134 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Earlysville, Virginia range from developed facilities in Shenandoah National Park to private campgrounds with expanded amenities. The region includes notable options like Big Meadows Campground and Lewis Mountain Campground, both offering cabin accommodations alongside tent and RV camping within the national park. Private operations such as Devils Backbone Camp, Misty Mountain Camp Resort, and Charlottesville KOA provide alternatives with varying levels of amenities and proximity to local attractions. Most camping areas in the region support multiple accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals.
Road access varies significantly across the region's camping areas, with many sites situated along Skyline Drive requiring entrance fees to Shenandoah National Park. "The drive in from Swift Run Gap or the South Entrance is fairly easy, but off the road enough that you won't hear traffic," noted one camper about Loft Mountain Campground. Weather conditions are most favorable from late spring through early fall, with park campgrounds like Big Meadows operating seasonally from May through November. Private campgrounds such as Misty Mountain Camp Resort and Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA operate year-round. Cell service is limited within park boundaries and at some more remote private camping areas, though most developed campgrounds offer basic amenities including drinking water and restrooms.
Campers consistently highlight scenic views as a primary draw for camping in this region. Several visitors mentioned the proximity to hiking trails, particularly in Shenandoah National Park where campgrounds connect directly to popular paths including the Appalachian Trail. Wildlife viewing opportunities include potential black bear sightings, particularly at Loft Mountain Campground where bears are frequently spotted. Developed campgrounds near Earlysville generally provide clean facilities and maintained grounds, though some reviewers note that privacy between sites can be limited, particularly at more densely arranged locations. Many camping areas in the region feature forested settings with partial shade, though site exposure varies significantly between locations. Private campgrounds like Devils Backbone Camp offer unique amenities such as on-site breweries, while public lands focus more on natural surroundings and basic camping necessities.
"This campground is perfect for those looking to just get away from things for a couple of days."
"We got a walk in site, so our tent was way far away from cars and other people. The site included a fire pit w/grill grate, picnic table, and metal bear box."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
"Our site had the AT running right behind it. The was plenty of access to trails, and pretty central to the park. The campground is near showers, laundry, campstore, and visitor center."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"The winding layout allowed for more distance between other sites. The woods were beautiful with easy walking trails right from the site."
"Back in sites for smaller trailers such as our teardrop were plenty big enough but still on the outskirts of the field. Bath house was very clean and very well thought out."
from $35 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Lewis mountain has all the amenities of home within walking distance if you just can’t live without them; bathrooms,showers, kitchen sink, fire pit, small store and 2 personal vehicle parking spots steps"
"Arrived before the weekend, around late morning. Greeted by the park ranger, they gave the basic information for these sites. Limited spots here. You’re pretty close to your neighbor."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Such a sweet little spot tucked outside of the Blue Ridge Mountains."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"For the past four or five years I have come to this campground each year in the offseason, April or October, to visit while the temps in Virginia are cooler and less humid."
"It’s small, but we did not feel cramped or too close to others. The hooks were the closest we have ever had - which is very nice!"
from $45 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Convenient to the highway and easy to get to. Sites are well spaced. Hookups were well positioned. Walking trail starts at the campground. WiFi worked pretty well. Overall a great KOA."
"Positive: Friendly staff, close to Shenandoah NP, quiet camping, every site has a fire pit. Negative: Pricing rather high"
"First time camping in any part of Virginia, very nice and clean campground, not too much outside noise besides the random car driving on the one road near by."
"We set up camp then walked over to the brewery/ restaurant for some flights and dinner. I recommend grabbing some growlers to go. Showers and restrooms were clean."
from $25 - $140 / night
Check Availability
TravelerSomething for everybody; long term slots, primitive camping, with electricity and water, with full hookups, day use ramps for Lake Anna, huge covered picnic area for large gatherings, rv sites in the woods and others on the edge of large field. Staff are great.
GuideNo other available sites, so used tent site 35 parking spot to stay in campervan. Worked fine. Nice campground. Saw at least 10 deer along sides of road from entrance to campsite.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
GuideStopped here on my trip from Cherokee NC to Front Royal VA on the Blue ridge parkway and skyline drive. As in most NPS campgrounds, there are no hookups but the campground was nice and the weather was great. No AC needed.
