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Little Fort Campground offers free primitive tent and RV camping with pet-friendly accommodations near Maurertown. Nine campsites feature fire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads, with vault toilets available in the center of the campground area. Dogs are welcome throughout the campground with standard leash requirements. Elizabeth Furnace Campground, located in George Washington National Forest, also accommodates pets at both individual and group sites. Campsites at both locations maintain distance from neighbors, though Elizabeth Furnace sites are positioned closer together than Little Fort's more secluded options. Campers with pets particularly appreciate Little Fort's surrounding trails and creek access behind some sites, providing natural spaces for dog exercise and exploration.
The network of hiking trails surrounding these campgrounds offers extensive pet exercise opportunities. Elizabeth Furnace provides access to multiple trail systems of varying difficulty levels, from beginner-friendly paths to challenging routes like Meneka Peak Trail and Signal Point loop. Little Fort connects to off-road vehicle trails that remain active until early evening, something dog owners should consider as some pets may be disturbed by vehicle noise until around 7pm. Both campgrounds require carrying out all trash, including pet waste. No cell service is available at either location, with the nearest signal points approximately 5-20 minutes away by car—an important consideration for pet owners needing emergency veterinary contact. Campground hosts at Elizabeth Furnace provide helpful information about local trails and wildlife precautions for pets.
"Tons of trails great for families with dogs or those wanting to get out and hike. The campsite featured some of the best bathroom/ shower houses, they were super clean and well maintained."
"Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms. Nice hiking in the park. Near SNP. Responsive and friendly rangers."
from $27 - $427 / night
Check Availability"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!)"
"The pull in area was paved and behind it was a nice flat tent area."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Stayed here with three other girls and my dog- it was a great spot! Nice and close to some great trails for our evening walk, and nothing beats staying Inside the NP!"
"This was a great campground location to many, many National Park Trails. Our stay was during the last week of September. We met up with family who live in the area and got 3 sites hugging the AT."
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"We spent 2 nights at Creekside Campground in Edinburg, VA on our way to West Virginia—- and found a real gem. We paid$50/night for Back-in Creekview FHU Site#20."
"I gave this campground 5 stars because it is super convenient to I81, the staff is wonderful, my tent spot was right on the creek, the bathrooms are immaculate with hot water showers, and they allow dogs"
from $26 - $47 / night
Check Availability"We are tent campers and we’re looking for a place close to Shenandoah to ride our motorcycles. This was 3 miles from the north entrance to the park, perfect."
"Hike up a trail or up through the creek itself to a swimming hole only accessible to campers. Saw some decent sized fish swimming around in there."
"In the valley outside of Shenandoah, it was a nice spot to return to at night. There are also some hiking trails across the street."
"Campground Review: What a great find, so close to a town….though feels like you are deep in the forest!"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Great spot right outside Shenandoah NP with quick access to the park or nearby trails. great fishing and hikes for kids, too!"
"There are a couple of sites that have a path to the creek that flows behind the campground.There is also plenty of hiking trails to be completed around the campgrounds of various levels from beginner to"
"Lots of fun stuff to do for adults, children, and pets. Will definitely visit again!"
"Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."
"Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites. The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean."
"This campground is very close to Luray Caverns and all that they have to offer."
from $31 - $230 / night
Check Availability"Love staying here for just a night couple small trails around the area not any great views but it is very peaceful in the woods."
"Also, I could hear some cars drive by and some dogs barking while I was trying to sleep, which was a bit disruptive. Otherwise, I would recommend this campsite. "
TravelerWe began our membership here this June. it has a great atmosphere on the banks of the Shenandoah River. There are activities every weekend like concerts and group activities. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The facilities are clean and very convenient. Pet friendly; two dog parks.
GuideBeautiful views. Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites.
The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean.
It also had the largest dog park area of any campground I’ve ever seen.
Very nice pool, friendly staff and firewood available for purchase. They will even deliver right to your site.
