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Shenandoah Crossing near Gordonsville, Virginia offers equestrian facilities within its 1,000-acre resort property. Horseback riding is available to campers, with guided trail rides and scenic carriage tours operating from the on-site stables. The property maintains well-kept horse pastures visible from many camping areas, particularly those near the stables where beautiful sunsets can be viewed. Campsite options include spacious RV sites with full hookups, tent camping areas, rental cabins, yurts, and glamping accommodations. The bathrooms for tent campers are notably clean compared to other equestrian camping locations in the region.
Located approximately 30 miles from Somerset, the horse facilities at Shenandoah Crossing complement its comprehensive resort amenities. Horses have access to pasture areas and designated riding zones throughout the property. The primitive tent camping area provides reasonable access to the equestrian facilities while maintaining separation from the stables. Graves Mountain Farm Campground offers an alternative horse-friendly option in the region, though with more basic facilities. Trail riders should note that while several campgrounds advertise as horse-friendly, many lack dedicated horse corrals or stalls, making Shenandoah Crossing unusual for its combination of camping options and equestrian amenities. Horse owners should make reservations well in advance as the equestrian facilities are popular with both overnight guests and day visitors, especially during peak seasons when the resort's three swimming pools, minigolf course, and other recreational options are fully operational.
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
"The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. "
from $30 - $75 / night
Check Availability"It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice."
"Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner. Could get muddy if you're there after rain"
"Lodge close by if food, warmth, or better restroom desired."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"access to human food."
"Like most Virginia state parks the River Bend campground is well spaced out and great for RV camping."
from $16 - $97 / night
Check Availability"The trails were marked once you got on one, not all were visible as trails. With that being said my pup and I took several paths not walked often without another soul or human sound."
"Nice little state park close to Richmond and not too far from DC."
from $32 - $427 / night
Check Availability"We recently stayed at Fort Valley Ranch Campground, near Luray, VA and I can only say good things about our experience and the FVR's management."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability
LegendI grew up going to this campground. It's located in Gordonsville, Virginia. There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself is nice.
There is a nice pool, arcade, camp store, horse riding, and the camp sites are pretty nice.
All around good place to camp.
GuideLooked forward to camping at Graves Mountain and enjoy the festivities. The campsite is very very small. They say dispersed, but it is a small field as you can not access the others fields. Horse trailers, rvs, tents, and overland trailers all park right next that to each other. We set up away from everyone to properly distance ourselves due to their covid protocols. They told us to move next to others but there was no space. We got our money back and moved to another site. I would avoid this campsite. If you want to visit it for the apple or Fall festival just camp somewhere else and drive to it. No amenities. No cell service.
TravelerBOTTOM 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:
Cons:
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:
LegendPowhatan State Park is a relatively new addition to the VA State Parks system; the park itself has only been open since 2003. The primitive, canoe-in campground opened with the park, and the loop with electric and water hookups opened in 2016.
**Canoe-In Campground: **
When we stayed, we stayed in the canoe-in campground, although we hiked in the approximate 1/4 mile from the parking lot, rather than coming in by boat. This is a quiet, beautiful loop, with 8 sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. There are composting toilets here and no potable water, so you will need to bring enough water for your trip or purification methods. Proper food storage is also essential back here; while this section of Virginia does not have the bear activity you’d find in the mountains, there are still raccoons and other wildlife who should not have access to human food. There are no bear boxes, so treat food storage as you would in the backcountry.
-Sites 7 and 8 are closes to the toilets, and back up to the woods leading towards the Turkey Trail; hikers are visible from site 8 and audible from site 7.
-Sites 4 and 5 back up to a very wooded area, and are further back from the gravel loop. Site 4 is closest to the boat ramp and is visible; site 5 is probably the most private in the loop.
-Sites 1,2, and 6 are in the center loop, but have more space between them than inner-loop sites usually have. Sites 1 and 2 are right against the River Trail however, so will have hikers walking directly past during the day.
