Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Shenandoah National Park

We had a great stay at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views in Luray, VA. 

We stayed in a level back-in site(#39) with picnic table on a concrete patio, Adirondack chairs under a pergola on a second concrete patio, clean gravel surface, and fire pit. The site was big enough for our motor home and Jeep. Full hook-ups with 50-amp service. 

Wow, what a view! Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening. Who could ask for more? 

The campground is close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive as well as Luray Caverns and a few smaller tourist attractions including the Luray Zoo and Bear Mountain Zip-lines. 

They have a clean pool and playground for little kids. The nearby dairy cow farm is fun too. 

You can tell the new owners are making some upgrades including improving the utilities and adding wi-fi. 

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. 

THINGS I ESPECIALLY LIKED: 

1. The best view from a campsite we’ve ever experienced 

2. Less than 20-minutes from Shenandoah National Park and Luray Caverns 

3. Clean campground

Located within minutes of I81. We stopped for 2 nights to see the Shenandoah National Park on our way to NC. Called last minute and got a site. Very nice customer service. Grounds were very well kept. Our site 112 had water, 50amp and cable. Dump station on premises. Nice dog park for our fur babies and doggie duty stations with bags in several locations throughout the park. Also had a cute playground for kiddos. Didn't use the pool so can't comment. A little highway noise but when windows and door were closed couldn't hear a thing. We'd stay here again. They honor Good Sam discount. Paid $38 with discount.

Loft is my favorite out of the campgrounds I’ve visited in the Shenandoah National Park. I’ve been Big Meadows and Lewis, but never to Matthew’s Arm. No reservations here, so you have to get lucky. But if you do and get a good site, it’s so going to be worth it. We had a site where you park at the top of a hill and hike down a slightly steepish hill to the site. It was shady, wooded, private, and quiet. There were a few sites beside us, but spaced nicely apart. The best tent views are the ones with no cars and bathhouses and this campground definitely gives you that. This one also provides bear boxes for food.

Favorite mini-hike nearby: Black Rock Summit (see photos). Beautiful views of the park, easy (the whole loop is less than a mile with just 175ft. of elevation gain), kid-friendly, and pet-friendly.

We 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.

As usual any campground in the Shenandoah national Park is well-kept, well cared for, and just beautifulWe have stayed in all the campgrounds on the 101 mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway and with in the Shenandoah national Park

In our opinion this is the best campground in Shenandoah National Park. Sites are large and many offer privacy. Sites include fire ring and picnic tables. Some of the sites have a mountain view where you can watch the sunset. The campground has great facilities including flush toilets, hot and cold running water, indoor showers ($1.75 for 5 minutes), laundromat, camp store with groceries, camping supplies, wine and beer, sandwiches, and morning coffee. The sites are $15 per night in this campground, and there is an entrance fee into Shenandoah National Park (we paid $30 for a week). The Appalachian Trail runs thru this campground and offers some great hiking.

Absolutely beautiful campground. Not a lot of sites but very spacious. Private showers, no WiFi, firewood on site, lots of shade, trails and walking distance to the river. Highly recommended. Close access to Shenandoah National Park.

Beautiful views of the mountains from campsite. Shenandoah River is right there on the campsite, would be great for the summer months. 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. Each campsite had tons of space and was gravel and featured a picnic table and fire pit. We had electric and water hookups at our site. There was a dump site available. There were several gas stations nearby and we were less than 30 minutes away from Front Royal and the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. We paid$46 a night for the campsite and felt it was worth it.

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.

The sites are spaced out and neat. Some shade. Pretty view across from our site. Nice map provided of all the various walk, bike or horse trails. Temperature was perfect. Short drive to Shenandoah National Park. We choose to stay at the State Park because it has electric. Very happy we stayed here!

We have stayed at this campground many times! It is our favorite! The scenery is fantastic and at the foot of Shenandoah National Park. The sites are large and there is both sun and shade. Upper bathroom is so-so but there is a new one on the lower level that’s great. There are yurts to rent also!

So many things to do here with kids.  The activities are awesome they constantly have something going on.  Cabins are clean and roomy.  Tons of camping spots.  Miniature Golf, bounce pad, pond, several pools, and awesome water slide.  Truly a special camping area with something for the whole family.  Close to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

Big Meadows Campground, located in Shenandoah National Park, offers a great camping experience with spacious sites and essential amenities. The campground is a popular spot for those looking to explore the park, with easy access to scenic hiking trails like Dark Hollow Falls and other beautiful park features. While there are no electric hookups, the campground allows the use of generators during certain hours, ensuring comfort while enjoying nature. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, which include bathrooms and a camp store offering laundry and showers.

Wildlife, including deer, adds to the charm, and the nearby Big Meadows Lodge provides a cozy dining experience after a day of hiking. The campground is situated right off Skyline Drive, offering stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities, making it a great base for exploring Shenandoah National Park. The campground is open from spring to fall, with reservations required, and it offers a peaceful escape into nature.

