The Shenandoah foothills near Crozet, Virginia, sit at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet, creating diverse camping terrain throughout the region. The area experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 85°F and mild spring and fall seasons when camping conditions are optimal. Winter camping requires preparation for overnight lows that can drop below freezing from December through March.
What to do
Trail hiking opportunities: Big Meadows Campground offers access to numerous hiking paths with waterfall views. "Lots of beautiful hikes and bike course with awesome views of the valley," notes Tom C., who appreciates the campground's proximity to "one of my favorite waterfall hikes in VA."
Stargazing sessions: James River State Park provides exceptional dark sky viewing. "This is a wonderful spot for viewing the stars because of the lack of light pollution. James River State Park has been named an International Dark Sky Park," explains Daryl L.
Wildlife observation: Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows area offers frequent wildlife encounters. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience. With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," shares Rachel M.
What campers like
Private campsites: Big Meadows Campground offers well-spaced sites with natural screening. "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," reports Veronica S.
Clean facilities: Powhatan State Park maintains excellent bathhouses and grounds. "I was very happy to see such a clean bathhouse, especially during the current pandemic. Each staff member I encountered was extremely helpful and polite," mentions one reviewer who appreciated the "individual bathrooms with a shower in each one."
Swimming options: Multiple water recreation areas exist near Crozet. "The lake itself is very pretty, 40 acres and manmade. We brought innertubes and just floated but we saw people fishing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, and paddle boating," describes RL about Bear Creek Lake State Park.
What you should know
Site selection matters: For Bear Creek Lake State Park, "Acorn Loop has lake-front sites that I would highly recommend. Sites 4-12 are the best, with #11 being the best best: it's right on the water but also kind of tucked away a bit," advises RL.
Weather considerations: Big Meadows Campground sits at higher elevation where temperatures can drop significantly. "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 late-season camping.
Road access limitations: Graves Mountain Farm Campground has somewhat remote access. "There is local firewood available at the General Store/Post Office in Syria, VA (~0.2 mi from campground); about $7/bundle (you'll probably need 3-4 bundles for a night)," suggests Matt, highlighting the limited nearby services.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation areas: Bear Creek Lake State Park offers family-friendly swimming. "There is a great swimming area with a little kids area that was so fun! We did a hike around the whole lake, lots of great views," shares Katie M.
Ranger programs: Big Meadows provides educational opportunities. "Campground is meticulously clean with daily restroom cleaning and trash pick up. Very small campground store on site but a much larger store at visitor center. Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs," highlights Kim L.
Farm experiences: Graves Mountain Farm offers unique agricultural activities. "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, adding that "Free range horses come back at dusk and head out at dawn -- fun to watch from the campground, especially for kiddos."
Tips for RVers
Site selection for equestrian camping near Crozet: Red Oak Campground at James River State Park accommodates horse trailers with specific areas. "There is an equestrian camping area (and stalls) for people with horses," notes Daryl L., mentioning that "Activities that can be done include tubing on the river, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding trails, wagon ride, and lots of park events."
Level sites: Powhatan State Park offers well-designed RV spots. "No full hookup (yes 30/50 amp). Well maintained trails, level sites," reports Ashley I., who appreciated the even terrain for parking larger vehicles.
Connectivity considerations: For those needing to work while enjoying horse camping facilities near Crozet, plan accordingly. "Verizon service is spotty 1 to 2 bars and unreliable data but with a directional cell booster we are able to get enough signal for our Verizon Jetpack to work," shares Micah B. about connectivity at James River State Park.