The canoe-in loop sits against the James River; there is a rack to stow your canoe/kayak overnight, and a pay by honor-system pile of firewood. Due to the thick foliage there is no actual river-view during the warmer months, but it’s easily accessbile. When we stayed in early spring there were a lot of vines that served as “natural playground” for our kids; they used them as swings, monkey bars, and enjoyed getting their feet wet at the base of the canoe ramp, so much that they declined hiking or driving to the park’s man-made playground. This loop makes a great “trial run” site for anyone considering a future backcountry trip; the walk to the parking lot is short enough to make multiple trips if you need to, and you still have access to the park amenities if you don’t mind a walk/drive to get there.
River Bend Loop
The River Bend Loop has 29 sites with water and electric hook-ups, though very little privacy between sites. The surrounding trees give all but the first three sites decent shade and a wooded atmosphere, and this is a great loop for RVs or tent campers who enjoy being close to other sites. If you are looking for a feeling of isolation however, you would be better off minimizing your gear and walking to the primitive sites, or going to a different park altogether. The bathrooms here have electricity, flush toilets, and showers with hot water. Sites 1-14 are available for advance reservation, and sites 15-29 are first-come first-served. Site 25 offers the most privacy for tent campers, and it’s very large, but if the campground is at full occupancy all sites are going to have a crowded feel.
There are several hiking trails at this park ranging from very easy to moderate, and a couple of them are horse-friendly; our kids enjoy seeing horses on the trail with them, but be mindful if you have kids/dogs who may be afraid of the horses. The park also has a playground, picnic shelters, and ranger activities on the weekends, and there are three yurts available to book.
This is a very open, well-maintained park, and the camping options should appeal to a wide spectrum of campers, and my only reason for giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the lack of privacy in the drive-up campsites. It feels a lot like a hidden gem; the hookup campground fills up during warmer weather, but all of our visits here have been very quiet and peaceful. If you are looking for camping options near Richmond, I highly recommend this park!
LegendLovely time in the yurt! Walked around the property and saw the horses and checked out the primitive sites.
ScoutBeautiful sunsets over the stables and horse pastures. We reserved a “pull-through” RV site which ended up being a back-in site that was very uneven and nowhere near level. Also, after staying for two weeks, the bathhouse next to our site was closed because of lack of electricity. Which forced us to drive up to the indoor pool (nice) and use the showers there. Inconvenient, but we made it work.
TravelerWe have stayed here several times. Big beautiful paved sites with furniture to boot. Complete with gas grills and outdoor sinks. Plenty to do at the resort..... Kayak, putt putt, tennis, swim in one of the pools, hot tub, work out in the gym, walk on trails, ride horses, take a carriage ride or eat at the "real" restaurant. My favorite campground hands down!
RangerWe stayed at a "group" site D167, which allows up to 15 people and 4 cars. While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people. First of all, it's located in the middle of a large patch of grass right next to other family campsites, so no privacy at all. If you travel with friends you might want to stay up a little longer and have a good laugh around the fire, but this site isn't really designed this way. The quiet hours are after 10PM and it's enforced. Second, the space is really limited, especially if your group members have larger tents. Also, there's no overflow parking, except at the entrance to the campground.
The showers are nice and clean, but they are coin operated.
The rangers are very strict. We had some food related items left on the table (salt/pepper shakers) and they were confiscated while we were hiking. I'm not saying it's wrong, but be aware, because these rules are not enforced at the same level in different places. We ended up with a $80 fine.
Also, since this is a national park, you cannot bring the firewood from outside, have to buy it in the park.
Other than that, we enjoyed our stay. The campground location allow an easy access to many trails within Shenandoah National Park, as well as close by, such as our favorite Old Rag Mountain. It's also technically a part of the NP, so keep your entrance receipt to show at the Old Rag's parking lot.
Make sure you taste blackberry ice cream at the general store at the entrance. It's a local specialty and it's delicious!!!
ScoutWe camped several nights in our 23ft. travel trailer. Our site A85 was just long enough to fit our trailer and truck. We were able to use our generator at this site. The bathroom was just a short walk away. There are no hookups in this campground. We did drive to the shower house and paid a fee to take a shower. They were clean and even though the campground was nearly full we never had to wait in line. We also did our laundry one evening. The machines were all working and it was quite reasonably priced. Big Meadows campground is so conveniently located to the Visitor's center and many local trails. The horse stables were just down the road. The lodge/restaurant was near the campground and we enjoyed a special dinner out one evening on the deck overlooking the beautiful Luray Valley.
