3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Rustic log cabins near Mathias, West Virginia provide varying levels of comfort and amenities for visitors seeking shelter in the Shenandoah Valley region. Cabin campgrounds near Mathias range from riverside sites with full hookups at Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort to luxury accommodations with hot tubs at Harman's Luxury Cabins, giving campers a wide spectrum of options along the South Branch of the Potomac River. Most cabins include basic furnishings with beds, tables, and seating areas. Electric service is standard, though heating options range from wood stoves to central heating systems depending on the property. Bathroom facilities vary by location, with some cabins offering private bathrooms while others require guests to use communal facilities. "These cabins are perfect for group get aways. Come stay here with your friends and family and enjoy hot tubs at every cabin," notes one visitor about Harman's Luxury Cabins.
Accommodations range from basic rustic structures to fully-equipped luxury cabins with modern amenities. KOA-style cabins are available at Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA, offering standardized comfort with predictable amenities. Pet policies vary significantly between properties, with some welcoming dogs and others prohibiting pets entirely. Smoke Hole Caverns explicitly prohibits pets at their cabins, while other locations accommodate animals with restrictions. Reservations are typically required, especially during peak summer months and fall foliage season. A camper who stayed at Fort Valley Ranch noted, "We were surprised that the winding roads presented no issues for us. The access was smooth and hassle-free."
Most cabins provide basic kitchenware and cooking facilities, though specifics vary widely. Higher-end accommodations may include full kitchens with refrigerators, stoves, and microwaves, while more rustic options provide only basic cooking equipment for use with campfires or grills. Bedding and linens are sometimes included but often require guests to bring their own sheets, pillows, and towels. Camp stores at larger properties like Harrisonburg-Shenandoah Valley KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park stock essential supplies, though selection is limited. Firewood is available for purchase at most cabin locations, with several properties enforcing policies that prohibit outside wood to prevent pest introduction.
"We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units."
"Lots and lots of folks about, but still enough space to NOT feel encroached upon."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $75 / night
"This campground has an awesome location between Harrisonburg and Luray/Shenandoah. It has great amenities like a pool and playground, a camp store and lots of friendly and helpful employees."
"This campground has incredibly clean bathroom and shower facilities along with an immaculate site."
"Stayed in Camp Cabin 41 in middle August 2022. The cabins are basic, but just enough that you need."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $384 / night
"There’s a small bathroom attached to back of camp store nearby. Then the larger bathhouse down the way. The RV sites were flat, clean, in an open area. We will, for sure, be back."
"Usually go camping with a Little Guy teardrop trailer, but with the current state of the country, didn’t feel comfortable with sharing bathroom facilities. We booked Yurt #1. It was fantastic."
"We stayed in a level back-in site(#39) with picnic table on a concrete patio, Adirondack chairs under a pergola on a second concrete patio, clean gravel surface, and fire pit."
Available this weekend
from $31 - $219 / night
"Nice family campground with cabins, tent sights and RV slots. We tent camped and Steve (owner) took us down to the bank of the south branch of the Potomac. Perfect!"
"had to stay here for a climbing trip in the offseason when other sites in the park were closed. definitely glamping with people all around. seems like a fun time for a family."
"beautiful location, nice campground. not a lot of woods but lots to do including jumping pillows, paddle boats, swimming. the cabins are spacious and nice though you have to bring your own linens. the"
"We stayed in the cabin. Electricity. Air conditioning. Running water. The property owner manager is very accommodating and pleasant to talk with.
Highly recommended.~Robert
art505.com""With picnic tables and fire rings, each site is well-maintained and ready for the next campers. And of course, what's better than a campfire with s'mores?"
Campground full this weekend
"In our opinion this is the best campground in Shenandoah National Park. Sites are large and many offer privacy. Sites include fire ring and picnic tables."
"The site we had was primitive, no water or electric, but had a picnic table, fire ring, & a bear box. Although the sites were close, they were situated to maximize privacy."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $75 / night
"Located in the Smoke Hole Canyon resort area, not far from the caverns, this small campground offers 10 RV sites along the river. Picnic tables and fire rings available."
