1 campground with availability next weekend
Fort Valley Ranch in Shenandoah National Park accommodates horses with 45 campsites offering electric hookups, water access, and fire rings. Located in the center section of the park, the campground provides access to numerous bridle trails through mountainous terrain. Sites include picnic tables and drinking water is available throughout the grounds. Shenandoah Crossing in Gordonsville offers additional horse-friendly accommodations with tent, RV, cabin, yurt, and glamping options. Both locations permit pets alongside horses, making them suitable for families with multiple animals. The campgrounds maintain toilets and trash collection facilities for overnight visitors. Sites tend to fill quickly during peak season, especially on weekends.
Riders can access miles of trail systems directly from both campgrounds with routes suitable for various experience levels. Shenandoah National Park's extensive trail network connects to Fort Valley Ranch and provides scenic vistas along mountain ridges. Campers should make reservations well in advance, particularly during spring and fall when conditions are most favorable for riding. Horse owners need to bring their own feed and plan for storage as neither location offers on-site purchasing options. While dedicated horse corrals are not listed in the amenities, both locations accommodate horse trailers with adequate parking. Fifty-amp hookups are available at Fort Valley Ranch for larger rigs and horse trailers requiring power. Campground reviews consistently mention the convenience of trail access and spacious sites that accommodate horse trailers.
"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. "
"While the campground is very nice, with clean conveniently located bathrooms, the site itself is probably not suited for a large group of people."
Available next weekend
from $30 - $75 / night
"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
"It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia). Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "
"Sites are well situated, and very private. Especially the walk up sites, they're the real gem. Every site has a picnic table and fire ring."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $15 - $32 / night
"This was my first stop on my cross country trip from Virginia to California and out of all the amazing places I’ve seen, this is by far my favorite spot!"
"The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through"
"There is Rockcliff lake and small beach area, an overlook (Lina Constable Overlook) to hike to right off the camp loop but it’s 1 mile steep incline at times but worth every step. Gorgeous!"
"The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained. Lots of hiking trails and a very easy one that loops around the Rockcliff Lake."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 - $105 / night
"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
"Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses."
"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
"I go there to climb and both sites are close to the rocks. I have camped there just about every month of the year. Be forwarded this entire area has no cell service due to the Green radio telescopes."
"Laurel fork campground is a nice place to go if you are looking to get away from the busy life. It’s not a very large camp ground or heavily populated. Finding a spot shouldn’t be a problem."
"Biggest surprise, given the location on the creek and remoteness of the campground ( settled deep in the woods) , there were No Bugs to speak of! Tons of wildflowers and butterflies!"
TravelerLong drive thru spots, lots of space between campsites. Really inexpensive laundry ($1 to wash $1 to dry) $5 showers for 10 minutes. Nice bathrooms. Dry camping at its finest. Close drive to Grand caverns and Luray caverns.
ScoutOvernight tent camping with my dog. Saw a raccoon in a tree. So private and peaceful. The water and wind at night made for a nice relaxing sleep. Plenty of trails to explore.
ScoutFirst camping trip in VA and honestly the only time we’ll come here. Noisy, plots are on the main road people speed down, loud music at all times. Plus the bathroom was great, taken care of but this isn’t camping. Great if you need people around you.
ScoutGood facilities for a NP campground
GuideFirst campground in a week, that had great water pressure! Has free laundry, clean bathrooms, free mini golf, activities , restaurant and bar. Pretty darn awesome
RangerThis is a classic National Park campground, and it’s important to keep in mind that it opened in 1937–the sites are small as travelers weren’t equipped with large vehicles, as such, it may not be the best option for large rigs but my van fit comfortably though the neighbors were rather close. If you’re expecting that, you’ll be more than happy. Walking distance via a connector trail to Dark Hollow Falls trail. Sustainable T-Mobile service for remote work, but Zoom may lag. No shore power or water hookups, but drinking water spread throughout the park and modernized bathroom and showers. There was also a circular, shaded tent area as part of D155, behind the drive. I’d stay again in a heartbeat.
GuideGreat summer destination to escape the heat! Weather in late June was amazing - highs in the 70s; lows in the 60s; and crystal clear skies. Not too buggy either. Pulled ONE tick off of me before it bit me, but otherwise not much to speak of in the way of mosquitos or biting gnats/flies.
This particular site was smaller (RV back in) but private and level near the bath house. There IS a bear box present, and you'll want to use it for any unattended food outside an RV. The mini-bears are beggars. We saw several chipmunks in our site and a particularly clever bird successfully stole from our neighbors.
If you are RV-ing, fill your tanks at the dump station before heading to the ranger station for check-in. You don't want to carry all that water up the mountain, and they don't like you to block the campground road trying to fill along the loop. The dump station is located on the right prior to arrival at the ranger station.
Also, there are no dumpsters at the dump station (weird). So upon departure, pull your trash prior to leaving the site.