Equestrian camping near Somerset, Virginia offers access to expansive mountain trails and dedicated horse facilities within the Shenandoah region. The area sits at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for trail riding. Summer temperatures often reach 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide more moderate riding conditions with temperatures in the 60-70°F range.
Trail riding opportunities: Fort Valley Ranch provides access to mountain trails with varying difficulty levels. "We recently stayed at Fort Valley Ranch Campground, near Luray, VA... Within a 10-minute drive, there are opportunities for hiking and river activities. We found a river access point perfect for swimming and wading," notes Jason G.
Fishing at stocked ponds: Several equestrian-friendly campgrounds maintain fishing areas for campers. At Fort Valley Ranch, "The kids were able to fish for hours at the two fishing ponds, which both were stocked with bass and bluegill," according to Jason G.
Watch equestrian events: During summer weekends, many campgrounds host trail riding groups or small competitions. At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, one visitor observed, "Awesome views, good food in the restaurant up the hill. Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner," writes Alex R.
Private sites with mountain views: Several campgrounds offer sites with scenic vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. At Big Meadows Campground, Anna Y. shares, "This campground has a lot of open, big sites. My favorite sites are the ones on the edge overlooking the mountain."
Wildlife encounters: The region supports diverse wildlife that frequently visits campgrounds. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience. With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," mentions Rachel M.
Evening entertainment: Some horse-friendly campgrounds offer organized activities after dinner. As one camper at Graves Mountain Farm notes, "Awesome views, good food in the restaurant up the hill. Lots of people on horses running around which we loved, and good live music after dinner."
Variable campsite conditions: Equestrian campgrounds in the region vary widely in quality and layout. At Graves Mountain Farm Campground, one camper reported, "The campsite is very very small. They say dispersed, but it is a small field as you cannot access the other fields. Horse trailers, RVs, tents, and overland trailers all park right next to each other."
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: While some campgrounds maintain excellent facilities, others have basic amenities. "The port-a-potty was filthy. We didn't try to go in the bathhouse after seeing how nasty the port-a-potty was," noted Susan A. about one location.
Seasonal insect concerns: Summer months bring increased bug activity, especially near horse facilities. Ross B. mentioned at one campground: "Lots of bugs. Even with bug spray."
Weather preparation: The region experiences significant temperature fluctuations. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," writes Carol B. about her late-season stay at Big Meadows.
Look for campgrounds with multiple recreation options: Some equestrian-focused campgrounds offer activities beyond horseback riding. At Bear Creek Lake State Park, Katie M. shares, "There is a great swimming area with a little kids area that was so fun! We did a hike around the whole lake, lots of great views. Looks like it would be awesome for fishing as well!"
Consider sites with safety features: For families with young children, choose sites with appropriate boundaries. "We chose a reservable waterview site (#18)... It is not directly on the water, there is a fence around the site and then a short walk to the water. I'm glad we had the beautiful view of the lake while camping, but didn't have to stress about the kids getting in the water the whole time," recommends Katie M.
Plan for evening activities: After trail riding, families often appreciate organized evening programs. "The park has lots of hiking, including trails that go directly from the camp sites to the swimming area, boat/canoe rentals, cabins, fishing, and a lakeside diner that sells concessions," notes Stephanie J.
Check access road conditions: Many equestrian camping areas have challenging access roads. At Powhatan State Park, "Campground is waaayyy back in the back of park. Only a few years old. No full hookup (yes 30/50 amp). Well maintained trails, level sites," advises Ashley I.
Verify site dimensions: RV sites at equestrian campgrounds may have unusual configurations to accommodate horse trailers. "Our site (site 3) was an easy level pull-through site, making the setup/breakdown very quick and painless. All the RV sites were impressively level, with only minimal leveling needed," reports Jason G. about Fort Valley Ranch.
Consider site location carefully: Some campgrounds have significant variation in site quality. Jim L. at Powhatan State Park observed, "Sites are very spacious and good distance between other campers. Nice privacy. Large Bath house dump stations were great. Some sites were very level. We were on site seven which was very long but very unlevel."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Somerset, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Somerset, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 125 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Somerset, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Somerset, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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