Elkwood, VA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Elkwood is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Elkwood, VA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park, the Big Meadows Campground is the ideal spot for an outdoor family getaway.
Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint while others wind deep into the forest and wilderness. Big Meadows is near many of the major facilities and popular hiking trails in the park. Three waterfalls are within walking distance, and the Meadow, with its abundant plant growth and wildlife, is an ideal nearby attraction.Wildlife viewing is also a popular pastime, with black bears, wild turkey, deer, birds and countless other animals thriving in the park.The campground is also located right off the famous Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stunning views are visible from any of the 75 scenic overlooks.
Shenandoah National Park spans 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the Shenandoah Valley to its west. The scenery at Big Meadows Campground never disappoints, with a stunning array of colors in the fall and a blanket of bright wildflowers in the spring. This green and shady campground is a wilderness paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.
Two visitor centers with bookstores and exhibits are located in the park (milepost 5 and milepost 51). Byrd Visitor Center is a short one mile walk by either trail or sidewalk if you choose not to drive. There are concession managed restaurants, gift shops and lodging facilities scattered throughout the park. Big Meadows Lodge and Restaurant is a 5 minute walk from the campground and Big Meadows Wayside is located beside Byrd Visitor Center.
For facility specific information, please call (540) 999-3231.
Changing Reservations: There is no change fee if a visitor extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. Additionally, there is no change fee if the visitor wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a visitor wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Once a reservation date has begun, visitors cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center. Onsite staff will assist with changes or cancellations. Cancellations: Visitors may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's approved rate including tax and applicable add-on. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Visitors who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days prior to arrival date will pay a $10 service fee AND forfeit the first nights rate. No-Shows: A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Early Departures: Visitors are requested to notify staff at the facility if they depart early to allow others to use the site. If the visitor chooses to depart early, they may forfeit the approved rate and applicable tax and applicable add-on for the day of departure. If a visitor departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund. Visitors may notify the Recreation.gov call center to request a refund of remaining unused nights. If a visitor requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time (10 am) has passed, the visitor will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used. Refunds: Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Visitors may also initiate a refund request through the call center at any time after their reservation has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
$75 / night
The park, including all of the overnight facilities, is open year-round. Lodging options include standard tent-only sites, electric-water camping, three yurts, four camping cabins (bunkhouses), regular cabins and a lodge.
$40 / night
Bull Run Campground, located near Interstate 66, is a getaway that is not far from Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia attractions. Bull Run Park is only 27 miles from Washington, D.C. and 15 miles from the Vienna Metro Center Station. We are convenient for visitors to the Dulles area , Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum and Manassas National Battlefield Park. The variety of campsites available at Bull Run Campground are RV sites with electric only service, Electric RV sites with water, RV sites with full-service (which includes sewer, water and electric), tent sites, rustic cabins and group camping areas. There are two bathhouses in the campground that offer hot showers, sinks, toilets and laundry facilities. The camp store sells camping supplies, snacks, ice and firewood and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
$30 - $95 / night
Located amongst the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort in Luray, Virginia, offers a breathtaking camping experience that the whole family will enjoy. Our 73 rolling acres are situated close to the popular Luray Caverns and scenic Shenandoah National Park. When our campers aren’t busy swimming and splashing at Yogi Bear’s Water Zone & Splashpad or zooming down our 400’ waterslide, they can enjoy the on-site mini golf, gem mining experience, arcade, pedal boats, fishing pond, two jumping pillows, daytime and nighttime Lazer Tag in the woods, outdoor sports, and playgrounds. All of our cabins and campsites take full advantage of the unparalleled setting and beautiful scenery that surrounds our park..
Camping Lake Anna Campground offers sites with and without water and electric hookups, centrally located restrooms with hot showers, fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders. Half the sites may be specifically reserved; the rest are assigned upon arrival. A table showing site-specific sites can be found here (PDF). Click here for pictures of the sites. Bunkhouse One bunkhouse - No weekly requirement. The park rents a camping lodge (bunkhouse) that's next to the bathhouse in the north camping loop. The bunkhouse is not a full-service lodge. The north loop's bathhouse includes the only restroom facilities for your stay. It's a two-room trailer with seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a coffee pot and an air conditioner. The bunkhouse also has a charcoal grill and deck outside. Cooking and smoking are not permitted inside the lodge. Five vehicles are permitted with rental of the lodge; the daily parking fee must be paid for additional vehicles. Yurts Recreational yurts are a modern adaptation of an ancient nomadic shelter. Functionally speaking, it's a cross between a tent and a cabin. Lake Anna has four yurts in the back section of the campground and tucked neatly into a wooded area for privacy and extra shade. Each yurt has a large wooden deck and includes a ground-level picnic pad with a picnic table, fire-ring and separate cooking grill. Reservations are required. Parking for two cars per yurt is at the beginning of the "yurt village," and carts are available for moving items from there to the yurts on a gravel trail. Those with more than two vehicles must pay a daily parking fee and park in overflow lots located throughout the campground. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m. The rental season begins on the first Friday in March and ends on the first Sunday in December. Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply. There is a two-night minimum rental during the rest of camping season.
