The park, including all of the overnight facilities, is open year-round. Lodging options include standard tent-only sites, electric-water camping, three yurts, four camping cabins (bunkhouses), regular cabins and a lodge.

Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground

Shenandoah River State Park is located right on the Shenandoah River in northern Virginia. It is just a short drive from the northern section of Shenandoah River National Park and includes lots of hiking trails, a few canoe launches, gorgeous views, and nature center, and lots of different camping options. The park encompasses more than 1600 acres and includes 5.2 miles of pristine shoreline.

**Campground Review**

I stopped at Shenandoah River State Park on a two-week road trip from Vermont to Alabama. I had been traveling for a few days when I stopped here, and I did not make reservations in advance for a Thursday night in May. I arrived at about 3 pm and popped into the visitor center to ask about my options for camping for the night. Turns out that campers have a lot of choices here.

Camping options include huge RV sites with water and electricity hook-ups, small camping cabins, yurts, and large cottages with separate bedrooms, bathrooms, full kitchens, and air conditioning, which I guess isn’t really camping at all. The last option, and the one I chose, is “primitive” camping, which are large, private tent sites along the river. The only thing primitive about them is that they have no vehicle access. You park your car in a lot nearby and truck your stuff out to your campsite.

These primitive sites have access to a large bathhouse with private showers, as well as grungy pit toilets that are a bit closer to many of the sites. The campsites have a fire pit, lantern pole, and picnic table, and some have room for several tents. A few of the sites are right on the Shenandoah River, with incredible views. My site, #3 had a river view but was set back a bit from the banks. All of the sites are wooded and quiet.

There are carts available at the parking area for lugging your stuff out to your site, and there is also a small shed with firewood that you can purchase for $6 a bundle. The rangers come through every so often and are incredibly friendly and knowledgable about the area. I learned that there are copperheads within the park, as well as huge bees that look menacing but are pretty harmless. Bears also frequent the park, so it is very important to pack away your food in your car or your bear-proof cooler. Don’t have a bear-proof cooler? Check out the RovR Rollr 60 below.

This was a clean, quiet campground, with beautiful hiking trails and great river access. The cost for a primitive campsite was $36, which I thought was a bit pricey. It is cheaper for Virginia residents.

It may get really busy on summer weekends, but I only saw a handful of people during my visit. There is a privately run ziplining course within the park, and a local outfitter does paddling trips that begin up-river and include class I and II rapids. All-in-all, I give Shenandoah River State Park 4 stars for their primitive campsites, and I can’t wait to come back to stay in a yurt.

**RovR RollR 60 Review:**

As a ranger for The Dyrt, I am occasionally given products to test and review on my camping adventures. During this trip, I was thrilled to test out the RovR Rollr 60 cooler. The Rovr was recently ranked #1 for ice retention by Outside Magazine, so I was excited to use it for a mega road trip where I knew I wouldn’t be able to restock it with ice every day. Plus, I was carting large quantities of Vermont beer to my family in Alabama, and warm beer is really lame.

The RovR Rollr is a “rotomolded cooler,” which basically means that it has a consistent wall thickness and two full inches of foam insulation to keep the insides frosty for a lot longer than traditional coolers. They are also made with heavier, more durable plastics that ensure that they last longer than other types of coolers.

The downside to the RovR Rollr, and all high-end rotomolded coolers, is that they are quite a bit heavier than their competitors. Fortunately, the RovR Rollr line includes incredibly rugged tires that make it easy to maneuver just about anywhere. I did have trouble lifting it in and out of my car and dragging it up a full flight of stairs, but because of the tires and the sturdy handle, my issues were minimal.

**RovR Rollr 60 Features:**

This cooler is really big and holds 60 quarts of food, beverages, and ice. It is a workhorse, and can definitely keep enough food and drink cold for a long weekend or more. The RovR Rollr includes a removable plastic bin that secures snuggly into the cooler to keep your food dry, but still nice and cold. You fill this bin with your eggs, meats, and veggies, and then pour the ice into the cooler on top of your beverages. This system is so great — no more fishing for Hershey bars when your cooler turns into a lake.