One downside is that the campground closes for the season from late November to March, so be sure to plan your visit during the operating months.

This was a short overnight for me just to get my camper organized for a longer trip. I love the Shenandoah national park. Check in was easy - there were plenty of spots to choose from - no hookups here - I circled and picked spot 57 - a quiet wooded site. The bathrooms were reasonably clean- the check in people were efficient.

Though Shenandoah national park itself is underwhelming. The campground was a great spot to sleep. There are walk in site and drive through sites available. The stars can be seen though definitely a bit of light pollution. The campsite connects to hiking trials to bring you to the sights of the national park easily, including the dark hollow falls and big meadow

Great proximity to Shenandoah National Park while still being close enough to a Walmart and fuel. Easy to access sites, great for larger rigs! If you have kids definitely get closer to the play ground, you won’t regret it! Bathhouse was clean, very well manicured campground, amazing views of the mountains and riverfront access for tubing. We will definitely be back!!

There are several rustic campsites located on the Southfork of the Shenandoah River, as well as modern electric sites, RV sites, and cabins. Park and campgrounds are clean and well maintained. Tons of trails, wildlife and activities in and near the park. This state park is adjacent to Shenandoah National Park and is just as beautiful and rich in history!

My boyfriend and I stayed at this campground in March of 2021. We went to the area to visit Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park.

We stayed in site #11. The sites weren't right on top of each other, but you could definitely see other sites across the road. There were a few that caught my eye for future trips, but this one was lovely enough!!

This is a small campground, which made it feel very homey. All of the campers were so friendly. The camp host was also a joy! Always had a smile on his face. Most of the sites are 60' long and very spacious!!

Dogs are welcomed with open arms at this campsite!! My two doggos had a great time. Just be careful!! One of mine ended up with a thorn in his foot pad.

Will definitely return to this campground in the future!

We visited this campsite in mid March. The sites are a little close together, but it was quiet. There is biking and hiking directly from the campsite.  the bathrooms and showers are very clean, and there is a laundry room which we did not use.  this campground is really close to Shenandoah national park. We chose to stay here instead because there are water and electric hook ups and a dump site on premise. 

We stayed at this KOA on our way to Virginia Beach but wanted to a day in Shenandoah National Park.  We didn't do reservations because they wanted us to pay for the entire weekend when we just wanted to stay one night.  But we took a chance and it paid off.  This campground is tucked in the Shenandoah valley...mountains on both sides and nestled next to a farm.  The sites are big and ours backedup to a big field - great for the kids to run.  Nice and quiet campground and clean bathrooms.  The pool was clean and refreshing - so thankful for that because it was in the upper 90s the day we were there.  Great place to stay and wish we had longer.

This campground is in a beautiful part of Shenandoah National Park, and is centrally located in the park. There are a number of trails nearby, and many more just a short drive away. This campground is very popular, and is almost always full on the weekends. Reserve your spot in advance if possible, as any first come, first served spots are claimed quickly. Campsites are also close together, but I have hadn't issues with anyone being too loud during quiet hours. There are some trees for hammocking, but it varies depending on your spot.

We stopped here for one night so we could visit Shenandoah National Park. The campground was extremely pleasant, as were the staff on duty. The sites were more spaced out than is typical for a KOA. They were also spacious and shaded. Since we were there for such a short stay we didn’t take advantage of any of the amenities although the pool looked nice.

There are probably closer campgrounds to the entrance of the National Park, but this wasn’t too far away - maybe 45 minutes? Beautiful drive to get to the entrance.

A beautiful campground with everything a tourist could possible want for a spectacular vacation. Surrounded by dairy farms, the fields of grains leave open space that enables each campsite to have a view of the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance. Each evening, people would come out and turn the colorful patio chairs towards west and enjoy a spectacular sunset. During the day, there is so much to do at the nearby Shenandoah Nation Park, drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, or visit the caverns or the Artisan Trail businesses full of local handcrafts.

I got an amazing opportunity to go to Shenandoah National Park for the first time on the weekend of July 16th and 17th and it was by far the best camping/hiking experience I have ever had. This is a place where you feel warm and welcome, and is in my eyes a place that I would strongly recommend for anybody who enjoys camping or hiking. This is a place where you can wake up to a beautiful sunrise and fall asleep to the soothing sound of the night!

I love Shenandoah national park so this campground hit the spot. No reservations, just first come first served. The campsites were all dirt, super flat and nice in a bunch of shady trees. No dump station if you’re RV camping though. 

We saw lots of bears, so make sure to bring something to store your food in. There are some awesome hikes all around the area. Check out the big meadows to Lewis mountain trial. Wildlife, views, everything you could want. 

There are some great campgrounds right in this area, big meadows is also a good one, but this one is my favorite.