Choose your next adventure at Pohick Bay Campground in Lorton, Virginia. Bring the kids for a day of splashing and sliding at Pirate’s Cove Waterpark, spend a day on the bay with our canoe, paddleboard, stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals; or bring your own boat to our public boat launch ramp. Make a day of it by renting a picnic shelter or stay a little longer and reserve one of our cabins or campsites.
All sites are within 5-8 miles of Skyline Drive, starting from mile 21 in the North District. All are near creeks (runs) and completely undeveloped. Check with the Visitor Center for permits and camping regulations within the park. Many, but not all trails, allow dogs.
Close to the Luray Caverns, Shenandoah Valley National Park, the Shenandoah River, with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The hills seem to roll on forever from the vantage point of this wonderfully rural yet convenient campground, nested atop a high hill above the Shenandoah Valley. Cruise along the famed Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, just a few miles away, or explore the park's countless hiking trails. Nearby outfitters rent canoes & tubes for floating the Shenandoah River. This campground is close to Luray Caverns and offers easy access to several Civil War sites, including New Market Battlefield State Historical Park & Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The campground's spacious grounds include shady sites, a pool & a ball field. Pool is open from Memorial Day through the weekend after Labor Day.
$24 - $204 / night
Scout
The tent sites are ON TOP of each other. No trees. Zero seclusion. This is an rv resort.
Scout
Pohick Bay Campground in Virginia offers a peaceful escape with beautiful views and a variety of outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. It's an ideal spot for families and nature lovers. Don’t forget to register dito sim to stay connected during your visit!
Traveler
Reservations are made through the National parks service "recreation.gov" website. Arrived for tent camping for 2 nights and found that my original planned site wasn't very hospitable to tent camping due to the slope, Conferred with park ranger who easily changed my site to a better one with no fee. My stay was quiet and the bathrooms were clean and well stocked. This is a great base camp for getting out to hike the Appalachian trail and the local water falls in the area. Firewood and some camping supplies can be obtained onsite and there is a park wayside store and cafeteria a short distance away (i highly recommend the honey breaded chicken).
Traveler
Pros - Clean Bathrooms, Camp store open 8am - 8pm, Sites 62 - 92 (except #74 and 88) are all pretty good. Security was great, patrol throughout the night. Quiet hours are enforced and campers are polite. Lots of activities, and nice hiking trails. Fabulous historical attractions, great visitor center.
Cons - Campground is in the flight path of Dulles Airport, so planes are flying over head at all hours of the day and sometimes late at night/morning. There is a shooting range nearby. Some noise during range hours. (Not late at night!) Because there had been so little rain, there was not great fishing in the park. (I went to Silver Lake, that was great!)
Traffic! Lots of local traffic on the main roads. (to be fair, it IS a suburb of DC ). Stores are all approx. 20 mins away. (Head towards Haymarket)
Traveler
Just a few miles off of Interstate ninety five and u s seventeen. Within thirty minutes of fredericksburg. At this k o a everything was clean and organized. Our site was a pull through. With plenty of room side to side. In fredericksburg be sure to do the trolley tour.
