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Fort Valley Ranch accommodates equestrian campers with 45 sites offering tent, RV, and cabin options. The campground provides water hookups, electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp service, and sanitary dump facilities. Though the campground data doesn't specifically indicate dedicated horse corrals, Fort Valley Ranch is set up for equestrian use with trailer parking areas and access to riding trails. Picnic tables are available at each site, and campfires are permitted with firewood available for purchase. The campground maintains clean toilet facilities and offers hot showers. Horse owners note the well-maintained grounds provide ample space for horses and gear while keeping camping areas comfortable.
Trail access from Fort Valley Ranch connects riders to the surrounding George Washington National Forest trail system, offering varied terrain suitable for different riding abilities. Located in Virginia's Shenandoah region, the ranch provides proximity to numerous bridle paths and forest service roads appropriate for horseback riding. Reservations are required, ensuring adequate space for horse trailers and camping equipment. The campground operates in a region known for its scenic mountain views and wooded riding trails. Drinking water is accessible for both riders and horses throughout the property. When planning a visit, equestrians should inquire about specific horse policies regarding containment options, manure disposal, and trail access regulations that may change seasonally. Trailer parking accommodates various sizes, making the ranch accessible for most equestrian setups.
"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner. Could get muddy if you're there after rain"
"Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "
"Sites are well situated, and very private. Especially the walk up sites, they're the real gem. Every site has a picnic table and fire ring."
from $15 - $32 / night
Check Availability"This was my first stop on my cross country trip from Virginia to California and out of all the amazing places I’ve seen, this is by far my favorite spot!"
"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"
"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"There is Rockcliff lake and small beach area, an overlook (Lina Constable Overlook) to hike to right off the camp loop but it’s 1 mile steep incline at times but worth every step. Gorgeous!"
"The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained. Lots of hiking trails and a very easy one that loops around the Rockcliff Lake."
from $25 - $105 / night
Check Availability"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"We recently stayed at Fort Valley Ranch Campground, near Luray, VA and I can only say good things about our experience and the FVR's management."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"I go there to climb and both sites are close to the rocks. I have camped there just about every month of the year. Be forwarded this entire area has no cell service due to the Green radio telescopes."
LegendI grew up going to this campground. It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice.
There is a nice pool, arcade, camp store, horse riding, and the camp sites are pretty nice.
All around good place to camp.
GuideLooked forward to camping at Graves Mountain and enjoy the festivities. The campsite is very very small. They say dispersed, but it is a small field as you can not access the others fields. Horse trailers, rvs, tents, and overland trailers all park right next that to each other. We set up away from everyone to properly distance ourselves due to their covid protocols. They told us to move next to others but there was no space. We got our money back and moved to another site. I would avoid this campsite. If you want to visit it for the apple or Fall festival just camp somewhere else and drive to it. No amenities. No cell service.
TravelerBOTTOM LINE: 3.5 Stars. We had a fine time camping here, but probably would not stay again unless some friends were going and wanted to stay. Not bad, but not great and not my personal preference for camping. Any recommendation to stay would be dependent on what you're looking for--it might be for you, but just wasn't for us.
Acknowledging that reviews are totally subjective, here is a brief summary of some of the pros and cons (in our humble opinion):[
PROS/CONS
Pros:
Cons:
Again, we recognize a lot is subjective; but it just wasn't for us. We'd camp here again if others wanted to, but wouldn't choose to come back.
I'm happy to elaborate on any particular bullets.
HELPFUL TIPS:
LegendLovely time in the yurt! Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites.
ScoutBeautiful sunsets over the stables and horse pastures. We reserved a “pull-through” RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level. Also, after staying for two weeks, the bathhouse next to our site was closed because of lack of electricity. Which forced us to drive up to the indoor pool (nice) and use the showers there. Inconvenient, but we made it work.
ScoutWe camped several nights in our 23ft. travel trailer. Our site A85 was just long enough to fit our trailer and truck. We were able to use our generator at this site. The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. They were clean and even though the campground was nearly full we never had to wait in line. We also did our laundry one evening. The machines were all working and it was quite reasonably priced. Big Meadows campground is so conveniently located to the Visitor's center and many local trails. The horse stables were just down the road. The lodge/restaurant was near the campground and we enjoyed a special dinner out one evening on the deck overlooking the beautiful Luray Valley.
RangerWe stayed at a "group" site D167, which allows up to 15 people and 4 cars. While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people. First of all, it's located in the middle of a large patch of grass right next to other family campsites, so no privacy at all. If you travel with friends you might want to stay up a little longer and have a good laugh around the fire, but this site isn't really designed this way. The quiet hours are after 10PM and it's enforced. Second, the space is really limited, especially if your group members have larger tents. Also, there's no overflow parking, except at the entrance to the campground.
The showers are nice and clean, but they are coin operated.
