6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground houses luxury yurts and fully-furnished glamping tents just 20 miles from Etlan, Virginia. These upscale accommodations feature comfortable queen beds with linens, electricity, climate control systems, and private decks overlooking the Shenandoah River. Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views offers safari-style canvas tents with plush mattresses, rustic furnishings, and outdoor fire rings for an elevated camping experience. One reviewer highlighted, "Beautiful facility with fantastic scenery at the foot of Shenandoah National Park. The sites are large with both sun and shade options, and the yurts are especially nice for those wanting more comfort." These glamping options maintain a connection to nature while providing considerably more comfort than traditional camping, with amenities like private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and outdoor lounging areas.
Access to Shenandoah National Park's hiking trails and scenic overlooks makes these glamping locations especially popular during peak fall foliage season. The safari tents and geodesic domes at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray provide easy access to Skyline Drive and numerous waterfall hikes. Many accommodations include stargazing opportunities from private decks, with minimal light pollution allowing for exceptional night sky viewing. According to a camper, "We spent a late evening on a picnic blanket stargazing with unobstructed views of the night sky. The glamping sites provide the perfect balance of comfort while still feeling connected to nature." Wildlife viewing is abundant with deer frequently spotted near the glamping sites. Reservations are recommended several months in advance for spring through fall stays, with many geodesic domes and canvas tents booking quickly during peak seasons from May through October.
"Nice facilities (shower, bathrooms, garbage, etc.), but the campsites themselves leave a bit to be desired. Pros: deer wander the grounds, making for some beautiful morning animal encounters."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $75 / night
"But as with most campgrounds, the air was filled with kids laughing and campfire smoke. We played mini golf and the course needed a lot of work. We also went to the pools."
"beautiful location, nice campground. not a lot of woods but lots to do including jumping pillows, paddle boats, swimming. the cabins are spacious and nice though you have to bring your own linens. the"
"We enjoyed the many trails and walking our dog along the river. We would highly recommend and will come back."
"Normally we’re tent campers, but this time we opted for the climate controlled cabins of this state park. Cabins were wonderful. Essentially a little house off in its own little “cabin neighborhood.”"
Available this weekend
from $27 - $384 / night
"Usually 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."
"When we arrived at Spacious Skies the office staff was so nice and helpful! I had not made a reservation online because since this was our first time I was unsure of how everything works."
Available this weekend
from $31 - $219 / night
"This campground has an awesome location between Harrisonburg and Luray/Shenandoah. It has great amenities like a pool and playground, a camp store and lots of friendly and helpful employees."
"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."
"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 ."
from $35 - $50 / night
"Great proximity to Shenandoah National Park while still being close enough to a Walmart and fuel. Easy to access sites, great for larger rigs!"
"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. "
from $45 - $470 / night
"The picnic table and fire pit at each campsite was fantastic, and Pam was great and very helpful."
"Most of the spots pull up near the creek and have a picnic table and fire pit with a grill."
"We are located on the Shenandoah River! Our waterfront unique kamp offers yurts and tent sites along with a well maintained bathhouse! Of course I feel we are 5 stars!"
"We could not have asked for a nicer location! Our tent was about 20 feet from the river and the campground had everything we could have asked for (including spotless bathroom and shower facilities!)"
Available this weekend
from $45 - $225 / night
"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."
"Wright next to the Luray caves and near the starting point of the Skyline drive. Nice, quietly located camping, surrounded by fields."
GuideI fear that yurt glamping may have ruined me against tent camping again! This was absolutely lovely. We stayed in the painted horse yurt. Cozy, comfy, lots of amenities. The only downside here is the sulfur odor the water in the bathroom has, but it is very good for your skin at least! I’d stay here again for sure.
ScoutFriendly staff, great riding right from the camper and a neat playground for the kids.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
TravelerSomething for everybody; long term slots, primitive camping, with electricity and water, with full hookups, day use ramps for Lake Anna, huge covered picnic area for large gatherings, rv sites in the woods and others on the edge of large field. Staff are great.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
RangerThis KOA has cozy spots among the trees and off any major road. Shower houses are squeaky clean and spots are spaced out just right! Some extra amenities: playground, camper core signage, and many other things!
TravelerNice, clean, parking lot type campground. Great pool with lots of built in splash features for kids and a big slide. No real view from site 665 ~ just the top of some mountains. No river view at all. There is a golf cart trail to the river access with parking, but then there are big steps with no hand rail. Lucky a nice man let me hold onto him walking back up. My husband was carrying the gear and couldn’t help me. It seems everyone brought a golf cart. They had rentals, but too expensive. Again ~ great for young families.