Ranger
I have to say this campground had plenty of staff working, the grounds were kept clean and maintained. They have 3 pools, watersides, and a splash pad, which were very busy but kept clean. They offer tons of other adventures like laser tag, arcade, mini golf movie theatre, gem mining, playgrounds, jumping pillows, ziplines, and then tons more to do in the craft center. They had plenty of appearances of Yogi or Cindy bear at activities and just driving around the park on a golf cart. The store had everything in it you would need, and the snack bar had so much to offer from wraps to ice cream. I thought the sites were a little close, and some didn't have enough trees for my personal liking, but also, you need to pick your site wisely. I liked that we had a nice concrete pad, which was above the grade in case of some rain it wouldn't flood. They offer golf carts for rental, so you can roam anywhere and have tons of cabin options. The staff were friendly and great and only stepped in when absolutely necessary. They weren't overbearing or annoying and let people have fun. The campground itself was very quiet at night, and of course, the kids lived on the playgrounds after the pool was open, but the noise was not ever excessive but just expected. The bathrooms were clean and all in working order. The app can be accessed, or you can pick up a paper schedule to see all the activities for the day. The cell service and wifi left a lot to be desired, but for me, I like to not be glued to my phone when away, especially camping. The area had fun things to go to explore, like Shenandoah National Park and the Luray Caverans, if you do like to chase some natural beauty.
ScoutWe loved staying at Pohick. We were here to visit DC and it was an excellent spot to stay. It was extremely hot as it was July but the sites had a lot of shade. Site 46 where we stayed was close to the bathrooms and nice and flat. The bathrooms were cleaner than any other campground we have stayed in and they have laundry and a nice stainless sink and counter for washing dishes if needed. About a 40 minute drive into DC and definitely worth it. Also, campers get a discount at the water park which was a very reasonable 5 dollars per person. The weekend tends to be a bit louder but during the week was very quiet.
TravelerWe loved our 4-night stay in Big Meadows. I definitely recommend booking a site on the outer part of the loop, or one of the walk-in sites, if you are tent camping. A lot of the interior sites seemed very close together, but the farther out you get, the more spaced out they seemed to be, we could see a couple of other campsites from ours but generally felt we had plenty of space and privacy.
Campsite facilities seemed pretty clean and well-maintained, and there is the campstore at the front of the campground with necessities, laundry and shower (for a fee). And if you need more the Big Meadow visitor center, and Wayside souvenir store/snack bar are just a mile or so from the campground where it meets Skyline Drive. They even have a gas station there. We went and did several hikes, including Dark Hollow Falls, and spent a late evening in the Big Meadow on a picnic blanket stargazing, all very close to the campground.
Bear boxes are big and sturdy, fire pits are on the smallish side but fine. Honestly this place is pretty tough to beat in terms of facilities, value, and proximity to a lot of beautiful and fun national park hikes and sights.
Guide
This was our first KOA experience. I liked the pool, camp shop, and proximity to Massanutten water park. I also liked the size of site.
My wife didn’t care for the lack of grass (mostly gravel) or the guy who took us to site that worked there talking over her when she was helping me back in.
Most people know this but if a couple is backing in just let them figure it out.
Other than price and backing in annoyance, I thought it was good place and would go back.
GuideA beautiful campground with everything a tourist could possible want for a spectacular vacation. Surrounded by dairy farms, the fields of grains leave open space that enables each campsite to have a view of the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance. Each evening, people would come out and turn the colorful patio chairs towards west and enjoy a spectacular sunset. During the day, there is so much to do at the nearby Shenandoah Nation Park, drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, or visit the caverns or the Artisan Trail businesses full of local handcrafts.
Scout
Huge campground. Lots of activities. But very run down. Lots of permanent RVs. All parked very close. On the river but totally overgrown so no real view. Safe for one night. Overpriced at $70
ScoutWe have been camping here for nearly 20 years. Each military tour brought us back to this area so Pohick became our second home. Our kids kayak now older but used to walk the trails as little kids. The waterpark is new and loud so we avoid but nice if you have young kids. Careful low bridge on Route 1 exit ramp little warning when taking ramp off I95. Go around to next exit. The check in at the cap store is crowded and narrow even with renovations but our 34 ft makes it okay. Bring bikes. Long bike trail along road. Farmers markets in Lorton and things to do in DC. Park at Huntington or Springfield metro. Short boat ride straight across from Ft Belvoir new family campground. Ice cream shop in season by water docks. Bathrooms clean always hot water three stalls each. Sink outside for dishes. Playground buts up against inner circle which are the only sewer sites. Others are electric water. Careful some near steep drop off. Stick to main road or inner circle or first circle if in big unit. Must go round circle to get to those spots which can be annoying. Two speed bumps. Camp store sells smores ingredients, limited candy, no eggs or bacon get those off Rte 1. Past entrance on Rte 1 is a Food Lion, McDonalds. Gas stations along Rte one are tight so fill up before exiting to campground. If you are desperate there is gas 7/11 at corner of Pohick and Rte 1 but its sketchy. Up the road off Rte 1 is Fort Belvoir Access w a drivers license however cant shop without military sponsored ID. Great bbq at Telegraph Rd and greek at Olympians family restaurant. Movie theater on Telegraph is nice. Springfield Mall close. Take Onville Rd which is a backroad by Pohick Church to shortcut to Rte 1. Pohick Rd past camping turn deadends into private neighborhood. Do not pass camp entrance. Hard to turn around if you do. Near End of Pohick is a small walk with overlook. See birds at point. Drive a car not RV. Park at lot on right before road split deadend. Gunston Hall on left can see from campground and water. Tours are nice.
