Though Shenandoah national park itself is underwhelming. The campground was a great spot to sleep. There are walk in site and drive through sites available. The stars can be seen though definitely a bit of light pollution. The campsite connects to hiking trials to bring you to the sights of the national park easily, including the dark hollow falls and big meadow
Maybe I just have some great childhood memories associated with this place, but I love Big Meadows. This campground is located in Shenandoah National Park and is a great place to get out into nature and away from everything.
The campsites are mainly tent sites, but I believe they also have cabins to rent. I think the best part about this campground is that it feels more like you're camping in the woods rather than a campground. There is a bunch of wildlife all around the campground, which is nice to see. Also, this place is great for families, because there are plenty of activities for kids to do. Rangers of the park give talks, and there are scavenger hunts that the kids can participate in.
I love camping in Shenandoah National Park, because there is a ton of hiking in the area. Some of my favorites are Rip Rap Trail, Jones Run Falls, and White Oak Canyon, but there's plenty more to explore.
Big Meadows was the second stop at the halfway point on our tour of Shenandoah National Park. First stop was Mathews Arm which is about 1/4 of the way on Skyline Drive (north to south). After Big Meadows, we stopped at Loft Mountain. These parks are well spaced for viewing and hiking in between each campground.
I'm a big fan of campgrounds in national parks. Why do I like this one?
Simplicity, i.e. no frills but all the basic needs are available
This one (and the others in Shenandoah) have generator-free areas.
First-come, first-served sites: About 20% of the 230+ sites can't be reserved.
The $20 price is a bargain and our Lifetime Senior Pass cuts the fee in half.
Hiking: Don't miss the Rose River hike and all the cascading waterfalls. You can start near the campground with a trip to Dark Hollow Falls and continue with the Rose River Loop. Pick up the info sheet on the Big Meadows Area hikes at one of the Visitor Centers. The hiking maps are excellent.
Steven Mather, the first director of the NPS, wanted to create a park in the eastern US that is like the western parks. This park and its campgrounds have that vibe.
The Sites
Sites are all back in, i.e. no pull throughs.
Non-reservable sites: Some tent sites, all of C and all of I. Check the photo of the site map.
Walk-to tent sites: It's not a long walk to your site from a designated parking spot. There are food storage boxes at most sites so you don't have to move food back to your car. These sites are more secluded than the regular sites.
Generator-free zone: See the site map photo that shows all walk-to tent sites, all of B and part of A in the generator-free zone.
Choosing a site: Arrive early if you don't have a reservation. Some of the non-reservation sites will be claimed by people staying multiple nights. If you want to be in the generator-free zone, you should probably reserve a site. We were able to get one without a reservation but it was on a weekday in October. If you don't mind having a generator near you, I thought the sites on the outside of E were nice because there is no one behind you.
Some sites have food storage lockers. Google reviews indicate park rangers insist you keep all food in a locker, camper or vehicle, and you can be fined if you don't. Apparently, bears recognize coolers so you should cover them up in vehicles. (I also heard this at Rocky Mountain NP.)
Amenities
Restrooms with a utility sink outside some of them. Potable water and trash/recycling stations are spread throughout the park. These are all shown on the site map photo.
Showers in a central area: $1.75 for 5.25 minutes. Yes, that's what it is! You can do it! These are the classiest showers I've seen in a national park.
Laundry facility
Campstore with ice, wood and some food
Dump station
Best campground in Shennandoah. my boyfriend and I drove in and had a mix up with our reservation (over booked) and the staff accommodated us. We used this campground as a prep for backcountry, and there are about 20 miles of trails in the area, including the AT. we loved it! I HIGHLY suggest making a reservation well ahead of time, especially for tent sites. They have some really secluded sites.
Nice campground! Very busy for a Wednesday night, probably due to the National Park. Still worth it!
This campground is located in the Shenandoah National Park in Stanley , Va on Skyline drive and offers some amazing views! There are several hikes in close proximity to the campground and the Appalachian Trail goes through this part of the park as well! The staff are very friendly , the park is clean and there is wildlife everywhere. Loved hearing the owl at night! If you don't feel like cooking , the lodge is very close by with delicious food , a warm fireplace , local musicians, games and lodging for those who don't choose to camp. The Big Meadows Lodge is not open all year , so check the schedule if this is a must do !
This is a nice size campgroud in the Shenadoah National Park off Skyline Drive. The campground is very peaceful and plenty of wildlife to see. You also have access to trails for hiking, camp store and reataurant nearby.
We’ve camped at Big Meadows in May and October. It has been extremely cold and VERY windy at night! Too windy to enjoy a fire. It’s a fantastic campsite but beware of wind at the beginning and end of season. Otherwise, go for it! Seriously one of the best campsites in the Shenandoah area for sure!
Great centrally located campground on skyline drive. Staff was super friendly, animals are too (we saw 10 bear in 3 days 😊). Bathrooms were nice and clean. Can’t wait to go back again.
I recently stayed in Big Meadows campground at Shenandoah and it was right in the heart of everything I wanted to do with my group. You have an similar drive from either end of the park as well as if you enter from Thornton Gap or Swift Run Gap. It's really in the middle of it all.
The sites are generally wooded with facilities relatively close to all sites. There was a bit of traffic going until 10pm as it is a busier campsite, but I didn't mind as we were looking at some amazing stars with a fire pit and a beer until we crashed.
Many campers hiked right out of their sites on to the Appalachian Trail which seemed awesome, but there are also more than 20 great hiking trips within a drive of less than 20 minutes either North or South on Skyline Drive.
Big Meadows lodge is very close which offered a nice restaurant when we didn't want to cook. There is also a gas station, store, and hot showers within the Big Meadows area making this convenient if you need anything that you left at home. Also, Skyland (no campground) was a short drive away and offered horseback riding as well as some pub nightlife.