Best Campgrounds near Hood, VA

Shenandoah National Park dominates the camping landscape near Hood, Virginia, with several established campgrounds including Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, Loft Mountain, and Mathews Arm. These campgrounds provide access to the Appalachian Trail and numerous hiking opportunities within the park. Tent camping, RV sites, and cabin accommodations are available throughout the region, with most developed campgrounds offering basic amenities like drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Private options such as Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA, Madison Vines RV Resort, and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray supplement the national park campgrounds with additional amenities including full hookups, showers, and recreational facilities.

Camping availability in the Shenandoah region follows seasonal patterns, with most national park campgrounds operating from spring through fall. Big Meadows Campground operates from May to November, while Lewis Mountain is open April through October. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer and fall foliage seasons. Weather conditions vary significantly with elevation, and campers should prepare for cooler temperatures and possible storms, especially along Skyline Drive. Cell service is limited or non-existent in many camping areas, particularly within Shenandoah National Park. According to one visitor at Mathews Arm Campground, "The mountains echo, so every child crying is heard. Camp hosts don't police the noise, so it will be on you to climb out of camp and shush the drunkards."

Campers report high satisfaction with the natural setting and wildlife viewing opportunities in the region. Shenandoah National Park campgrounds provide access to numerous hiking trails, including sections of the Appalachian Trail. One camper at Big Meadows noted, "Easy access to lovely hike to falls including stint on Appalachian trail." Private campgrounds near Hood tend to offer more amenities but less seclusion than the national park sites. Several visitors mentioned the importance of bear safety in the region, with one reviewer at Loft Mountain Campground stating, "This is bear country and we saw a few bears lolly gagging in the area. They were curious and never posed a danger from what we could sense." Campgrounds outside the national park, such as Devils Backbone Camp, offer unique experiences with proximity to breweries, wineries, and other attractions in the Shenandoah Valley.

Best Camping Sites Near Hood, Virginia (135)

    1. Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    120 Reviews
    Stanley, VA
    12 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."

    2. Lewis Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    31 Reviews
    Hood, VA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    $30 / night

    "Lewis mountain has all the amenities of home within walking distance if you just can’t live without them; bathrooms,showers, kitchen sink, fire pit, small store and 2 personal vehicle parking spots steps"

    "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."

    3. Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    65 Reviews
    Dyke, VA
    17 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."

    4. Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

    31 Reviews
    Shenandoah, VA
    22 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"

    5. Madison Vines RV Resort & Cottages

    4 Reviews
    Madison, VA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 948-4186

    $53 - $144 / night

    "Located near multiple vineyards. Our only complaint was that the sewage connection was slightly higher than the black tank outlet on our Airstream."

    6. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray

    24 Reviews
    Luray, VA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 300-1697

    "Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."

    "They had plenty of appearances of Yogi or Cindy bear at activities and just driving around the park on a golf cart."

    7. Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages

    22 Reviews
    New Market, VA
    23 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."

    8. Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    44 Reviews
    Rileyville, VA
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3132

    $30 - $75 / night

    "This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!)"

    "There are a few trails encompassing and leading out from the campground, and it's nice to have a central location from which you can out on small hikes."

    9. Watercress Inn at Landon Farm

    3 Reviews
    Syria, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 365-4277

    $35 - $75 / night

    "The location was easy to find, which made the journey hassle-free. The cleanliness of the campsite was impressive, and I truly enjoyed my time there."

    "Did two nights at Butterfly Camp while hiking Old Rag and other trails in Shenandoah."

    10. Graves Mountain Farm Campground

    5 Reviews
    Syria, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 877-9659

    $12 / night

    "Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."

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Recent Reviews near Hood, VA

996 Reviews of 135 Hood Campgrounds


  • C
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm

    Convenient location

    It s nice to have a camp option near Harrisonburg. I agree with others that the tall grass seems like a tick risk. The tall grass is too close in the more private fire circle for fire safety. It was nice to hear several owls nearby. There is road noise during the day. Orv is welcoming and accommodating.

  • Nicholas H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Lovers Lane FarmStay

    Campsite didn't get reservation from Dyrt

    Reserved campsite through Dyrt. Upon calling the campsite to confirm the booking they said they didn't receive the reservation and that the site was already booked by another group. They said this has happened in the past for others. Do not recommend booking.

  • Aly E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Beware

    So the drive here is gorgeous. Deer everywhere and a nice drive. But campground wise wasn’t great. We stayed a Friday night and the group across from us yelled, laughed, partied the entire night til 5am. We didn’t sleep at all. Loud music and all. The bathrooms had one working toilet and one sink, however the one “working” toilet was stopped up and trash was everywhere around it. Such as dirty toilet paper and other sanitary things in the floors.

    Overall the loud party beside us ruined the entire experience and I really wish the campground hosts or rangers kept it clean and also upheld the quiet hours.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Beautiful spot!

