Cabins near Orkney Springs, Virginia sit at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 feet in the western foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing at higher elevations, while summer nights typically cool to the 60s even when daytime temperatures reach the 90s. Several cabin rental locations operate year-round despite seasonal closures within Shenandoah National Park.
What to do
Hiking directly from campgrounds: Shenandoah River State Park features multiple trail options suitable for beginners without requiring travel to other locations. According to one camper at Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground, "Park offers very doable hiking and mountain biking options for beginners. Campground access to the Shenandoah River."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Big Meadows Campground provides excellent wildlife spotting near cabin accommodations. "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 one visitor to Big Meadows Campground.
Water activities: Several cabin rental facilities offer direct river access for swimming and tubing. At Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River, one camper reported, "Location is fairly convenient to Shenandoah but it still takes a while to get to some of the more popular hikes once inside the park. The fact that they have developed hiking/walking/running paths, a 'dog park', and a spot to go swimming were pretty outstanding."
What campers like
Quieter, more secluded alternatives: Lewis Mountain Campground offers a more peaceful alternative to larger facilities. "This campground is known as the quieter campground in the park, since it is primarily tent campers, and the quiet hours are enforced as a result. There are also cabins available that you can rent that are closer to the picnic area and Skyline Drive," explains one visitor to Lewis Mountain Campground.
Convenient bathing facilities: Many cabin rental locations feature well-maintained bathroom facilities. At Loft Mountain, "The bathhouse was not far away and mostly clean. It was awesome to have a dishwasher station with running water. The shower was about 0.3 miles away. They charge $5 for 10 min, which you have to pay in quarters," notes a camper at Loft Mountain Campground.
Accessibility to supplies: Most cabin rental locations provide easy access to needed supplies. "Local shopping is minutes away. While convenient to I-81, the campground is far enough away that there is no outside noise at all," reports a camper at Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA.
What you should know
Varying levels of privacy: Site separation varies significantly between rental locations. At some private campgrounds, tent and cabin sites lack spacing. "The tent sites are ON TOP of each other. No trees. Zero seclusion. This is an rv resort," warns one camper at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.
Reservation systems differ: While most private campgrounds accept advance reservations, some National Park locations use first-come availability. "This campground has a lot of open, big sites. My favorite sites are the ones on the edge overlooking the mountain," notes a camper at Big Meadows.
Service considerations: Internet and cell service varies widely. One camper at Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA reported, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Several locations cater specifically to families with children. "GREAT for Camping With Kids! The kids loved running off in the open field and playing on the zip line. We loved that we could see them from our site. The birthday boy also loved the outdoor laser tag!" shares a visitor at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Swimming options: Multiple cabin rental locations feature swimming areas with varying levels of development. "It's a typical KOA. Well managed, clean, friendly staff. The sites are large enough and level enough. The power pole is well positioned," reports one camper at Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River.
Ranger programs: Educational opportunities exist at National Park cabin locations. "Campground is meticulously clean with daily restroom cleaning and trash pick up. Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs," notes a visitor to Big Meadows Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Many cabins sit on terrain requiring leveling blocks for RVs. "Our only real drawback was our site was not even close to level. It probably shouldn't have been available for a 40'+ RV," cautions a visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Hook-up locations: Utility connections vary widely. "The sites are very spaced out, you have a lot of room to each side of your RV. The park and facilities were very clean. The power pole is well positioned," reports a camper at Luray RV Resort.
Winter accessibility: Several locations remain open year-round with varying levels of service. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30). It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," shares a winter visitor at Big Meadows Campground.
