Glamping in Stanley, Virginia offers direct access to the Shenandoah Valley's distinct landscape of rolling hills and forest-covered mountains. The area sits at elevations ranging from 700 to 3,500 feet, creating diverse camping environments from riverside locations to mountain ridge sites. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer evenings typically cool to the mid-60s even after warm days.
What to do
Hiking from campsites: Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park connects to numerous trails. "Lots of beautiful hikes and bike course with awesome views of the valley," notes Tom C., who particularly appreciates the waterfall trails accessible from the grounds.
River activities: Low Water Bridge Campground provides direct Shenandoah River access. "We got a site right on the river bank so we just hopped out and were at our site! Of course they also offer rentals for boats and such," shares RL. The campground offers shuttles upriver so you can float back to your site.
Wildlife watching: Big Meadows Campground offers reliable deer sightings throughout the camping areas. "We saw many deer and bear while camping. Just being in Shenandoah is a soothing experience," explains Rachel M., highlighting the natural encounters possible within developed camping areas.
What campers like
Bathroom facilities: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground maintains clean facilities. "Virginia has the best state park campgrounds. Water and electric. Large sites. The bathrooms are clean with separate shower rooms," reports Adam and Suzanne B., noting the responsive rangers.
Spacious sites: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray offers well-separated sites. "Each camper was rather tight and we felt like we were staying at an RV show, that's how crowded it felt," Mary C. mentions about some areas, while also noting "the premium sites looked very nice" with more privacy.
Stargazing: Many campers appreciate the night sky visibility in this region. Rachel M. at Big Meadows Campground recommends visiting "for the star watching at night," a benefit of the area's distance from major urban centers and light pollution.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA has connectivity challenges. "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," reports Dale Y., highlighting a common issue in the region's mountainous terrain.
Bug activity: Insects can be intense, especially during 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," warns Veronica S. from her experience at Big Meadows.
Seasonal considerations: Winter camping requires preparation. Carol B. from Big Meadows explains, "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," after camping on the last night of the season in November.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Low Water Bridge Campground offers excellent river experiences for children. "Took my 8yr old there this past weekend. His 1st time camping and he loved it. They took us up river and dropped us so we could kayak back," shares Christopher L.
Ranger programs: Big Meadows offers educational activities. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground," reports Kim L., highlighting the built-in entertainment options.
Swimming access: Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park provides safe river access. "Great fishing and swimming right at your camping spot," states Matt P., noting that the primitive spots are perfectly positioned for families wanting water activities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views offers varying levels of privacy among sites. "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," shares Matt S.
Utility positioning: Consider hookup placement when booking. "The power pole is well positioned," notes Dale Y. at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA, explaining that "the sites are large enough and level enough" for comfortable setup.
Mountain driving: Be prepared for steep grades when accessing luxury glamping in Stanley, Virginia. Matt S. warns about Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views: "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."
