Best Campgrounds near Fulks Run, VA

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.

Best Camping Sites Near Fulks Run, Virginia (164)

    1. Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

    32 Reviews
    Shenandoah, VA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 896-8929

    "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"

    2. Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    120 Reviews
    Stanley, VA
    27 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."

    3. Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages

    22 Reviews
    New Market, VA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 896-2283

    $45 - $249 / night

    "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."

    4. Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm

    7 Reviews
    Singers Glen, VA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 560-4847

    $25 - $30 / night

    "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!"

    5. Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

    11 Reviews
    Brandywine, WV
    15 miles
    Website

    "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."

    6. Wolf Gap

    20 Reviews
    Basye, VA
    22 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "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."

    7. Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    67 Reviews
    Dyke, VA
    31 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."

    8. Rivers Edge Campground

    2 Reviews
    Fulks Run, VA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 908-6576

    "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."

    9. Brandywine Lake Campground — Shenandoah Wildlife Management Area

    9 Reviews
    Brandywine, WV
    16 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "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."

    10. Bennie’s Beach Campground

    2 Reviews
    Fulks Run, VA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 820-2635

    $40 / night

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Recent Reviews near Fulks Run, VA

1162 Reviews of 164 Fulks Run Campgrounds


  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 2, 2026

    Lower Glady Dispersed Campground

    Secluded & Quiet

    We came in late Friday & could tell from the 7+" snow covered road in that no one else was going to be here (unless they'd been parked for two days of snowfall). We parked on a site be the creek on a big loop near a vault toilet (nothing better than a 20° toilet seat to wake you up in the morning). These sites were easy to recognize as safe driving spots under the blanket of snow. The road was well marked. The hairpin turn at entrance was wide enough that it was not a problem to navigate in the snow / icy road. Main roads had been plowed thoroughly. Anyway, great stay. Could not see stars but the moonrise was beautiful.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Oh, Shenandoah!

    The Shenandoah Mountains are beautiful any time of year, but early fall is spectacular. Ripe blackberries underlie the whole landscape everywhere you go, trees are turning magnificent colors, songbirds are stopping over on their migration south, bugs are nearly non-existent. I enjoyed visiting the park and camping here, especially as it is one or the few National Parks that are dog-friendly and allow dogs most everywhere, --throughout campground, on most trails, and even on the outside deck at cafe by our campground. The park also participates in the "Bark Ranger" program for dogs.

    This campground is one of three main campgrounds in the park, and has a Campground store as well as nearby cafe featuring variety of sandwiches, soups and desserts, including local blackberry ice cream! So you will be well-provided for. There is a maze of trails around the campground itself, and just down the Skyline Parkway is access to the Big Run trail network, which provides great birding, hiking, and fishing

    Even in the campground among many campers, there is great access to the Dark sky which is  great for stargazing. Ranger programs in the campground feature this and other nature programs. From the campground there is easy access to myriad scenic overlooks along Skyline Drive in both directions. There is a fairly long drive to get to the north end of the park at Big Meadows which is the northernmost campground and where the NPS Visitor center is.  The scenic drive but you do have to double back a long way to get back to Loft campground.

    Make reservations well ahead of time! Most sites need to be reserved, a few available for same day. Campground fills up early in the day.  Tent campers are more likely to get a spot.  We got the last site of the day. It had a good drive in for a couple cars, but the tent pad was pretty small. There was a picnic table and fire ring, but the campsite itself was a little overgrown and in need of maintenance. The bathrooms were in need of some cleaning too; usually the National Park Service is good about this, but the park was short staffed and so things were a little rough around the edges. As such, although I would rank the park as a 5, the quality of the campground was only so-so, and overall I ranked the camping experience a 4 because of this

  • Alex G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2025

    Switzer Lake Dispersed Camping

    Lots of Campsites Available

    Switzer lake has a lot of campsites to choose from, however this is a popular destination so I would recommend securing a site as early as possible. Due to the conditions of the road I would not recommend taking a car with a low clearance. Preferably a car with at least AWD is recommended. As others have pointed out some sites get trashed by ne’er-do-wells, but besides that it's a very beautiful area.

