Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Nice flat spots
Good facilities for a NP campground
165 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Fulks Run, Virginia range from established campgrounds to primitive dispersed sites in the Shenandoah Valley region. The area includes several developed facilities like Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA and Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Dispersed camping opportunities exist at places like Switzer Lake, where primitive tent sites provide a more secluded experience in the George Washington National Forest. The proximity to Shenandoah National Park adds additional camping possibilities at established campgrounds like Big Meadows and Mathews Arm, approximately 30-45 minutes from Fulks Run.
Road access varies significantly between developed and dispersed camping areas in the region. Many established campgrounds maintain paved roads suitable for RVs and trailers, while dispersed sites often require vehicles with higher clearance on gravel or dirt roads. Weather conditions impact camping feasibility year-round, with mountain elevations experiencing significant temperature drops in spring and fall. Most developed campgrounds operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through October, though some KOAs and private campgrounds remain open year-round. Cell service can be limited throughout the area, particularly at dispersed sites and within national forest boundaries. According to a camper who stayed at a nearby site, "The road on the way up is gravel, but has its share of potholes and bumps. There is no cell service, but if you have an emergency, you can drive a mile or two and send out a call."
Campgrounds in the Shenandoah Valley receive consistently positive reviews for scenic beauty and access to natural features. Several visitors highlight the mountain views as a standout feature, with one reviewer noting a campground that "has an incredible view of Seneca Rocks." Mixed-use campgrounds throughout the region provide flexible accommodation types to match different camping styles. Visitors frequently mention the quality of nearby hiking trails, particularly those connecting to the Appalachian Trail. Wildlife sightings, including deer and occasionally black bears, are commonly reported at campgrounds throughout the area. Noise levels vary significantly between developed and primitive sites, with reviews indicating weekends bring higher occupancy and associated noise at established campgrounds. National forest and park campgrounds generally enforce quiet hours after 10 PM.
"Convenient to the highway and easy to get to. Sites are well spaced. Hookups were well positioned. Walking trail starts at the campground. WiFi worked pretty well. Overall a great KOA."
"Positive: Friendly staff, close to Shenandoah NP, quiet camping, every site has a fire pit. Negative: Pricing rather high"
"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."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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."
"We stayed close to the catch & release pond and felt as though we had a lot of privacy despite the spots being right next to each other."
from $45 - $249 / night
Check Availability"Convenient location, nice setup with tables and chairs around 2 firepits, space to spread out, and plenty of firewood provided. Friendly host. Thanks!"
"Accessibly located and cute as all get out!"
from $25 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road."
"Some things to note- the lake front campsites fill up quickly and they are not drive in. Since I sleep in my Jeep, I needed a drive in spot."
"This campsite is by far one of my favorite free campsites that Virginia has to offer. what makes Wolf Gap so speacial is the the 4 mile hike that leads to a rocky overlook of the valley."
"We made a spur of the moment one night trip up here from Virginia, and I do glad we stumbled upon it! There are only 8 or 9 camp spots, each with a leveled area for a tent and a designated fire pit."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"There’s a small bathroom attached to back of camp store nearby. Then the larger bathhouse down the way. The RV sites were flat, clean, in an open area. We will, for sure, be back."
"Just over the mountain from Virginia. No cell phone service. Nice lake to play at and a couple nice hiking trails right off the campground."
"This campground is mostly level, so bike riding for kids is great, walking to the lake or shower houses is very easy for those who have trouble with hills. The lake has a small but clean beach."
from $20 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
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Good facilities for a NP campground
This spot was good for a one night pull over and just wanted to rest; I would not set up camp and spend some time at this site.
There are several spots with a vault toilet. We stayed at campsite 6. This spot had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table but overall pretty small. It did offer a slight more privacy due to the tent pad being below the parking spot and surrounded by overgrown brush. There are no views with this spot but does offer a trail. I would not recommend the trail being it has been used as a bathroom spot with toilet paper and heavy smell included.
The vault toilet was just a vault toilet. It is a heavy noise area with other campers and ATV so if you are looking for a secluded peaceful site with spectacular views, this is not it. If you just need a place to lay your head or wanting to bring your ATV along this is for you.
This campground is awesome! It's quiet, cool (temperature), great camp neighbors. The general store has ice, firewood, showers and any other necessities you may need.
Stayed with friends at RV6. Non electric spot but huge with a nice fireplace and benches. No picnic table but great views of the river and the peaceful sounds of flowing water. Only toilet facility is an outside port-o-potty but they have spray, tp, hand sanitizer and seems well kept.
This campground is very basic. The area is very remote. Make sure you bring supplies. Going out to eat is at least a 30-minute drive. Floating the loop at Big Bend is one of the best things you can do without traveling away from the camping area. Seneca Rocks, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Seneca Caverns are all within an hour drive.
Enjoyed the campground, even during the storm. Disappointed the river was dry, but we enjoyed the pool! I wish there were more activities for children when the river is dry.
This is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
I stayed two nights in between bookings at the national park and I was surprised by how lovely the state park was. Quiet with great trails for strolling and peaceful river views. Level, spacious sites with some privacy offered by tree/bushes and a clean, modern bathroom (loved that the showers told you what temp the water is and that each shower was private/in its own room).
