Shenandoah Valley camping sits at elevations ranging from 600 to over 3,500 feet, creating diverse microclimates across the region's campgrounds. Summer temperatures typically range from 60°F at night to 85°F during the day, with higher elevations offering cooler overnight stays. Fall camping season extends through late October when frost becomes common at higher elevations and wildlife activity increases as animals prepare for winter.
What to do
Hiking from campgrounds: Big Meadows Campground provides direct access to multiple trail systems within Shenandoah National Park. "Many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," notes Rachel M. The campground connects to both challenging mountain routes and easier family-friendly paths.
Stargazing opportunities: Loft Mountain Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "The mountain remained fogged in for most of our stay, but hikes on the AT and Doyles Falls were stunning," shares Cindy M. The amphitheater area provides an elevated vantage point for astronomical observation, especially during new moon phases.
Cave exploration: Endless Caverns RV Resort provides on-site access to natural limestone caverns with guided tours. A visitor reports, "Their cavern tour (discounted for guests at the RV park) was lovely. Marked well, lighted, relaxed. Our tour guide, Haley, was a sweetheart." Tours run throughout the day and typically take 45-60 minutes to complete.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Big Meadows Campground offers regular wildlife encounters directly from campsites. According to Kim L., "Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground." Deer frequently visit campsites at dawn and dusk, and bears are sometimes spotted from safe distances.
Mountain views: Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views provides panoramic mountain vistas from its campsites. "Sunset over the mountains from our campsite each evening. Who could ask for more?" writes Matt S. The campground sits at an elevation with unobstructed views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Massanutten range.
Riverside access: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground offers waterfront primitive sites alongside the Shenandoah River. "The river. The views. The experience. It's all good probably best time I ever had," reports Susan P. The campground provides wagons to transport gear from parking areas to riverside sites, making the short walk manageable even with equipment.
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Matthews Arm Campground requires strict food storage protocols. Mary S. explains, "Google reviews indicated park rangers insist you keep all food in a locker, camper or vehicle and you can be fined if you don't. Apparently, bears recognize coolers so you should cover them up in vehicles." Not all sites have bear boxes, so secure food storage planning is essential.
Seasonal considerations: Loft Mountain Campground experiences significant temperature variations by season. "The shower was about 0.3 miles away. They charge $5 for 10 min, which you have to pay in quarters," notes Katrin M. Fall visitors should prepare for morning temperatures near freezing at this higher-elevation campground, especially in October.
Pet-friendly policies: When seeking pet friendly camping near Shenandoah, Virginia, understand campground-specific rules. At Big Meadows, Carol B. observes: "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." All Shenandoah National Park campgrounds allow pets but require them to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray offers structured children's programming. "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!" shares Jen O. The campground maintains a full activity schedule during summer and fall weekends.
Campground noise levels: Matthews Arm Campground provides quieter family camping environments. According to Mary S., "It's quiet! People don't come to national park campgrounds to party. They come to see the sights and hike. They're tired at night and don't make a lot of noise." For families seeking animal-friendly camping near Shenandoah, Virginia with young children, this campground offers more secluded sites in sections A56-A61.
Bathroom facilities: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park maintains exceptionally clean restroom facilities. "Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms," notes Adam and Suzanne B. The private shower rooms are particularly useful for families with young children needing assistance.
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: Endless Caverns RV Resort requires careful site selection for larger rigs. Sara M. advises: "Be very particular with your site selection! The higher sites might require your TV have 4WD." Sites in section C offer more privacy and natural screening than those in section E.
Hookup considerations: Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River provides full hookup sites with good spacing. Joe notes, "The RV sites at this campground are very spaced out, you have a lot of room to each side of your RV." The campground's 30/50 amp electrical service and reliable water pressure accommodate everything from small trailers to large motorhomes.
Connectivity options: For RVers requiring internet access while dog camping near Shenandoah, Virginia, connectivity varies significantly by location. "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," reports Sara M. at Endless Caverns. National Park campgrounds like Big Meadows generally have limited to no cellular service.
