The Shenandoah Valley is one of the easiest places in the East to travel by RV: I-81 runs the full length of it, private parks with full hookups sit a few minutes off most exits, and Shenandoah National Park's ridge-top campgrounds are a short climb away. The catch is that the information is scattered — the park has no hookups, Skyline Drive has a 12′8″ tunnel, some state and forest campgrounds have power and many don't, and several Valley campgrounds have changed names. This guide puts it in one place: more than 30 campgrounds that take RVs, what each one actually offers according to its own official source, and the rules and road details that matter when you're towing or driving something big.
- No hookups anywhere in Shenandoah National Park — standard sites are $30/night; dump stations at Mathews Arm, Big Meadows and Loft Mountain
- Mary's Rock Tunnel on Skyline Drive (mile 32.2) has a 12′8″ clearance — the only height limit on the Drive
- Full hookups: private parks along I-81, US-340 and US-211, plus 31 water/electric sites (up to 60 ft) at Shenandoah River State Park, open year-round
- Biggest official rig limits in the Valley: Natural Bridge KOA (82 ft) and Harrisonburg KOA (75 ft)
- Park generator hours: 8–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.; quiet hours 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
- Virginia rest areas do not allow overnight parking
How RV camping works in the Valley
RV camping here falls into three tiers, and knowing which one you need saves a lot of frustration. Shenandoah National Park sits on the Blue Ridge along the Valley's eastern edge — spectacular, central to the hiking, and completely without hookups. Virginia state parks and the George Washington National Forest fill the middle: some sites have water and electric, many are primitive, and almost none have sewer. Private RV parks and resorts, mostly within a short drive of I-81 or along US-340 and US-211 through Front Royal and Luray, are where you'll find full hookups, 50-amp service, pull-throughs and big-rig sites.
| Type | Hookups | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah National Park | None (dump stations at 3 of 4 campgrounds) | Skyline Drive, trailheads, cool ridge-top nights | Self-contained rigs only; generator hours; seasonal |
| Virginia State Parks | Water + electric at RV sites | River access, trails, bathhouses | Book up to 11 months ahead; no sewer at Valley parks |
| National Forest (USFS) | Mostly none; electric at Sherando Lake | Quiet, cheap, close to the woods | Many sites not suited to large RVs; some lack potable water |
| Private parks & resorts | Full hookups, 30/50-amp common | Big rigs, long stays, families | Rates and site lengths vary — confirm when booking |
At a glance: the best-equipped RV campgrounds
| Campground | Where | Hookups | Rig size (official) | 2026 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Meadows (NPS) | Skyline Dr. mile 51.2 | None · dump/fill station | Varies by site | Mar 25 – Nov 29 |
| Loft Mountain (NPS) | Skyline Dr. mile 79.5 | None · dump station | Varies by site | Apr 29 – Nov 1 |
| Mathews Arm (NPS) | Skyline Dr. mile 22.2 | None · dump station | Varies by site | Apr 29 – Nov 1 |
| Shenandoah River State Park | Bentonville | Water + 20/30/50-amp | Up to 60 ft | Year-round |
| Watermelon Park | Berryville | Water + 30/50-amp · free dump | Rows for 37–100 ft rigs | Ask the park |
| North Fork Resort | Front Royal | Full · 30/50-amp | Up to 40 ft | Ask the park |
| Candy Hill | Winchester | Water/electric all sites · sewer or dump · 50-amp available | Pull-throughs | Year-round |
| Luray RV Resort | Luray | Full · 20/30/50-amp | 60 × 85 ft pull-through sites | Mar 20 – Nov 29 |
| Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views | Luray | Full · 30/50-amp | Big-rig friendly | Year-round |
| Endless Caverns RV Resort | New Market | Full | Pull-throughs for larger rigs | Mar 27 – Nov 15 |
| Harrisonburg KOA | Broadway | Up to 50-amp | 75 ft max | Call ahead |
| Swift Run Campground | Elkton | 20/30/50-amp | 44 ft, back-in only | Call ahead |
| Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley | Stuarts Draft | Full · 30/50-amp | Pull-throughs to 60 ft | Overnight sites all year |
| Waynesboro North 340 | Waynesboro | 20/30/50-amp · dump | — | Year-round |
| Glen Maury Park | Buena Vista | Water + 30/50-amp · some sewer | Over 32 ft: lower areas | Call ahead |
| Natural Bridge KOA | Natural Bridge | Up to 50-amp | 82 ft max | Call ahead |
| Sherando Lake (USFS) | Augusta Co. | Electric in Loops B & C | Set per site | Reservation required |
Shenandoah National Park campgrounds
Four campgrounds along Skyline Drive take RVs. None has electric, water or sewer hookups, so arrive with full fresh water and empty tanks, and plan around the generator hours. Every site includes a place for a tent or RV, a fire ring and a picnic table, and standard sites are limited to six people and one RV. There's no cell service or internet at any of them.
