The Shenandoah Valley region surrounding Craigsville, Virginia offers camping options at elevations between 1,500-2,500 feet with terrain transitioning from rolling hills to mountain slopes. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F while fall nights can drop below 40°F by October. Most campgrounds in this area maintain gravel interior roads with variable widths depending on location and proximity to water features.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Crabtree Falls Campground offers immediate access to one of Virginia's most impressive waterfalls just a mile up the road. "The falls are a great hike and there are lots of services nearby. A great Parkway stop," notes one visitor about the convenient location near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Music festivals and events: Glen Maury Park hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year. "There are many activities such as a bluegrass festival, fiddle festival, and jazz festival. This year they built large models of the twin towers and had a program about them on September 11th," writes one camper who appreciated the variety of programming.
Brewery and cidery tours: The region features numerous craft beverage locations within short driving distances. At Devils Backbone Camp, "You are a quick walk to the brewery and café, where you can grab breakfast, lunch or dinner... You are also a stone's throw away from a ton of other really great breweries and wineries."
What campers like
Riverside camping spots: Several campgrounds offer sites directly adjacent to water. At Crabtree Falls Campground, "The tent sites we stayed in were 10 ft away from the Tye river, we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night." This natural sound barrier creates a peaceful environment even when other campers are nearby.
Wildlife encounters: Shenandoah Valley Campground features resident wildlife that campers enjoy observing. "Bunnies everywhere! Great campground with lots to do with the family. My kids loved all the bunnies, the river, pool and putt-putt," reports one visitor with children.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds maintain stocked fishing ponds or river access. "There is a very nice playground and a pet exercise area. You can fish in the lake though we didn't catch anything," reports one camper at Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park. Other visitors recommend bringing fishing poles to take advantage of these amenities.
What you should know
Variable cell service: Connectivity ranges widely across rv campgrounds near Craigsville, Virginia depending on terrain. "No wifi, no cable and cell service is limited - definitely not good for Verizon. There were no fewer than half a dozen people walking around with their phones held high trying to get a signal," reports one camper at Shenandoah Valley Campground.
Seasonal operation: Several campgrounds close during winter months. Sherando Lake Campground operates from April through October, with different amenities available throughout the season. "Coming in the middle of the week is the best time if you like to have peace and quiet and the place all to yourself," advises one regular visitor.
Bear awareness: Wildlife management practices vary between parks. One camper at Sherando Lake noted, "Each site has its own food locker which is really important because bears actually frequent the area. A young bear was repeatedly visiting site A9 up the road from me and I had to chase him off when he came near my site!"
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley offers multiple water features. "The swimming lake cools ya off but is pretty dirty- had to wash my suit twice to get it clean," notes one visitor, suggesting families might want to pack extra swimwear for extended stays.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "There is a playground that is very nice! They offer entertainment on weekends and some other times of the year," explains a Glen Maury Park visitor, making this location suitable for families needing structured activity areas.
Transportation considerations: Some larger campgrounds require significant walking between amenities. "The facilities that were about a quarter mile walk away from our sites; this is something to consider if you are camping with older folks or children," advises a Crabtree Falls visitor regarding bathhouse distance from tent sites.
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: At Devils Backbone Camp, "If you stay at a full hook up site and are parked in an odd number spot, you will need an extra long sewer hose to reach the connection... The sewer connection for the odd number sites is on the opposite side of the RV than the electricity and water."
Site selection for slide-outs: At Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA, some sites have space limitations. "We were in site 15. It was a very small site with a half deck. If we had camper with slide, we would not have been able to use our slide in this site," cautions an RVer who stayed at this year-round facility.
Interior road navigation: Stoney Creek Resort accommodates larger RVs but requires careful driving. "All are back in and some can be difficult due to some trees but all are manageable and they base your site on your rig size so they know their site sizes well," explains one RVer who navigated the 400-site campground successfully.
