93 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Pet-friendly camping near Elkwood spans tent sites, RV sites with full hookups, and cabin rentals where dogs are welcome, giving campers flexible options across 94 dog-friendly campgrounds. These dog-friendly campgrounds enforce standard pet policies requiring leashes no longer than 6 feet, proper waste disposal, and pets never left unattended. Campgrounds with sites along the Rappahannock River provide excellent opportunities for dogs to enjoy water access during warmer months. Campers report spacious sites at Rappahannock River Campground that offer adequate room for pets to relax while remaining leashed at the campsite. Wilderness Presidential Resort and Bull Run Regional Park accommodate pets at both their tent and RV sites.
Hiking trails accessible from many of these campgrounds provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, though owners should check specific park rules as some trails may restrict pet access. The Shenandoah area offers numerous pet-friendly outdoor activities, with several campgrounds positioned near water features where dogs can cool off. Wildlife encounters require keeping dogs securely leashed, particularly in areas with active deer populations and occasional black bears. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours which apply to barking dogs as well. Pet owners should pack sufficient water, portable bowls, waste bags, and appropriate tie-outs for their campsites. Several reviewers note the friendly atmosphere toward dogs at Wilderness Presidential Resort, with plenty of space for walking pets around the property and along the lakeshores.
"Stayed here with three other girls and my dog- it was a great spot! Nice and close to some great trails for our evening walk, and nothing beats staying Inside the NP!"
"This was a great campground location to many, many National Park Trails. Our stay was during the last week of September. We met up with family who live in the area and got 3 sites hugging the AT."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"When we pulled in we were greeted by a friendly fat cat. We paid our fee, which was only around $15, and then another $5 for a bunch of firewood."
"Great for a weekend away from all the hustle and bustle. Very relaxing"
"The Oak Ridge campgrounds at Prince William Forest Park are a lovely little campground just outside Washington DC. The sites were large, the facilities are clean and the staff friendly and helpful."
"Showers are in loop B, which is a 5-7 minute walk. During holiday weekends the sites closest to the shower facilities are fully booked and have less privacy."
from $26 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $50 / night
"This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!)"
"The pull in area was paved and behind it was a nice flat tent area."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store. We stayed at site 146 on the first caul-de-sac off the first loop just another site away from the bath house (which was pretty clean)."
"Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had. Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."
from $39 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Our patio was on the side next to the road which was a little close to traffic but we still loved siting there, especially in the evening with a campfire."
"Tons of trails great for families with dogs or those wanting to get out and hike. The campsite featured some of the best bathroom/ shower houses, they were super clean and well maintained."
from $27 - $427 / night
Check Availability"Lots of land to walk. Fire pit, chairs and picnic table at site."
from $50 - $95 / night
Check Availability"They have a wide selection of ways to camp, and are pet friendly and affordable!"
"Love having the access to the lake. Great areas for dog walking. Family next door was really loud, but not the campgrounds fault."
from $32 - $459 / night
Check Availability"Casa Vargas offers secluded RV & Tent sites near the famous Skyline Drive that offers great views of the Shenandoah Mountains. "
from $50 - $75 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe began our membership here this June. it has a great atmosphere on the banks of the Shenandoah River. There are activities every weekend like concerts and group activities. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The facilities are clean and very convenient. Pet friendly; two dog parks.
GuideBeautiful views. Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites.
The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean.
It also had the largest dog park area of any campground I’ve ever seen.
Very nice pool, friendly staff and firewood available for purchase. They will even deliver right to your site.
Very close to downtown Luray, which has great shops and restaurants. There is a very nice 2 mile long walking trail, the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, near the campground that will take you right into town.
Also close by to some excellent hiking, wineries, breweries and distilleries.
ScoutWe recently stayed for a long weekend at the Outlanders campground after we received a referral from a friend and could not have been more happy with our stay. The RV sites at this campground are very spaced out, you have a lot of room to each side of your RV. The park and facilities were very clean. They have a playground for the kids, fishing ponds, cabins, pet friendly with a dog park and they are located right along the Shenandoah river. You can go tubing on the river but need to provide your own tubes. The ride down the river from one end of the park to the other is around 30 minutes. Also for all of the people attached to the internet like us we were able to have plenty of cell signal to hotspot and get internet.
TravelerNice size spots. Lake on site. Playground for kids. Fun bike rentals. Lots of dog walks and a dog park. Camp store has a little bit of everything.
ScoutThis campground is very close to Luray Caverns and all that they have to offer. There is also a Duke's of Hazzard themed museum and store where they do live music on weekends nearby, it's called Cooter's. This campground is very small but quiet. It does border cow pasture land so when the wind shifts you get the smell but it wasn't constant and it wasn't unbearable. They have 2 swimming pools and a very large dog park. The bath houses were clean and well maintained. I would definitely recommend this campground.
TravelerStayed here for two weeks in early March. Newly renovated campground with a lot of amenities. Very helpful staff. The campground is a lot of money upgrading services, capabilities, and extra activities (St Patrick's Day parade and dinner). While we were there they added street signage (very helpful) and installed a Bocce Ball field. Two fenced dog parks. Campsites are level gravel (no pads). Located near multiple vineyards. Our only complaint was that the sewage connection was slightly higher than the black tank outlet on our Airstream. The majority of camp sites are very close together, and the sites closer to the highway experience highway noise.