"Lots of hiking trails, fishing spots and caverns!"
from $45 / night
TravelerLong drive thru spots, lots of space between campsites. Really inexpensive laundry ($1 to wash $1 to dry) $5 showers for 10 minutes. Nice bathrooms. Dry camping at its finest. Close drive to Grand caverns and Luray caverns.
GuideLovely spot to camp as the temps drop. $30/night, first-come. Restrooms, fire pits, picnic tables, and mostly flat spots.
GuideGreat spot! Was first-come first-serve - we got there mid-afternoon on a Monday and it'd filled up by about 5pm. Clean & well-stocked facilities. All the sites are pretty close together/little seclusion, but those across from us (13) probably offered the most seclusion in the upper loop there. Firewood from the camp store (3rd party - not NPS) was $10/bundle, which was kind of expensive - will probably bring my own treated firewood next time. Very pretty sunset/sunrise. Good grassy/gravel spots for tenting.
GuideGreat campground! Facilities were well-stocked and clean. Stayed at a walk-in site (005), which was nice because it's a very short walk from the reserved parking spot and it's on the outside of the ring so comparatively secluded. All traffic entering the campground passes by it, which might be annoying to some (esp. during peak season I'd bet) but we didn't find it disturbing. The site also has its own bear box (adjacent sites 006 & 007 have to share one). One note - the site map shows a separate trail going right from the parking spot to the site, but you actually have to walk through site 006 to get to it. Also, we learned that the camp store is not run by the NPS, and the kid who was running the store does not provide great service, to say the least; he was very rude when there was a credit card snafu, and made us go down to the wayside store to get our refund even though he was the one who double-charged us. Don't blame NPS though! Also, firewood is kind of expensive ($10/bundle); consider bringing your own treated/kiln-dried from a nearby store before entering the park!
GuideI fear that yurt glamping may have ruined me against tent camping again! This was absolutely lovely. We stayed in the painted horse yurt. Cozy, comfy, lots of amenities. The only downside here is the sulfur odor the water in the bathroom has, but it is very good for your skin at least! I’d stay here again for sure.
ScoutFriendly staff, great riding right from the camper and a neat playground for the kids.
ScoutStayed here for 2 weekday nights in mid-October, late season. Nice & quiet. Warm showers, clean bathrooms, nice staff.
There was some vehicle activity with vehicles as they were still running river trips.
Very pleasant.
GuideQuite the dump and almost no one around to talk to. There is a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and a shower. But it is cramped and not attractive. Most of the sites are right underneath the freeway, and very noisy. Primitive sites away from the road noise are nothing more than a wide area of the dirt road.
ScoutWas looking for a last-minute getaway on a busy weekend, and they seemed the best option. I've always associated private campgrounds with crowding and sites on top of each other. I couldn't have been more wrong about The Cove. There is more wooded space between sites than in many National Parks.
Some sections are best accessed via 4WD, which I think is a great way to keep things from getting too crowded.
Such a huge diversity of types of sites, from lakeside to wooded, to open fields. They have something for everyone.
The bathrooms are ok. Other than the shower area and the reception, most toilets are pit toilets. If you want to be walking distance to showers, make sure to book sites near them. For most sites, it's going to be a hike or a drive.
And on top of that, they have a beach for the kids, boat rentals, and a range.
This was our first visit, but we will definitely be coming back.
Cabin camping near Mathias, West Virginia provides visitors access to the eastern edge of the Allegheny Mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers, crisp falls with vibrant foliage, and cold winters with occasional snow. Cabins remain available year-round at several properties, with some facilities adjusting their amenities during winter months.
Hiking near Shenandoah National Park: Trails range from easy walks to challenging climbs with multiple trailheads accessible within 30 minutes of Mathias. "There are several campsites available at this National Park. I like this campsite particularly because its close to one of my favorite waterfall hikes in VA. Lots of beautiful hikes and bike course with awesome views of the valley," notes a visitor about Loft Mountain Campground.
