Shenandoah National Park spans 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains with elevations ranging from 600 to 4,050 feet. This elevation variation creates distinct temperature zones, with higher elevations typically 10-15°F cooler than the valleys. Campgrounds around the park's perimeter offer varied terrain, from riverside settings in the valleys to mountain sites with forest cover and occasional wildlife sightings.
What to do
Hiking to viewpoints: From Lewis Mountain Campground, access the Appalachian Trail and other trails directly. "Bearfence is just down the trail, you can walk out of camp and start hiking. Originally was opened in 1939 as 'Lewis Mountain Negro Area', not having all the amenities that whites only campgrounds had, I find it interesting that this is now the best spot in town!" notes one camper.
Cavern exploration: Several caverns operate near campgrounds in the region. At Endless Caverns RV Resort, guests receive discounted tours. "Their cavern tour (discounted for guests at the RV park) was lovely. Marked well, lighted, relaxed. Our tour guide, Haley, was a sweetheart, taking time for the two little kids, and still giving the information older people like," reports one visitor.
Tubing on the river: Riverside campgrounds offer water recreation opportunities. At Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River, the river access makes tubing convenient. "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," states a visitor.
What campers like
Hiking trail access: Campers appreciate when trails connect directly to campgrounds. At Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley KOA, "there's great hiking nearby" and the property "backs up to a great hike." A visitor also notes that "walking trail starts at the campground."
Dark night skies: The region offers minimal light pollution at certain sites. At Lewis Mountain Campground, visitors enjoy the natural darkness, with one noting it's "quiet and peaceful" and "not lit up like a Christmas tree which is something we prefer."
Off-season availability: Some campgrounds in the Shenandoah region remain accessible when the national park facilities close. While Big Meadows Campground operates May through November, nearby private campgrounds often remain open year-round. "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," reports a visitor to Big Meadows.
What you should know
Weather conditions: Higher elevation campgrounds experience significant temperature variations. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," reports a late-season camper at Big Meadows Campground.
Terrain challenges: Many campgrounds feature hilly or mountainous terrain. At Walnut Hills Campground, "the sites along the lower area near the lake were shaded mostly, some more than others, while the sites up the hill at the top and near the front entrance (pull through sites) were not shaded much."
Wildlife encounters: Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region. Big Meadows Campground provides "bear box for food storage" and enforces food storage rules. A visitor notes, "Bear boxes provided, plenty of room to relax... So many trails to explore, walk to the Lodge, Wayside, Visitor Center and more."
Seasonal insect activity: Bugs can be prevalent in 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," warns a summer visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Enclosed play areas: Fort Valley Ranch caters to families with specific amenities. "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill. Also, the availability of horseback trail riding was an added bonus," shares a visitor.
Covered dining options: Some sites offer protected eating areas during inclement weather. At Walnut Hills Campground, site 33 was "full hookup and a very nice, mostly level, spacious, and had a covered picnic table on a deck."
Activity programming: Seasonal events enhance the camping experience for children. At Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley KOA, "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."
Tips from RVers
Cell service and connectivity: Coverage varies significantly throughout the area. At Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River, visitors report adequate connection: "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."
Site selection considerations: When booking RV sites near Shenandoah National Park, location within the campground matters. At Endless Caverns RV Resort, "be very particular with your site selection! While Wi-Fi routers are set up at the bathhouses, we had some connection at the trailer. We picked up a dozen channels on our antenna and the 2-3 bar Verizon LTE enabled us to stream some channels on Fire TV."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. Smaller campgrounds like Lewis Mountain have limited availability: "Out of the 31 sites (including host site), only 3 remained when we arrived at about 1:45 PM on a Friday afternoon, and those remaining filled up within the hour. Especially in the busier months of the summer, I would suggest arriving prior to 11 or 1130 AM."
