Best Campgrounds near Steeles Tavern, VA

Steeles Tavern, Virginia sits at the crossroads of several notable camping destinations in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. George Washington National Forest lands surround the area, with Sherando Lake Campground offering both tent and RV sites about 20 miles northeast. Devils Backbone Camp provides a unique brewery-adjacent camping experience with 73 sites, while Crabtree Falls Campground offers riverside camping with tent, RV, and cabin options. The region includes both developed facilities with full hookups and more primitive options like Spy Rock, which provides free dispersed camping accessible only by hiking trails. Several campgrounds feature waterfront locations, with sites positioned along lakes, creeks, and the Tye River.

Reservations are essential during the peak season from April through October, particularly for waterfront sites and holiday weekends. Many campgrounds in the George Washington National Forest have limited or no cell service, with spotty coverage even at more developed sites. As one camper noted about Crabtree Falls, "The tent sites we stayed in were 10 feet away from the Tye River; we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night." Bear activity is common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. Road conditions vary significantly, with some campgrounds accessible via paved roads while others require navigating gravel roads with occasional potholes. Weather patterns can change quickly in the mountains, with cooler temperatures at higher elevations even during summer months.

Mountain views and water access rank as top priorities among camper reviews. Visitors consistently praise the privacy between sites at forest campgrounds, with one camper describing Devils Backbone Camp as having "large group sites in the trees. Private. Fire ring and picnic table. Everything you could need." Families appreciate campgrounds with swimming areas and hiking trails directly accessible from campsites. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some campgrounds like Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley described as having "activities until 10:30 at night," while others offer more secluded experiences. Weekdays typically see lower occupancy rates than weekends, even during summer. The camping season generally runs April through October, though several campgrounds including Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA remain open year-round with varying levels of services.

Best Camping Sites Near Steeles Tavern, Virginia (115)

    1. Sherando Lake Campground

    33 Reviews
    Tyro, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    $25 - $47 / night

    "Sherando Lake is a well-maintained, popular campground located in the George Washington National Forest near Lyndhurst, VA."

    "The lakeside is wonderful for sitting, reading and swimming.  The "upper lake" is great for fishing. "

    2. Devils Backbone Camp

    39 Reviews
    Nellysford, VA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 817-9708

    $25 - $140 / night

    "First time camping in any part of Virginia, very nice and clean campground, not too much outside noise besides the random car driving on the one road near by."

    "We set up camp then walked over to the brewery/ restaurant for some flights and dinner. I recommend grabbing some growlers to go. Showers and restrooms were clean."

    3. Crabtree Falls Campground

    20 Reviews
    Montebello, VA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 377-2066

    $28 - $55 / night

    "The tent sites we stayed in were 10 ft away from the Tye river, we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night."

    "I’ve camped at a completely different part of this place before which was a site without access to bathrooms and showers."

    4. Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    20 Reviews
    Stuarts Draft, VA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 337-3920

    $45 - $99 / night

    "You can fish in the lake though we didn't catch anything. Wifi is free and open so no password and therefore, not secure. Trash picked up each day."

    "Good location close to I81 but little road noise. I did hear a train."

    5. Montebello Resort

    11 Reviews
    Montebello, VA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 377-2650

    $38 - $55 / night

    "This is one of Virginia’s best kept secrets for Cabins, RV or Tent camping.

    The location is awesome; close to some great hiking spots, very accessible & well laid out."

    "The upstairs neighbors were probably as quiet as they could be but you could still hear them walking around and using the plumbing.

    The trout pond is not what they make it out to be on the website."

    6. Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley

    12 Reviews
    Stuarts Draft, VA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 337-2267

    $29 - $45 / night

    "And of course their lake that has two jumping decks, water slide, snack bar , restaurant and off to the side a little store for floats with putt putt golf and Jenna,etc."

    "Lots for them to do, great swimming lake, employees were a pleasure. Trash pick-up was awesome !! Our site was gorgeous. Not a full hook up(more on that later), but absolutely perfect."

    7. Oronoco Campground

    15 Reviews
    Buena Vista, VA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2188

    "It should be noted that the warning about water moccasins posted previously is inaccurate as there are no water moccasins in this part of Virginia."

    "Only thing is that there’s a dog, we think from a property nearby, that acts aggressive towards campers."

    8. Stoney Creek Resort

    7 Reviews
    Stuarts Draft, VA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 337-1510

    "Beautiful surroundings. No phone signal and wifi was a joke but that's not a bad thing!"

    "Ate at their on-site restaurant while a local band played outside. Mostly used by local folks as a seasonal CG. Lots of semi-permanent fixtures attached to rigs. Did get a PassPort America discount."

    9. Spy Rock

    5 Reviews
    Montebello, VA
    8 miles
    Website

    "Spy Rock is this awesome hike about an hour away from Charlottesville, Va. It is a great hike with a small rock scramble at the top for an extra bit of fun."