  • R
    Dec. 27, 2025

    Bear Heaven Campground

    Not very dispersed, but lovely

    One of the advantages of this particular campground is that it's not far from the town of Elkins, so you can go back into town if you don't feel like campsite cooking— lots of good restaurants and entertainment opportunities in Elkins. 

    While this is truly primitive camping, you are not so primitive that you need to dig a hole to go to the bathroom— they do have porta-potty's. It's also noteworthy that this is likely not available year-round. The road becomes impassable in winter when there is a lot of snow, and they start maintaining it, often even blocking the road with gates during the winter. Understandable but unfortunate, since it is beautiful added is not always snowing even in winter, right?

    The campground is not free but also not very expensive. I think the senior citizens price is under five dollars, or at least it was when I camped there a couple years ago(2023). The sites themselves are first-come first-served, the kind of camping ground where you simply go back up to the entranceway to fill out a form and state where you are and make the payment in a box. While the campground is at a fairly high altitude, most of the sites don't have expansive views, and I think only a couple of the sites even have an expansive view down below. But that's okay if you are into wooded views, because there's plenty of that all around, and even a small rock climbing area for you and your kids to scramble on the rocks.

  • R
    Dec. 27, 2025

    Canaan Loop Road

    A remote loop route with about 10 dispersed, free campsites

    This swath of land, sandwiched between two state parks(Canaan Valley State Park to the south& Blackwater Falls State Park to the north) is managed by the US Forest Service. The nearest town is Davis, WV. 

    There is just one dirt road running through it, the first few miles of which are fairly tame: navigable by most standard cars and medium or smaller sized RVs. The further back in you go, the rougher the road gets until it is truly just a jeeps-only type of road. But the good news is that all of the camping sites take place before you get to that rough part. 

    And this is TRULY dispersed camping, with most of the camp spots being a good half-mile from each other! The one downside, if you are into privacy, is that all of the sites are RIGHT NEXT to that dirt road, so others will be driving past your site. The good news is that it is not a heavily trafficked road, used primarily just by the other campers in the 10 available spots, by the occasional hunter, and by the even-less-frequent off-roader, hoping to challenge their vehicle on the rough stuff several miles in. 

    This is all free camping, and all primitive. There are no restroom facilities, no showers, no electrical, no water supply. 

    The campsites themselves are mostly surrounded by forest, making even the smallest of them quite beautiful. They vary in size from being little more than a 20 foot driveway to back an RV up to those sites that are significantly larger with room enough for more than one vehicle and perhaps a couple or three tents. 

    While this loop road region has very few activities itself, you are just a few miles from the two state parks and from private facilities offering horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, and more. 

    The loop road region itself has MANY trails for hiking or mountain biking (possibly horseback riding— I saw no signage either for or against it), and one trail that is specifically marked as a cross country ski route. Although, from what I can see, several of the trails could work for cross-country skiing, as even the road itself could right after a storm. 

    While the area is at a fairly high altitude, around 3000 feet, it seems to be built on a kind of high altitude plateau, so the road itself is not that hilly, nor are the camping sites. I don't know for sure if it's a year-round site, but I can tell you that I was camping there in December, no problem. I do understand that the road is minimally maintained, so it might be impossible or difficult to access during very snowy weather.

  • R
    Dec. 19, 2025

    Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    Woodsy, near trails

    Like many state park campgrounds, each of the campsites are not that dispersed, so you will be right next to everyone else. Some of the sites had trees, many of them had few or none, particularly those that were out in the middle of the circle. So if you want trees and you are reserving your spot online, I recommend reserving  one of the ones on the outsides of the circle if you want trees/shade. 

    Online I did not find a lot of clarity regarding which ones would be good for tents, versus trailers, which was a problem— the one I had reserved was simply not possible to serve as a tent site, as the only level surface was the gravel parking area— not possible to get stakes into the ground, and too slanted anywhere else on the small spot to put a tent. Fortunately, they were able to find me another open spot that had a level enough area for my tent and allowed me to switch the location. 