As always, there is virtually no cell signal in this site and no electric hookups anywhere in the campsite. So bring a generator or a lot of solar if you want to run your electrical. (Though this site being so shady doesn't provide a lot of solar power.) There IS wifi at the visitor's center if you want to call home or do a daily socials check. ;-)
We DID have one day there that was a pretty noisy from paving equipment re-doing the road. But I think they're almost done with their project, and honestly it wasn't that big a deal because we were on trails most of the time anyway.
There are great ranger programs here - it's one of the larger hubs for programming, and they're listed at the visitor's center because they change seasonally. Don't miss out on the chance to explore the meadow. What may LOOK like a vast, boring expanse of grass is actually a fascinating variety of foliage when you're out in it. Many, many wildflowers that can't be seen from the visitor center's overlook.
Also, many of the park's most popular hikes can be easily accessed from here, including Dark Hollow Falls and Bearfence Rock Scramble.
TravelerBeautiful spot. The campsite is across the street from the lodge. G-Maps and Apple will take you to the lodge however. Loved the Freeform and “make your own” spot vibe
LegendWe stayed in site #27 for two nights. It was a walk-in tent site, but the car was very close. The site offered plenty of privacy. We could see the other sites, but they weren't close. We had a nice bear box and good hammock trees, plus a picnic table and decent tent sites. Lots of deer walked through our site in the morning, and we had easy access to several trails.
Horse campgrounds near Harrisonburg, Virginia offer direct access to mountain trails with elevation gains ranging from 1,200 to 4,800 feet. Located within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, these equestrian facilities provide camping options from primitive sites to full hookups. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at higher elevations, requiring proper preparation for horse care during overnight stays.
Trail riding at Shenandoah National Park: Fort Valley Ranch provides access to numerous trails through the park's mountainous terrain. "Beautiful , well maintained... Facilities were clean and well maintained. Bear box for food storage. Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife," writes Terri S. about nearby Big Meadows Campground.
Fishing mountain streams: Equestrian campers can combine riding with fishing at stocked waters. "The stream is stocked with trout in the spring and fall. My wife and I spent our honeymoon here 25 years ago and plan to return there this fall. Our son was married here in the stream in waders and we all went fishing after the ceremony," reports Tim M. about Laurel Fork Campground.
Explore remote wilderness: Riders seeking solitude can access isolated trails. "This place is amazing!!!. If your into primitive camping at it's best this place is it. This is where me and wife went on are first tent camping trip and ever since we compare every other tent site to Spruce Knob," shares Brian W. about primitive camping options near trailheads.
Spacious campsites for trailers: Equestrian facilities provide adequate room for horse trailers. "Fort Valley Ranch Campground was wonderful... Large site size. We had site 23. Highly recommend!" notes Jason G. from Fort Valley Ranch.
Direct trail access: Riders appreciate the convenience of trails connecting to campsites. "Big Meadow has many amenities which make it popular and oftentimes crowded during weekends and holiday's... With so many hiking trails and waterfalls nearby we love to camp in Big Meadows - and for the star watching at night," shares Rachel M.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Equestrian campers report frequent wildlife sightings. "You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached," explains Veronica S., detailing what to expect at campgrounds within wildlife corridors.
Weather considerations: Mountain campgrounds experience significant temperature variations. "It was an especially cold night hitting a low of 14F. Very happy for the nearby heated restrooms with hot running water," reports Carol B. about late-season camping.
Limited cell service: Equestrian campgrounds typically have minimal connectivity. "Do not expect cell service, we didn't have any for about 45 min driving there," warns Brittany M. about remote Spruce Knob Lake Campground.
Flood potential: Riverside horse camping requires weather awareness. "The skies opened up, a large limb fell on my tent and the water level began rising. I was so scared I went and slept in my car somewhere else. Later I learned this area is prone to flooding," cautions Kelly G. about river-adjacent camping areas.
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30)... The bathrooms were plentiful, heated, hot running water, and a utility sink available," notes Carol B. about seasonal operation schedules.
Kid-friendly horseback experiences: Several facilities offer guided rides for children. "Shenandoah Crossing in Gordonsville offers additional horse-friendly accommodations with tent, RV, cabin, yurt, and glamping options," making it versatile for families with varied comfort requirements.
Non-equestrian activities: Families appreciate diverse recreation options. "Salt water pool, horse rides, go karts, mini golf. Definitely more than a campground... Cabins are awesome and equipped with everything you need. Onsite restaurant/tavern is great," describes RL about Shenandoah Crossing.
Wildlife education opportunities: Children enjoy structured nature programs. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," explains Kim L. about park facilities.
Access challenges: Large horse trailers require careful navigation. "I was initially concerned about the road leading into the campground, as my rig is over 50 feet in total length. However, we were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us. The access was smooth and hassle-free," shares Jason G.
Hookup availability: RV campers with horse trailers have specific utility needs. "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," notes Jason G. about Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping options.
Seasonal considerations: RV campers should check winter facility closures. "The campground was closed for the winter, but we called ahead and they were fine with us staying in the parking area. No amenities, but we were in a Revel, so didn't need anything anyway... The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1," advises John B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Harrisonburg, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Harrisonburg, VA is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 131 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Harrisonburg, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Harrisonburg, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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