    "The views from atop Spy Rock are some of the best in Virginia, and the campsite is one of my favorites. You hike in and there is a decent sized area to set up tents."

    10. Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    31 Reviews
    Natural Bridge, VA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2770

    $35 / night

    "This campground is open year round and is right off the highway.  There is a gas station right next to it as well as a safari park. "

    "Located in a beautiful part of central Virginia, this campground gives you lots of options for sightseeing. It is definitely worth a trip to the Natural Bridge."

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Recent Reviews near Steeles Tavern, VA

779 Reviews of 115 Steeles Tavern Campgrounds


  • Werner S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Perfect Shenandoah stopover

    Good amount of first come first serve spots. We visited during a weekday and there was more than enough availability. Nice small trail that runs around the campground. The campstore offers more than enough! We bought a smores-kit, very handy. I dont know if there are (enough) full hook ups?

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Paradise Lake Family Campground

    Not more than one night

    This is an older campground and shows its age…and wear. There are several semi-permanent residents here. Some facilities need repair and/or maintenance. Water in the shower was hot, but the showers were small, and there was no place for d as iso, shaving things, shampoo, ets. And no place to sit to. There is a pool and a lake with a swim beach. Kayak rental. Playground, laundry, showers/ bathrooms are passable. Internet is very slow.

  • madison F.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park

    WALNUT

    first arrived weary of storm headed our way only to find out our campsite was the only in our section that wasn’t a flood zone.

    saw some liquid being pumped into naturally flowing creek water??! also if you want to see ducks… stay close to the pond.

    super honorable mention - lower bathhouses did not have warm water and had to hike up the hill to use, extremely nicer, bathhouse.

    POOL had a “tlc makeover” only to have a surmount of chemicals still not diluted by 5pm - MURKYYYYYYY

    also had a campsite that was placed between three trees - super tight but made it work.

    only stayed in passing - get what you get

  • Anna B.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Gorgeous Tent Camping 🤩

    One of the best sites I've had the fortune to stay at recently. The campground has a wide variety of sites, with the majority as pull throughs and a good handful of walk in tent sites. This site is large and an easy downhill walk from parking to set up camp. The view is unreal, especially for sunset. While you can definitely hear your neighbors, it still has a decent amount of privacy.

  • Aaron S.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Stoney Creek Resort

    Lovely people, lovely place

    Overall a nice place to stay. We stayed one night. Hook ups were good, site was somewhat level. The staff are just lovely people, very friendly, helpful, and they go out of their way to do the next right thing.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge

    Helpful staff and nice amenities

    It has all the bells and whistles you’d hope for at a Jellystone. It sounds like staffing has been challenging but the fellow campers and wonderful staff that are here make it well worth staying. We partook in all we could and enjoyed the swimming hole, pool, splash pad, jumping pillow and arcade. I’d stay again and would love to head down to the river for some tubing and fish in the stocked pond.

  • Kevin M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    Exceeded expectations

    I was impressed with this campground from the minute I entered it. We were greeted at the entrance and then sent to an escort you smartly showed us to our site by taking the same path at the RV should take; making wise returns and so on. The site was pristine and laid out very nicely. Honestly the whole place was really clean and lovely. This is my first KOA visit and I was thoroughly impressed

  • Francelia A.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Misty Mountain Camp Resort

    Mom and son new adventure

    Misty Mountain Camp Resort is located in Crozet, Virginia, off of 250 below Afton Mountain. I'm familiar with this resort. Many, many years ago, when it was Yogi Bear's park, a lot of updates since then. Great accommodations. I've not enjoyed camping as much as I have these last 2 weeks with my son Matthew, who is 30 years old down syndrome, autism and a leukemia survivor. I am 66 years old. I'm on the best adventure of my life. Just bought a new motorhome after my partner of 15 years passed away. I'm on a new journey. And taking care of my life with good health. I recommend this park to anyone. Friendly staff, accommodating, pet friendly dog parks, bathhouse, laundry, sun, and shade, with 30 and 50 amp hookups with sewage. I couldn't ask for a better place. Have a fun-loving life, I am!

  • Katrin M.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Loft Mountain Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    Nice getaway over the weekend

    We camped here for 2 nights. The campsite has the common amenities - a firepit, a bench, and a picnic table. Our site was definitely spacious.

    The bathhouse was not far away and mostly clean. It was awesome to have a dishwasher station with running water.

    Unfortunately our campsite was bumblebee invested. It was cool to watch them, but they got into everything.

    The shower was about 0.3 miles away. They charge $5 for 10 min, which you have to pay in quarters.

    There is also a very nice and well stocked campstore. They had everything you need.

    We drove to the visitor center at the Big Meadow. They had very cool programs and really good food. I enjoyed a blackberry shake, which is kinda famous for the area, and it was delicious.

    If you wanna hike somewhere, the AT runs right through the campground.

    The rangers and the host were super friendly and very helpful.