The RovR website mentions that the RovR Rollr will give you 10 days of ice retention if you follow some recommended steps, which includes prechilling everything, keeping the cooler full, and keeping it out of full sun. I could do none of these things, but keeping the cooler in the back of my car (in the sun), half full, and not prechilling anything, the ice lasted a good 4 days before needing to be replaced.

There is a handy valve to release excess water, and the dual-grip handle is made of aluminum for easy pushing and pulling. The latches are made of sturdy rubber and the lid is fitted with an airtight gasket, making it entirely bearproof. The cooler comes with a 5-year warranty, and many of the parts can be removed and replaced if necessary.

The RovR Rollr comes with a removable, foldable wagon bin that secures firmly to the top of the cooler for easy transport. I kept dry goods in here that didn’t need to be cold - fruit, cereal, trail mix, peanut butter, etc.

**Optional Add-Ons**

For this particular adventure, I just got the cooler and the wagon bin that fits on top, but there are a bunch of optional features that would make the RovR even more versatile. These include an attachable cutting board, drink holders, an umbrella holder, and a bike kit for pulling the cooler behind your bike.

**Bottom Line**

The RovR Rollr 60 is obviously a high-end cooler with a high-end price tag, but the quality is obvious from the very first use. This is an investment for sure, but totally worth it. My biggest complaint is that it is heavy and a bit unwieldy for one person to maneuver. And to be fair, this is a big cooler that is not meant to be used by one person. I was impressed with the rugged tires, the overall design, and its ability to keep stuff cold and dry and would love to invest in a smaller model for smaller adventures.

Ranger Review: RovR 60 Cooler at Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia

What a wonderful stay!  This is one of my favorite campgrounds!!!  I will start at the beginning!  When you book online you can not pick your site!  This is the only campground I have stayed at that I could not pick the site.  You book online the dates you would like. The day you arrive it is first come first serve!  I recommend you arrived at the check in time so you can pick your site!  We arrived at  check in and had our pick of the sites!  Brings us to the sites!  They are huge!  The site we were on was stone but very nice!  Low dirt coming in your camper!  Water/electric sites available!  A few small cabins available!  The state park has a lot to offer!  There are trails that run right by the campsites!  So good for a hike or a nice morning trail run!  I chose to run in the morning and ran the trail right alone the Shennandoah River!  Which runs through the park!  You can fish the river, tube down the river or boat!!!  There are beautiful overlooks in the states park!  There is a great little nature center!  The rangers were very nice and helpful!  During your stay you purchase firewood right at the camp host!  Very nice!!  When you stay there you are close to some area attractions!  Take a drive down to Luray Caverns!  Get there early!  About an hour drive!  You are also close to the Shenandoah National park entrance!  You do have to pay to get in the National park! (pass is good for 7 days) But well worth it!  Kids can do activities and become junior rangers!  Tons of ranger lead activities to offer!  Or just drive down skyline drive and enjoy multiple overlooks!  Take a hike on miles of trails, including the AT that runs right through the park!!!  Pack your lunch if you like or stop at the snack bar!  But be careful there are black bears!  One ran out in front of our car!  Obey the speed limit!  Happy Camping!!!

Top Notch!  Huge campsites!

It wasn't super cold, but it wasn't beautiful. Lots of water activities and all things are rent-able. Maybe I just didn't have a great time, but this place is HUGE.

Lots of activities but we went on an off and cold day

We adored this campground. Initially we reserved a camping cabin. We arrived early and had the opportunity to drive around and check out the park. Lucky that we did. The camping cabin without AC was in direct sun along with the entire camping pad and all other camping cabins were the same. Additionally, they were snug tight with the RVs without any isolation or seclusion. The pad is very close to the loop road so if you have children it makes for a cramped area to play. We elected to trade for a tent site which was right off the Shenandoah River. Beautiful! Well shaded and large! It's marked a "primitive", but hardly is. Has picnic table, showers, camp ring and camp pad. The only thing "primitive" about it was it's a walk-in campground. There are carts to help you carry your gear in. Staff was friendly. Park very well maintained. Bathhouse was AWESOME, but POOR ventilation so it makes for a SAUNA when it's in the warm season. You can wade, fish, canoe, kayak, zipline, tube, hike, bird watch, etc. Other than the camping cabins, this place was super.