Big Meadows Campground
- Sites
- 221 (2 group sites)
- Hookups
- None
- Booking
- Reservation only (Recreation.gov)
- Fee
- $30/night standard site
- 2026 season
- March 25 – November 29
- Facilities
- Showers, laundry, dump/fill station, camp store (seasonal)
- The most central campground — walking distance to Big Meadows, Byrd Visitor Center and the Dark Hollow Falls area
- Longest season in the park; the go-to for October foliage, so book as soon as sites release
Facts from nps.gov
Loft Mountain Campground
- Sites
- 207 (50 tent-only)
- Hookups
- None
- Booking
- Reservable + first-come, first-served
- Fee
- $30/night standard site
- 2026 season
- April 29 – November 1
- Facilities
- Coin showers, laundry, dump station, camp store (seasonal)
- Sits atop Big Flat Mountain with views east and west; the closest park campground to the Rockfish Gap (I-64) entrance
- Two waterfalls and the Big Run Wilderness trails are nearby
Facts from nps.gov
Mathews Arm Campground
- Sites
- 165
- Hookups
- None
- Booking
- Reservable + first-come; no reservations within 48 hours
- Fee
- $30/night standard site
- 2026 season
- April 29 – November 1
- Facilities
- Flush toilets, drinking water, dump station · no showers or laundry
- Closest park campground to the Front Royal entrance — north of Mary's Rock Tunnel, so tall rigs can reach it without passing through
- Elkwallow Wayside, about two miles away, sells food and camping supplies
Facts from Recreation.gov & nps.gov
Lewis Mountain Campground
- Sites
- 30
- Hookups
- None · no dump station (use Big Meadows)
- Booking
- First-come, first-served only
- Fee
- $30/night standard site
- 2026 season
- March 26 – November 22
- Facilities
- Showers, laundry, camp store (store closes Nov 8)
- The park's smallest and quietest campground — the only one you can't reserve
- Showers and laundry are wheelchair accessible
Facts from nps.gov
How park reservations work
- Reservable sites at Mathews Arm, Big Meadows and Loft Mountain are released in stages on Recreation.gov: 50% six months before your arrival date, 25% two weeks before, and the last 25% four days before.
- Some sites are tent-only and others fit larger RVs — check the individual site's equipment and length on Recreation.gov rather than assuming any site will fit.
- Stays are limited to 30 days; checkout is noon. Clip your camping pass to the site post.
- In September and October, NPS says campgrounds are usually booked months ahead and first-come sites commonly fill by Thursday evening.
- When campgrounds are closed, RV camping isn't allowed anywhere in the park — overnight parking at overlooks or trailheads is prohibited.
Driving Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway in an RV
RVs, camping trailers and horse trailers are welcome on Skyline Drive. The road is two lanes for its full 105 miles, the speed limit is 35 mph in most places, and NPS asks drivers of large vehicles to use low gear on the long descents. There is no gas on the Drive — fill up in Front Royal, Luray, Elkton or Waynesboro.
| Entrance | Skyline Drive mile | Road | Nearest RV parks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Royal (North) | 0 | US-340, near I-66 | North Fork Resort, Gooney Creek, Shenandoah River State Park |
| Thornton Gap | 31.5 | US-211 (Luray) | Luray RV Resort, Spacious Skies, Jellystone Luray |
| Swift Run Gap | 65.5 | US-33 (Elkton) | Swift Run Campground, Harrisonburg-area parks |
| Rockfish Gap (South) | 104.6 | I-64 / US-250 (Waynesboro) | Waynesboro North 340, Sun Retreats, Walnut Hills |
- NPS recommends the Swift Run or Rockfish Gap entrances to avoid the longer busy-season lines at Front Royal and Thornton Gap.