RangerCool campground in a remote part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As such, very little phone service and lots of narrow, winding roads. Plenty of hikes and several interesting little towns within 30 minutes. I thought it was an interesting mix! We had a power outage during our visit, which also eliminates water access at this site. I was grateful to have an inverter to keep us online since there is zero AT&T service. I had a pull-through site and I'm not certain that I could have made the exit if the campers ahead of me didn't leave.
GuideWe started our trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, all the way up the Blue ridge parkway and Shenandoah skyline drive. We stayed in NPS campgrounds all the way. Some were less well maintained than others, no power or hookups but the trip was still incredible. Matthews Arm was one of the nicest campgrounds along the way. If you need a lot of amenities than you may not like it but if you just want a peaceful night in the mountains, this place is for you.
ScoutThe wifi test was done with my starlink not the campground wifi bc it doesn't exist.
To begin with I came physically up here from SC to check availability for long term stay. I was told there was a list and I would be put on that list and if a spot became available I would be notified (8-3-26). I was called (8-23-26) with availability and request for payment I paid then on the phone. My card the next following 3 days was ran for an additional total of 2400.00 every single morning an 800.00 charge I luckily had my card locked bc if not I would have been screwed. I was not given a reason why my card was ran so many times and not even an apology. I checked in on September 1st and was put in a site completely covered with tree limbs which is a problem as the only requirement I had was a clear view of the sky for my starlink to work for my remote work. For 2 whole weeks I went back and forth with the new GM Peggy. For 2 whole weeks I could NOT work the campground wifi is non existent. I was given the run around and a disrespectful attitude saying it wasnt there fault when it was known to begin with this was an absolute NEED not a want. Fast forward to today (9-12-26) I had issues with my power pole showing a short to ground and I was told its bc the poles are grounded to themselves but finally moved. The only catch was if I was to move I HAD TO LEAVE on october 1st per PEGGY the nee GM. So because of a miscommunication between staff of mine and my families needs bc my kids homeschooling I am forced to scramble to find another campground in two weeks when we live in our camper and work OTR. Its been nothing but problems here. The water taps are full of rust the GM judges you based off how you apear and treats you like dirt under the door mat. I was hoping this would be a good fit for me and my family but it has been nothing but the worst camping experience I have had in the past 5 years. The staff themselfs are great they tried to remedy the issue day one but PEGGY wouldnt allow it. I highly recommend going somewhere else and spending your hard earned money bc this place does not respect you as a customer or tenant. I talked with many campers who have been coming here for years since the 90s and they even say and feel the same the campground has declined since a management company purchased it. Also the long term rentals will be al.ost non existent unless you've bene coming here for 4 years or more. Cable is also non existent here. Its been a very VERY bad regretful experience. The lies from management and corporate baseline excuses are disgusting. Will NEVER camp here again. Take this as your honest warning from a normal person and a combat veteran. It dont take much to please me but this place has fell well below the bar. The site is was moved to before I get kicked out because they couldnt properly meet the needs of my stay allowed my starlink to work so I will be able to work 2 weeks before I am essentially nomadic again. If your tent camping bring water boots bc the tent sites seem to hold water. ALSO DONT LEAVE HONEST REVIEWS THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE NEGATIVES AND DOWNFALLS OF THIS PLACE OR THEY WILL TELL YOU YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
RangerThis KOA has cozy spots among the trees and off any major road. Shower houses are squeaky clean and spots are spaced out just right! Some extra amenities: playground, camper core signage, and many other things!
TravelerNice, clean, parking lot type campground. Great pool with lots of built in splash features for kids and a big slide. No real view from site 665 ~ just the top of some mountains. No river view at all. There is a golf cart trail to the river access with parking, but then there are big steps with no hand rail. Lucky a nice man let me hold onto him walking back up. My husband was carrying the gear and couldn’t help me. It seems everyone brought a golf cart. They had rentals, but too expensive. Again ~ great for young families.
Camping near Earlysville, Virginia presents options at elevations ranging from 400 to 3,500 feet across the Blue Ridge foothills. Located approximately 20 miles from Shenandoah National Park's Swift Run entrance, Earlysville's proximity allows campers to experience temperature variations of 5-10°F cooler at higher elevation campgrounds compared to those in the valleys.
Hike to mountain vistas: Loft Mountain Campground offers direct access to trails right from your site. "The AT runs right through the campground," notes Katrin M., who recommends taking a day trip to "the visitor center at the Big Meadow. They had very cool programs and really good food. I enjoyed a blackberry shake, which is kinda famous for the area."