Traveler
The sites are small flat and have everything you need. There are no flushing toilets! Just outhouses that everyone shares. Showers are outside stalls. The pond on the campground is dirty and not swimable
RangerCampground with tables, fire rings, running water bathrooms, utility sinks. Store has showers and laundry for $1.
Traveler
This resort is 5 Star in amenities. Indoor pool in the lodge, restaurant, outdoor pool connected to the indoor one. Another outdoor pool area by the general store (wasn't open yet) has a large pool and kids pool. The activities center has things going on every day. They also have a large room with a large screen that you can reserve to watch movies. There is a stable for horse riding. Also, there's miniature golf. They have cabins, yurts,and a tree house for rent. The laundry is free. Our campsite, lowest level, has a table with four chairs, two Adirondack chairs, and a propane grill. The higher level has an outdoor sink. The top level has a jacuzzi. The grounds are well designed for landscaping and kept trimmed. Now, for the cons. Our back- in site isn't level. We were told that is by design so water will flow off. Maybe. Our loop doesn't have any bathhouse, while the one next door has two. We did take a shortcut that went over a clay hill. Probably not safe if it's raining. The shower looks nice. Would stay drier if people would put the curtain inside the barrier. Shelves and benches in the showers are nice. Water pressure is mediocre to good. We're still waiting for hot water. I do say the help keeps it clean. There are sanitizer bottles left in the bathrooms and showers. Overall, it is a nice place to sit and relax.
ScoutTook my family of 7 to the Bull Run regional park for our first camping trip and the experience was great! Didn’t want to stray too far from the house in the event that it was a nightmare, thankfully this local spot offered a soft opening to our family over the two days we spent there and all was good. The site was clean and well kept, bathhouse was close to the tent site and in ok shape (wasn’t expecting anything spectacular so wasn’t disappointed. Playground and trails were nice, kids really enjoyed the chance to take in nature. This experience was good and would recommend a visit for anyone looking for a soft intro to camping for their family!
ScoutStaff were very nice and helpful and check in was very quick & easy. Some sites are tight for longer units even though it states it can accommodate. The outer edges of the campground are wonderful spots for family and larger units.
ScoutWe have stayed at this campground several times and always enjoyed it. Quiet and secluded. Nice place to recharge your mental batteries. 😊
GuideShenandoah is such a beautiful park. Hiking trails leave right from the campground. If you're lazy and don't feel like cooking there's a nice restaurant in the lodge. There are bears so make sure you don't leave any food out.
RangerOur last trip here was interesting. This was one of our favorite camping grounds back a few years ago. The views are beautiful! If you have a tent, the deluxe tent sites are AMAZING! They have a roof over the picnic table which is helpful as it's one less thing to drag with you. If you have a small camper as we do, well you really need to look at site guides and campers pictures as many places as you can before you proceed. You also should be prepared to pay extra for locking the site if that is the one that you want. This BOTHERS me! If the site is available and I am booking it, why can another camper bump me out of the site? Oh wait, I know! $$$$$$ speak! I'm all about free enterprise, however I just feel this is nickle and diming/greed to the extreme, and as a consumer, I don't appreciate it. Knowing what I know now, there are a few sites I would never book ever again! (sites 85, 87, 94, 92, 90) We happened to arrive during some bad storms, so that didn't make our situation better. The site I had booked was on a slant and when we went to release our unit from the hitch, it slid….not something you want to happen to your new camper! I told my husband to put it back on the hitch ball and in the meantime, I phoned the office to see if we could move. I was given some site numbers that were available, however the incoming rain had us pick something rather fast that was level and on a cement pad, but unfortunately right in front of the playground. We had no idea that when the pool closed, the kids came to the play area and they were loud! If you are looking for a peaceful experience, do not book near any of the play areas. You should also know we spent quite a bit more cash for this site, but it was not worth what we spent.