Very close to downtown Luray, which has great shops and restaurants. There is a very nice 2 mile long walking trail, the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, near the campground that will take you right into town.
Also close by to some excellent hiking, wineries, breweries and distilleries.
ScoutWe recently stayed for a long weekend at the Outlanders campground after we received a referral from a friend and could not have been more happy with our stay. The RV sites at this campground are very spaced out, you have a lot of room to each side of your RV. The park and facilities were very clean. They have a playground for the kids, fishing ponds, cabins, pet friendly with a dog park and they are located right along the Shenandoah river. 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. Also for all of the people attached to the internet like us we were able to have plenty of cell signal to hotspot and get internet.
ScoutThis campground is very close to Luray Caverns and all that they have to offer. There is also a Duke's of Hazzard themed museum and store where they do live music on weekends nearby, it's called Cooter's. This campground is very small but quiet. It does border cow pasture land so when the wind shifts you get the smell but it wasn't constant and it wasn't unbearable. They have 2 swimming pools and a very large dog park. The bath houses were clean and well maintained. I would definitely recommend this campground.
LegendThis place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September. The original site the gave us had a large rut and washed out spot, so we could not get level. I checked in the office and the reassigned another space that was much better. Full hook ups, nice clean shower and bathrooms, playground, pool, large dog park.
TravelerStayed here for two weeks in early March. Newly renovated campground with a lot of amenities. Very helpful staff. The campground is a lot of money upgrading services, capabilities, and extra activities (St Patrick's Day parade and dinner). While we were there they added street signage (very helpful) and installed a Bocce Ball field. Two fenced dog parks. Campsites are level gravel (no pads). Located near multiple vineyards. Our only complaint was that the sewage connection was slightly higher than the black tank outlet on our Airstream. The majority of camp sites are very close together, and the sites closer to the highway experience highway noise.
TravelerWe stayed here for 3 nights. Perfect campground with everything you need. Bathrooms are very clean. Ice, propane, and other items are available on site at the store. Halloween was in full effect including a haunted walk. Sites are spacious and have natural stone in ground fire pits instead of rusted metal rims which adds character. Dog park, pool, and plenty of games are available on site. Harrisonburg is down the road if you to need to stop in town.
GuideUsually go camping with a Little Guy teardrop trailer, but with the current state of the country, didn’t feel comfortable with sharing bathroom facilities. We booked Yurt #1. It was fantastic. The place was spotless, well equipped kitchenette, grill, fire pit, comfortable beds. We loved our neighbors the sheep, goats and llamas. Checking in was easy, with the keys and map at the office. Park was clean and well maintained. Dog park is great. Wonderful way to start coming out of quarantine. Great hiking nearby.
GuideThis campground is really nice and one of the nicer KOAs we've stayed at. We had a great back in site, that although a little unlevel, was really private and in the back corner. It was adjacent to a farm and like others have mentioned, it was a bit smelly at times. They had a huge dog park that my dog loved. They also had multiple dog bag stations throughout the campground. Then road between the office and campsites is a bit narrow and one lane so can be tricky when people are arriving or leaving with rigs. I used the laundry facility and the machines were the worst I've come across in the last 8 months of using campground facilities or laundromats. The coin tray got stuck in multiple machines and one machine already had the tray stuck when I got there. Luckily the office reimbursed me, but with most of the machines broken and them unable to fix them, we had to go into town to the laundromat. The wifi was terrible and unusable, even with our antenna. AT&T worked well and Verizon was a bit spotty.
Shenandoah National Park area campgrounds around Maurertown sit at elevations between 600-3,000 feet, creating distinct temperature variations throughout the year. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer brings daytime highs in the 80s. The region's topography includes creek beds, forested mountain slopes, and open meadows that provide varied terrain for primitive and established camping options.
