Best RV Parks & Resorts near Free Union, VA

July 10-19, 2020

As my wife and I were discussing my review, I asked her what could we point to to take away from a 5-star rating. Neither of us could think of a single thing.

This campground (RV Resort) is simply beautiful. Wooded, stone borders, stone walls, and stone fire pits at every site, plus full hookup at each site. They cater nicely to big rigs, offering numerous pull-through sites as well as back-in sites, as your need exists. Small rigs down to tent trailers camp here as well. There are only two restroom locations (same with the dumpsters; guests do not leave trash near their sites, guests are expected to take care of their own trash), but they are clean, well cared for, and odor free. Showers are the same.

Most sites are spaced enough to give some feeling of privacy, some are fairly close together. A few sites are nicely secluded for those of us that crave privacy. Staff was extremely pleasant and helpful, and include a “Camp host” for after hours problems. Because of Virginia restrictions due to the current COVID situation, as of this writing the pool and spacious game room are not open. Check with them if that is a gamechanger for you. Their cavern tour (discounted for guests at the RV park) was lovely. Marked well, lighted, relaxed. Our tour guide, Haley, was a sweetheart, taking time for the two little kids, and still giving the information older people like. Plenty of things to do nearby, including museums, Civil War Battlefields, shopping, and Skyline Drive (fantastic).

This is a quiet campground, with no street lights, and quiet hours from 11PM to 8AM. Definitely not a party campground, which totally endeared this place to us. Roads are gravel and can be a bit steep, 4-wheel drive is helpful.

We thoroughly loved our stay here, and assuming we are back this way, we don’t even plan on looking at other locations to stay. Can not praise this campground (RV Resort) enough.

Little family campground off of Rt. 29. Ok location for meeting friends between DC and Richmond, although if you do your research, you could find something better. At the time I went, there was a one-dog limit so one of my friends didn’t stay the night because he couldn’t bring his dog, so that was a bummer.

Standard RV hook-up sites are available. They’ve got the usual: bathhouses, fire ring, picnic table. They were selling local bison at the camp store so we bought some and made burgers. There’s also an Amish market, Yoder’s, just up the road. They have everything you could need, including hot coffee, deli sandwiches (the have the best bread), biscuits and gravy, freshly baked items, bulk goods, a petting zoo and so much more. They’re closed Sundays, so stock up the day before!

Overall we had a good time as we were there to meet friends vs. take in the scenery. If you’re looking for scenery - check out Graves Mill for a hike or hit Skyline Drive for hiking and camping. Madison is a beautiful county.

The tent sites are ON TOP of each other. No trees. Zero seclusion. This is an rv resort.

KOAs have a standard formula that you can count on: clean, full RV hookups, easy in and out etc. This one has all that - and more! One of the features I look for in campground is hiking trails right out of the campground. Most KOAs don’t have that - but this one does! Great hiking trail info the hills and woods at the back of the property. Gave me and my pups a chance to run, walk & stretch. Also, many KOAs are right near highways or big roads. Not this one. It’s about 3 miles off highest 81, and no highway noise at all. So peaceful. We will return!

This resort exceeded our expectations. Sites are HUGE. They’re in the woods and up hills and around corners so you really feel like you’re camping, not at an rv resort. The value was great for our 2 month stay here. Peaceful. Saw many animals.

We stayed here several times in an RV.  Short-term sites are in the very front but you do have to take a circuitous route through the campground to get back to that area after checking in.  Many long-term sites (lots of weekenders) around the lake and up in the hilly area.  Short-term sites are electric and water only but there is a free dump station down in the back. There is a pool and they also sell propane.  Due to the COVID rules their pool may not be open 2020.  Friendly staff and very quiet for overnighters.  Easy access from I-85.  Not sure about tenting as were RV only.  Definitely worth a visit and highly recommended.

They used to be a KOA but dropped their membership last year because some of KOAs rulesjust didn't make sense for them.

Endless Caverns RV resort is a great place to stay and the location is perfect! There are so many attractions nearby. We stayed over the Labor Day weekend and had a late arrival and Frank was very helpful in leading us to our site.

The campground is very quiet and not lit up like a Christmas tree which is something we prefer. If you’re looking for a great place to stay in the Shenandoah Valley look no further.

The campground is small and well-kept. It has an incredibly chill and laid-back vibe.