The rangers are very strict. We had some food related items left on the table (salt/pepper shakers) and they were confiscated while we were hiking. I'm not saying it's wrong, but be aware, because these rules are not enforced at the same level in different places. We ended up with a $80 fine.
Also, since this is a national park, you cannot bring the firewood from outside, have to buy it in the park.
Other than that, we enjoyed our stay. The campground location allow an easy access to many trails within Shenandoah National Park, as well as close by, such as our favorite Old Rag Mountain. It's also technically a part of the NP, so keep your entrance receipt to show at the Old Rag's parking lot.
Make sure you taste blackberry ice cream at the general store at the entrance. It's a local specialty and it's delicious!!!
TravelerStayed in July of 2016. 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. Only down fall is proximity to neighbors.
TravelerWe have stayed here several times. Big beautiful paved sites with furniture to boot. Complete with gas grills and outdoor sinks. Plenty to do at the resort..... Kayak, putt putt, tennis, swim in one of the pools, hot tub, work out in the gym, walk on trails, ride horses, take a carriage ride or eat at the "real" restaurant. My favorite campground hands down!
Fort Valley Ranch offers equestrian camping facilities in Virginia's Shenandoah region with access to extensive trail networks. Located at 3,000 feet elevation in the George Washington National Forest, the area receives moderate rainfall throughout the year, creating lush vegetation for trail riding. Mountain weather conditions can change rapidly, with temperature variations of 10-15 degrees between valley floors and ridgetops.
Trout fishing access: Spruce Knob Lake Campground maintains a stocked lake with a wheelchair accessible fishing pier. "The lake water was crystal clear and is surrounded by beautiful views of the mountains," notes Laure D. Fishing licenses are required during regular season.
Mountain hiking trails: Big Meadows Campground connects to numerous hiking trails with waterfalls nearby. "With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," writes Rachel M. The campground sits at higher elevation, offering cooler temperatures during summer months.
Swimming and beach activities: Trout Pond Recreation Area features a sandy beach area for swimming. "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish," reports Fred F. The recreation area closes completely from December 21 to May 1.
Spacious, private sites: Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping offers secluded sites along the water. "Sites are dispersed over about 2.5 miles. The sites ranges in size from tent capable to large RV and group sites. Sites will usually have a fire circle and you are close to the creek," explains Joshua H. This free camping area allows stays up to 14 days.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Deer sightings are common at Big Meadows Campground. "Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Fire ring with grate was available. Large site size. We had site 23," shares Terri S. The campground requires food storage in bear boxes due to active wildlife in the area.
Dark skies for stargazing: Spruce Knob Lake Campground provides excellent night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "You're in the middle of nowhere, so you do have a truly dark sky," writes Jean C. The campground sits at high elevation with limited tree cover near the lake for unobstructed viewing.
Limited connectivity: Cell service is extremely limited throughout the region. "Download your maps before you come, because there's no cell service and you'll truly get away," advises Jean C. about Spruce Knob Lake. Some campgrounds like Fort Valley Ranch offer WiFi at visitor centers.
Weather preparedness: Big Meadows Campground experiences significant temperature variations. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," notes Carol B. Sites sit at 3,000+ feet elevation where weather can change quickly.
Road conditions: Access roads to many horse campgrounds near Keezletown can be challenging. "The drive to the campground (Thorny Bottom Rd. CR 16) was a bit windy but doable. Better to go to Wardensville, WV and down 16 rather than try to cross the mountain near East of Trout Pond," suggests Laure D.
Kid-friendly amenities: Shenandoah Crossing offers multiple activities for children. "Salt water pool, horse rides, go karts, mini golf. Definitely more than a campground," reports RL. The resort includes both traditional camping and glamping options with yurts.
Bug management strategies: Insects can be prevalent in certain seasons. "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," advises Veronica S.
Water activities: Look for campgrounds with fishing ponds for children. "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," shares Jason G. about Fort Valley Ranch, noting that river access points for swimming and wading are within a 10-minute drive.
Site leveling considerations: Fort Valley Ranch offers level pull-through sites for easier setup. "Our site (site 3) was an easy level pull-through site, making the setup/breakdown very quick and painless. All the RV sites were impressively level, with only minimal leveling needed," reports Jason G. The ranch accommodates rigs over 50 feet in total length.
Utility management: Many campgrounds have limited electric service. "It states online that it's only 15amp electric at 14 of their sites. Mid-August was a gamble as to weather," notes Laure D. about Trout Pond Recreation Area, adding that sites 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 offer full hookups.
Water conservation: Some equestrian campgrounds near Keezletown have seasonal water limitations. "Water is available, though they state it is in limited supply," mentions Jean C. RVers should arrive with full tanks during peak summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Keezletown, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Keezletown, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 125 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Keezletown, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Keezletown, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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