River Getaway 

One of my favorite campgrounds - particularly when I bring first time campers. Clean grounds and importantly clean facilities. Park offers very doable hiking and mountain biking options for beginners. Campground access to the Shenandoah River

Riverside camping

This is a really great view of the shanondoah river. Not really much to do but not a bad spot to spend lunch with the kids or grab a kayak.

Side attration

Beautiful views, tons of hiking &amp; biking trails. Wild life is visible everywhere you go. the children’s programs offered on the weekends were great too. 

The View

There are several rustic campsites located on the Southfork of the Shenandoah River, as well as modern electric sites, RV sites, and cabins. Park and campgrounds are clean and well maintained. Tons of trails, wildlife and activities in and near the park. This state park is adjacent to Shenandoah National Park and is just as beautiful and rich in history!

Great rustic river sites!

We’ve come to this campground twice: Once just our family of four and another time with my in-laws. This park is nice and secluded with a number of family friendly hikes. Facilities are clean with plenty of wood to buy and carts to help transport supplies from the parking lot to the camp sites. We recommend renting the yurts which were perfect for our in laws. They were just a few steps away from our camp site in a more comfortable setting. We foresee coming to this park many times over the coming years. It’s the quintessential car camping experience. 

Great river side getaway

Great views of the blue ridge mountains with many river access points.  The Virginia Canopy Tour is fun.  We camped with our pop-up in the RV section.  Sites were spacious and the bathhouse clean.  We checked out an adventure pack from the visitors center and hiked the River Trail, thus our son became a junior ranger. Tent sites, RV sites, camping cabins and large cabins all available.  Firewood for sale in the park.  We’ll be back!  More trails to hike!

Great Kid Friendly Getaway

The sites are generous and well maintained but no trees.  Had odd experience with camp host.  Apparently old women steal campsites regularly because he thought I had and had to call the ranger and double check because I’m obviously a liar.  Not a good experience . To be a state park in the mountains it is a bit Stark. but it’s very new so  give it some time when trees can grow up and I’m sure it will be great. There are lovely hiking trails and you can get to the water it is a bit steep and hilly so be careful of your equipment. The other campers there were just amazing and helped me when the transmission fell out of my truck

Not my favorite 

Having camped here in late Winter, our experience may be a bit biased; the campgrounds were empty and a gentle snow made an already peaceful setting positively serene.  

  

Still, I have to give 5 stars. There are other activities hosted in this park, but our tent site (pic attached) was very much segregated from the main area and IMMEDIATELY on the water. It felt like we could have paid several hundred a night for lodging right on a charming little river.  

  

I can't wait for an excuse to go back.

Peaceful, quaint, riverside campgrounds

We just visited the park this week. Wow what a beautiful state park. Very well up kept, clean and amazingly friendly rangers. We rented a Yurt number 2. In my opinion it has the best location of the 3 Turks they have. It’s it the woods close to a boat landing you can see a bit of the river. In the fall or spring I’m sure the view is amazing. The yurt was clean and simple. Surrounded by a amazing deck with 4 rocking chairs and a picnic table on it. Down below you have a fire pit, a grill and an additional picnic table. Yurt 1 is right next door if you have a larger group that would be perfect. The one we stayed in sleeps 4 comfortably. The park has a huge network of hiking and bike paths all very well maintained. The river water is so clear you can see the bottom. The only only down side is you can not drive your car up to the yurt. But they offer little carts to load your things in and pull. Yurt 2 is the farthest away from the parking area, but well worth it.

Clean and well kept

Important to note that the primitive sites are walk-in only - but the walk is very short.  

  

Primitive sites do not take reservations, so you select your own based on availability when you arrive. If you can get \*\*site 5\*\* that is crucial. The other sites still looked good, but site 5 is large, nicely laid out, and RIGHT on the water. No steps down, but a brilliant view.

  

The park in general is nice, and while not as grandiose as Shenandoah proper it is less expensive and loss populated. For $25 a had perfect quiet and I will definitely go back.