You are a quick walk to the brewery and café, where you can grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is nice and dark at the campground, so great for star watching. 

There are several small walking paths throughout the property. 

It is very pet friendly. 

It is very quick drive to lots of hiking, including the Appalachian Trail. 

You are also a stone’s throw away from a ton of other really great breweries and wineries. I highly recommend visiting Blue Mountain Brewery and Bold Rock cidery during tour stay for some great food and beverage.

Cell service and wi-fi are spotty at best, but what do you expect? You are in the middle of the mountains. 

Each full hook up site has a picnic table and fire ring. Fire wood available for purchase.

*Warning, if you stay at a full hook up site and are parked in an odd number spot, you will need an extra long sewer hose to reach the connection. For example, we have a small travel trailer and we needed a 30 foot hose. The sewer connection for the odd number sites is on the opposite side of the RV than the electricity and water. The good news is that in a pinch, and your sewer hose does not fit, they do have a dump station on site.

Misty Mountain offers something for everyone - spacious, level well-maintained full hook up sites that can accommodate any size trailer or RV, more rustic tent camping sites, quiet creekside camper sites with electric and water, and both modern and rustic cabins. The camp store is well stocked and even offers a very nice wine selection, plus local canned salsa, spaghetti sauce, and pie! There are many amenities for families - a huge bouncy mat, a fishing pond, playground, large group campfire, sports area, and a nice rec room. They have free donuts and coffee on Sundays, and special events many Saturdays. The shower and laundry facility is very new with modern, clean amenities. The showers are private suites and are large and nice enough that some people with showers in their campers still choose to use the camp ones instead. The site areas closest to the camp store and recreation area are the nicest - the RV sites up the hill by the cabins are smaller and closer together. The whole facility is very well maintained and the camp hosts live on site.

Pros- the grounds are very nice, lots of trees, level sites, some grass, lots of activities for the kids. Tent sites by the river, a pool, hot tubs, store, cafe with limited items. Laundry facility. Wild but tame bunnies are everywhere. 

Cons - we were there in October and they close on 10/31 for the season so we got the feeling they weren’t that into it anymore. Bathrooms and showers were disgusting. Very dirty with what appeared to be mold around the upper section of the shower. Store not well stocked. Hot tub room had a mildew odor, same with the bathrooms. Laundry was dirty, machines not clean. No wifi, no cable and cell service is limited - definitely not good for Verizon. There were no fewer than half a dozen people walking around with their phones held high trying to get a signal and all seemed to congregate in  front of our trailer so we were able to hear their conversations. We thought the cable issue might have been on our end but after taking to other campers we found out they were having the same problem. Spaces are tight.

Bonus - Halloween is a big even in many RV parks and this was no exception. There were a few campers who fixed up a trailer as a haunted house and decorated the outside to the max. We did enjoy our evening walk around the park looking at decorated RVs.

Although we could see the potential the park, we wouldn’t stay again.

Pros: this campground is fairly quiet (at least when I visited in fall), and has nice amenities including free hot showers.

Cons: they definitely cater to RVs. They have a primitive tent area, but it only has a vault toilet. The bathhouses (with showers and flush toilets) are all located in the loops with full hook up sites; I would expect if you had to choose to put facilities in one area over another, the tent area would make more sense since RVs have their own toilets and showers on board.

Given the chance, I probably wouldn't stay here again unless I was passing through.

Devils Backbone Brewery and Basecamp is amazing! This a great concept to put a nice campground right at a brewery/restaurant. 

The campground is only about a year old and has nice variety of sites. Full hook-up sites are all pull through, large, and flat. The tent sites are large and situated in the tree line for added shade. The bathhouse is one of the nicest we’ve ever visited. There is no wifi and limited cell phone service at the sites, but wifi is available at the main brewery compound. While we loved this campground and can’t wait to return, the one drawback that may take some planning is the hookup situation. There is a tower between two sites with water and electric and depending on the way you pull through the sewer hookup could be on the other side of the rig. This could be an inconvenience if your hoses are not long enough to reach under your rig to the hookups. The even numbered sites appear to be the best with all hookups on one side. 

One of the best parts of this campground is you can just walk to the main compound, which houses the brewery restaurant, distillery, two outdoor bars, fire pits and fire places, and chairs/seating. This area was amazing and nice to eat, drink, and relax. There is also a large stage area for the bands that regularly play. The food and drink were very good and reasonably priced. The price of the campground site was only$55 per night for full hook-ups within walking distance to the main area! 

