Campers near Dayton, Virginia, can access nearly 600,000 acres of George Washington National Forest within a 30-minute drive. The region sits at elevations between 1,100 and 4,400 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the camping season. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer camping typically experiences 15-20°F temperature differences between valley and mountain campsites.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Big Meadows Campground provides access to numerous waterfall trails. "There are several campsites available at this National Park. I like this campsite particularly because its close to one of my favorite waterfall hikes in VA," notes a Big Meadows Campground visitor.
Mountain biking trails: Access extensive trail systems directly from your campsite. "Stokesville campground offers access to lots of miles of trails in George Washington National Forest. Four miles of flow mountain bike trails inside the campground with endless miles of trails just outside," according to a Stokesville Campground review.
Riverside relaxation: Camp directly on the Shenandoah River with easy water access. "The primitive spots are right next to the river. The spots are a short walk from the parking area and the campground provides wagons to transport your stuff. Great fishing and swimming right at your camping spot," explains a visitor to Shenandoah River State Park.
What campers like
Level sites with mountain views: Many campsites feature stunning views without difficult parking. "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. Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening," shares a camper from Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.
Clean facilities: Even the most rustic campsites maintain good standards. "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," notes a Big Meadows visitor.
Hiking accessibility: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. "KOAs have a standard formula that you can count on: clean, full RV hookups, easy in and out etc. This one has all that - and more! One of the features I look for in campground is hiking trails right out of the campground. Most KOAs don't have that - but this one does!" shares a Harrisonburg KOA camper.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have weak or no cellular coverage. "Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees," reports a Harrisonburg KOA visitor.
Seasonal bugs: The region experiences significant insect activity in warmer months. "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.
Weather variability: Be prepared for sudden temperature changes, especially at higher elevations. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," notes a November visitor at Big Meadows Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-focused amenities: Some campgrounds provide extensive family activities. "This is a family/pet friendly campground, with several dogs barking nonstop with no one trying to shush them, including one extremely loud and ear splitting barker that barked for about ten minutes straight. Also, children screaming extremely loudly since 7am," warns a Natural Chimneys visitor, highlighting the noisy but family-friendly atmosphere.
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with water features for summer months. "The swimming 'lake' cools ya off but is pretty dirty- had to wash my suit twice to get it clean. They had a band one night we were there and it was fun listening," shares a visitor to Shenandoah Acres Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Many children enjoy animal sightings at camp. "Big Meadow has many amenities which make it popular and oftentimes crowded during weekends and holiday's. We saw many deer and bear while camping," reports a visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs equally. "The sites are large enough and level enough. The power pole is well positioned. While convenient to II 81, the campground is far enough away that there is no outside noise at all," explains a Harrisonburg KOA visitor.
Utility positioning: Check utility hookup locations before booking. "Our site 33 was full hookup and a very nice, mostly level, spacious, and had a covered picnic table on a deck. Not all sites have full hookup," notes a visitor to Walnut Hills Campground.
Road access challenges: Some glamping sites near Dayton have challenging approach roads. "The drive in requires about 25-miles through the roller coaster of steep grade(7+%) hills. There's no way around that, you're in the mountains. Just be aware and be prepared," warns an RVer who stayed at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.
