Fort Valley Ranch Campground is one of several equestrian-friendly camping options near Rileyville, Virginia, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet. The region typically experiences mild springs and falls with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s during day and 60s at night. Winter camping is limited as many facilities close from December through March due to occasional snow and freezing temperatures.
What to do
Hiking at Big Meadows Campground: Located within Shenandoah National Park, this campground provides access to numerous hiking trails. "Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," notes Kim L., who also mentions "nice trails are accessible from campground." The campground sits at higher elevation with trails ranging from easy to strenuous.
Fishing opportunities: The Cove Campground features multiple fishing spots. "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," reports one visitor. The campground provides both lake and pond fishing without requiring extensive hiking.
Swimming and water activities: Water recreation options expand beyond fishing. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish," explains Fred F. The swimming area includes designated zones for children and adults.
What campers like
Privacy despite crowds: Big Meadows Campground receives praise for its spacious layout. "Campground was busy but never felt like we were sharing someone else's tent stakes," writes Jacob S. Another camper notes, "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site, B112, was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy."
Clean facilities: Facility maintenance stands out at several campgrounds. Bull Run Regional Park campers appreciate the bathroom cleanliness: "They're worth staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls... Best camping showers I've ever had," writes Yvonne B. Bathrooms are typically cleaned daily with hot water available.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple equestrian campgrounds near Rileyville provide wildlife observation opportunities. At Big Meadows, campers report frequent wildlife encounters: "Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Bear box for food storage." The deer populations are particularly active at dawn and dusk, making these prime viewing times.
What you should know
Reservations essential: Many campgrounds in the region fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. At Bull Run Regional Park, "We arrived late at night and finding our site was easy," but this requires advance planning as sites are reserved months ahead for summer weekends.
Weather preparation: Temperature variations require planning. At Big Meadows, a winter camper notes: "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water." Elevation affects temperatures with higher campgrounds averaging 5-10 degrees cooler than Rileyville.
Bug awareness: Insects vary by season and location. "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head and try to enter every orifice for some reason. A head net was helpful to get the tent and screen room set up," explains a Big Meadows camper. Bug activity peaks from May through September, particularly after rainfall.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple activity options: Graves Mountain Farm Campground provides diverse activities beyond horseback riding. "For kids, there is a duck pond, chicken coop, shallow brook, disable farm tractor, and some other stuff to play with/on/in across the street near the lodge," explains Matt. Activities typically require no additional fees beyond camping costs.
Evening entertainment: Planned activities enhance family camping experiences. "Great family friendly campground. We will definitely be going back," says a Bull Run visitor who enjoyed organized events: "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies significantly across horse campgrounds near Rileyville. At Graves Mountain, a camper notes "No cell service" while Shenandoah Crossing typically offers better coverage. Families requiring reliable communications should check service availability beforehand.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness varies: Shenandoah Crossing receives mixed reports about site conditions. "We reserved a 'pull-through' RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level," reports one RVer. Request specific site information when booking, particularly for larger rigs.
Road access challenges: Several equestrian campgrounds have challenging access roads. A Trout Pond Recreation Area visitor cautions about "some pretty steep inclines to even get to the campgrounds. Unless you have a powerful vehicle pulling your camper, it would help to release your water supply and fill up when you get to the campground."
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal at horse-friendly campgrounds near Rileyville. Check specific site amenities, as one camper at The Cove Campground notes: "There are 4 water spigots in camp 1. However all the travel trailers hooked up, which means you either had to make friends or disconnect their water in order to have access."