Additionally, the campground is a prime location for exploring the other numerous wineries, cideries, and breweries in the area. We loved Devil’s Backbone and can’t wait to return!

Important RV directions!
DO NOT follow your gps. There are signs that actually say “gps navigation not recommended”. There are sharp turns, steep (15%) grades and low, narrow overpasses. Best entry is to take 64 to 151 south, then turn in Beach Grove Rd.

Newish campground.  22 ( I believe) full hook up sites, lots of tent sites.  You can walk to the brewery.  

Devils Backbone picks up hikers on the AT, brings them in for free camping and showers, also offers a hikers breakfast.  Your bar mate may be a little rank but they have some stories,

We had a great stay at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views in Luray, VA. 

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. Full hook-ups with 50-amp service. 

Wow, what a view! Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening. Who could ask for more? 

The campground is close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive as well as Luray Caverns and a few smaller tourist attractions including the Luray Zoo and Bear Mountain Zip-lines. 

They have a clean pool and playground for little kids. The nearby dairy cow farm is fun too. 

You can tell the new owners are making some upgrades including improving the utilities and adding wi-fi. 

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. 

THINGS I ESPECIALLY LIKED: 

1. The best view from a campsite we’ve ever experienced 

2. Less than 20-minutes from Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns 

3. Clean campground

This campground is really new but is well run. The sites are new, clean and fairly level. The power posts are shared between two campers so that took a few folks by surprise. You do have to think about which way you want to pull in in order to accommodate full hook up needs. The brewery is an easy walk and the food and brew are good. The AT is near so hiking is abundant. One of the negatives is that it is not clear where the campground is in relation to the brewery. When you do locate the entrance, it has a tall stone entry that is barely wide enough for big rigs. Most folks had to pull both mirrors in to get through. We loved it there and met some really neat folks. Very peaceful.

**Campground Review: **

Devil’s Backbone Camp is a unique outdoor retreat that includes a campground at a large brewery complex. This was the best of both worlds, because we are beer enthusiast and avid campers. The campground includes 75 sites split between primitive tent sites, non-electric RV sites, and full hookup RV sites. All site types included a picnic table and fire ring. Check in for all camping is at the brewpub. I’ve included a picture of the map in my pictures for you to get a better understanding of the layout. 

We stayed on site 4 on this visit, which was a full hook up site. All the full hook up sites are pull thru and in an open field so limited shade. The hookups in this area where different than I have ever experienced as the hookups were shared between two sites. If you were on an even number site, this was no problem. However, if you were on an odd number site, you either had to hope you had the length on your water and power lines to run to the opposite side of your rig or you had to pull into the site the opposite way to get the connections on the standards side of your rig. The non-electric sites were back in and had a little more shade. The tent sites were in the woods so full shade. 

The camp is also just miles from the Appalachian Trail, so they provide a free shuttle to the camp, as well as group tent area for registered AT thru-hikers. 

There is single bathhouse in the camp area that is near the tent area and a good walk from both the RV areas. The bathhouse was clean and functional. 

Firewood is available at the camp host.

A short walk through the tent area brought you to the large brewery area. This area includes a brewpub, large outdoor seating area with fire pits and an outdoor stage, a distillery, cigar and cocktail lounge, an additional outdoor bar and grille, a breakfast building with craft coffee, and a gift shop. They also have their own green house to grow vegetables and source local farms for ingredients that they use in their brewpub kitchen and grille. 

The property also included two large cabins to rent and two hiking trails (one 3km and another 5km). 

We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The camp area did have Wi-Fi, but it was a little bogged down on this Fourth of July stay (full campground). 

While we camped, we also had the opportunity to check out a few of the local attractions. Being at the base of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, there are many outdoor activities to take advantage of. We hiked to Humpback Rocks which is a decent climb, so be prepared, but once you summit, the views are amazing. The area around the camp also had many other breweries, ciderys, wineries, and distilleries. One cidery is right across the street from the campground, was fun to visit, and has lots of outdoor seating. We did enjoy our visit here and do recommend this campground. 

The main reasoning for the 4-star rating instead of a 5-star is due to the single bathhouse that is a good walk from the RV areas and the very unique water and power hookups in the full hookup area.