What a wonderful hidden gem

Sites were easy to get in and out for trailers. Lots of space and woods between sites. Water and electricity hookups, gravel and paved pads. Picnic table and fire ring. Showers and bathrooms were clean and large size. Plenty of hot water and water pressure.  Laundry facilities were great and worked well.  Lots of trails around to walk and some to the river. Even a few bike trails. Nice are for kayak launch. They have a horse area as well. Large picnic and day use area. We stayed at site 15 and it was great for camper and large tent. Plenty of space for everyone. Love the area and hope to get back again. Used it as camp while we Day hiked in SNP. 

Great campground on the river and close to SNP

Campground: What’s not to love!?  Shenandoah National Park is right around the corner.  This state park campground is clean, with spacious sites and beautiful views of the mountain ranges and the Shenandoah River that backs right up to the campsite.  You will enjoy 30/50 amp electric and water.  No sewer at the sites, so plan on using the dump drain on the way out.

Product review: As a ranger for the Dyrt, I get to test products from our awesome partners.  While camping at Shenandoah River State Park, I’ve been testing out my Terrain hat from Banner and Oak https://bannerandoak.com.  Here is what I think about the hat:

My Banner &amp; Oak hat fits great.  It’s durable and looks great.  I especially like apparel with Buffalos on them, so this fits the “bill”.  Banner &amp; Oak are all about the great outdoors and exploring.  Check out their hats, apparel and other things on their website!

Ranger Review: Banner & Oak Hat at Shenandoah River State Park

Absolutely beautiful campground. Not a lot of sites but very spacious. Private showers, no WiFi, firewood on site, lots of shade, trails and walking distance to the river. Highly recommended. Close access to Shenandoah National Park.

Spacious

Beautiful park with over 1,600 acres and 5.6 miles of river frontage. Lots of areas to access the river throughout, several picnic shelters, riverside picnic area, canoe launch with a good amount of parking, group campground, visitor center/store, bathhouses with hot showers, and cool trails (24 miles, hiking/biking/horses). Tent + RV sites (with water/electric options), cabins, and yurts available. There is nowhere to dump your trash here so you’ll have to pack it out.

Beautiful Park!

I really wasn’t sure what to expect. This was our first stop on our trip, the first ever for me with a travel trailer. It has spoiled me. Beautiful, large, CLEAN, generally private (can still see other people from the front of our site, but shielded in the back). Water, electric, and clean facilities. After our multi-State trip I have realized that a lot of State (any state) campgrounds are missing one or many of these. Would definitely go back if we were in the area! (Site 19)

Wonderful.

We legit loved this park!  I took my grandkids tent camping and we had a wonderful experience.  We brought our bikes and hit the trails.  It was some great times.  We had electricity and water and the bathrooms were close to our site.  The park is on the Shenandoah River and there are multiple spots to put in and take out.  There is primitive tent camping down by the river which looks fantastic.  We definitely loved the trails with hiking and biking options.  We will definitely go here again.

Trails and Water

We stayed here on the night of December 11, 2020.  No problem finding a spot, campground was about half full when we got there around 4pm. The Primitive Camping spots were all taken however, so arrive early if you want one of those. Water and electrical available at all the spots even though it was winter. Bathrooms and showers were nearby and clean. No cell service but the Visitor’s Center has WiFi available. Lots of hiking and mtb trails, although we only did a bit of walking. Campground is maybe 100 yds from the Shenandoah River and it’s beautiful down there. 

Great campground!

My boyfriend and I stayed at this campground in March of 2021. We went to the area to visit Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park. 

We stayed in site #11. The sites weren't right on top of each other, but you could definitely see other sites across the road. There were a few that caught my eye for future trips, but this one was lovely enough!! 

This is a small campground, which made it feel very homey. All of the campers were so friendly. The camp host was also a joy! Always had a smile on his face. Most of the sites are 60' long and very spacious!! 

Dogs are welcomed with open arms at this campsite!! My two doggos had a great time. Just be careful!! One of mine ended up with a thorn in his foot pad. 

Will definitely return to this campground in the future!

Amazing Campground!!!

Some of the largest sites we’ve ever seen in a state park. I don’t believe there is a bad site in the park. We had rabbits grazing at our site too. Shenandoah NP is about a 10 mile drive away. 

Large, level and well spaced. 

