1 campground with availability next weekend
Fort Valley Ranch in Broadway accommodates horses and riders with 45 campground sites spanning tent camping, RV spots, and cabin rentals. Specific horse facilities include trailer parking and access to equestrian trails within the George Washington National Forest. The campground provides full hookups for RVs with 30-amp and 50-amp electrical service alongside water and sewer connections. Centrally located bathroom facilities include showers and toilets. The campground maintains a pet-friendly policy, allowing campers to bring dogs alongside their horses. Picnic tables and fire rings are standard at most sites.
Located near Shenandoah National Park, Fort Valley Ranch offers direct access to miles of riding trails through varied terrain. Riders can explore forest paths connecting to longer trail systems throughout the region. Horse owners should note that while natural water sources exist along some trails, bringing supplemental water for horses is recommended during drier months. Trail difficulty ranges from beginner-friendly flat terrain to more challenging routes with elevation changes. The campground operates year-round though trail conditions vary seasonally with spring and fall offering optimal riding weather. Reservations are recommended, particularly during peak summer months and weekends when equestrian sites fill quickly. The proximity to other recreational areas provides additional riding opportunities beyond the immediate campground trail system.
"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."
Available next weekend
from $30 - $75 / night
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $105 / night
"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
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 - $32 / night
"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
"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"
"Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone. The bathrooms are ok. "
"Several rustic campsites with a large lake for the kids, and miles of off road trails for atvs, jeeps, and dirtbikes."
"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."
"Laurel fork campground is a nice place to go if you are looking to get away from the busy life. It’s not a very large camp ground or heavily populated. Finding a spot shouldn’t be a problem."
"Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground ( settled deep in the woods) , there were No Bugs to speak of! Tons of wildflowers and butterflies!"
TravelerLong drive thru spots, lots of space between campsites. Really inexpensive laundry ($1 to wash $1 to dry) $5 showers for 10 minutes. Nice bathrooms. Dry camping at its finest. Close drive to Grand caverns and Luray caverns.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
ScoutOvernight tent camping with my dog. Saw a raccoon in a tree. So private and peaceful. The water and wind at night made for a nice relaxing sleep. Plenty of trails to explore.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
ScoutGood facilities for a NP campground
RangerThis is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
GuideGreat summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
TravelerBeautiful spot. The campsite is across the street from the lodge. G-Maps and Apple will take you to the lodge however. Loved the Freeform and “make your own” spot vibe
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
Fort Valley Ranch provides 45 campground sites near Shenandoah National Park, offering options for tent camping, RVs, and cabin rentals. The ranch specializes in equestrian facilities with trailer parking and direct access to riding trails in the George Washington National Forest. Full hookups include 30-amp and 50-amp electrical service with water and sewer connections. Central bathrooms with showers serve the campground. Most sites include standard picnic tables and fire rings. Dogs are allowed under the campground's pet-friendly policy. The surrounding trails offer varied difficulty levels from beginner flat terrain to more challenging routes with elevation changes.
Trail riding: Fort Valley Ranch connects directly to miles of riding trails through George Washington National Forest. At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, campers can observe "Free range horses (they're penned-in) come back at dusk and head out at dawn -- fun to watch from the campground, especially for kiddos" according to Matt.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer stocked fishing areas. Trout Pond Recreation Area features "The beach is nice and lots of fishing, hiking, playgrounds for the kids. Whether a day trip or camping this is a nice spot," notes Wendi C.
Hiking: The region offers trails for all skill levels, from short nature walks to challenging mountain climbs. At Graves Mountain, "For kids, there is a duck pond, chicken coop, shallow brook, disable farm tractor, and some other stuff to play with/on/in across the street near the lodge."
Swimming: Water activities remain popular during summer months. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, Fred F. reports "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer spacious sites with natural screening. At Big Meadows Campground, "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site, B112, was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy," says Veronica S.
Wildlife viewing: The Shenandoah region hosts diverse wildlife visible from camps. At Big Meadows, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Stargazing opportunities: The remote location offers minimal light pollution. According to Carol B., Big Meadows offers "Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water. Elevation above 3000 feet and plenty of deer! It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F."
Natural water features: Many sites offer creek or riverside camping options. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, Tommy S. found "a hidden waterfall across the creek. If you listen, you can hear the loud falls over the normal creek sounds."
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds in the region have minimal connectivity. At Laurel Fork Campground, Dave V. notes "You will not have any wifi or phone service (as we found in most of WV)...which was a blessing...love the unplugged freedom!"
Weather considerations: Mountain elevations can bring unexpected conditions. "It takes forever on dirt forest service roads to finally stumble upon this place, making its beauty that much more enchanting," reports Christopher B. about Laurel Fork.
Primitive facilities: Many campgrounds offer basic amenities only. Tim M. describes Laurel Fork as "Very remote. Two small circles of sites the only amenity is pit toilets. The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall."
Road conditions: Access to remote sites may require careful driving. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, Laure D. warns "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."
Choose campgrounds with kid-friendly features: Select sites with access to shallow water, playgrounds, or nature programs. At The Cove Campground, Shanna B. reports "they have a small beach, picnic tables everywhere, a volleyball ball sand court, a dock, you can fish in the lake, rent non motorboats."
Plan for temperature fluctuations: Mountain elevations can bring cool nights even in summer. At Big Meadows, Veronica S. observed "And finally, 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."
Check campground layout: Some facilities have long walks to bathrooms or water. Nancy L. noted at The Cove Campground, "We camped in sites with hookups near office and entrance and the toilets are really far. The showers are even farther-like a 15-20 minute walk with bad signage directing to."
Consider water safety: Lakes and streams may have unique characteristics. At Trout Pond, Fred F. noted "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish."
Verify site length: Equestrian camping near Broadway often means accommodating both RVs and horse trailers. At Fort Valley Ranch, Jason G. found "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."
Check road access: Mountain roads can challenge larger rigs. At Fort Valley Ranch, Jason G. reports "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us."
Plan for limited hookups: Some campgrounds offer minimal RV services. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, chris J. advises "There are some pretty steep inclines to even get to the campgrounds. Unless you have a powerful vehicle pulling your camper, it would help to release your water supply and fill up when you get to the campground."
Consider seasonal availability: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. At Laurel Fork, Adam W. describes it as "a nice place to go if you are looking to get away from the busy life. It's not a very large camp ground or heavily populated. Finding a spot shouldn't be a problem."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Broadway, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Broadway, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 131 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Broadway, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Broadway, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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