100 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park welcomes pets at all campsites with standard leash restrictions. Pets must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times while at the campground. Several campgrounds near Rixeyville provide pet-friendly accommodations including Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park, The HarmStead Campground, and Rappahannock River Campground. Most campgrounds include designated pet waste disposal stations and require campers to clean up after their animals. Farm animals at The HarmStead serve as an attraction for children, with guests noting that kids enjoyed feeding goats and an emu during their stay. Camping options range from primitive tent sites to full hookup RV spots, with a few properties offering pet-friendly cabins and glamping accommodations.
Hiking trails surrounding Shenandoah National Park provide extensive options for dogs on leashes. Mathews Arm Campground connects to several pet-accessible trails with water features and wildlife viewing opportunities. Camping with dogs requires preparation for encounters with local wildlife, particularly bears in the Shenandoah region. The primitive camping areas at Rappahannock River Campground offer direct water access for dogs that enjoy swimming. Dog owners report hot showers available at most established campgrounds, though Graves Mountain Farm Campground has received mixed reviews about bathroom facilities. Some campgrounds limit the number of pets per site or charge additional pet fees. During peak summer months, campers should ensure pets have adequate shade and water, as temperatures can exceed 90°F in Virginia's summer season.
"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"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"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"Lots of fun stuff to do for adults, children, and pets. Will definitely visit again!"
"Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive."
"Lots of land to walk. Fire pit, chairs and picnic table at site."
from $50 - $95 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $50 / night
"Casa Vargas offers secluded RV & Tent sites near the famous Skyline Drive that offers great views of the Shenandoah Mountains. "
from $50 - $75 / night
Check Availability"When we pulled in we were greeted by a friendly fat cat. We paid our fee, which was only around $15, and then another $5 for a bunch of firewood."
"Great for a weekend away from all the hustle and bustle. Very relaxing"
"Portable water and dumping station located at the camp store. We stayed at site 146 on the first caul-de-sac off the first loop just another site away from the bath house (which was pretty clean)."
"Hot dog. Best camping showers I've ever had. Only draw back is that there's only one playground that's awkwardly located."
from $43 - $100 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Hike up a trail or up through the creek itself to a swimming hole only accessible to campers. Saw some decent sized fish swimming around in there."
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.
TravelerNice size spots. Lake on site. Playground for kids. Fun bike rentals. Lots of dog walks and a dog park. Camp store has a little bit of everything.
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.
Camping near Rixeyville, Virginia offers options across the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. The area sits at elevations ranging from 400-3,000 feet with summer temperatures averaging 80-90°F during day and 60-70°F at night. Fall camping extends through late October with nighttime temperatures dropping to 40°F, requiring additional preparation for overnight stays.
Hiking with wildlife viewing: Multiple trails connect to Mathews Arm Campground with diverse terrain options. "Great hikes in the area and waterfalls within hiking distance. There are no bear boxes at this campground, but there are indeed bears, so keep all food in your car," notes Eric K. The campground connects to several waterfall-accessible trails.
Off-season camping: For those who prefer fewer crowds, consider late season visits. "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. It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14°F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," reports Carol B. about her experience at Big Meadows Campground.
Water recreation: Direct river access at Rappahannock River Campground provides swimming and paddling opportunities. "The river access is fantastic!" shares Jen T. Many visitors combine camping with water activities: "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!" adds Katie M.
Privacy between sites: At Big Meadows, site layout prevents overcrowding. "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," notes Veronica S., highlighting how vegetation creates natural separation between campsites.
Clean facilities: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park maintains well-kept amenities. "Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms," shares Adam and Suzanne B. The park offers multiple camping options from tent sites to cabins.
Evening wildlife: Star-gazing and wildlife viewing opportunities enhance evening experiences. "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," explains Rachel M. Many campers report deer walking through campgrounds during evening hours.
Site selection considerations: Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds and even within sites. "When we booked our site we didn't realize that most of the property is on a hill. Each camper was rather tight and we felt like we were staying at an RV show, that's how crowded it felt," explains Mary C. about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Seasonal insects: Bug activity increases during warmer months. "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," Veronica S. mentions about her summer camping experience.
Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations require planning. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F," Carol B. reports from late-season camping. During summer, temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, requiring adequate hydration and shade planning.
Farm animal interactions: The HarmStead Campground provides unique animal encounters beyond wildlife observation. "The hosts provided our kids with a cup of animal food to feed the goats and the emu. The spot had a fire ring and a picknick table. Highlight for the kids were the playground and the fireflies at night," shares Michael about their family experience.
Activity-focused campgrounds: Some sites offer extensive recreation options for children. "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!" reports Jen O. about Jellystone Park's family-friendly amenities.
Educational programming: Ranger-led activities enhance children's experiences. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," notes Kim L. describing Big Meadows programming options.
Site leveling challenges: Evaluate site descriptions carefully before booking. "Our site had a slight slope, but was easily overcome using additional blocks on the low side to get the trailer level," mentions Drew M. at Bull Run Regional Park. Some campgrounds have primarily uneven terrain requiring additional equipment.
Hook-up availability: Water and electrical connections vary between campgrounds and camping areas. Most established campgrounds offer at least water, while primitive sites require self-sufficiency. Sewer connections are available at select locations like Bull Run Regional Park and The HarmStead.
Dump station access: Plan waste management accordingly. Sanitary dump stations exist at several campgrounds including Big Meadows and Rappahannock River Campground, but aren't universally available. For longer stays without sewer hookups, identify dump station locations in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rixeyville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rixeyville, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 128 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rixeyville, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 100 dog-friendly camping locations near Rixeyville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
