Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park
Responsive hosts, great sites, fun family activities.
Douthat State Park Campground and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park provide distinctive glamping accommodations near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. Douthat offers secluded yurts with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control, providing a luxurious forest retreat. Visitors can enjoy the park's natural beauty while sleeping in fully-furnished canvas structures with modern amenities. Jellystone Park features themed glamping units with premium linens, private decks, and kitchenettes - perfect for families seeking boutique camping experiences without sacrificing comfort. Each glamping site includes picnic tables, fire rings, and proximity to clean shower facilities. According to a camper, "It was exceptionally clean with pristine bath houses and friendly staff that made our glamping experience truly memorable."
On-site recreation at these glamping destinations includes swimming in Douthat's mountain lake, fishing opportunities, and hiking trails that connect directly to the George Washington National Forest trail system. Safari tents at Natural Bridge KOA provide a luxury camping experience with stunning views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and convenient access to Natural Bridge State Park. Most glamping accommodations remain available from April through November, with some luxury units requiring reservations months in advance during peak season. Visitors noted the convenience of glamping near popular attractions. One guest shared, "Despite having plenty of natural surroundings, the campground is close to shopping and restaurants while still providing a quiet retreat for luxury camping."
"The bathhouse is nice as is the pool. The store was sparse but adequate. The lawns were kept up and looking good. There is a very nice playground and a pet exercise area."
"Arrived after hours, staying one night. Our tag was waiting for us with a map to our RV spot with E/W by the creek and pond. It was off season, so plenty of spots and privacy."
from $45 - $99 / night
"Store, Bathrooms, and running water are very close. Seemed very family friendly. Some of the campsites are super close to a creek and its worth trying to get one of those!"
"The staff were friendly and welcoming - and didnt bat an eyelash at our queer ladies camping weekend."
from $28 - $55 / night
"We had a gravel pull through spot with a picnic table on a wooden deck, fire pit, and full hook up. There is a pool and a playground, however they were both closed due to Covid."
"This campground is open year round and is right off the highway. There is a gas station right next to it as well as a safari park. "
from $35 / night
"And of course their lake that has two jumping decks, water slide, snack bar , restaurant and off to the side a little store for floats with putt putt golf and Jenna,etc."
"Lots for them to do, great swimming lake, employees were a pleasure. Trash pick-up was awesome !! Our site was gorgeous. Not a full hook up(more on that later), but absolutely perfect."
from $29 - $45 / night
"I believe they currently have around 400 spots. It is divided into upper and lower sections. The lower is much more wooded and gives off more of a camping feel while the upper is much more open."
"Staff was extremely pleasant and friendly. Ate at their on-site restaurant while a local band played outside. Mostly used by local folks as a seasonal CG."
"We use a teardrop camper so we appreciated the water and electric hookup (although we disconnected the water at night to prevent freezing)."
"It’s a nice scenic drive getting to the park on a quiet and well maintained back road. The rangers at the park are very knowledgeable and kind and have no problem answering questions."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $37 / night
"There are tent, RV sites and cabins with campground bathroom. There are showers, slop sink and laundry. The pond at front has stocked trout and a small lake in the back has bass and crappie."
"The upstairs neighbors were probably as quiet as they could be but you could still hear them walking around and using the plumbing. The trout pond is not what they make it out to be on the website."
from $38 - $55 / night
"Our spot was right there on the water, there are bathrooms at the top of the hill. Campsites are drive up and can fit 2 vehicles. The spot also has a fire ring and picnic tables."
"I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $85 / night
"There was a carnival for the kids, trick-or-treating, hiking, tons of bike riding, campfire watching, hammock swinging, laughing, loving, and hanging out!"
"If that isn’t enough, there is a lake with a big blow up slide and more in the center and also has river access. You can get free life jackets to use and can rent out boats for the river."
from $39 - $241 / night
"This KOA was a very nice surprise given that it was right off the highway. We only were there for 1 night and we didn't hear any highway noise."
"Big patios, bbq grill, tables, fire pit. It was a quiet, well laid out and easy to manage in our 36 ft trailer. Wished I was staying much longer at this campground."
Responsive hosts, great sites, fun family activities.
Friendly staff, great riding right from the camper and a neat playground for the kids.
Gorgeous campground. Super clean and many amenities for kids.
Cool campground in a remote part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As such, very little phone service and lots of narrow, winding roads. Plenty of hikes and several interesting little towns within 30 minutes. I thought it was an interesting mix! We had a power outage during our visit, which also eliminates water access at this site. I was grateful to have an inverter to keep us online since there is zero AT&T service. I had a pull-through site and I'm not certain that I could have made the exit if the campers ahead of me didn't leave.
