Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park
Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Dec. 31, 2019

One of the nicest National Park Campgrounds we’ve been in

Huge campground with over 200 sites plus additional tent-only walk-in sites but it appeared to be close to, if not completely, full on a Thursday night in late October, so it was a good thing we had reservations. Upon check-in, the campground rules were reviewed with us, and we even had to initial that we understood that we would be fined if our food was not properly stored, as the campground was in bear country. I’m guessing this is necessary because of stupid people who went before us. We reserved Site A67, which turned out to be a good one as it had no site on one side and tent sites behind us, but a good distance away on the other. Some sites have more privacy/separation than others. There were 12 sites in the A loop that did not allow generators, part of the reason we chose the site we did, but IMO, Sites E175-E185 are even better, as they back up to an expansive view. 

This campground has it all, including a shower house (coin-operated) that looked very nice. I made sure I showered the morning of the day we arrived as most national park campgrounds do not have showers. There was also a very nice-looking laundry facility. This may be because of AT through-hikers but again, not something I was expecting in a national park campground. You can also access the trailhead for the popular Dark Hollow Falls trail directly from the campground. We only stayed one night but I would have stayed longer and would definitely consider returning to this large, but well-run campground.

SiteA67
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park by Lee D., December 31, 2019