Best Campgrounds near Madison, VA

Are you in need of a campground near Madison, VA? Madison is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Madison. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Best Camping Sites Near Madison, Virginia (130)

    1. Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    120 Reviews
    Stanley, VA
    14 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
    13 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

    64 Reviews
    Dyke, VA
    24 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. Madison Vines RV Resort & Cottages

    4 Reviews
    Madison, VA
    2 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."

    5. 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."

    6. Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    44 Reviews
    Rileyville, VA
    26 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."

    7. Watercress Inn at Landon Farm

    3 Reviews
    Syria, VA
    7 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."

    8. Graves Mountain Farm Campground

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

    $12 / night

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

    9. Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

    31 Reviews
    Shenandoah, VA
    27 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"

    10. The Big Dipper Ranch

    1 Review
    Etlan, VA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 929-4036

    $120 / night

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Recent Reviews near Madison, VA

909 Reviews of 130 Madison Campgrounds


  • 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

    Aquia Pines Campground

    Good stopover near the highway but hidden between the trees

    We where forced land-inwards because of tropical storm Erin (potential hurricane hitting the Outer Banks). So we decided to visit Washington DC and had a stopover here. It was conveniently located. Terrain is not flat but our spot was well levelled. There is a big dog (and an older gentleman) in the office to welcome you. Full hook up was oké and our spot was nicly secluded between the trees.

  • 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?

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

    KOA Luray RV Resort

    Just turned into a KOA?

    Wright next to the Luray caves and near the starting point of the Skyline drive. Nice, quietly located camping, surrounded by fields. You have all the necessary amenities that you would expect on a KOA camping. (I think they just now became KOA, last month it was still the big skies camping). There is a small but nice swimmingpool. Fun; lots of fireflies (in the right seasons?)

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Shenandoah Crossing, a Bluegreen Vacations Resort

    Not really camping

    This is a very developed campground…mayme over developed for me. Concrete pads, paved roads, street lights. Lots of amenities, like pool, playground, very nice showers, There is a gate house do you need the code to get in.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views

    Very clean and Nice Views

    Very clean campground with super friendly staff. I really enjoyed my time here.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Christopher Run Campground

    Very big, a little rough- no internet

    This is a big campground that caters to boaters on Lake Anna. We probably made a mistake coming on a holiday weekend. Many “holiday” campers with extra vehicles, boats and people! The sites are good size, but not very level. We did finally get ours squared away. Mostly wooded, with shade. Our site D9, backed up to a small wooded section. Some full hookups. Tent sites, numerous semi-permanent people. Showers and bathrooms are clean, hot water, but it’s timed, so you have to keep pushing their buttons to continue a shower. They have everyone sign a waiver to release them of liabilities. Never had anyone do that before. Playground, beach, mini golf, canoe rental, boat slips, laundry, convenience store. NO INTERNET


Guide to Madison

Camping near Madison, Virginia, offers a fantastic escape into nature with a variety of campgrounds that cater to different preferences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Shenandoah National Park is nearby, with trails starting right from campgrounds like Big Meadows Campground. One visitor shared, "We went and did several hikes, including Dark Hollow Falls, and spent a late evening in the Big Meadow on a picnic blanket stargazing."
  • Fishing and Swimming: At Sherando Lake Campground, you can enjoy swimming and fishing. A camper noted, "The lake has a swimming area and a beach. There is hiking and fishing in each lake."
  • Exploring Local Breweries: If you enjoy craft beer, Devil’s Backbone Camp is just a short walk from a brewery. One happy camper said, "Great spot with clean facilities. Walk to the brewery. Probably my favorite improved camp site for beer enthusiasts!"

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Loft Mountain Campground mentioned, "The bathrooms and showers are very clean, and there is a laundry room."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. A visitor at Lewis Mountain Campground remarked, "We liked this campground so much, smallness and setting, we almost cancelled our next reservation to stay here."
  • Proximity to Nature: Campgrounds like Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground provide easy access to beautiful landscapes. One reviewer said, "Great State Park with the perfect little tent camping loop."

What you should know:

  • First-Come, First-Serve: Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. A camper at Mathews Arm Campground noted, "Seemed odd that we could not pick any site that wasn’t reserved."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Misty Mountain Camp Resort, have fewer amenities. A visitor mentioned, "The stay is decent. Can get loud and the golf carts are excessive and loud."
  • Wildlife Precautions: Bears are common in the area, so it's essential to store food properly. One camper at Big Meadows Campground advised, "There are bears so make sure you don't leave any food out."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with family-friendly activities. A parent at Pohick Bay Campground shared, "The waterpark is new and loud so we avoid but nice if you have young kids."
  • Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites to give kids room to play. A visitor at Sherando Lake Campground said, "The sites are nicely prepared. There are potable water taps close to most sites."
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of noise levels, especially during peak times. A camper at Matthews Arm Campground noted, "You can expect inconsiderate neighbors."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Loft Mountain Campground mentioned, "We would not have been satisfied with the slope of more than a few of the sites here."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Connectivity: Many campgrounds have poor cell service. A visitor at Lewis Mountain Campground said, "I didn’t see a site that would accommodate rigs over 20’ or so."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Some campgrounds, like Devil’s Backbone Camp, may not have nearby stores. A camper advised, "There are no amenities. We’ve stayed many times but plan to go elsewhere going forward."

Camping around Madison, Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful nature, family-friendly activities, and unique experiences. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Madison, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Madison, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 130 campgrounds and RV parks near Madison, VA and 14 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Madison, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Madison, 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 Madison, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Madison, VA.

What parks are near Madison, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Madison, VA that allow camping, notably Shenandoah National Park and Prince William Forest Park.