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**Product Review: **

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I tested the Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier. The variety pack from Liquid I.V.  includes powder packs in the flavors of lemon lime, acai berry, and passion fruit. The packets are very easy to use (just mix one packet with 16 ounces of water) and are small enough to pack in your backpack, purse, or even your pocket so you have it with you when you want to use it. With the hydration multiplier, drinking one 16-ounce bottle of water is equivalent to drinking three bottles of water. I found that I enjoyed all three of the flavors in the variety pack. I am not a big regular water drinker, but having a little flavor made me drink the water quicker and more frequently. Having this while hiking in the area and after enjoying the large selection of adult beverages in the area made me feel rejuvenated and ready to get out and see more of the area.

We really like the location of this campground as we wanted to explore the VA wine country, Monticello, Skyline Drive and other sites in the area. Overall, we liked the park which had nice campsites, was very clean and well-kept, and we liked our campsite which was level and had full hook-up. 

Our campsite was a back-in which was in a quiet corner of the campground. The site was long enough for our 45’ motorhome and tow car. The site was perfectly level, gravel, and had nice grass on the patio which our dog enjoyed. All the utilities were well-placed, so you didn’t need additional hoses. The cable hook-up provided us with plenty of television channels and the wifi worked well (albeit we just used it to check email and did not stream anything). Some campsites are pull-thrus (if you don’t wat to unhitch or back up) but it seemed this section was busier with transient campers coming and going and the sites seemed a little tighter. Some back-in sites have a wooded area behind them and more shade than our relatively open site. There are tent sites situated under trees for shade and to add a little privacy. Tent areas have a picnic table and fire pit along with a wooden bench and high table you could use for food prep. The campground does not allow hammocks so make sure you have a tent and were not planning on sleeping in your hammock. 

As you would expect with a KOA, there are lots of amenities and many that are geared towards kids (although we didn’t see too many during our stay). There are two really nice playground with slides, swings, climbing walls, game room, swimming pool, bouncy pillow, etc. There is a small little basketball area with one hoop and a paved surface which is adequate for shooting hoops but not playing a full-court game. The dog park was surprisingly big and we were impressed at the size which was big enough to throw a ball for our lab. Other nice amenities were the fishing pond and a½ mile nature trail in the campground.

Nestled right up against the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, this is a great spot with semi- private spaces and full hook ups for RV’s. Check in was smooth with an escort. Resort has a pool on the property, well kept bathrooms, playground, and you can see the pride the staff has in the property and upkeep. There is a cavern tour which was really awesome (and relatively inexpensive), and the local town New Market has some small town shops and restaurants if you feel the need to explore locally. If Endless Caverns aren’t enough, nearby Luray Caverns are pretty close too which is very touristy.

Keep in mind that this campground is on the side of a mountain and it can get steep getting to some of the sites- but they have done a good job with copious amounts of gravel on roadways for traction.

Overall great experience and we’ll be back!

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. Only some spots have bear lockers, ours did and we ended up sharing with another site that didn’t. Yes, there was warning that a bear had been really close to this area.

There are cabins, tent sites and room for trailers. Camp store with the usual goodies. Bathrooms, dish wash station, and coin showers.

Our spot had a picnic table and a fire ring. We stayed for a few nights with no complaints. AT trail is right there if you’re interested. We had limited to no service depending on where you were standing, so I wouldn’t expect much. But that’s why you’re out there right? There is a short trail nearby, saw some deer. The only thing I wish was a better view of the surroundings area like some of the pull. 360 view of only trees.

We enjoy our visits to Misty Mountain. While close to home, it's like a mini-vacation when we're interested in swimming, playing pool, or participating in special events. We always stay on top of the hill where it's generally less crowded. Sites # 49 and # 50 are next to the woods (a bit more private), though it's a longer walk to the bathroom.

We're usually in the smallest trailer in the campground, as there are numerous motor homes and large trailers here. Water/electric hookups are sufficient for us, though many sites offer full hookups. We especially enjoy staying mid-week when it's less crowded.

While more privacy in the lower section of the campground would be nice, I think many people stay here for the amenities on site (pool, game room, playground, small fishing pond, etc.), as well as being close to all the vineyards, breweries, and historical attractions within a 10-15 mile drive.

Bathrooms are always clean, staff is always helpful.

When this is the type of "camping" we want to do, we always have fun!