TravelerWe stayed here for 3 nights. Perfect campground with everything you need. Bathrooms are very clean. Ice, propane, and other items are available on site at the store. Halloween was in full effect including a haunted walk. Sites are spacious and have natural stone in ground fire pits instead of rusted metal rims which adds character. Dog park, pool, and plenty of games are available on site. Harrisonburg is down the road if you to need to stop in town.
GuideUsually go camping with a Little Guy teardrop trailer, but with the current state of the country, didn’t feel comfortable with sharing bathroom facilities. We booked Yurt #1. It was fantastic. The place was spotless, well equipped kitchenette, grill, fire pit, comfortable beds. We loved our neighbors the sheep, goats and llamas. Checking in was easy, with the keys and map at the office. Park was clean and well maintained. Dog park is great. Wonderful way to start coming out of quarantine. Great hiking nearby.
GuideThis campground is really nice and one of the nicer KOAs we've stayed at. We had a great back in site, that although a little unlevel, was really private and in the back corner. It was adjacent to a farm and like others have mentioned, it was a bit smelly at times. They had a huge dog park that my dog loved. They also had multiple dog bag stations throughout the campground. Then road between the office and campsites is a bit narrow and one lane so can be tricky when people are arriving or leaving with rigs. I used the laundry facility and the machines were the worst I've come across in the last 8 months of using campground facilities or laundromats. The coin tray got stuck in multiple machines and one machine already had the tray stuck when I got there. Luckily the office reimbursed me, but with most of the machines broken and them unable to fix them, we had to go into town to the laundromat. The wifi was terrible and unusable, even with our antenna. AT&T worked well and Verizon was a bit spotty.
Shenandoah area campgrounds offer diverse camping experiences at elevations ranging from 500 to 3,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day while dropping into the 50s at night. The region's hardwood forests provide natural shade at many campsites, with peak camping season running May through October when most facilities operate at full capacity.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: At Big Meadows Campground, campers frequently encounter native wildlife throughout the grounds. "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," notes Rachel M.
Fishing access: The Rappahannock River Campground provides excellent fishing opportunities directly from campsites. "We walked down to the river, which was the location of even more and bigger camp spots. This would be the perfect location for a small scout troop or a big family outing," explains Jon N. Sites along the riverbank allow for easy water access.
Ranger programs: Educational activities enhance visits to several dog-friendly campgrounds near Elkwood. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," writes Kim L. about Big Meadows. These programs typically run May through October with varying topics each night.
Spacious, private sites: Many campers appreciate the room to spread out. "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. at Big Meadows Campground.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently highlight well-maintained bathrooms. "Oak Ridge Campground has great space and super clean bathrooms with marble tile," mentions Chad. Another camper notes, "The bathrooms were nice and clean throughout my stay and looked newly renovated."
Night sky viewing: The region's limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing opportunities. "We're looking forward to our next visit and stay at Wilderness Presidential Resort. We camped lakeside next to Hazel Grove Lake and enjoyed the beautiful view and on one occasion, a beautiful lakeside sunset," shares Dan & Karen M. The campground's open areas provide clear views of constellations on clear nights.
Weather conditions: At higher elevations, temperatures can drop significantly. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units. It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F," warns Carol B. about Big Meadows Campground.
Booking requirements: Some campgrounds have specific reservation policies. "We have found municipal campgrounds in Northern Virginia are a bit spendy for being government sponsored. But Bull Run Regional Park 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," cautions Stuart O.
Seasonal considerations: Several campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Matthews Arm Campground operates from "May 6 to October 30," while Big Meadows runs from "May 6 to November 13." Winter camping options are more limited in the region, with few facilities offering full services during colder months.
Child-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated programming for young visitors. "The children's programs offered on the weekends were great too," shares Melissa T. about Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park. These typically include nature walks, craft activities, and educational presentations.
Animal encounters: Some sites feature farm animals that entertain children. "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," writes Michael at The HarmStead Campground.
Safety precautions: Wildlife requires vigilance with children. "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached (I did not do this, but I watched someone's child do it)," cautions Veronica S. at Big Meadows. Bear sightings are also common, requiring proper food storage.
Hookup availability: Water and electric access varies significantly between campgrounds. "We enjoyed 30/50 amp electric and water. No sewer at the sites, so plan on using the dump drain on the way out," advises Jason E. at Shenandoah River State Park. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Elkwood with full hookups require advance reservations, especially during peak season.
Site leveling challenges: Terrain can create setup difficulties at some locations. "My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," explains Drew M. about Bull Run Regional Park. RVers should come prepared with leveling blocks for uneven sites.
Power reliability: Some campers report electrical issues at certain campgrounds. "While camping at Wilderness Presidential 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," notes Eugene M. RVers should consider bringing surge protectors and backup power options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Elkwood, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Elkwood, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 128 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Elkwood, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 93 dog-friendly camping locations near Elkwood, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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