There are not a whole lot of trees and sites are small. There are some great amenities and it was an ok weekend, but for the money that you spend here, you can just as easily find a hotel and enjoy it. I can only give it 3 stars.
Traveler
Great walking trails surrounding the campground. Well maintained.
Traveler
The management staff B. Lang and K. Lang has be extremely unresponsive and difficult to speak with about issues we had in Glen 27. We have left several voice messages, on several occasions visited the main office and facilities and sent email with only a single reply. Our issues is still outstanding and I have not response from the management staff While camping at this resort we had several issues with the shore power for our RV. We have spoken to many fellow owners only to find out they had several issues that have been reported to management with no resolution.
Update 11/29/2023 I received a vague response from B. Lang with Wilderness saying they could not find any issues. I asked for a report of their finding which they have not provided. The matter is not resolved as I was told i should be reimbursed for the damages. I submitted a receipt for but not reimbursed. Ms. Lang is posting response to the reviews but no responding to my emails directly
TravelerCame to stay for a volleyball tournament and got way more. Christmas lights and just a festive atmosphere. Campsite was easy to pull into and hookup to. Overall a great experience
ScoutThis place is so noisy with these helicopters that fly 24/7. Another absolutely insane noisy campground run by nova. Absolutely a rip off because of the noise just like all nova parks seem to be. Insane
ScoutThis place is absolutely the most horrific noisy place is like sleeping on the side of the highway. Absolutely annoying sound 24/!7, this place should be free. Absolutely a rip off to call this park a campground. More like a parking lot on the internete.
GuideSurprisingly, recreation.gov had excellent campsite descriptions and photos for this campground(very unusual in our experience), which made it possible for us to choose the perfect site for our 30' travel trailer. We would not have been satisfied with the slope of more than a few of the sites here, so be sure to do your due diligence before choosing your site.
This is a large campground with lots of sites, many of which(like C129) are quite large. The entire campground was clean and well-kept, including the bathrooms and showers. Keep in mind that showers are$5 for 10 minutes but we noticed that shower#4 worked on just$4. Shh! Don't tell anyone!;-)
This is boondocking(no water, sewer, or electric hookups), but there are plenty of potable water spigots and there is a dump station nearby that is convenient, in good working order, and also has potable water. One complaint about the dump would be that there is no threaded hose to flush out a black tank.
Generator hours are 08:00- 10:00 and 16:00- 19:00 but are extended to 21:00 from opening until April 14 and again from October 15 through closing. Quiet hours are 22:00- 06:00.
The campground has a good laundry facility and a small store. A short walk takes you to Big Meadows Lodge with a full-service restaurant, pub, coffee bar, and gift shop. Take in the sunset from the great room, the deck, or a short hike along the Black Rock trail. A little longer walk takes you to the Wayside where you will find a well-stocked store with food, beverages (adult and otherwise), camping supplies, a quick service restaurant, and a nice gift shop. Definitely try the blackberry cobbler at either Big Meadows Lodge or the Wayside!
Ticks are a big issue here(at least they were when we visited in mid-October). Be sure to check your pups constantly for ticks, and make sure you take preventive measures such as sprays and chews to make sure your pups stay safe. Check yourselves, your kiddos, and your bedding too!
We had mixed feelings about the staff here, many of whom were quite nice and helpful. We did feel that the person who checked us in seemed a bit haggard and, perhaps as a result, was relatively short with us when we asked reasonable questions. We also felt the campground hosts were more than a bit inconsistent in rules enforcement. For instance, they are adamant about not having even a millimeter of tire off the pavement(even when trying to keep the tow vehicle off the roadway) but didn't care at all about campers who ran their generators all day long outside of generator hours.
Verizon was nonexistent.
T-Mobile was good.
Starlink was great for us, but keep in mind that many sites have a canopy of trees that will obstruct Starlink.
Solar was so-so, partially because of the tree cover and partially because of clouds and fog.
Ranger
Stopped at Corbin cabin on a longer backpacking trip. Great little cabin with some more luxurious camping facilities than we were used to (Stayed across the river at a more primitive spot as well). Good spot for families and we had a great time . Need to book in advance to make sure you can book it. Bears and wildlife is expected by the river.
Camping near Elkwood, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Elkwood, Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, it's a great spot to enjoy the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Elkwood, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Elkwood, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 113 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Elkwood, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 glamping camping locations near Elkwood, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
