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Elizabeth Furnace Campground

10 ReviewsAdd Review

The sound of a creek running through this Forest Service campground masks road noise and creates a natural buffer between the 25 individual sites. Elizabeth Furnace sits in Fort Valley within George Washington National Forest, where RVs up to 35 feet can access sites via what reviewers describe as rough roads that require careful navigation.

Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post, with most offering good shade from the forest canopy while still allowing enough sunlight for solar panels. The sites vary significantly in layout—some work well for larger RVs with long, flat parking areas, while others suit tent camping better due to shorter or blocked-off parking pads. Shari G. notes that "sites are private and well-shaded, but with plenty of sun for our solar panel too."

Water is available from hand pumps throughout the campground, and campers can fill RV tanks at designated locations. During peak season, the facility operates flush toilets and four shower stalls, while pit toilets remain available year-round. The campground stays open all year with rates dropping to $10 per night during off-season months. Multiple reviewers mention the consistently clean facilities and well-maintained grounds.

For group camping, the nearby Elizabeth Furnace Group Camp provides walk-in sites less than a mile away.

Fee Info

The campground has a self-service pay station at the entrance. Sites are currently $10/night with limited services and $20/night when water systems are running (May-October).

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Map & DirectionsElizabeth Furnace Campground is located in Virginia near Strasburg

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

From I-81: Take exit 296 and turn east, on VA 55 for 1.4 miles. In center of Strasburg (traffic light), turn left to remain on VA 55. After 5.0 miles, turn right onto SR 678 in small community of Waterlick. The recreation area will be on your left in about 3.5 miles. There are three entrances, about a half mile apart: Entrance to the group campground appears first, followed by the entrance to the day use area, and finally the entrance to the campground. From I-66: Take Exit 6 (Front Royal) and proceed south on SR 340/522 for 1.3 miles until you come to a stoplight. Turn right onto VA 55 West for 5 miles to the small community of Waterlick. Turn left onto SR 678 and go approximately 6 miles. Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground will be on your left.

Address

15618 Fort Valley Road
Fort valley, VA 22652

Coordinates

38.924722 N
78.331111 W

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Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 4 users
    Last on 6/23/26
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
    Verified by 4 users
    Last on 6/23/26
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

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Reviews10 Camper Reviews - Elizabeth Furnace Campground

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5.0

out of 5

10 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the private, shaded sites and consistently clean facilities including showers and restrooms. The creek provides natural noise buffering, though some noted road proximity and close site spacing. Excellent value at $10-20/night.

Reviewed Jun. 19, 2026

A+ Elizabeth Furnace

Excellent campsite; stayed here 6 days. Clean sites, well cared for flush toilets and hot showers that I was comfortable using. Good camp host as of June 2026. Varied and nice camping, locations well spaced. Creek near by on some. Good hiking trails. Potable water no electricity or hook up water but do have grey water dump site. No reliable mobile connection or wifi. With America beautiful pass $10. Best yet and inexpensive.

Site04
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed May. 6, 2025

Rustic

I would call this a primitive campground as there is no water or electric hookups at the campsites. There is potable water at several locations throughout the campground that you can fill up your RV fresh water tank or a jug if you are tent camping. I was there in August of 2024 for two nights and throughly enjoyed my stay. Their are flush toilets and showers available and they were kept clean. I plan on returning in 2025.

Reviewed May. 6, 2025

Rustic

I would call this primitive camping as there is no electric or water hookups at the campsites. There is potable water at multiple locations that you can fill up an RV tank or a water jug if you are tent camping. I camped there in August of 2024 for two nights and their are flush toilets and very nice showers that were very clean. I intend to go back again in 2025 as the campsites are nice as well as some great hiking trails. A great place to camp for folks of all ages.

Reviewed Jan. 6, 2024

A favorite

I have stayed in and out of season. It is in a beautiful area and is reliably well cared for.

Site20
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Hope H., January 6, 2024
Reviewed Nov. 8, 2022

Cheap price for a nice stay

Ended up at Elizabeth Furnace after a friend recommended it. For the price ($10/night and 50% off if you have a National Park Pass), it was pretty good. In the valley outside of Shenandoah, it was a nice spot to return to at night. There are also some hiking trails across the street. Would recommend if you are okay with the camp sites being pretty close together. Also, the road is right next to the sites.

Site6
Month of VisitNovember
Reviewed Aug. 25, 2021

Easy Access

Had a blast with friends. Renting group site B was the perfect size for the 10 of us. It was only a short walk from the parking lot on a gravel path which made carrying our gear a breeze!

SiteGroup site B
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Mark N., August 25, 2021
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Mark N., August 25, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2019

Outstanding tent and dry camp area

This is a very nice little campground offering several types of non-hook up sites. We stayed in site 18 which was large and had a nice long flat space for us to park our class B camper on and dry camp. The sites are quite private and are mostly flat. Some of the sites are best for tent camping as the parking pad is either very short or is blocked off from the rest of the camp site. The showers (4) were clean and nice and the grounds were very well kept.