Hiking diverse terrain: Access multiple trail systems from Elizabeth Furnace Campground, where visitors find paths ranging from easy walks to challenging routes. "We like the pull in and the walk in sites, bear boxes provided, plenty of room to relax. Good bathrooms, coin hot showers available too. So many trails to explore, walk to the Lodge, Wayside, Visitor Center and more," explains Jaclyn B.
River activities: Experience the Shenandoah River's recreational opportunities just minutes from Shenandoah River State Park Campground. "There are several rustic campsites located on the Southfork of the Shenandoah River, as well as modern electric sites, RV sites, and cabins. Park and campgrounds are clean and well maintained. Tons of trails, wildlife and activities in and near the park," notes Ricki F.
Local exploration: Visit historic towns near campgrounds for additional activities. "The main street of the town is a short walk from the campground. The town has a laundromat, the campground does not. A short drive away is the usual assortment of convenience stores, restaurants and grocery stores," shares Michael H. about Creekside Campground in Edinburg.
Creek access: Many sites at Gooney Creek Campground feature stream frontage. "Located right on the bank of the creek you sleep with the sound of the babbling water. Spaces aren't very big but big enough that we didn't feel like we were on top of our neighbors," reports Belinda K., highlighting a feature particularly appreciated by those with dogs.
Night sky viewing: Minimal light pollution creates excellent stargazing opportunities. "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. about Mathews Arm Campground. She adds, "I could walk out a bit from my site and see the entire night sky which was amazing!"
Wildlife encounters: The chance to observe deer, birds, and other animals attracts nature enthusiasts. "We even had a doe and fawn right in our campsite! Just be careful of the black bears," warns Stephen K. At Big Meadows Campground, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Site spacing varies significantly: At Mathews Arm Campground, "Sites are large but many are lined up right next to each other. I recommend staying away from A72 to the end of A. They're lined up too closely for my taste, and there isn't much shade."
Cell service limitations: Plan for communication gaps throughout the region. "No cell service is available at either location, with the nearest signal points approximately 5-20 minutes away by car." At Little Fort Campground, one camper notes: "Long and winding road to get there with no service so be cautious."
Weather preparedness: Mountain elevations create rapid weather changes. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," reports Carol B. about a November stay at Big Meadows Campground. Summer temperatures can exceed 80°F, requiring adequate water supplies for dog-friendly camping near Maurertown.
Opt for sites with amenities: Families appreciate convenience features at Little Fort Campground. "Great established free campground! We got the last spot around 7pm. Site had a fire pit, table, parking spot, and tent platform. We used one of the sign in slips but many of the other campers did not. Bathrooms and beer proof trash was provided."
Reserve early for weekends: Popular sites fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "We were probably the last people to get a campground in Shenandoah for Columbus Day Weekend. The leaves were changing and it was absolutely gorgeous," shares Jennifer about Creekside Campground.
Pack entertainment options: Some campgrounds offer minimal structured activities. "There isn't any activities at the campground, but that was ok with us," notes a Creekside Campground visitor. At Shenandoah River State Park, "The children's programs offered on the weekends were great too."
Consider site leveling: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain challenges. "Our only real drawback was our site was not even close to level. It probably shouldn't have been available for a 40'+ RV. Still, we would go back...just to a different site location," advises Jen O.
Check hookup availability: Utilities vary significantly between pet-friendly campgrounds near Maurertown. "I would call this primitive camping as there is no electric or water hookups at the campsites. There is potable water at multiple locations that you can fill up an RV tank or a water jug if you are tent camping," explains William B. about Elizabeth Furnace Campground.
Navigate mountain roads carefully: Access routes present driving challenges. "The drive in requires about 25-miles through the roller coaster of steep grade(7+%) hills. There's no way around that, you're in the mountains. Just be aware and be prepared," cautions Matt S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Maurertown, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Maurertown, VA is Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Maurertown, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 111 dog-friendly camping locations near Maurertown, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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