Best Equestrian Camping near Shenandoah National Park

BOTTOM LINE: 3.5 Stars. We had a fine time camping here, but probably would not stay again unless some friends were going and wanted to stay. Not bad, but not great and not my personal preference for camping. Any recommendation to stay would be dependent on what you're looking for--it might be for you, but just wasn't for us. 

Acknowledging that reviews are totally subjective, here is a brief summary of some of the pros and cons (in our humble opinion):[

PROS/CONS

Pros:

• Beautiful mountain views
• charming brook and farm (i.e. things to do for young kids), and okay hiking trails
• friendly campers and staff
• ease of check-in process
• low cost
• Can (technically) hike intro Shenandoah National Park

Cons:

• campground bathrooms and port-a-jons in poor condition
• street lights in primitive camping area
• yellow jacket nests in primitive camping area (with no warning signs)
• the gnats and flies were bad (way worse than I've ever experienced; probably due to the horse and cow poop)
• decent amount of horse/cow manure in the primitive camping area
• camping area is mixed with RVs, equestrian trailers, & tent campers
• camping area was restricted to a smaller area, forcing camps a little too close together (so much room that wasn't allowed for pitching camp and spreading out)
• few trees in camping area (more of an open field)
• 35-40 min drive to either entrance of Shenandoah National Park (then you still have to drive to the trail you want to hike)

Again, we recognize a lot is subjective; but it just wasn't for us. We'd camp here again if others wanted to, but wouldn't choose to come back.

I'm happy to elaborate on any particular bullets.

HELPFUL TIPS:

• Sites are first come, first served -- there are a few "primo" spots, but get there before noon to nab them
• There is local firewood available at the General Store/Post Office in Syria, VA (~0.2 mi from campground); about $7/bundle (you'll probably need 3-4 bundles for a night)
• Use trees to block out some of the light from street lights (only a handful of spots can do this bc few trees); or try to get a spot as far away as you can get
• 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.
• Free range horses (they're penned-in) come back at dusk and head out at dawn -- fun to watch from the campground, especially for kiddos
• Bring your own water, if possible

Maybe I just have some great childhood memories associated with this place, but I love Big Meadows. This campground is located in Shenandoah National Park and is a great place to get out into nature and away from everything.

The campsites are mainly tent sites, but I believe they also have cabins to rent. I think the best part about this campground is that it feels more like you're camping in the woods rather than a campground. There is a bunch of wildlife all around the campground, which is nice to see. Also, this place is great for families, because there are plenty of activities for kids to do. Rangers of the park give talks, and there are scavenger hunts that the kids can participate in.

I love camping in Shenandoah National Park, because there is a ton of hiking in the area. Some of my favorites are Rip Rap Trail, Jones Run Falls, and White Oak Canyon, but there's plenty more to explore.

This campground is located in the Shenandoah National Park in Stanley , Va on Skyline drive and offers some amazing views! There are several hikes in close proximity to the campground and the Appalachian Trail goes through this part of the park as well! The staff are very friendly , the park is clean and there is wildlife everywhere. Loved hearing the owl at night! If you don't feel like cooking , the lodge is very close by with delicious food , a warm fireplace , local musicians, games and lodging for those who don't choose to camp. The Big Meadows Lodge is not open all year , so check the schedule if this is a must do !

This campground is very clean. The bathrooms were clean and the campground had coin operated showers which was a plus. The firepit has grates to cook your food on which was good. It also had a camp store which sold basic camping supplies and food and of course Shenandoah National Park merchandise. It was also nice because it sold wine and beer, which we liked because we went there for our wedding anniversary and wanted drinks for our anniversary dinner. They also had a cafe that sold lunches, dinners and ice cream. The views of the park were great and the trails were very close by, we enjoyed Stony Man and Dark Hallows Falls. The Park Rangers and employees were very friendly! The wildlife is great, we saw plenty of deer and pretty birds. We would definitely go back.

We took the grandchildren on their first camping trip without their parents, ages 5 and 2.5, and spent two nights in Big Meadows.  The camping was fine, but the opportunities for hiking, biking, and nature watching were excellent!

The cost was only $20 per night.  The site we had for our trailer was small and it barely fit our camper and truck.  However, their was plenty of room overall and our neighbors were a good distance away.

The kids had a great time walking and biking around the campground.  We also hiked up to Blackrock (near the Big Meadows Lodge) and took a couple of other short family hikes.

There are no hook ups, but the bathrooms were up to date and well distributed through out the campground.  Everyone was friendly and helpful... no complaints there at all.

We highly recommend this campground if you are visiting the Shenandoah National Park.

This is my favorite campground, and general area, in Shenandoah National Park. The campground is nice and well kept. The tent sites are pretty spaced out, but the RV sites are pretty close together. The bathhouses are adequate and clean, but quite small. There was a wait sometimes for the men’s room even. The staff was friendly, but beware: they are very strict and unwavering in their enforcement of bear safety regulations. LEAVE NO FOOD OR KITCHEN ITEMS UNATTENDED EVER. We saw much revenue generated for the NPS that weekend by inattentive campers.

Big Meadows is centrally located in the park and close to many big attractions. I suggest stony man trail and dark hollow falls, both relatively short hikes to an overlook and nice waterfall, respectively. For a great treat hike down (uphill all the way coming back!) to Rapidan camp, the historic predecessor to Camp David. Try to time your hike with a bus tour to get a guided look inside the restored camp buildings. The visitor center has a great museum as well.