Beautiful area and lots of amenities but $95 a night for RV camper even if you’re in a van. The tent spots fill up fast if there are any
Bathrooms clean and spacious enough. Campsites close enough to access what water, trash, and other needs with still allowing for some privacy. The front has laundry, ice, firewood and tends to most needs. Dark skies and deer wandering around make for a peaceful and nice experience overall.
What a delight to rest here for two nights! The park is small (10 campsites, I think) and blanketed by a lovely green canopy. Amenities are few, but the nearby showers are clean, with hot water and electricity, and fresh water is available on site by a hand pumped cistern. The office and maintenance headquarters are also nearby, and the folks in the office are friendly and welcoming. I’ll visit here again!
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.
I camp at beaver creek campground yearly and have for the past 5 years. This past year they have built new family bathroom facilities, and a new playground. The nature, beauty and stars at night are unmatched.
Cabin camping options near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests span across Bath and Alleghany counties in Virginia, with elevations ranging from 1,600 to 3,400 feet. The region features limestone formations and cool mountain streams that maintain temperatures around 65°F even during summer months. Winter campers should prepare for nighttime temperatures that can drop below freezing from November through March.
Mountain biking on forest trails: Douthat State Park Campground offers excellent biking terrain with varying difficulty levels. According to one camper, "We did a decent amount of biking here, the main road is nice for road biking, we rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear. And the trails are great for mountain biking. Bring your legs, lots of climbing!"
Fishing in stocked waters: Montebello Resort provides year-round fishing opportunities in their trout pond. "The trout pond is a nice touch you can fish without a license, and you pay for what you catch, we enjoyed fresh trout for dinner during our stay, and from what I saw, anybody with a hook can catch one," notes a visitor who enjoyed the convenience of on-site fishing.
Hiking to scenic viewpoints: Several trails connect directly to the George Washington National Forest trail system. A camper at Crabtree Falls Campground shared that "This campground sits along a river fed by a waterfall just a short hike away. It is the perfect blend of peace and nature as it has a tone of shade making it a perfect summer camp spot."
Private swimming areas: Bolar Mountain Recreation Area on Lake Moomaw offers waterfront sites with personal swimming access. "Campground 2 site 53, has a nice private beach area where you can go fishing or swim. Bring water shoes, the rocks can be sharp," advises one regular visitor who appreciates the privacy.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high in visitor satisfaction. At Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park, a camper noted, "The bathhouse is nice as is the pool. The store was sparse but adequate. The lawns were kept up and looking good. There is a very nice playground and a pet exercise area."
Off-grid experience: Many campers appreciate the disconnected nature of camping near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. At Montebello Resort, visitors value "No Cell service or Internet but that was what I was looking for. Campground well maintained and fishing was nice that have a couple of Courtesy watercraft for the campers use."
Limited connectivity: Cell service is spotty throughout the region. At Stoney Creek Resort, reviewers mentioned "No phone signal and wifi was a joke but that's not a bad thing!" Plan accordingly by downloading maps and bringing physical directions.
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds have limited facilities during off-season. A visitor to Natural Bridge KOA noted their glamping units are available "During peak season there is also a water play area with waterslide and mini golf. It is located on the James River."
Road conditions: Some forest roads can be challenging for larger vehicles. A camper at Montebello Resort advised, "Also FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE CAMPGROUND WEBSITE. VA56 is a very windy road not recommended for pulling a camper through. Use the blue ridge parkway."
Water features for hot days: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge offers extensive water activities. "We partook in all we could and enjoyed the swimming hole, pool, splash pad, jumping pillow and arcade. I'd stay again and would love to head down to the river for some tubing and fish in the stocked pond," mentioned a family who visited during summer.
Structured activities: Several campgrounds offer organized entertainment for children. At Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley, "There are a ton of kiddos riding bicycles, hover boards, scooters, and skateboards around the loops, so the 5 MPH speed limit is important."
Playground options: Look for campgrounds with multiple play areas. A visitor to Walnut Hills reported "There is a very nice playground and a pet exercise area. You can fish in the lake though we didn't catch anything."
Site leveling challenges: Many mountain campgrounds have uneven sites. At Natural Bridge KOA, a visitor appreciated that "They had brand new premium pull through sites that were amazing! Big patios, bbq grill, tables, fire pit. It was a quiet, well laid out and easy to manage in our 36 ft trailer."
Space considerations: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds. At Stoney Creek Resort, "Despite having so many sites, they are rather spacious. All are back in and some can be difficult due to some trees but all are manageable and they base your site based on your rig size so they know their site sizes well."
Hookup variations: Not all glamping sites offer full hookups. Check what's available before booking. "Our site was full hookup and a very nice, mostly level, spacious, and had a covered picnic table on a deck. Not all sites have full hookup," noted a camper at Walnut Hills Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests is Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park with a 4.3-star rating from 21 reviews.
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