    They seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the bathhouse/restroom clean. I was there after the primary season(early November) and found it disappointing that half of the campground was closed— the half that, in my opinion, held some of the best looking camping spots. At any rate, the spot I did end up with (sorry, I don't remember what the number was) was nice— partially shaded insufficient privacy out the backside of the camp spot that I could aim my tent view in that direction for a little privacy and a view. 

    There are TONS of trails at this state park, one of which is right next to the campground. While it is fairly short, less than a mile, it connects to an entire network of other trails if you wish to go further, including the trails beyond the state park borders(the national forest abuts the state park), including easy access to Allegheny Trail, which literally goes more than 100 miles!

  • Tyler M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 18, 2025

    Braley Pond Dispersed Camping & Day Use Area

    September Stay

    Quiet and easily accessible. There was only one other vehicle there during my one night stay. Sone trash which was a shame but still a nice area to set up camp

  • R
    Dec. 12, 2025

    Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping

    pretty well dispersed along the beautiful Gandy Creek

    The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through the campable section, making the bulk of them far from ideal for those with campers or rooftop tents, especially given that it's a dirt road, that will be kicking up dirt onto that rooftop tent. 

    I am aware of at least three along the road that you can drive into, but I have never seen those few drive-in-able sites unoccupied on a weekend, and typically not on a weekday either. 

    The campsites themselves are wonderful in just about every other regard. Some of them are dispersed enough that you can see no other campsite from yours, and nearly all of them are much more dispersed then you would get at any typical state park's campground. 

    Almost all of the campsites also have their own views of and direct access to Gandy creek, which I have never seen not flowing generously year-round. Some of the campsites are in places where the water is pooled enough that you could go wading or swimming in. And all of it is good fishing. 

    The campsites vary significantly in size and shade, so you can get ones with more sun if you prefer, more shade if you prefer that. 

    All of the campsites are free and I'm pretty sure that the time limit is two weeks maximum, as it is for all the camping areas throughout the Monongahela National forest. 

    Are you into hiking? There are seemingly countless trails within walkable distance from campsites and certainly within 10 minutes' driving distance, many of them connecting up at the top so you can make a loop by crossing over from one to another and then back down to the dirt road. From what I have seen those trails are not the most well-maintained however. Which means that it can be nettlesome— literally— as in overrun with nettles— during certain seasons, particularly July and August, so you might want to take a machete with you so you can chop them out of the way as you hike upward.

  • R
    Dec. 5, 2025

    Lower Glady Dispersed Campground

    An odd mix of campsite types, but something for just about everybody!

    So this is quite large, I'm guessing at least 25 to 35 campsites along a 4-ish mile long dirt road that deadends. It is dispersed camping, free. And I guess it just depends on what you were looking for. I like to have something a little bit remote, where my campsite is not visible from other campsites. There isn't a lot of that here, but I did find maybe three or four that fit that description, all visible from the dirt road that goes through it. 

    There were many sites that I simply would not like it all, but might be ideal for your purposes, such as two or three areas where there is essentially a big field with a short loop road with maybe half a dozen campsites right next to each other. These are bordered by trees but there are no trees on those sites. Definitely not my cup of tea, but might be ideal for those who are in campers or motorhomes and what to be near a group of other people doing the same thing. 

    The pit toilets are good, reasonably clean. They are however even more dispersed than the campsites— roughly one every mile. Keep that in mind while you are picking a campsite. You may want to be close to one, and then that would limit your choices. If you don't care how close you are to one of the toilets, then you have lots and lots of choices. 

    One of the best things about this location is if you are into mountain biking or hiking or trail running. There are an absolute ton of choices for you, some of them starting right there from the campsite or right at the end of it and several more within half a mile. The Allegheny trail runs right through the campsite with the road itself serving as part of the trail, then immediately turning into singletrack trail on the far ends of this several-miles-long dispersed camping area.


Guide to Fulks Run

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.

What to do

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.

What campers like

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."

What you should know

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.

Tips for camping with families

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.

Tips from RVers

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 164 campgrounds and RV parks near Fulks Run, VA and 29 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 32 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fulks Run, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 free dispersed camping spots near Fulks Run, VA.