Best Campgrounds near Etlan, VA

Etlan, VA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Virginia camping has to offer. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Etlan. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Best Camping Sites Near Etlan, Virginia (136)

    1. Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    120 Reviews
    Stanley, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    $30 - $75 / night

    "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."

    2. Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    44 Reviews
    Rileyville, VA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3132

    $30 - $75 / 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!)"

    "There are a few trails encompassing and leading out from the campground, and it's nice to have a central location from which you can out on small hikes."

    3. Lewis Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    31 Reviews
    Hood, VA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    $30 / night

    "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."

    4. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray

    24 Reviews
    Luray, VA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 300-1697

    "Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."

    "They had plenty of appearances of Yogi or Cindy bear at activities and just driving around the park on a golf cart."

    5. Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Bentonville, VA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 622-6840

    $30 - $40 / night

    "Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms. Nice hiking in the park. Near SNP. Responsive and friendly rangers."

    "In my opinion it has the best location of the 3 Turks they have. It’s it the woods close to a boat landing you can see a bit of the river. In the fall or spring I’m sure the view is amazing."

    6. Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views

    18 Reviews
    Luray, VA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 743-7222

    $31 - $220 / night

    "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."

    "We stayed at this KOA on our way to Virginia Beach but wanted to a day in Shenandoah National Park. "

    7. Shenandoah National Park Dispersed Sites — Shenandoah National Park

    15 Reviews
    Bentonville, VA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    "It is suitable for novice campers to experienced off-trail campers. You'll never tire of the wonders this beautiful piece of America has to offer."

    "There was definitely a lot less privacy/space between sites here at SNP than I’ve noted at other parks across Virginia."

    8. Watercress Inn at Landon Farm

    3 Reviews
    Syria, VA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 365-4277

    $35 - $75 / night

    "The location was easy to find, which made the journey hassle-free. The cleanliness of the campsite was impressive, and I truly enjoyed my time there."

    "Did two nights at Butterfly Camp while hiking Old Rag and other trails in Shenandoah."

    9. Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    64 Reviews
    Dyke, VA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 823-4675

    $30 - $75 / night

    "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."

    10. Graves Mountain Farm Campground

    5 Reviews
    Syria, VA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 877-9659

    $12 / night

    "Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 136 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Etlan, VA

1022 Reviews of 136 Etlan Campgrounds


  • j
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Lake Anna State Park Campground

    Nice space

    Great space for rvs and tents. Cabins and yurts available, bath house clean, but toilet paper is thinner than dry onion skin. Beach area is 1/2 mile paved walk. Beach very crowded on weekends.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Quiet, lots of room

    This is a National Park campground so there are no hookups! Generators are allowed during designated hours. (Please don’t bring one.) Hot shower, bathrooms and laundry are available. Camp store with basics. The sites are large, some are not level but are workable. Lots of wildlife. Near trails.

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Aquia Pines Campground

    Good stopover near the highway but hidden between the trees

    We where forced land-inwards because of tropical storm Erin (potential hurricane hitting the Outer Banks). So we decided to visit Washington DC and had a stopover here. It was conveniently located. Terrain is not flat but our spot was well levelled. There is a big dog (and an older gentleman) in the office to welcome you. Full hook up was oké and our spot was nicly secluded between the trees.

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Perfect Shenandoah stopover

    Good amount of first come first serve spots. We visited during a weekday and there was more than enough availability. Nice small trail that runs around the campground. The campstore offers more than enough! We bought a smores-kit, very handy. I dont know if there are (enough) full hook ups?

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    KOA Luray RV Resort

    Just turned into a KOA?

    Wright next to the Luray caves and near the starting point of the Skyline drive. Nice, quietly located camping, surrounded by fields. You have all the necessary amenities that you would expect on a KOA camping. (I think they just now became KOA, last month it was still the big skies camping). There is a small but nice swimmingpool. Fun; lots of fireflies (in the right seasons?)

