at their sites. The proximity to Shenandoah National Park trails creates excellent opportunities for hiking with leashed dogs, though pet policies vary by trail. Front Royal Veterinary Clinic operates within 15 miles of most Chester Gap area campgrounds. Bull Run Regional Park combines pet-friendly camping with numerous weekend activities for families traveling with dogs. Particularly noteworthy for RV campers is the terrain at some campgrounds, with uneven or sloped sites sometimes challenging for larger rigs with pets.
"Our patio was on the side next to the road which was a little close to traffic but we still loved siting there, especially in the evening with a campfire."
"Tons of trails great for families with dogs or those wanting to get out and hike. The campsite featured some of the best bathroom/ shower houses, they were super clean and well maintained."
from $27 - $427 / night
Check Availability"This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!)"
"The pull in area was paved and behind it was a nice flat tent area."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"We are tent campers and we’re looking for a place close to Shenandoah to ride our motorcycles. This was 3 miles from the north entrance to the park, perfect."
"Hike up a trail or up through the creek itself to a swimming hole only accessible to campers. Saw some decent sized fish swimming around in there."
"Stayed here with three other girls and my dog- it was a great spot! Nice and close to some great trails for our evening walk, and nothing beats staying Inside the NP!"
"This was a great campground location to many, many National Park Trails. Our stay was during the last week of September. We met up with family who live in the area and got 3 sites hugging the AT."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Lots of fun stuff to do for adults, children, and pets. Will definitely visit again!"
"Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."
"In the valley outside of Shenandoah, it was a nice spot to return to at night. There are also some hiking trails across the street."
"Campground Review: What a great find, so close to a town….though feels like you are deep in the forest!"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Positive: Friendly staff, near the river, close to Shenandoah NP, quiet camping, every site has a fire pit. Negative: sanitary fascilities are old."
"Sites 31 and 32 (despite being near the campground’s public river access) look large and private. Both riverside."
from $30 - $125 / night
Check Availability"Parking is in a locked lot steps away from trail head which leads to campsites about a mile away. Campsites are in a wooded area of park well away from other park attractions so it's very quiet."
"But you have to drive up to the main building, register, go back to the overnight lot, put in the gate code, hang the lot tag on your mirror, and hike in to the site."
from $21 - $112 / night
Check Availability"Great spot right outside Shenandoah NP with quick access to the park or nearby trails. great fishing and hikes for kids, too!"
"There are a couple of sites that have a path to the creek that flows behind the campground.There is also plenty of hiking trails to be completed around the campgrounds of various levels from beginner to"
"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"
TravelerWe began our membership here this June. it has a great atmosphere on the banks of the Shenandoah River. There are activities every weekend like concerts and group activities. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The facilities are clean and very convenient. Pet friendly; two dog parks.
LegendWe absolutely loved our stay at this state park. The sites are spacious with plenty of room for your RV (no matter what the size) and plenty of room for a screen room on your patio. Unlike in many private campgrounds, campsites are well-spaced out giving you some privacy so you don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbor. A scattering of trees provides some shade and privacy. The road in and out of the campground was steep but since it was paved we didn’t have a traction issue.
We stayed in site 10 which was a gravel back-in site. It was plenty long enough for our 45’ RV and tow car. Each campsite has an expansive patio with large firepit, picnic table, and raised grill for cooking. Our patio was on the side next to the road which was a little close to traffic but we still loved siting there, especially in the evening with a campfire. A few sites were paved and some were double sites which would be great if you are traveling with friends.
The park itself has numerous gravel/dirt trails along the river and throughout the park. The longest one travels all along the Shenandoah River, and you can access it directly from the RV campground. One day we walked the trail to the visitor center which has an amazing overlook near the visitor center. Inside are exhibits which were interesting and informative about the area. If you are looking for more and diverse trails, you are just minutes away from Shenandoah National Park. Don’t miss out on the famous Skyline Drive in Shenandoah.
The town of Front Royal is about 15 minutes away and where you will get cell/mobile data service and there are restaurants and supplies. We love the burgers at Spelunkers and wished we had more time to visit the Virginia Beer Museum. Chester Gap Cellars has great wine and incredible views. The only downsides of this park are that there is no sewer and no Verizon service. Even without those amenities, we loved our stay and would definitely come back.
GuideBeautiful views. Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites.
The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean.
It also had the largest dog park area of any campground I’ve ever seen.
Very nice pool, friendly staff and firewood available for purchase. They will even deliver right to your site.
Very close to downtown Luray, which has great shops and restaurants. There is a very nice 2 mile long walking trail, the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, near the campground that will take you right into town.
Also close by to some excellent hiking, wineries, breweries and distilleries.