Great summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
Camping options around Fulks Run, Virginia typically sit between 1,200-2,500 feet in elevation, creating distinct temperature variations throughout the year. Spring camping features 40-70°F temperature swings between day and night, while summer maintains steadier 70-85°F daytime temperatures. Fall campers experience early frost at higher elevations by mid-October, with snow possible at campgrounds above 2,000 feet.
Hiking from campground trails: At Big Meadows Campground, multiple hiking trails start directly from the campsite area. "There's great hiking nearby," notes one camper, while another mentions "nice trails are accessible from campground" with "Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground."
Swimming in mountain lakes: Brandywine Lake offers a designated swimming area with natural shoreline access. According to a visitor, "The lake has a small but clean beach" and another camper adds, "Nice lake to swim, fish & kayak. The sites are spacious and private."
Cavern exploration: Located at Endless Caverns RV Resort, cave tours provide underground adventures with unique geology. A reviewer explains: "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."
Disc golf and recreation: Multiple campgrounds offer outdoor recreation beyond hiking. At the Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA, "Pool, playground, frisbee golf & pizza delivered to your site!" provides diverse activity options when not exploring trails.
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. A camper at Brandywine Recreation Area reports: "The view of the stars at night is breathtaking. My favorite place on earth." Another visitor notes, "You'll be hard pressed to find a darker sky on the east coast."
Wildlife encounters: Loft Mountain Campground offers regular wildlife sightings right in the camping area. "We were certainly surprised to have a deer family join us during dinner," writes one reviewer, while another camper states, "The fireflies are spectacular. At dusk, the ground shimmers, and then after they disperse, you will still see them flit by the tent throughout the night."
Private camping spots: Many sites offer natural separation despite proximity. A visitor to Wolf Gap notes: "The campsites are high quality and well-maintained. There's overflow camping across the road, which is good since this campground usually fills up on good weekends." Another camper at Loft Mountain describes: "The sites were fairly close, but separated by trees, so you felt private."
Clean facilities: Brandywine Lake Campground maintains exceptionally clean bathhouses. "The bathrooms are the cleanest I've ever seen while camping," states one reviewer. Another adds, "The campground is very clean, with plenty of trash bins and protected drinking water spigots—almost every site has one nearby."
Cell service limitations: Reception varies significantly by location and carrier. A visitor to Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA reports, "Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees." For Brandywine Lake, a reviewer warns: "There's no cell service at the sites."
Road conditions for dispersed sites: Access to Switzer Lake requires careful driving. "Once you turn onto Switzer Lake Rd from U.S. 33 and find the parking area to the lake on your left, be prepared to drive another 2ish miles on a single lane and very bumpy dirt road. Go slow as several sharp corners with huge drops and inexperienced drives coming towards you," explains a camper.
Campground elevation impacts: Higher elevation campgrounds experience significant temperature variations. A visitor to Big Meadows notes: "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14°F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water."
Weekend vs. weekday experience: Usage patterns affect the camping experience dramatically. "This was a great midweek site. The reservation board is straightforward... The weekend folks ceased to use the reservation board system and were very noisy," warns a Wolf Gap camper.
Look for kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds cater specifically to families with children. A visitor reports, "Rivers Edge Campground is awesome! It takes us back to a time when camping was camping without all the crazy commercialization that has overtaken so many campgrounds today... They have an honest to goodness swimming hole!"
Select level campsites for bike riding: Brandywine Lake Campground offers terrain suitable for children's activities. "This campground is mostly level, so bike riding for kids is great, walking to the lake or shower houses is very easy for those who have trouble with hills," notes one reviewer.
Plan for evening ranger programs: Educational opportunities enhance family camping experiences. At Big Meadows, a visitor mentions they have a "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs" that engage children while teaching them about the surrounding natural environment.
Consider weekday visits during peak season: Less crowded conditions provide better family experiences. "We were early in the camping season so we had no one around us. The size of the lots were amazing, plenty of room. We had so much fun, we didn't even leave our camping sites the entire time!!!" reports a family at Endless Caverns.
Site selection matters: At Endless Caverns RV Resort, specific areas offer better experiences. "Many FHU sites in our area (C) are large enough for a trailer, TV and a clam. Pull-through sites are available. Sites in C usually back up into a wooded or naturally landscaped area that allow a nice sense of woodsy privacy. Sites are mostly level. Sites in section E appear tighter with less shelter. The higher sites might require your TV have 4WD. Be very particular with your site selection!"
Elevation and gradient considerations: Several campgrounds require careful navigation due to terrain. "Roads are gravel and can be a bit steep, 4-wheel drive is helpful," notes a camper at Endless Caverns RV Resort.
Water and utilities access: Full hookup availability varies across campgrounds. A visitor to Endless Caverns reports, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Fulks Run, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Fulks Run, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 165 campgrounds and RV parks near Fulks Run, VA and 28 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Fulks Run, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fulks Run, VA is Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 33 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fulks Run, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Fulks Run, VA.
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