Brewery exploration: Spend time at Devils Backbone Camp where camping and craft beer combine. "You can have several great beers with your meal and safely walk back to the camp site," shares Robert M. The brewery is accessible via "a 5 minute trail walk to the Devil's Backbone brewery," according to Chyna K., who notes it's also "close distance to hiking trails and other breweries and cideries."
Wildlife watching: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities across the camping areas. At Lewis Mountain Campground, Anne K. recommends exploring "Great hikes nearby including waterfalls and rock scrambles" where wildlife sightings are common. For night sky enthusiasts, Werner S. suggests "We visited during a weekday and there was more than enough availability...At night you could see stars. We took a walk to the overlook in the middle of the night to stargaze."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses receive consistent praise from campers. At Devils Backbone Camp, Vy N. reports they have "some of the nicest facilities of any campground I've stayed at." Similarly, at Misty Mountain Camp Resort, Mike G. confirms "Bath house was very clean and very well thought out," adding that "Electric sites have 20a, 30a, and 50a hookups so small trailers can use a normal extension cord."
Family activities: Many campgrounds cater specifically to families with children. Christopher T. found Misty Mountain Camp Resort offered a "Very laid back atmosphere, plenty for the kids to do! Kept them occupied the whole trip! Enjoyed the music and smores offered by the campground." Annalie N. agrees: "There are lots of activities to do as a family and everything is kept up nicely. The jump pad and the pool tables were our favorites."
Secluded sites: Privacy varies significantly between campgrounds and specific sites. At Lewis Mountain Campground, Lisa D. notes it "has a lot of sites but they've spaced them so that they can be pretty private and quiet. If you get in early there a lot of really choice sites...Quiet time starts at 10 and is enforced. We didn't hear a soul all night."
Site selection matters: At Big Meadows Campground, Veronica S. found their site "B112, was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy." However, she warns "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other...Though there is privacy and it was fairly quiet in the afternoon, at night it can get loud with kids running around and being noisy."
Weather considerations: Mountain weather can change rapidly, especially at higher elevations. Carol B. camped at Big Meadows "the last night of the season (Nov30)" and experienced extreme temperatures: "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water."
First-come availability: Not all campgrounds take reservations. Danielle V. advises for Lewis Mountain: "Reservations are first-come, first-served, which makes it a bit tricky. Out of the 31 sites (including host site), only 3 remained when we arrived at about 1:45 PM on a Friday afternoon, and those remaining filled up within the hour."
Kid-friendly amenities: Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA offers numerous family facilities. Katie M. notes it "has an awesome location between Harrisonburg and Luray/Shenandoah. It has great amenities like a pool and playground, a camp store and lots of friendly and helpful employees."
Educational programs: Take advantage of ranger activities when camping in Shenandoah. Kim L. shares that Big Meadows has a "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs" and mentions it's "Clean, neat, and family oriented" with a "campground...meticulously clean with daily restroom cleaning and trash pick up."
Safety measures: Wildlife interactions require preparation. Rachel M. emphasizes: "We saw many deer and bear while camping" at Big Meadows. Similarly, Anna R. notes: "Speaking of bears- there were lots of sighting and they take food clean up seriously. You can be fined for leaving food out."
Hookup positioning: At Devils Backbone Camp, Robert M. warns that "some of the pads (#9 in our case) had a septic cap that was too high" and "the power station was on the opposite side of the septic, so make sure you have a 30ft power cord at least!" Erika S. elaborates: "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."
Level sites: Site leveling varies across campgrounds. At Charlottesville KOA, Nancy W. notes their site was "perfectly level, gravel, and had nice grass on the patio which our dog enjoyed. All the utilities were well-placed, so you didn't need additional hoses."
Seasonal operation: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Mike G. found Charlottesville KOA ideal for off-season camping: "For the past four or five years I have come to this campground each year in the offseason, April or October, to visit while the temps in Virginia are cooler and less humid."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Earlysville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Earlysville, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 134 campgrounds and RV parks near Earlysville, VA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Earlysville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Earlysville, VA is Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 70 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Earlysville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Earlysville, VA.
What parks are near Earlysville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 parks near Earlysville, VA that allow camping, notably Shenandoah National Park and George Washington & Jefferson National Forests.
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