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Graves Mountain Farm Campground offers primitive camping options for equestrian visitors near Etlan, Virginia. The campground accommodates horse trailers in a field-style setting where tent campers, RVs, and equestrian setups share the same general area. The bathhouse and portable toilets have received mixed reviews regarding cleanliness. While the campground lacks dedicated horse corrals, free-range horses can be observed returning to their pens at dusk and departing at dawn, providing an enjoyable viewing experience for visitors. The camping area is primarily an open field with limited tree coverage, making it more suitable for campers with trailers or those seeking a simple overnight stop.
Located at the foot of the Shenandoah mountains with views of the Blue Ridge, the property connects to several riding paths though specific equestrian trails are limited. Camping is first-come, first-served with no designated site assignments in the camping field. For non-camping equestrians, Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park offers nearby alternatives, though it does not feature specific horse facilities. Many visitors appreciate the mountain scenery and peaceful atmosphere despite the basic nature of the equestrian accommodations. Water access is available for filling tanks, but riders should be prepared for primitive conditions and occasionally muddy terrain when visiting with horses, especially after rainfall.
"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner. Could get muddy if you're there after rain"
"Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"We have lived in northern Virginia for over 30 years and never been to this campground until this month! Very nice campground with friendly staff and friendly campground hosts."
"History buffs will like to explore the park surrounding the campground. Fun little water park within walking distance of all campsites that was great for kids."
from $39 - $100 / night
Check Availability"We recently stayed at Fort Valley Ranch Campground, near Luray, VA and I can only say good things about our experience and the FVR's management."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Several rustic campsites with a large lake for the kids, and miles of off road trails for atvs, jeeps, and dirtbikes."
"The road is gravel and could use some work, I’d recommend 4x4 drive. We really enjoyed it and will go back. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, water situation and the roads could use some work."
"There is Rockcliff lake and small beach area, an overlook (Lina Constable Overlook) to hike to right off the camp loop but it’s 1 mile steep incline at times but worth every step. Gorgeous!"
"The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained. Lots of hiking trails and a very easy one that loops around the Rockcliff Lake."
from $25 - $105 / night
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LegendI grew up going to this campground. It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice.
There is a nice pool, arcade, camp store, horse riding, and the camp sites are pretty nice.
All around good place to camp.
GuideLooked forward to camping at Graves Mountain and enjoy the festivities. The campsite is very very small. They say dispersed, but it is a small field as you can not access the others fields. Horse trailers, rvs, tents, and overland trailers all park right next that to each other. We set up away from everyone to properly distance ourselves due to their covid protocols. They told us to move next to others but there was no space. We got our money back and moved to another site. I would avoid this campsite. If you want to visit it for the apple or Fall festival just camp somewhere else and drive to it. No amenities. No cell service.
TravelerBOTTOM LINE: 3.5 Stars. We had a fine time camping here, but probably would not stay again unless some friends were going and wanted to stay. Not bad, but not great and not my personal preference for camping. Any recommendation to stay would be dependent on what you're looking for--it might be for you, but just wasn't for us.
Acknowledging that reviews are totally subjective, here is a brief summary of some of the pros and cons (in our humble opinion):[
PROS/CONS
Pros:
Cons:
Again, we recognize a lot is subjective; but it just wasn't for us. We'd camp here again if others wanted to, but wouldn't choose to come back.
I'm happy to elaborate on any particular bullets.
HELPFUL TIPS:
LegendLovely time in the yurt! Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites.
ScoutBeautiful sunsets over the stables and horse pastures. We reserved a “pull-through” RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level. Also, after staying for two weeks, the bathhouse next to our site was closed because of lack of electricity. Which forced us to drive up to the indoor pool (nice) and use the showers there. Inconvenient, but we made it work.
ScoutWe camped several nights in our 23ft. travel trailer. Our site A85 was just long enough to fit our trailer and truck. We were able to use our generator at this site. The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. They were clean and even though the campground was nearly full we never had to wait in line. We also did our laundry one evening. The machines were all working and it was quite reasonably priced. Big Meadows campground is so conveniently located to the Visitor's center and many local trails. The horse stables were just down the road. The lodge/restaurant was near the campground and we enjoyed a special dinner out one evening on the deck overlooking the beautiful Luray Valley.
RangerWe stayed at a "group" site D167, which allows up to 15 people and 4 cars. While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people. First of all, it's located in the middle of a large patch of grass right next to other family campsites, so no privacy at all. If you travel with friends you might want to stay up a little longer and have a good laugh around the fire, but this site isn't really designed this way. The quiet hours are after 10PM and it's enforced. Second, the space is really limited, especially if your group members have larger tents. Also, there's no overflow parking, except at the entrance to the campground.
