2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Fort Valley Ranch Campground near Rileyville accommodates horses and riders with full-service RV sites and primitive tent camping areas close to the stables. The campground maintains 45 total sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups for RVs, while tent campers can set up near the horse facilities. Unlike many regional campgrounds, Fort Valley Ranch allows pets and provides clean, well-maintained bathrooms and showers near the camping areas. The level, easy pull-through RV sites minimize setup time for those traveling with horse trailers. Abundant shade throughout the campground provides relief for horses and campers during summer months. The sites are impressively level with minimal leveling needed for even larger rigs over 50 feet in total length.
Horseback trail riding opportunities connect directly from the campground to surrounding forest trails. The ranch offers guided trail rides for campers who don't bring their own horses, making equestrian experiences accessible to all visitors. Two fishing ponds stocked with bass and bluegill provide additional recreation when not riding. Within a 10-minute drive, campers find additional hiking trails and river access points perfect for swimming and wading. The winding access roads present no difficulties for larger rigs and horse trailers despite initial concerns about navigability. The campground's location provides convenient access to the Shenandoah National Park trail system while maintaining proximity to Luray for supplies and services. Families particularly appreciate the combination of horse facilities and fishing opportunities that keep children entertained between trail rides.
"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 this weekend
from $30 - $75 / 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
"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
"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 this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $105 / night
"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."
"There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation."
"We have lived in northern Virginia for over 30 years and never been to this campground until this month! Very nice campground with friendly staff and friendly campground hosts."
Available this weekend
from $34 - $90 / night
"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
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.
ScoutWe stayed in site #133 with our 34'10" travel trailer/toy hauler. Overall, we really like the site. It's spacious, fairly level, heavily wooded, and feels surprisingly private. There's plenty of room around the camper, and although there are other campsites and cabins nearby, the trees provide a lot of separation. We had a nice large area for our chairs, fire pit, picnic table, and dogs. The biggest thing to know about #133 is the approach. We were instructed to pass the site, go around the loop, and then make a left turn into it. With our nearly 35' trailer, that would have required an extremely tight, almost 90-degree turn between the trees, and we did not feel we could safely make it. There is actually visible damage on one of the trees at the entrance, so it appears others may have had difficulty with the turn as well. Instead, we approached from the opposite direction and positioned the camper with our doors facing the main campsite area. That put the water and electric hookups on the opposite side, but our hoses and cord were long enough to run underneath the camper and reach without a problem. Once we figured that out, the site worked very well for us. I initially thought we probably wouldn't choose #133 again because of the awkward setup, but after spending the weekend here, I would. Now that we know how to approach and position our trailer, it really is a nice site. If you're bringing a longer travel trailer, just be prepared to do a little maneuvering and make sure your water hose and electrical cord have enough length if you decide to orient your camper the way we did.
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
GuideFirst campground in a week, that had great water pressure! Has free laundry, clean bathrooms, free mini golf, activities , restaurant and bar. Pretty darn awesome
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
Fort Valley Ranch Campground is one of several equestrian-friendly camping options near Rileyville, Virginia, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet. The region typically experiences mild springs and falls with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s during day and 60s at night. Winter camping is limited as many facilities close from December through March due to occasional snow and freezing temperatures.
Hiking at Big Meadows Campground: Located within Shenandoah National Park, this campground provides access to numerous hiking trails. "Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," notes Kim L., who also mentions "nice trails are accessible from campground." The campground sits at higher elevation with trails ranging from easy to strenuous.
Fishing opportunities: The Cove Campground features multiple fishing spots. "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," reports one visitor. The campground provides both lake and pond fishing without requiring extensive hiking.
Swimming and water activities: Water recreation options expand beyond fishing. At Trout Pond Recreation Area, "Swimming is excellent with sand beach. Big catfish in clear water. Water was so clean that it was throbbing with freshwater jellyfish," explains Fred F. The swimming area includes designated zones for children and adults.
Privacy despite crowds: Big Meadows Campground receives praise for its spacious layout. "Campground was busy but never felt like we were sharing someone else's tent stakes," writes Jacob S. Another camper notes, "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."
Clean facilities: Facility maintenance stands out at several campgrounds. Bull Run Regional Park campers appreciate the bathroom cleanliness: "They're worth staying again alone. Locking doors, individual stalls... Best camping showers I've ever had," writes Yvonne B. Bathrooms are typically cleaned daily with hot water available.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple equestrian campgrounds near Rileyville provide wildlife observation opportunities. At Big Meadows, campers report frequent wildlife encounters: "Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Bear box for food storage." The deer populations are particularly active at dawn and dusk, making these prime viewing times.
Reservations essential: Many campgrounds in the region fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. At Bull Run Regional Park, "We arrived late at night and finding our site was easy," but this requires advance planning as sites are reserved months ahead for summer weekends.
Weather preparation: Temperature variations require planning. At Big Meadows, a winter camper notes: "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water." Elevation affects temperatures with higher campgrounds averaging 5-10 degrees cooler than Rileyville.
Bug awareness: Insects vary by season and location. "The bugs when we got here were kinda crazy. They don't bite but they swarm your head and try to enter every orifice for some reason. A head net was helpful to get the tent and screen room set up," explains a Big Meadows camper. Bug activity peaks from May through September, particularly after rainfall.
Multiple activity options: Graves Mountain Farm Campground provides diverse activities beyond horseback riding. "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," explains Matt. Activities typically require no additional fees beyond camping costs.
Evening entertainment: Planned activities enhance family camping experiences. "Great family friendly campground. We will definitely be going back," says a Bull Run visitor who enjoyed organized events: "They had a campfire complete with s'mores followed by hayrides."
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies significantly across horse campgrounds near Rileyville. At Graves Mountain, a camper notes "No cell service" while Shenandoah Crossing typically offers better coverage. Families requiring reliable communications should check service availability beforehand.
Site levelness varies: Shenandoah Crossing receives mixed reports about site conditions. "We reserved a 'pull-through' RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level," reports one RVer. Request specific site information when booking, particularly for larger rigs.
Road access challenges: Several equestrian campgrounds have challenging access roads. A Trout Pond Recreation Area visitor cautions about "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."
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal at horse-friendly campgrounds near Rileyville. Check specific site amenities, as one camper at The Cove Campground notes: "There are 4 water spigots in camp 1. However all the travel trailers hooked up, which means you either had to make friends or disconnect their water in order to have access."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Rileyville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Rileyville, 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 Rileyville, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Rileyville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
