Shenandoah River State Park offers additional camping options beyond the cabins and yurts highlighted in the existing facilities. The park encompasses 1,600 acres with 5.2 miles of river frontage, sitting at elevations between 540-830 feet. During winter months, nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing, requiring proper preparation for tent and yurt camping near Keezletown, Virginia.
What to do
Hiking with wildlife viewing: Big Meadows Campground provides access to numerous trails where visitors frequently encounter wildlife. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience. With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," notes Rachel M. at Big Meadows Campground.
Tubing on the Shenandoah River: Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River offers direct river access for water activities. According to Melissa W., "The campground runs along the river and they even have a spot for you to get in and swim... You can go tubing on the river but need to provide your own tubes. The ride down the river from one end of the park to the other is around 30 minutes."
Mountain biking: Explore extensive trail networks at Stokesville Campground. "Stokesville campground offers access to lots of miles of trails in George Washington National Forest. There is an awesome swimming hole on the North River, four miles of flow mountain bike trails inside the campground with endless miles of trails just outside," reports James.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, campers appreciate well-designed spaces. Matt S. shares, "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."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high among visitor priorities at Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground. John B. reports, "Bathrooms and showers were nearby and clean. No cell service but the Visitor's Center has WiFi available... Campground is maybe 100 yds from the Shenandoah River and it's beautiful down there."
Firefly displays: Natural phenomena enhance camping experiences at Big Meadows. Veronica S. explains, "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."
What you should know
Weather preparedness: Winter camping requires proper gear. Carol B. from Big Meadows notes, "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30)... Elevation above 3000 feet and plenty of deer! It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly between campgrounds. At Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park, Dale Y. mentions, "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."
Bug activity: Insects can be prevalent depending on season. Melissa W. warns about Luray RV Resort, "The bugs here were crazy, even for it being fairly cool out. The flies were almost overwhelming." Similarly, at Big Meadows Campground, Veronica S. cautions, "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head and try to enter every orifice for some reason. A head net was helpful to get the tent and screen room set up."
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA offers family-friendly amenities. Katie M. explains, "This campground has an awesome location between Harrisonburg and Luray/Shenandoah. It has great amenities like a pool and playground, a camp store and lots of friendly and helpful employees."
Kid-friendly activities: Structured entertainment options keep children engaged. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray, Anne K. shares, "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."
Wildlife education opportunities: Natural areas provide learning experiences. Kim L. from Big Meadows Campground notes, "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection importance: Choose camping spots carefully for comfort. Jennifer A. at Walnut Hills Campground advises, "The campsites are very close to each other and the roads are very narrow. We can't even extend our awning due to through traffic. If you're on the left side of the road and another camper parks their truck with their camper on the other side, it totally blocks the 'lake' view."
Utility positioning: Check hookup locations when setting up. Dale Y. notes at Walnut Hills, "The sites are large enough and level enough. The power pole is well positioned."
Delivery services: Some campgrounds offer convenient amenities. At Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley KOA, Todd C. appreciates that "The staff were top notch with plenty of amenities to offer," while Evan G. adds, "the pizza they sell is to die for."