The showers are nice and clean, but they are coin operated.
The rangers are very strict. We had some food related items left on the table (salt/pepper shakers) and they were confiscated while we were hiking. I'm not saying it's wrong, but be aware, because these rules are not enforced at the same level in different places. We ended up with a $80 fine.
Also, since this is a national park, you cannot bring the firewood from outside, have to buy it in the park.
Other than that, we enjoyed our stay. The campground location allow an easy access to many trails within Shenandoah National Park, as well as close by, such as our favorite Old Rag Mountain. It's also technically a part of the NP, so keep your entrance receipt to show at the Old Rag's parking lot.
Make sure you taste blackberry ice cream at the general store at the entrance. It's a local specialty and it's delicious!!!
TravelerStayed in July of 2016. 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. Only down fall is proximity to neighbors.
TravelerWe have stayed here several times. Big beautiful paved sites with furniture to boot. Complete with gas grills and outdoor sinks. Plenty to do at the resort..... Kayak, putt putt, tennis, swim in one of the pools, hot tub, work out in the gym, walk on trails, ride horses, take a carriage ride or eat at the "real" restaurant. My favorite campground hands down!
Equestrian camping near Etlan, Virginia offers access to trails within George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park. Located in Madison County at approximately 1,800 feet elevation, the area experiences distinct seasonal changes with warm summers and crisp fall temperatures. Heavy rainfall can create challenging trail conditions for horses, especially on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains where runoff is common.
Trail riding in George Washington National Forest: Accessible from several campgrounds, these trails offer varied terrain for equestrians. At Fort Valley Ranch, one visitor noted, "We found a river access point perfect for swimming and wading within a 10-minute drive," and "there are opportunities for hiking and river activities nearby."
Fishing options: Several campgrounds provide fishing areas for when you're not riding. At The Cove Campground, "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," according to one camper, while another mentioned, "Beautiful lake and overall picturesque setting."
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and dusk provide opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Big Meadows Campground, one visitor remarked, "Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Fire ring with grate was available. Large site size."
Mountain scenery: The views of Shenandoah and Blue Ridge Mountains create memorable camping experiences. A camper at Big Meadows Campground shared, "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."
Rustic campground amenities: Basic facilities add to the authentic outdoor experience. One visitor at Trout Pond Recreation Area described it as having "Nice hiking, kayaking & swimming" and noted, "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with anfreshwater jellyfish."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer adequate space between campsites. A camper at Big Meadows Campground stated, "Campground was busy but never felt like we were sharing someone else's tent stakes," while another mentioned, "Our site had some privacy and some extra due to about 50% occupancy."
Weather considerations: The area can experience sudden weather changes, especially in spring and fall. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, one visitor advised, "Mid-August was a gamble as to weather. It was gorgeous weather! In the valley and surrounded by beautiful mountain views it was 80 daytime and ~60 at night."
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have poor to no cellular coverage. A camper at Graves Mountain Farm Campground warned, "No cell service," while another at Bull Run Regional Park suggested, "We went to the visitor center and connected to the WiFi if we needed to do something online."
Insect preparation: Bugs can be problematic in warmer months. One camper at Big Meadows Campground reported, "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head and try to enter every orifice for some reason. A head net was helpful to get the tent and screen room set up."
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer activities specifically for children. At Bull Run Regional Park, a visitor shared, "Our family stayed here in a cabin on a long weekend trip to DC. This campground was full of stuff to do and we didn't even get to do a lot of it. The campground had a climbing wall on one afternoon. There are miles of trails and my gkids enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt."
Horse viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy watching horses at equestrian-friendly campgrounds. A camper at Graves Mountain Farm Campground noted, "Awesome views, good food in the restaurant up the hill. Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner."
Educational ranger programs: Some parks offer learning opportunities through structured activities. At Big Meadows Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground."
Site levelness varies: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring preparation. At Shenandoah Crossing, an RVer reported, "We reserved a 'pull-through' RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level," while another at Trout Pond Recreation Area advised, "We were in site 12 which was small for our RV (22 ft total pulled by our F-150) but we worked it out."
Road access considerations: Access roads to many campgrounds can be challenging. A visitor to Trout Pond Recreation Area cautioned, "The drive to the campground (Thorny Bottom Rd. CR 16) was a bit windy but doable. Better to go to Wardensville, WV and down 16 rather than try to cross the mountain near East of Trout Pond."
Water access planning: Water availability differs between campgrounds. An RVer at Trout Pond Recreation Area noted, "Unless you have a powerful vehicle pulling your camper, it would help to release your water supply and fill up when you get to the campground."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Etlan, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Etlan, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 125 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Etlan, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Etlan, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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