Matthews Arm is a medium sized semi-primitive campground with 165 campsites on the northern end of Shenandoah National Park.

We stayed in site C163, which was situated about halfway through the campground and surrounded on all sides by other campsites. There is no electricity or hookups at Matthew’s Arm, and no cell service.

After our wonderful experience with Loft Mountain, it was difficult to not compare the two campgrounds because Loft Mountain was so comfortable, quiet, and well cared for, and Matthew’s Arm seemed to be a little neglected and much more crowded- not because of attendance, as neither campground was full during our stay, but because the campsites at Matthew’s Arm are built right on top of one another with very little space separating them.

We found ourselves wishing we were back at our Loft Mountain site that we enjoyed so much! But Matthew’s Arm is very close to the northern entrance and exit at Shenandoah National Park, and the location is precisely why we booked that particular campground that night.

The sites were easy to find and well marked, and the people around us were polite and quieted down after hours. The view of the stars might have been spectacular if it hasn’t been so overcast that night(and so much canopy overhead)!

Overall we were just as happy to arrive at our campsite at Matthews Arm as we were to leave it, so we are giving this one three stars for an average stay at an average campsite.