RV camping near Elkwood, Virginia sits within the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 75 miles southwest of Washington DC. The area experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winters dropping to 30°F with occasional snow. Virginia's Piedmont region provides rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 400 to 900 feet, affecting campsite drainage during rainy periods.
What to do
Hiking trails nearby: Visitors at Bull Run Regional Park can access nature trails with family-friendly scavenger hunts. "There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt. You even get a prize when you finish," noted a camper who appreciated the family activities.
Military and historical sites: Located 35 minutes from Luray, the Virginia Museum of the Civil War offers significant historical attractions. "Locally you can enjoy wineries, orchards and cideries. We greatly enjoyed the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and the New Market Battlefield Museum," reports one camper who stayed at Endless Caverns RV Resort.
Cave explorations: The region contains notable underground attractions with fewer crowds at certain locations. "The caverns are super awesome as well, especially considering they have not been fully explored. It is not as crowded as some of the other caverns in the area which in my opinion is a plus," shared a visitor who appreciated the less congested experience.
What campers like
Spacious camping areas: Some campgrounds provide more separation between sites than others. A visitor at Prince William Forest RV Campground noted, "Lots are really staggered/set back from each other so feels like you have more space. Average lot size in general, but the set back feels like you have more space."
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower quality varies significantly between locations. A camper at Fort AP Hill Champs Camp reported, "This RV spot is fantastic. It's quite and is a bit secluded. I liked the RV Rec Facility because it has clean showers and toilets, coin washer/dryer, games, microwave and a seating area."
Scenic viewpoints: Several parks offer elevated perspectives of the Shenandoah Valley. "It is well worth the effort to climb up to their sign to take in the views. There are picnic tables up there," shared a visitor about a trail at Endless Caverns, adding practical information about available seating.
What you should know
Site leveling requirements: The mountainous terrain creates uneven camping pads at some locations. "The sites are nicely spread out. My site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," explains a visitor at Bull Run Regional Park.
Seasonal availability: Year-round operations vary between facilities. "Being this was our first outing, the camp ground is bare minimum but yet quiet and peaceful. Nice flat spots, only real shade is on the back lots," notes a first-time camper at Fort AP Hill Champs Camp.
Limited connectivity: Cell service and WiFi quality fluctuates throughout the area. "The wifi was terrible and unusable, even with our antenna. AT&T worked well and Verizon was a bit spotty," shared a camper who spent time at KOA Luray RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Kid-friendly facilities vary between parks. "We found lots to do in this area and really enjoyed the campground. Kids loved the playground and the swings (a few different swing sets on the property)," mentioned a family who visited Endless Caverns.
Recreational amenities: Several campgrounds offer organized activities and built facilities. "The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides. Great family friendly campground," noted a reviewer at Fort Belvoir Travel Camp.
Animal encounters: Some locations feature farm animals for children to enjoy. "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," shared a family camping at The HarmStead Campground.
Tips from RVers
Drainage issues: Some campsites experience water accumulation during rainy periods. "While we were here, there was a fairly heavy day of rain. Couple inches, I suppose, but nothing Biblical. The mouths of the metal culverts in our loop were bent downward from campers driving over them, which obstructed the flow. Result was lots of standing water at our campsite," explained an RVer at Bull Run Regional Park.
Mountain road navigation: Access to certain campgrounds requires careful driving. "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us. The access was smooth and hassle-free," reported a traveler with a large rig at Fort Valley Ranch.
Site selection strategy: Obtaining suitable sites requires advance planning. "Be very particular with your site selection! While Wi-Fi routers are set up at the bathhouses, we had some connection at the trailer. We picked up a dozen channels on our antenna and the 2-3 bar Verizon LTE enabled us to stream some channels on Fire TV," advised a reviewer describing connection options.