Fishing opportunities: The South Branch of the Potomac River offers excellent trout fishing, particularly during spring and fall seasons. "Only 10 sites right on the river. Great fishing. Very quiet. Easy access to Dolly Sods, short drive to Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob. Did I mention access to multiple areas for great trout fishing," reports a guest at Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort.
Cave exploration: Several cave systems within 45 minutes of Mathias offer guided tours ranging from $12-28 per person. "We camped here for 2 nights. The campsite has the common amenities - a firepit, a bench, and a picnic table. We drove to the visitor center at the Big Meadow. They had very cool programs and really good food. I enjoyed a blackberry shake, which is kinda famous for the area, and it was delicious," shares a camper from Loft Mountain Campground.
Private wooded sites: Many cabin properties near Mathias feature secluded settings with substantial tree coverage. "Very nice valley location. Site 71 best for privacy. Pool, playground, frisbee golf & pizza delivered to your site!" reports a visitor at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA.
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings are common throughout the region, particularly at dawn and dusk. "Though this campground is HUGE, the sites are not piled on top of each other. Our site, B112, was surrounded by shrubs under the canopy of trees which provided tons of privacy. You will definitely see deer in the campground as they walk through and browse the understory. They are unafraid of humans unless directly approached," mentions a camper from Loft Mountain Campground.
Mountain views: Several cabin locations offer vistas of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountain ranges. "Beautiful views in every direction, extremely dog friendly also. Well appointed sites and well laid out campground. Small but wonderful. We will keep this on the top of our list for fall foliage and a quick 2hr away getaway," comments a visitor at Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.
Cellular connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with many valley locations having limited or no coverage. "Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees," notes a camper at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA.
Seasonal considerations: Facilities reduce operations during winter months, with some closing completely from December through March. "We camped here the last night of the season (Nov30) and shared the campground with a mix of tent campers, car/van campers, and a few larger units. The bathrooms were plentiful, heated, hot running water, and a utility sink available. Showers and laundry were closed for the season," reports a visitor at Big Meadows Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most cabin properties require advance bookings, particularly from May through October. "Very busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," explains a Big Meadows Campground guest.
Jellystone amenities: Family-oriented campgrounds offer structured activities for children throughout summer months. "We stayed here for 3 nights in August for our little guy's 8th birthday. It was perfect for kids! The kids loved running off in the open field and playing on the zip line. We loved that we could see them from our site. The birthday boy also loved the outdoor laser tag!" shares a visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Luray.
Animal attractions: Several cabin properties feature farm animals that children can observe. "We enjoyed our stay at Middle Ridge Campground. The owners were amazing family people who were so polite and helpful! We have three children who absolutely loved petting and feeding Mules and Donkeys! The pool is a nice amenity," explains a camper from Middle Ridge Campground.
Educational programs: National Park locations offer Junior Ranger activities and seasonal programs. "Nice amphitheater with interesting ranger programs. Busy traffic in park but nice trails are accessible from campground. Visitor Center, gas station, food walking distance from campground," notes a Big Meadows Campground visitor.
Mountain road navigation: Access roads to some cabin properties feature steep grades and switchbacks requiring caution. "Though convenient to I-81, the campground is far enough away that there is no outside noise at all. Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees," reports an RVer at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA.
Level sites: Site topography varies significantly between properties, with some requiring substantial leveling. "We camped here for 3 nights. Level site with picnic table on a concrete patio, Adirondack chairs under a pergola on a second concrete patio, clean gravel surface, and fire pit. The site was big enough for our motor home and Jeep. Full hook-ups with 50-amp service," comments a visitor to Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.
Generator policies: Rules regarding generator usage differ between campgrounds, with National Park locations enforcing strict quiet hours. "Campground is meticulously clean with daily restroom cleaning and trash pick up. Very small campground store on site but a much larger store at visitor center," mentions a Big Meadows Campground visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Mathias, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Mathias, WV is Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 131 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Mathias, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 48 cabin camping locations near Mathias, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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