With large, private sites this campground is perfect for camping!  We never heard from the neighbors and I don't believe our constant activity created a problem for them either.  The sites were made of crushed rock, very flat, and the RV sites included water, electricity, a picnic table, poles for hanging whatever you need hung, and an awesome fire ring!  

  

The bathrooms are up to date with free showers.  A sink for washing dishes is part of the bathroom complex, along with a laundry room.  The campground host sells campfire wood which proved to be well seasoned and provided us an excellent fire experience.

  

In the Shenandoah State Park there are hiking trails, biking trails, horse trails, and places to put in and take out of the Shenandoah River.  The river is shallow, but provides enough water for canoeing, kayaking, and tubing.  Wading is allowed but there is no formal swim area.  Our 3 &amp; 6 year old grandchildren absolutely love the park and can't wait to return soon, even after we took them on a steep but interesting 3 mile hike (which included stops at a great viewing platform and an awesome Visitor's Center).

Outstanding State Park!

Great campground for tent camping!  The sites for tents were walk-ins, but wagons were available and all the sites were easily accessible from the parking lot.  Some sites were right on the water, but slightly up in elevation.  Great view of stars and night and great view of river and mountains from the visitor center.  We expected some encounters with black bears, but after not seeing any the first couple of nights we asked that park ranger about the chances and were informed there was actually a very slim chance, still its good to be prepared.

Great for tent camping

Beautiful shady camp ground, two water access points within a short walk, clean bathroom was a short walk away, good hiking options within the park.

Shady Spot by the Water 

We really enjoyed this park for tent camping. Our site was right on the river with incredible views and a good deal of privacy. They sell firewood on the honor system and it’s centrally located to the campsites. The check-in time of 4:00 is a bit late, and when we arrived, we found someone occupying our reserved site. They promptly moved out when we mentioned the reservation. The “good” bathrooms were a bit disappointing, and I’d advise everyone to steer clear of the composting toilets near the parking lot. Cell service with AT&amp;T was fine, but if you have Verizon, you’re out of luck. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. We’ll definitely return in the future. 

Hidden Gem

Beautiful park and camp. Bring your bikes and kayaks! They have the perfect paved bike trail. There's a kayak place that'll pick you up and drop you off at the camp! They have zip lining too! There's a cave just couple miles down the road and a much larger one in luray. Camp was very clean and quiet. 

Awesome

￼ Truly our favorite campsite thus far. From its location to the beautiful natural surroundings, the spotless restrooms, the accommodating hosts and the overall sense of calm while still having a level site with working hook ups, this place is perfection!

Our absolute favorite!

Beautiful views of the mountains from campsite. Shenandoah River is right there on the campsite, would be great for the summer months. Tons of trails great for families with dogs or those wanting to get out and hike. The campsite featured some of the best bathroom/ shower houses, they were super clean and well maintained. Each campsite had tons of space and was gravel and featured a picnic table and fire pit. We had electric and water hookups at our site. There was a dump site available. There were several gas stations nearby and we were less than 30 minutes away from Front Royal and the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. We paid$46 a night for the campsite and felt it was worth it.

Beautiful State Park Right near the Shenandoah River 

tl;dr- We stayed in a cabin February. The park and the cabins are very clean and well maintained. We enjoyed the many trails and walking our dog along the river. We would highly recommend and will come back.  

  

Shenandoah River State Park has a variety of camping/RV/cabin options for everyone.  They have: climate controlled cabins, rustic cabins, RV sites, and tent camping sites.  Great for groups, especially those that have different ideas of the enjoying the great outdoors/nature

  

And if you, like me, are less enthusiastic about winter camping, the cabins are a great way to enjoy the park with climate controlled amenities.  

  

Two bedroom climate controlled cabin:  Very clean, simple/minimalistic furniture, with kitchen necessities included.  It's reminiscent of a dorm-style apartment. Cooking utensils and cutlery, dish soap, a couple of dishwasher pods, toilet paper, and paper towels are included.  Mattresses and pillows had actual protectors on them and you are expected to bring sheets, pillow cases, and towels (not sure if it's always expected you bring sheets/linens but was true but at least with COVID/our latest stay).  There is a nice big kitchen table to play games.  We did have phone service and watched some shows on our tablet.  

