The Shenandoah Valley region surrounding Rixeyville, Virginia features diverse camping options within an hour's drive, with Shenandoah National Park serving as the primary destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Big Meadows and Mathews Arm campgrounds offer established sites with basic amenities like drinking water and fire pits, while Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park provides year-round camping with electric hookups and shower facilities. Rappahannock River Campground, located closer to Rixeyville, offers boat-in access and riverside camping opportunities for those seeking water recreation. The area balances developed campgrounds with more rustic options, including some limited dispersed camping in designated areas.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability, with most Shenandoah National Park campgrounds operating from May through October or early November. "This is bear country and we saw a few bears lolly gagging in the area. They were curious and never posed a danger, but keep your food in a bear bag or in your car," notes one camper about Loft Mountain Campground. Park rangers strictly enforce quiet hours (typically 10 PM to 8 AM) and food storage regulations, with potential fines for violations. Cell service varies widely throughout the region, with limited or no coverage in many park areas. Weather patterns shift dramatically with elevation, with mountain locations experiencing temperatures 10-15 degrees cooler than valley floors.
Campers consistently mention the proximity to hiking trails as a major advantage of the region's campgrounds. The Appalachian Trail runs near or through several camping areas, providing easy access to day hikes. Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with some visitors noting the close quarters at Mathews Arm: "The campsites are built right on top of one another with very little space separating them." Others highlight the walk-in tent sites at Loft Mountain as offering more seclusion. Facilities range from primitive (vault toilets, no showers) to more developed amenities including coin-operated showers, camp stores, and laundry facilities. Wildlife sightings, particularly black bears, are common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage and awareness.
$30 - $75 / night
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
"Our site had the AT running right behind it. The was plenty of access to trails, and pretty central to the park. The campground is near showers, laundry, campstore, and visitor center."
$30 - $75 / night
"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!)"
"There are a few trails encompassing and leading out from the campground, and it's nice to have a central location from which you can out on small hikes."
$27 - $427 / night
"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."
"In my opinion it has the best location of the 3 Turks they have. It’s it the woods close to a boat landing you can see a bit of the river. In the fall or spring I’m sure the view is amazing."
"Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."
"They had plenty of appearances of Yogi or Cindy bear at activities and just driving around the park on a golf cart."
"It is suitable for novice campers to experienced off-trail campers. You'll never tire of the wonders this beautiful piece of America has to offer."
"There was definitely a lot less privacy/space between sites here at SNP than I’ve noted at other parks across Virginia."
$50 - $95 / night
"Lots of land to walk. Fire pit, chairs and picnic table at site."
$50 - $75 / night
"Casa Vargas offers secluded RV & Tent sites near the famous Skyline Drive that offers great views of the Shenandoah Mountains. "
"Great for a weekend away from all the hustle and bustle. Very relaxing"
"We paid our fee, which was only around $15, and then another $5 for a bunch of firewood. The Firewood was a bit wet and didn't work out, but hey, beggars can't be choosers."
$30 / night
"Lewis mountain has all the amenities of home within walking distance if you just can’t live without them; bathrooms,showers, kitchen sink, fire pit, small store and 2 personal vehicle parking spots steps"
"Arrived before the weekend, around late morning. Greeted by the park ranger, they gave the basic information for these sites. Limited spots here. You’re pretty close to your neighbor."
TravelerSo clean and well maintained! We went in April and the waterpark was not opened yet. Most campgrounds we looked to stay at mentioned not being opened until mentorship day but here did not have it listed anywhere. We love our site. Golf carts were so fun to ride around through their back trails along the water. Tubing in the river was so peaceful and relaxing.
ScoutPaved road all they to the campsite. If you are vehicle, the parking spots are paved. Not all spots are completely level and pretty short. If you’re in a long van or truck, you may be unable to fit. sites are decently spaced out not the best but far from the worst.
LegendStayed here for a week while working nearby. Easy to get to and set up. Office was closed when we arrived but arrival paperwork was posted outside office door. Even with busy road nearby, park was quiet and felt private. Sites were level and paved making setup easy. Sites had 1/2 site extra paved for vehicle with extra parking nearby. There was no litter in park, we observed a staff member daily making the rounds to keep everything clean. There was walking access into the park on wide private roads without traffic. With park access you are able to walk into national forest park from RV camp. National Forest visitor center close by, 1 exit away going south I95. Amenities in RV park included swimming pool, chess board with extra large pieces, playground and clean bath house. Firewood and ice on site.
ScoutOur family loved this campground. It was entirely wooded with plenty of shade, sites were close but separated enough to feel like you were in your own site. Our kids and others rode their bikes around the loop all weekend long. Bathrooms could have been a little cleaner and all the entrances except one were closed, but that’s what happens when you cut budgets for public lands.
TravelerPros:
Cons
TravelerNew owners just bought this place. There are upgrades and cleaning needed, but owner was friendly and helpful. Creek and trail is gorgeous. Highway can be loud at times. Surrounding town gorgeous and dog friendly.
ScoutThe lots are very tight and the manager is not friendly. Make sure to read all the rules. No one can visit you unless they pay 10$ to come onsite and I am not talking about spending the night just visiting. There are other campgrounds in the area such as Watermelon RV Park that are more welcoming.
