Yurt camping near Somerset, Virginia offers access to diverse outdoor experiences across varying terrain and elevations from 250 to 3,000+ feet. The climate provides distinct seasonal camping conditions with summer highs typically reaching 85-90°F while winter nights often drop below freezing. State parks and private campgrounds throughout the region maintain yurt accommodations with most locations requiring advance reservations, especially during peak fall foliage season.
What to do
Fishing access: Lake Anna State Park provides multiple fishing platforms specifically designed for accessibility. One camper noted, "Lovely trails, decent campsites, cabins! The paved handicapped-accessible trail and fishing platforms are a really nice addition."
Outdoor laser tag: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offers activities beyond standard camping recreation. A visitor shared, "We stayed here for 3 nights in August for our little guy's 8th birthday. It was perfect for kids! The kids loved running off in the open field and playing on the zip line. The birthday boy also loved the outdoor laser tag!"
Hiking from campground: Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA features trails that start directly at the property. One camper reported, "KOAs have a standard formula that you can count on: clean, full RV hookups, easy in and out etc. This one has all that - and more! One of the features I look for in campground is hiking trails right out of the campground. Most KOAs don't have that - but this one does!"
Night sky viewing: Dundo Group Campground offers excellent stargazing opportunities away from city lights. A visitor mentioned, "At night the you could see stars. We took a walk to the overlook in the middle of the night to stargaze."
What campers like
Individual shower rooms: Powhatan State Park Campground features private bathroom facilities with modern amenities. A reviewer noted, "Bathrooms are individual with a shower in each one. Lots of geocaching on grounds, fishing, hiking, boat launch, canoe racks, playground, a store with a nature center, and a Junior Ranger program for the kids."
Close-to-town convenience: Shenandoah Valley yurts provide comfortable access to nearby communities. A visitor explained, "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."
Temperature considerations: Big Meadows Campground requires preparation for elevation changes. A recent camper shared, "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water."
Site privacy: Big Meadows Campground offers secluded spots despite its popularity. One visitor explained, "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."
What you should know
Bear activity: Shenandoah area campgrounds enforce strict food storage rules. A visitor mentioned, "Big Meadow has many amenities which make it popular and oftentimes crowded during weekends and holiday's. But, many of these amenities make camping with families a convenience. We saw many deer and bear while camping."
Free laundry facilities: Christopher Run Campground offers unexpected amenities. A camper reported, "We were there in March so it was still a bit cold and not really sitting outside and enjoy it weather. The campground was nice and very clean. The laundry facility was very nice and clean... and free."
Flood zones: Primitive sites at several locations require checking conditions. A visitor to one park warned, "There's also a canoe-in site with 8 primitive sites: no water, electricity, or facilities. Depending on the time of the year they might be in the flood zone if the river is high, which it was during this trip."
Seasonal pest considerations: Certain areas experience periodic insect activity. One camper noted, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Shenandoah National Park provides abundant animal sighting chances. A camper shared, "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached."
Firefly displays: Timing your visit for early summer brings natural light shows at certain campgrounds. One visitor described, "And finally, the fireflies are spectacular. At dusk, the ground shimmers, and then after they disperse, you will still see them flit by the tent throughout the night."
Junior Ranger programs: Multiple state parks offer educational activities for children. One parent mentioned, "Staff were wonderful, huge place that is well kept, trails are trimmed back daily. A store with a nature center, and a Junior Ranger program for the kids."
Biking-friendly spaces: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park allows easy cycling access. One camper reported, "Our grandchildren love that they are able to bike ride and enjoy the beautiful scenery."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Christopher Run Campground requires adjustment at certain spots. A camper noted, "The sites are good size, but not very level. We did finally get ours squared away."
Pull-through sites: Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views arranges different site types strategically. A visitor shared, "Note that the most pull-thru in the inside of the camp are closers to each other than sites around the camp (the edge of the camp)."
Tree coverage for signals: Signal reception varies significantly across the region. One RVer explained, "Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees."
Dump stations: Most campgrounds in the area provide waste disposal facilities. An RVer reported, "There is a gate house do you need the code to get in. Lots of amenities, like pool, playground, very nice showers. There is a nice pool, arcade, camp store, horse riding, mini-golf, hiking, and many other amenities."