Guide to Steeles Tavern

Campsites near Steeles Tavern, Virginia sit at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the camping season. Fall temperatures can drop into the 30s at night even when valley temperatures remain mild. Most campgrounds in this area of the Blue Ridge Mountains and George Washington National Forest operate from early April through late October, with limited facilities available during shoulder seasons.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Montebello Resort maintains both a stocked trout pond and a bass/crappie lake on property. "The trout pond is not what they make it out to be on the website. It's a very small pond with zero shade at the entrance of the resort. It is not catch and release, it is catch and keep, whatever you catch, you pay for power pound," notes one camper, adding useful context for fishing enthusiasts.

Rock scrambling: Spy Rock offers challenging terrain for those seeking elevated views. "It is a great hike with a small rock scramble at the top for an extra bit of fun. Not only that, but the top has almost 360 degree views of the Shenandoah Valley," writes one visitor. The site requires a 1.5-mile hike from the Fish Hatchery in Montebello to access camping areas.

Swimming: Walnut Hills Campground provides water recreation with its fishing pond and swimming pool. "The lawns were kept up and looking good. There is a very nice playground and a pet exercise area. You can fish in the lake though we didn't catch anything," reports one camper, highlighting the multiple recreation options beyond just camping.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: At Devils Backbone Camp, campers appreciate the thoughtful site layout. "Walking distance to devils backbone brewery. Clean bathrooms. Close distance to hiking trails and other breweries and cideries," notes one reviewer. Another mentions, "Large campground with plenty of room. The bathhouse is top notch! Squeaky clean with lots of space."

Bathroom facilities: Campers consistently mention bathroom quality across several campgrounds. At Sherando Lake Campground, one visitor reports, "The shower houses are at the center of each loop and have been rebuilt to ACA standard with in the last five years." Such specific details about facilities matter to many campers selecting sites.

Off-grid tranquility: Many campers value the lack of connectivity. At Montebello Resort, a reviewer notes, "This place was certainly beautiful; our site was right on the pond. Be aware; there is zero cell service at the campground. To get decent service it's a bit of a drive." This disconnection from technology appears as a positive feature in many reviews.

What you should know

Bear activity: Multiple campgrounds report bear encounters. At Sherando Lake, one camper warns, "A young bear was repeatedly visiting site A9 up the road from me and I had to chase him off when he came near my site!" The campground provides individual food lockers at each site to address this concern.

Site availability patterns: During peak season (June-August), weekday availability vastly exceeds weekend options. At Crabtree Falls Campground, sites along the river are particularly sought after. One camper advises, "The tent sites we stayed in were right on the river, we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night."

Road access considerations: Access to several campgrounds requires navigating steep mountain roads. For Montebello Resort, a reviewer cautions, "VA56 is a very windy road not recommended for pulling a camper through. Use the blue ridge parkway." Similarly, roads to dispersed camping areas often require high-clearance vehicles or careful driving.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Family campers consistently mention water features as key amenities. Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley offers structured aquatic recreation. One camper reports, "There's always tons of activities to do for everyone of age. Gold cart parades, crafts hours, poker run, corn hole tournaments. And of course their lake that has two jumping decks, water slide, snack bar."

Playground locations: Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA receives positive mentions for its family amenities. "The campground itself has a pool, open seasonally, a game room, and a playground. It's an old school playground but the gkids love it. They also have a couple of walking trails and a small dog park," notes one grandparent who visits regularly.

Kid-friendly hiking: Sherando Lake offers graduated hiking options suitable for different age groups. "The kids enjoyed playing on the playground, skipping rocks, and fishing as well. There are big loop and small loop hiking trails close by," reports a family that visits annually, suggesting the varied activities keep children engaged.

Tips from RVers

Hookup positioning: At Devils Backbone Camp, RVers note unusual utility arrangements. "The hookups in this area where different than I have ever experienced as the hookups were shared between two sites. If you were on an even number site, this was no problem. However, if you were on an odd number site, you either had to hope you had the length on your water and power lines," explains one RVer.

Seasonal road closures: Many forest service roads accessing remote campgrounds close seasonally or after heavy precipitation. For campgrounds along mountainous routes, several RVers recommend calling ahead during spring and fall to confirm access. The Blue Ridge Parkway occasionally closes sections during winter weather and high winds.

Site leveling requirements: Multiple RVers mention bringing extra leveling blocks for mountain campsites. At Stoney Creek Resort, sites require additional adjustment. "Site was somewhat level," notes one RVer, with the understated assessment typical of those accustomed to mountain camping conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Steeles Tavern, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Steeles Tavern, VA offers a wide range of camping options, with 115 campgrounds and RV parks near Steeles Tavern, VA and 12 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Steeles Tavern, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Steeles Tavern, VA is Sherando Lake Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 33 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Steeles Tavern, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Steeles Tavern, VA.

What parks are near Steeles Tavern, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 parks near Steeles Tavern, VA that allow camping, notably George Washington & Jefferson National Forests and Monongahela National Forest.