Shenandoah River State Park sits at elevations ranging from 540 to 1,400 feet along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River near Etlan, Virginia. The region receives approximately 40 inches of precipitation annually, creating lush forest conditions across the Blue Ridge foothills. Campgrounds in the area often experience temperature fluctuations of 20-30 degrees between day and night, even during summer months.
Paddle the Shenandoah River: Low Water Bridge Campground offers direct river access with convenient shuttle services for tubing and kayaking. "They took us up river and dropped us so we could kayak back. Their store had everything that we had forgotten with good prices," notes Christopher L. The campground's location allows for floats ranging from 3-8 miles depending on water levels.
Explore hiking trails: Several campgrounds connect to hiking networks without requiring a vehicle. As one Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA visitor mentions, "Close to Harrisonburg with all the great breweries! The bathhouse was clean and blissfully warm. There's great hiking nearby." Many trails offer moderate difficulty ratings suitable for varied fitness levels.
Night sky viewing: Big Meadows Campground provides exceptional stargazing opportunities away from urban light pollution. "We love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," shares Rachel M. The campground's 3,500+ foot elevation creates clearer atmospheric conditions for astronomy enthusiasts.
Wildlife encounters: Big Meadows Campground offers reliable wildlife viewing throughout its grounds. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," reports Rachel M. Another camper observed, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Private riverside sites: Low Water Bridge Campground features secluded waterfront spots with direct river access. "The river sites are worth the few extra bucks, but they book up fast. You have to call in your reservations - can't book online," advises one camper. These sites allow visitors to paddle directly to their campsites after floating downriver.
Clean facilities: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground maintains exceptionally well-kept restrooms and showers. "Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms," notes Adam and Suzanne B. This attention to cleanliness makes the park particularly appealing for longer stays.
Off-season benefits: Big Meadows Campground offers extended season camping through mid-November with fewer crowds. "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. The bathrooms were plentiful, heated, hot running water, and a utility sink available," reports Carol B. However, late season camping requires preparation for cold nights.
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds in the area have limited connectivity. At Low Water Bridge Campground, "There is absolutely no Verizon service here (ATT seems to work pretty well). You'll have to drive 10-15 in either direction on Rt. 211 before you can catch a signal." Visitors should download maps and information before arrival.
Elevated glamping options: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray provides premium glamping near Etlan, Virginia with multiple accommodation types. "We had a great time at Jellystone. The Mountain View is gorgeous. The sites are kept up, well equipped and the bath house is very clean," shares Amy I. These sites include electricity, water hookups, and activities not found at traditional campgrounds.
Kid-friendly amenities: Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA offers specialized facilities for younger campers. "The staff were top notch with plenty of amenities to offer. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. Try their fried pies," recommends Todd C. The campground includes a swimming pool, playground, and organized activities during peak season.
Primitive riverside options: Several campgrounds offer walk-in tent sites ideal for introducing children to more rustic camping. "We were there during a heat wave so there were bugs but being from Georgia the heat was bearable. Speaking of bears- there were lots of siting and they take food clean up seriously," warns Anna R. at Big Meadows. These sites typically require proper food storage practices.
Entertainment variety: Families appreciate the diverse activities available at luxury glamping locations near Etlan. "We stayed here for 3 nights in August for our little guy's 8th birthday. It was perfect for kids! The kids loved running off in the open field and playing on the zip line. We loved that we could see them from our site. The birthday boy also loved the outdoor laser tag!" shares Jen O. about Jellystone Park.
Site selection considerations: Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views offers varied RV site options with different amenities. "We stayed in a level back-in site(#39) with picnic table on a concrete patio, Adirondack chairs under a pergola on a second concrete patio, clean gravel surface, and fire pit. The site was big enough for our motor home and Jeep," reports Matt S. Reservations for these premium sites often require booking 3-6 months in advance.
Road conditions awareness: Access roads to many campgrounds in the region feature steep grades requiring caution. "The drive in requires about 25-miles through the roller coaster of steep grade(7+%) hills. There's no way around that, you're in the mountains. Just be aware and be prepared," warns Matt S. about Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views. Some campgrounds recommend disconnecting towed vehicles before navigating entrance roads.
Utility positioning: Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River features strategically placed hookups. "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," notes Joe. The campground's 30/50 amp service and water hookups accommodate larger rigs while maintaining site separation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Etlan, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Etlan, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 130 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Etlan, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 glamping camping locations near Etlan, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