ScoutWe recently stayed for a long weekend at the Outlanders campground after we received a referral from a friend and could not have been more happy with our stay. The RV sites at this campground are very spaced out, you have a lot of room to each side of your RV. The park and facilities were very clean. They have a playground for the kids, fishing ponds, cabins, pet friendly with a dog park and they are located right along the Shenandoah river. You can go tubing on the river but need to provide your own tubes. The ride down the river from one end of the park to the other is around 30 minutes. Also for all of the people attached to the internet like us we were able to have plenty of cell signal to hotspot and get internet.
ScoutThis campground is very close to Luray Caverns and all that they have to offer. There is also a Duke's of Hazzard themed museum and store where they do live music on weekends nearby, it's called Cooter's. This campground is very small but quiet. It does border cow pasture land so when the wind shifts you get the smell but it wasn't constant and it wasn't unbearable. They have 2 swimming pools and a very large dog park. The bath houses were clean and well maintained. I would definitely recommend this campground.
LegendThis place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September. The original site the gave us had a large rut and washed out spot, so we could not get level. I checked in the office and the reassigned another space that was much better. Full hook ups, nice clean shower and bathrooms, playground, pool, large dog park.
ScoutOverall great camp ground only thing I noticed is at some of the RV sites the hook ups are in crazy spots some are In the neighboring sites area so you have to drag extensions around them. Also the pool and dog park isn’t on site you have to leave to go to it.
TravelerStayed here for two weeks in early March. Newly renovated campground with a lot of amenities. Very helpful staff. The campground is a lot of money upgrading services, capabilities, and extra activities (St Patrick's Day parade and dinner). While we were there they added street signage (very helpful) and installed a Bocce Ball field. Two fenced dog parks. Campsites are level gravel (no pads). Located near multiple vineyards. Our only complaint was that the sewage connection was slightly higher than the black tank outlet on our Airstream. The majority of camp sites are very close together, and the sites closer to the highway experience highway noise.
TravelerWe stayed here for 3 nights. Perfect campground with everything you need. Bathrooms are very clean. Ice, propane, and other items are available on site at the store. Halloween was in full effect including a haunted walk. Sites are spacious and have natural stone in ground fire pits instead of rusted metal rims which adds character. Dog park, pool, and plenty of games are available on site. Harrisonburg is down the road if you to need to stop in town.
Chester Gap sits at the northern edge of Shenandoah National Park at 1,300 feet elevation, offering cooler summer temperatures than surrounding valleys. The area features mixed hardwood forests and mountain streams, with numerous camping options ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV parks. Proximity to the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah River makes it a popular base camp for outdoor enthusiasts.
Hiking trails access: The Elizabeth Furnace Campground provides direct access to multiple hiking trails. One camper notes, "Great hiking trails taking off from the campground and a stocked trout stream, will keep the kids and kids at heart busy." Different skill levels are accommodated, from beginner paths to challenging routes.
River activities: Many campsites sit directly on the Shenandoah River, providing easy water access. At Low Water Bridge Campground, "They took us up river and dropped us so we could kayak back. Their store had everything that we had forgotten with good prices." The campground offers shuttle services for tubing and kayaking trips that end right at your campsite.
Mountain biking: Shenandoah River State Park offers trail running and mountain biking opportunities along riverside paths. A visitor shared, "There are trails that run right by the campsites! So good for a hike or a nice morning trail run! I chose to run in the morning and ran the trail right along the Shennandoah River!"
Wildlife viewing: Wildlife encounters are common throughout the area. At Mathews Arm Campground, one visitor experienced, "We even had a doe and fawn right in our campsite! Just be careful of the black bears." Ranger-led programs often focus on local wildlife identification and safety.
Swimming holes: Gooney Creek Campground offers unique swimming spots accessible only to campers. As one reviewer described, "Hike up a trail or up through the creek itself to a swimming hole only accessible to campers. Saw some decent sized fish swimming around in there. Hike even further up through the creek and there's a second swimming area."
Stargazing: The elevation and distance from major cities provides excellent night sky viewing. A camper at Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground remarked, "It was beautiful and the stars at night were breathtaking." Many campgrounds have open meadow areas ideal for nighttime astronomy.
Bear safety: Bears are active throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. At Big Meadows Campground, "You may not pick up any wood around your site for preservation purposes. Can only burn wood with a USDA stamp. Heavily regulated." Bear boxes are provided at some sites, while others require hanging food.
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited or no cell service. One camper at Low Water Bridge noted, "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."
Weather preparation: The mountain location means rapidly changing weather conditions. A visitor to Big Meadows warned, "If your visit to Shenandoah calls for rain, I'd avoid this campground. The drainage must be faulty because when we arrived, most of the available sites were too muddy to set up our tent."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Chester Gap, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Chester Gap, VA is Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Chester Gap, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 108 dog-friendly camping locations near Chester Gap, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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