  

Restroom/shower: Very clean, spacious restroom although with a small shower (we stayed in cabin 6, showers may be bigger in others/handicapped accessible cabins).  Included mounted container with hand soap and shampoo/body wash.  

  

Bedrooms:  Queen bed w/ box spring mattress.  I prefer memory foam so it was not my favorite, but it was still decent/firm.  The other bedroom had 4 bunkbeds. 

  

Outside space:  There is a nice space with a picnic table and fire pit.  There are also rocking chairs on the porch of each cabin.  Very cute and a great way to appreciate the views.  

  

Area: Many trails throughout the park.  We enjoyed walking our dog along the river.

  

Looking forward to coming back either staying in a cabin again or staying in our camper van.

Great winter cabin camping weekend

Our third visit to Shenandoah River State Park for a weekend of camping did not disappoint in any way.  The sites are large, flat, and fairly private.  They are all equipped with a nice picnic table, excellent fire place, poles for tarp hanging, and water and electric hook ups.

  

The restrooms were well stocked and clean.  Hot water was abundant during most times of the day (not when lots of showers were being sought after!).  

  

The hiking, biking, and river access are tremendous!  The different levels range from easy to moderate.  Views of the river and surrounding areas are fantastic!

Fantastic Camping Spot!

Our spot was incredibly spacious and insanely beautiful. It was a very short walk from the bathrooms and an a comfortable distance from the bathhouse. On top of that, the river view? Amazing.

Beautiful and peaceful

The sites are spaced out and neat. Some shade. Pretty view across from our site. Nice map provided of all the various walk, bike or horse trails. Temperature was perfect. Short drive to Shenandoah National Park. We choose to stay at the State Park because it has electric. Very happy we stayed here!

Nice sites and walking trails

Super clean and well run State Park. Good facilities and big campsites.

Right outside Shenandoah

Stayed in Camp Cabin 41 in middle August 2022. The cabins are basic, but just enough that you need. Electricity, water on site (not in cabin, fan, lots of windows for sticky nights, 2 bunk beds (sleeping 4 total), and a table with 4 chairs. On the front porch are 2 wonderful rocking chairs. There's also a picnic table, fire pit, and grill on site. Parking for 2 cars. It's a relatively short walk to the bathhouse which had showers, toilets, a large clean up sink, and even washer/dryer available for a small price. The hiking here is nice and quiet, the river is beautiful. The cabin was in the electric/water (RV) campground and other than the randomly loud neighbor was peaceful and quiet. Lots of tent campers in this area of the campground too. The rangers are always helpful in the visitor center. Lots of small wildlife here too. I highly recommend this park.

Love this quiet park.

This is a very well managed and maintained campground.  I arrived after the check-in station was closed. But in the rack was an envelope for me that contained my parking pass, a campground map, a state park map, and a flyer giving instructions for avoiding black bear incidents. There was also a placard fixed to the picnic table at my campsite with bear precautions. I did not see any bears!

The bathrooms are very clean and well maintained. My campsite was roomy and level. The views of the river are magnificent.There are numerous hiking trails that vary in difficulty and distance.

There is no Wi-Fi and I had no cell service with Verizon.

Good Things Can Come In Small Packages!

We visited this campsite in mid March. The sites are a little close together, but it was quiet. There is biking and hiking directly from the campsite. ￼ the bathrooms and showers are very clean, and there is a laundry room which we did not use. ￼ this campground is really close to Shenandoah national park. We chose to stay here instead because there are
 water and electric hook ups and a dump site on premise. ￼

Really nice campground in great setting

Great State Park with the perfect little tent camping loop. Only 12 spots. Gravel road/loop. 
Decently private and not on top of each other with tons of vegetation all around. 
Walk-in sites but not too far and they have carts you can use. Gravel pads perfectly level and very neat and clean fire pits as well as a separate grill at every sight. 
The bath house is super clean and they have separate private showers! 
Hiking, fishing, breathtaking views, tons to do in the area! 
Definitely recommend camping here!  
We had site #9, but 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 all looked really awesome! 12 is the smallest. 10 is the furthest from parking lot.  