118 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rivers Edge Campground welcomes pets at its small, family-run facility where camping sites are located directly on the Shenandoah River. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash policies, typically requiring dogs to be on leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside RVs or tents. Trout Pond Recreation Area provides pet-friendly tent, RV, and glamping options with crystal clear water access suitable for dogs who enjoy swimming. The family camping area at Rivers Edge has tent sites spacious enough to accommodate vehicles and pets, though these sites can feel crowded when fully booked. Endless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages permits pets throughout their 142 sites with full hookups, making it convenient for RV campers traveling with animals. The facility is amazingly well taken care of according to repeat visitors who appreciate the more traditional camping experience without excessive commercialization.
Dog-friendly hiking trails surround many Shenandoah Valley campgrounds, offering excellent exercise opportunities for pets. Several campgrounds provide creekside or riverside sites where dogs can safely access water under supervision. Creekside Campground in Edinburg features large grassy spaces along a beautiful creek where various birds frequent the stream, creating an engaging environment for nature-loving pets. Seasonal considerations include higher water pressure at some campgrounds requiring regulators for RV hookups, and varying availability as Trout Pond Recreation Area closes its entrance gate completely from December 21 to May 1. Wildlife encounters are common in the area, so campers should maintain control of pets, especially at dawn and dusk. Local towns like Luray and Woodstock offer veterinary services and pet supply options within 30 minutes of most campgrounds, with several also providing basic pet supplies at on-site markets.
"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"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."
"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."
"July 10-19, 2020 As my wife and I were discussing my review, I asked her what could we point to to take away from a 5-star rating. Neither of us could think of a single thing."
"We stayed close to the catch & release pond and felt as though we had a lot of privacy despite the spots being right next to each other."
from $45 - $249 / 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"Our patio was on the side next to the road which was a little close to traffic but we still loved siting there, especially in the evening with a campfire."
"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."
from $27 - $427 / 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"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"There’s a small bathroom attached to back of camp store nearby. Then the larger bathhouse down the way. The RV sites were flat, clean, in an open area. We will, for sure, be back."
"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"Lots of fun stuff to do for adults, children, and pets. Will definitely visit again!"
"Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."
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.
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.
GuideOn a whim we decided to try this campground. 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. Making a reservation was easy, we arrived and had the loveliest conversation with Pam, she is such a gem!! We got a spot right next to the creek, bought some firewood from Pam for $10, which gave you a small wheelbarrow full. You can get a better deal elsewhere but we were happy to support Pam. The campground wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, the bathrooms and shower are rustic. Paint peeling and very makeshift but who cares. The water was hot and the bathroom facility has gorgeous paintings all over it. The grounds were relatively empty when we stayed and we had no issues w anything. Rained all night, we didn’t care, rain and the creek sounded awesome. Without hesitation I would stay here again, you don’t meet special souls like Pam very often. Give her your business. Oh and watch out for the pet cat, he likes the road down to the campsite. His name is Puppycat.
Camping in the George Washington National Forest near Orkney Springs offers a mix of valley and mountain experiences at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. The area features deciduous forests with oak and hickory trees, creating vibrant fall colors from mid-October through early November. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through March, requiring proper cold-weather gear for off-season camping.
Hiking to waterfalls: Access several waterfall trails within 30 minutes of Orkney Springs. "We hiked to Overall Run Falls from a trail in the parking lot near the campground and turn this into a loop hike by returning a different way," notes a visitor to Mathews Arm Campground, where rangers can provide marked maps for various difficulty levels.
Stargazing opportunities: Take advantage of minimal light pollution in the mountains. A camper at Big Meadows Campground mentions, "With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night." Best viewing occurs between 10 PM and 2 AM away from campground lights.
Wildlife observation: Look for deer, especially at dawn and dusk. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," reports a Big Meadows visitor. Many campgrounds post wildlife sighting locations at their information boards.
Crystal clear swimming holes: Natural water features provide refreshing swimming spots during summer months. A visitor to Trout Pond Recreation Area writes, "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish."
Mountain views from campsites: Several campgrounds offer direct views of the Blue Ridge. At Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, a camper notes, "Wow, what a view! Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening. Who could ask for more?" The best sunset views typically occur 30-45 minutes before official sunset time.
Privacy between sites: Some campgrounds design sites with natural barriers. "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy," shares a Big Meadows camper. The sites on campground perimeters often offer the most seclusion.
Seasonal closures: Check opening dates before planning winter trips. "The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1," cautions a Trout Pond Recreation Area visitor. Many campgrounds operate on reduced services during shoulder seasons.
Limited cell coverage: Prepare for disconnection in most camping areas. A camper at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA states, "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." Download maps and information before arrival.
Weather variability: Mountain conditions can change rapidly. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," reports a Big Meadows visitor from late November, highlighting the importance of checking forecasts.
Opt for campgrounds with playgrounds: Several pet-friendly campgrounds include kid-friendly facilities. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray, a camper shares, "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." Many family-oriented campgrounds also welcome dogs with standard leash requirements.
Look for educational programs: Ranger-led activities teach children about local ecology. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground," notes a Big Meadows visitor, where programs typically run May through October.
Choose sites near bathrooms: Convenience matters with young children. "Bathhouse was clean and blissfully warm," mentions a Harrisonburg KOA visitor, adding practical value for families with children and pets needing frequent bathroom trips.
Check site dimensions carefully: Some dog-friendly campgrounds have tight spaces. "The spaces at this campground are pretty tight. Not much room for activities other than sitting by a fire. Getting in and out on a weekend is pretty difficult too," warns a visitor to Creekside Campground, where reservations are strongly recommended for RVs over 30 feet.
Consider mountain driving conditions: Access roads can challenge larger rigs. "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," advises a Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views camper, suggesting arrival during daylight hours.
Water pressure variations: Bring a regulator for hookups. "The water leaked and made for a pretty soggy swamp on the utility side of our coach," reports a Creekside visitor, where pressure can fluctuate during busy weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Orkney Springs, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Orkney Springs, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 127 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Orkney Springs, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 118 dog-friendly camping locations near Orkney Springs, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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