    Our site was amazing! The very last car camping site on the road. We were right on the river, we swam and fished. There were plenty of walk in sites beyond ours. Unfortunately there was a decent bit of trash we cleaned up. The road was a little rough, but our 92 ford camper made it, just go slow

  • Zoey W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 13, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Horrie Neighbors

    dont disregard the warnings about noise like i did, constant speakers all the time until 4am. i think its out of jurisdiction for park rangers so they wont do anything either

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    South Fork Shenandoah River

    Riverside site

    The site at the end of the road is beautiful. We stayed right at the end of the road, since we have a 30 foot RV, but there are sites you can walk to all the way down the river. I saw one other site before ours. So limited, but we saw very few people. Got buggy at night, but that happens. Also wish people picked up their trash, but we helped. Absolutely recommend

  • j
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Lake Anna State Park Campground

    Nice space

    Great space for rvs and tents. Cabins and yurts available, bath house clean, but toilet paper is thinner than dry onion skin. Beach area is 1/2 mile paved walk. Beach very crowded on weekends.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Quiet, lots of room

    This is a National Park campground so there are no hookups! Generators are allowed during designated hours. (Please don’t bring one.) Hot shower, bathrooms and laundry are available. Camp store with basics. The sites are large, some are not level but are workable. Lots of wildlife. Near trails.

  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Perfect Shenandoah stopover

    Good amount of first come first serve spots. We visited during a weekday and there was more than enough availability. Nice small trail that runs around the campground. The campstore offers more than enough! We bought a smores-kit, very handy. I dont know if there are (enough) full hook ups?


Guide to Hood

The camping landscape around Hood, Virginia sits at elevations between 600-3,500 feet, creating diverse microclimates throughout the year. Campgrounds in this area often feature underground limestone formations that help regulate tent site temperatures, keeping them cooler in summer months. Weather patterns can shift dramatically across short distances, with temperature differentials of up to 15°F between valley floors and ridge campsites.

What to do

Hike to waterfalls from camp: Lewis Mountain Campground offers direct access to trailheads leading to cascading water features. "We hiked to Overall Run Falls from a trail in the parking lot near the campground and turn this into a loop hike by returning a different way," notes Mary S., who recommends consulting with rangers for custom hiking maps.

Explore underground caverns: Endless Caverns RV Resort offers on-site cave tours with geological formations dating back millions of years. "The Endless Caverns actually adjoin the office welcome center and tours are offered multiple times daily. It would be tough for arthritic knees… but we really enjoyed the raw nature of the caverns," according to Sara M. The cavern tours are discounted for campground guests.

Stargaze from mountain viewpoints: The lack of light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing at higher elevation campsites. "We loved being able to hang our hammocks and watch the wildlife roam around," shares Molly G., noting that many campgrounds enforce quiet hours to enhance evening stargazing conditions.

What campers like

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Big Meadows Campground provides frequent animal encounters within established sites. "We love this campground, we like the pull in and the walk in sites, bear boxes provided, plenty of room to relax," writes Jaclyn B., adding that deer regularly move through the campground.

Camp store provisions: Many locations offer surprisingly well-stocked on-site stores with necessities and local items. "The camp store has a lot of stuff! The showers are $5 for 10 minutes," reports Veronica S., noting that testing shower facilities before disrobing is advisable since coins occasionally jam.

Proximity to historic sites: Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA serves as a convenient base for exploring regional Civil War battlefields. "We visited the VA Civil War Museum & homestead...and the old General Store. We loved the Storybook Trail that was closeby. It had a beautiful overlook of the valley," writes Jess, mentioning that many historical sites are within 15-30 minutes of campgrounds.

What you should know

Bear awareness is essential: Food storage requirements are strictly enforced throughout the region. "You can be fined for leaving food out. The site was a tent site with lots of shade and not too close to others. Lots of deer walking through and room to hang hammocks and chill," explains Anna R., emphasizing the importance of proper cleanup.

Seasonal closure patterns: Most campgrounds operate on staggered schedules, with some closing earlier than others. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units," says Carol B., noting that "Showers and laundry were closed for the season" and temperatures dropped to 14°F overnight.

Insect activity varies by location: Loft Mountain Campground and others report seasonal insect patterns visitors should prepare for. "Unfortunately our campsite was bumblebee invested. It was cool to watch them, but they got into everything," reports Katrin M., while another camper mentioned, "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head."

Tips for camping with families

Choose campsites with kid-friendly amenities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers structured activities for children. "This isn't my idea of camping, but I brought my 11 year old nephew. He was able to run around and make friends with his aunt always looking over his shoulder. He had lots of fun at pool, movie night, making s'mores, and jumping on bouncy mound," notes Anne K.

Look for ranger programs: Educational activities run throughout peak seasons at national park campgrounds. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground," reports Kim L., highlighting the balance between accessibility and educational opportunities.

Pack for temperature swings: Elevation changes cause significant temperature variations, especially at night. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," explains a camper who visited during late fall, emphasizing the importance of packing extra layers even during seemingly mild seasons.

Tips from RVers

Site selection and arrival timing: Mathews Arm Campground fills quickly during peak periods. "When we entered a sparsely populated park in mid-afternoon on a Monday in October, those sites were already taken. By evening, the park was half full. Arrive early in the day if you don't have a reservation, especially later in the week," advises Mary S., who recommends arriving before 11:30am for first-come, first-served sites.

Road gradient considerations: Mountain campgrounds often feature steep access roads requiring appropriate vehicles. "Roads are gravel and can be a bit steep, 4-wheel drive is helpful," notes Clark P., adding that quieter campgrounds with fewer amenities tend to have more challenging approaches but reward with greater privacy.

Generator-free camping zones: Designated quiet areas exist for those seeking less mechanical noise. "Generator-free area: No generators are allowed in parts of the A and B sections," points out a reviewer, explaining that these areas typically attract tent campers seeking a more natural camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Hood, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hood, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 135 campgrounds and RV parks near Hood, VA and 17 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hood, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hood, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 120 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hood, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Hood, VA.