TravelerIt was a great public spot to disperse camp as there are plenty of areas to set up camp on the way to the summit, but none beat the view of this one. The view from both sunset and sunrise are immaculate, with an unobstructed stunning sunset view from the camp site, and a gorgeous golden glow coming from just across the trail. There is plenty of room to find the perfect spot to set up camp and truly find your best view. While you would want to bring everything for a good time, pack light for the hike if there are not many hands. The somewhat steep hike seems to be 1.0 mile from the Booten’s Gap Parking Lot to the summit (Booten’s being the base of the hike).
GuideWe've been to Lake Anna a couple of times and have enjoyed it each time. This past trip was over Memorial Day with close family friends. We RV and they cabin camp. So they snagged camp cabin 56 and we were in E/W site 30. Those two are very close to each other, so our kids could go back and forth without supervision, but site 30 was big enough that we were able to host all of the meals in our site. The 5 people staying in our RV and the 4 people staying in their cabin plus the 4 dogs that we have between us! That's a lot of camp chairs and cooking equipment.
Being Memorial Day weekend, we expected it to be very busy, but it wasn't too crowded at all. And everyone was very nice.
A word for parents: the tent pad is pea gravel. Really nice pea gravel. Applied pretty deeply too. So, if your kids are anything like mine, the first they'll do - and continue to fixate on all weekend - is digging in the pit, burying each other, and other various forms of playing with the rocks. You'd think they'd get enough of at at the actual beach. But no. Apparently not.
The Rixeyville area sits at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with elevations ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet in the immediate vicinity. Camping options near Rixeyville, Virginia extend beyond Shenandoah National Park, with riverside camping along the Rappahannock River offering unique opportunities for water access and fishing. Winter camping is available at select locations with temperatures typically 10-20 degrees warmer than mountain sites.
Riverside activities: At Rappahannock River Campground, located 20 miles southwest of Rixeyville, visitors can tube down the river during summer months. "This campground is great! Primitive camping at its best. Very friendly staff. We stayed here and went tubing on the Rappahannock River one day. The tubing trip was organized by the same people that run the campground so that was very convenient!" notes Katie M.
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening hours offer the best opportunities for deer sightings throughout the region. At Big Meadows Campground, wildlife is abundant. "We were there during a heat wave so there were bugs but being from Georgia the heat was bearable. Speaking of bears- there were lots of siting and they take food clean up seriously. You can be fined for leaving food out," writes Anna R.
Stargazing: Clear nights away from light pollution provide excellent stargazing conditions. "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," reports Veronica S. about Big Meadows Campground.
Affordable options: Camping costs vary widely in the region, with Rappahannock River Campground offering budget-friendly sites. "We paid our fee, which was only around $15, and then another $5 for a bunch of firewood," mentions Jon N.
Fall colors: The region transforms with vibrant foliage from late September through mid-November. At Mathews Arm Campground, visitors appreciate the seasonal beauty. "The mountains are among the most beautiful in the fall. The leaves turn golden, and it is absolutely beautiful and worth your time," writes Daniel P.
Secluded sites: Many campgrounds offer private spots despite being in popular areas. "This campground is off the beaten path and QUIET! The sites are well-spaced and lovely. We stayed overnight passing thru. We'll be back with this as a destination for kayaking. The river access is fantastic!" shares Jen T. about Rappahannock River Campground.
Off-season conditions: Winter camping requires preparation for colder temperatures. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units. The bathrooms were plentiful, heated, hot running water, and a utility sink available. It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F," notes Carol B. at Big Meadows Campground.
Shower facilities: Not all campgrounds offer showers, and those that do may charge fees. "The bathrooms are adequate. There is potable water and a utility sink near the bathrooms, but there are no showers. The closest (coin-operated) showers are about 30 miles south at Big Meadows Campground," explains Mary S. about Mathews Arm.
First-come availability: Several campgrounds have non-reservable sections. "Non-reservable sites! This makes it easier to travel without a plan other than arriving early at a campground. The entire A section (A1-A116) and a small part of C (C143-C145) cannot be reserved," advises Mary S. about Mathews Arm Campground.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's programming. "The children's programs offered on the weekends were great too," shares Melissa T. about Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park, located 30 miles west of Rixeyville.
Easy hiking access: Family-appropriate trails are accessible from several campgrounds. "This campground has all the amenities you need for a great family getaway; bathroom faculties, easy hikes, wildlife, and is an easy drove from Washington, DC," notes Danielle G. about Mathews Arm Campground.
Wagons for gear transport: Some walk-in sites provide equipment to help move camping supplies. "This campground is nice and the primitive spots are right next to the river. The spots are a short walk from the parking area and the campground provides wagons to transport your stuff. Great fishing and swimming right at your camping spot," explains Matt P. about Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park.
Limited electric options: Most campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park lack hookups, while state parks often provide them. "You will enjoy 30/50 amp electric and water. No sewer at the sites, so plan on using the dump drain on the way out," advises Jason E. about Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven sites that pose difficulties for larger rigs. "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 Jen O. about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Luray.
Winter RV amenities: Cold weather camping requires special considerations. "Water and electrical available at all the spots even though it was winter. Bathrooms and showers were nearby and clean. No cell service but the Visitor's Center has WiFi available," mentions John B. about Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Rixeyville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Rixeyville, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 140 campgrounds and RV parks near Rixeyville, VA and 16 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Rixeyville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rixeyville, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 120 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Rixeyville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 free dispersed camping spots near Rixeyville, VA.
What parks are near Rixeyville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 parks near Rixeyville, VA that allow camping, notably Shenandoah National Park and Prince William Forest Park.
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