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Shenandoah Crossing, a Bluegreen Vacations Resort

    Not really camping

    This is a very developed campground…mayme over developed for me. Concrete pads, paved roads, street lights. Lots of amenities, like pool, playground, very nice showers, There is a gate house do you need the code to get in.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views

    Very clean and Nice Views

    Very clean campground with super friendly staff. I really enjoyed my time here.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Christopher Run Campground

    Very big, a little rough- no internet

    This is a big campground that caters to boaters on Lake Anna. We probably made a mistake coming on a holiday weekend. Many “holiday” campers with extra vehicles, boats and people! The sites are good size, but not very level. We did finally get ours squared away. Mostly wooded, with shade. Our site D9, backed up to a small wooded section. Some full hookups. Tent sites, numerous semi-permanent people. Showers and bathrooms are clean, hot water, but it’s timed, so you have to keep pushing their buttons to continue a shower. They have everyone sign a waiver to release them of liabilities. Never had anyone do that before. Playground, beach, mini golf, canoe rental, boat slips, laundry, convenience store. NO INTERNET

  • Lindsay C.
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Little Fort Campground

    Nice secluded campsite

    There are 9 campsites, each with at least one fire ring, a tent pad and a picnic table, and there is a vault toilet in the middle. I arrive at 7:30pm on a Saturday in late August and thought I might be too late to get a spot but there were only two other groups there so I had my pick of most of the sites. 

    Overall it's a nice secluded spot, although I had a couple of complaints. The picnic tables at most of the sites had seen better days and I'm not sure if I would have wanted to sit at them if I had stayed at the site for any meals. Also, I could hear some cars drive by and some dogs barking while I was trying to sleep, which was a bit disruptive. Otherwise, I would recommend this campsite. 

    Note: this page says that Verizon has limited service but I have a Verizon prepaid plan and I had no service at all starting from about 20 minutes away from the site, so I wouldn't count on having any reception.


Guide to Etlan

Camping near Etlan, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails in Shenandoah National Park. One camper mentioned, "Hiking trails leave right from the campground," highlighting the convenience of accessing nature right from your site.
  • Stargazing: Enjoy clear night skies. A visitor shared, "We spent a late evening in the Big Meadow on a picnic blanket stargazing," which shows how magical the nights can be.
  • Fishing and Water Activities: Lake Anna State Park is a great spot for fishing. Campers have noted, "The campground was clean & the staff... were all very helpful," making it a family-friendly option for water fun.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One review stated, "The bathrooms and showers are very clean," which is a big plus for those who value hygiene while camping.
  • Spacious Sites: Campgrounds like Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages offer large sites. A camper remarked, "Sites are HUGE... you really feel like you’re camping, not at an RV resort."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention helpful staff. A visitor at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray said, "The staff were friendly and great... they let people have fun."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Mathews Arm Campground, do not have electric hookups or showers. A camper noted, "No electricity or hookups at Matthew’s Arm," so plan accordingly.
  • Crowded Sites: Campgrounds can get busy, especially during peak season. One camper mentioned, "The sites were all small and very close together," which might not be ideal for those seeking privacy.
  • Wildlife Precautions: Bears are common in the area. A visitor advised, "There are bears so make sure you don't leave any food out," emphasizing the need for caution.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. One review highlighted, "They offer tons of other adventures like laser tag, arcade, mini golf," at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray.
  • Plan for Amenities: If your family prefers comfort, consider campgrounds with showers and laundry facilities. A camper at Loft Mountain Campground mentioned, "Good clean campsites and showers," which can make a big difference.
  • Pack Snacks and Games: Keep the kids entertained with snacks and games. A visitor noted, "The camp store has essentials like firewood, ice, basic gear, and food," which can help if you forget something.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. One camper said, "We would not have been satisfied with the slope of more than a few of the sites here," so do your research before booking.
  • Be Prepared for Limited Connectivity: Many campgrounds have poor cell service. A visitor at Wolf Gap mentioned, "Verizon was nonexistent," so download maps and information ahead of time.
  • Use Generators Wisely: If you need power, check generator hours. A camper noted, "Generator hours are 08:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00," which is important for planning your day.

Camping near Etlan, Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Etlan, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Etlan, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 136 campgrounds and RV parks near Etlan, VA and 17 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Etlan, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Etlan, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 120 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Etlan, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Etlan, VA.

What parks are near Etlan, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 parks near Etlan, VA that allow camping, notably Shenandoah National Park and Prince William Forest Park.