  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Chris C., June 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Chris C., June 17, 2019
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Chris C., June 17, 2019
  • (8) View All
Reviewed May. 17, 2018

Family friendly

My kids and I had a terrific time in this campground. We camped with a tent. Facilities were clean and well cared for. There was a black bear hanging around the campground the weekend we camped. There is a pretty creek running through the campground. Would recommend this to anyone with aspirations to hike in the area.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed May. 2, 2018

Ranger Review: Primus Easy Light Lantern at Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area

Campground Review:

What a great find, so close to a town….though feels like you are deep in the forest! We stayed 2 nights at this campground and it was the perfect place to prepare for a week-long backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park. Each site has a picnic table, firepit, and lantern stand. The creek running through the campground drowns out most noise from the road or other campers. Sites are private and well-shaded, but with plenty of sun for our solar panel too.

Showers and running water are available during the main season, but arriving in April meant pulling out the pocket shower and using water from the handpump. Pit toilets were immaculately clean and available during the off-season though. There is a group camping area just down the road, too.

This campground is situated just 15 minutes from Strasburg (adorable town) and is about equal distance to Front Royal, which sits at the northern end of Shenandoah National Park. Both towns have everything you need from grocery stores to gas stations to restaurants. Cycling, hiking, fishing, and boating are all things you can get up to in this lovely recreation area.

Great price of just $10 per night during the off-season, normally $20 during the main season.

Product Review:

As Rangers for The Dyrt, we’ve been testing out this product for the past couple of weeks. While preparing for a week-long backcountry adventure in the Shenandoah’s last week, we were running behind with our packing and used this lantern to light up our campsite as we stuffed the last few bags of food and gear.

What we like about this product:

  • Lightweight and compact.
  • Gives off a great amount of light for its small size.
  • Adjustable light control, from very bright to romantic candle light.
  • Ignition switch seems to fire up the lantern every time.
  • Built-in hanging wire is handy to have when you want to hang it from a tree or lantern stand.
  • Gas powered, so no batteries to recharge or replace.
  • Storage case is robust and keeps the glass lantern from breaking.

What could be improved:

  • It only comes with one mantle. Two would be great because they aren’t easy to find in stores.
  • The instructions are overwhelming for such a simple piece of gear. They could be trimmed down quite a bit.

Product Link: https://primus.us/products/easy-light-4?variant=17262695685

Product Video: https://youtu.be/uJeL9-wkFgk

Site10
Month of VisitApril
  • Ranger Review of the Primus Easy Light Lantern
    Play button icon
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Shari G., May 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Elizabeth Furnace Campground by Shari G., May 2, 2018
  • (11) View All
Showing results 1-10 of 10 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What are visitors saying in their reviews of Elizabeth Furnace Campground?

Elizabeth Furnace Campground is highly regarded for its beautiful setting that feels deep in the forest while being surprisingly close to town. Campers consistently praise the clean facilities, well-maintained sites, and the peaceful creek running through the campground. The sites offer good privacy and most are relatively flat, accommodating both tents and small RVs for dry camping. Visitors appreciate the hiking trails across the street, the reasonable fees ($14-20 per night with discounts for some pass holders), and the overall natural experience that includes occasional wildlife sightings.

How do I make reservations at Elizabeth Furnace Campground?

Elizabeth Furnace Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservations available for individual sites. Simply arrive at the campground and select an available site. The fee is $14 per night, though this may increase to $20. Discounts are available for those with Access (handicapped) or Senior America the Beautiful passes. For current fee information and availability questions, contact the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests office that manages the campground.

Is group camping available at Elizabeth Furnace Campground?

Yes, group camping is available at Elizabeth Furnace Campground. Group Site B has been noted as an excellent option for larger parties, comfortably accommodating groups of around 10 people. The group sites are accessible via a short walk on a gravel path from the parking lot, making gear transport manageable. Unlike individual sites, group sites may require reservations in advance through the recreation.gov system or by contacting the managing Forest Service office.

What recreational activities are available at Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area?

Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area offers numerous outdoor activities for visitors. Hiking is particularly popular with several trails accessible directly across the street from the campground. The area features a pretty creek running through it, perfect for cooling off and exploring. Wildlife observation opportunities abound, with past visitors reporting black bear sightings. The location also serves as an excellent base camp for those planning longer backpacking trips into the surrounding forest or nearby Shenandoah National Park. The natural setting provides ample opportunities for photography, bird watching, and enjoying the forest environment.

Where can I find a map of Elizabeth Furnace Campground?

Maps of Elizabeth Furnace Campground are available at the campground entrance kiosk or from the camp host when present. For advance planning, check the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests website, which typically provides campground maps and site layouts. You can also contact the Forest Service district office directly to request map information. Upon arrival, informational boards at the campground entrance display layout maps to help with site selection.

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