Camping near Elkwood, Virginia spans across various elevations ranging from 300 feet along the Rappahannock River to over 3,000 feet in Shenandoah National Park. Winter temperatures at higher elevations can drop below 15°F, making heated facilities valuable for cold-weather campers. The region's terrain creates diverse camping microclimates with significant temperature differences between riverside and mountain sites.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Big Meadows Campground offers excellent deer watching throughout the day. "We love this campground, we like the pull in and the walk in sites, bear boxes provided, plenty of room to relax. Good bathrooms, coin hot showers available too. So many trails to explore, walk to the Lodge, Wayside, Visitor Center and more," notes Jaclyn B.
Waterfall hikes: Access multiple waterfall trails directly from Mathews Arm Campground in the northern section of Shenandoah National Park. "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," explains Tom C.
River activities: Enjoy tubing, swimming, and fishing at Rappahannock River Campground. "This campground is great! Primitive camping at its best. Very friendly staff. We stayed here and went tubing on the Rappahannock River one day. The tubing trip was organized by the same people that run the campground so that was very convenient!" says Katie M.
Stargazing: Take advantage of minimal light pollution at higher elevation campgrounds. "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
Privacy levels: Sites vary significantly in how secluded they feel. At Bull Run Regional Park, "The sites are all pull-through off the roads through the campground. So your camper faces the woods and you feel like you're all alone," explains Roberta K.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain regular cleaning schedules. "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," notes Kim L. about Big Meadows.
Wildlife encounters: Expect regular deer sightings at many campgrounds. "Big Meadows Campground was wonderful. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Bear box for food storage. Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife," writes Terri S.
Firefly displays: Summer campers can witness spectacular natural light shows. "The fireflies are spectacular. At dusk, the ground shimmers, and then after they disperse, you will still see them flit by the tent throughout the night," describes Veronica S. from her stay at Big Meadows Campground.
What you should know
Bathroom facility variations: Quality and availability differ between campgrounds. At Lake Anna, "The bath house was clean, and I especially liked the privacy of individual shower rooms," notes Myron C., while Bull Run offers "Locking doors, individual stalls. Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had," according to Yvonne B.
Bug activity: Insect populations can be intense during summer 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," warns Veronica S. about Big Meadows.
Firewood availability: Some campgrounds provide free firewood while others sell it. "I purchased 10 large pieces of wood for $5 which is a way better deal than any of the places where I live and a few more pieces than the national parks/state parks offer for that price," reports Derek E. from Lake Anna State Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds enforce minimum stays. "Bull Run manages to goose you even more. There are occupancy AND transaction fees that really add up if you're only there a few nights. But the real kicker is a 2-night minimum stay. Even mid-week. In APRIL for gosh sakes!" notes Stuart O.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Check campground maps for playground locations before booking. "Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located," reports Yvonne B. about Bull Run Regional Park.
Farm animal experiences: Select campgrounds with farm animals for added entertainment. At The HarmStead Campground, "The hosts provided our kids with a cup of animal food to feed the goats and the emu. The spot had a fire ring and a picknick table. Highlight for the kids were the playground and the fireflies at night," shares Michael.
Educational programs: Take advantage of ranger-led activities. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs," mentions Kim L. about Big Meadows, while another camper at Bull Run notes "The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish."
Heat considerations: Higher-elevation campgrounds offer cooler summer temperatures. "We were there during a heat wave so there were bugs but being from Georgia the heat was bearable," notes Anna R. about Big Meadows.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Bring adequate leveling blocks for sloped sites. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," notes Drew M. from Bull Run Regional Park.
Dump station locations: Plan your water management based on dump availability. "No sewer at the sites, so plan on using the dump drain on the way out," advises Jason E. at Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground.
Winter utilities: Many campgrounds maintain hookups through winter. "We stayed here on the night of December 11, 2020. No problem finding a spot, campground was about half full when we got there around 4pm. Water and electrical available at all the spots even though it was winter," reports John B. about Shenandoah River State Park.
Site positioning: Compare site maps before reserving. "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," notes Veronica S. about the best places to camp near Elkwood, Virginia.