- Entrance is $30 per private vehicle for seven days, or $55 for a Shenandoah annual pass; the $80 America the Beautiful pass also covers it. The park is cashless.
- Skyline Drive can close during ice and snow even though the park stays open. Text SHENALERTS to 888777 for road alerts.
- Heading south from Rockfish Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the first tunnel is Bluff Mountain at milepost 53.1 — 13′1″ at the edge line. NPS warns not to straddle the center line to use the taller centerline clearance; detour if your rig is too tall.
- Check current interstate and mountain-pass conditions on 511 Virginia (dial 511 or visit 511virginia.org). VDOT notes I-81 carries the highest share of commercial trucks of any Virginia interstate.
Northern Valley RV parks: Winchester, Front Royal & Luray
The northern Valley has the densest cluster of full-hookup parks, most of them on the Shenandoah River or within a few minutes of the Front Royal and Thornton Gap entrances to the park.
Candy Hill Campground
- Hookups
- Water & electric at all sites; sewer or dump included
- Power
- 50-amp available
- Rig access
- Pull-through sites available
- Season
- Open all year (2026 rates published)
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi, pool, laundry, camp store, LP gas
- Pets
- Welcome; fenced off-leash dog run
- About a mile from downtown Winchester, off Route 37 on US-50
- Sells dump-station use to non-guests ($40; $50 on holidays and event weekends)
Facts from candyhill.com
Watermelon Park Campground
- Hookups
- Water + 30/50-amp at every site; no sewer
- Dump
- Free dump station; paid pump-out service
- Rig access
- Site rows for 0–32, 26–36 and 37–100 ft rigs
- Setting
- On the Shenandoah River
- Family-owned and operated since 1939
- One of the few Valley campgrounds that sorts sites by rig length up front
Facts from watermelonpark.com
North Fork Resort
- Sites
- 450
- Hookups
- Full · 30/50-amp
- Rig access
- Pull-through and riverfront sites; rigs up to 40 ft
- Access
- Under 2 miles from I-66 Exit 6
- A mile of North Fork Shenandoah River shoreline, near the north end of Skyline Drive
- Public reservations are restricted on holiday weekends
Facts from nfra.com
Gooney Creek Campground
- Hookups
- Full-hookup, water/electric and primitive sites
- Dump
- Dump station on site
- 2026 season
- April 1 – November 15
- Facilities
- Hot showers, flush toilets
- Five miles south of Front Royal, four miles past the Skyline Drive entrance
- Creek swimming hole; across from the Shenandoah River
Facts from gooneycreekcampground.com
Low Water Bridge Campground
- Hookups
- 30/50-amp electric sites (electric only)
- Water & dump
- Potable water fill and RV dump station
- Amenities
- Camp store, hot showers, Wi-Fi near the office
- Season
- 2026 rates published
- Two private access points on the South Fork of the Shenandoah
- On-site hand-dipped ice-cream parlor
Facts from lowwaterbridgecampground.com
Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River
- Hookups
- Full hookups at all RV sites · 20/30/50-amp
- Rig access
- Pull-through super sites, 60 × 85 ft
- 2026 season
- March 20 – November 29
- Check-in / out
- 3 p.m. / 10 a.m.
- Amenities
- Pool with waterslide, pickleball, river tubing
- Pets
- Welcome; fenced dog park
- 100 acres with three-quarters of a mile of Shenandoah River frontage
- Book online or by phone
Facts from lurayrvresortshenandoahriver.com
Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views
- Hookups
- Full · 30/50-amp
- Rig access
- Pull-throughs; big-rig friendly
- Season
- Year-round
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi at sites, pools, camp store, dog park
- Blue Ridge views; patio and pergola sites
- Yurts if part of your group isn't in the RV
Facts from spaciousskiescampgrounds.com
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park: Luray
- Hookups
- Full-hookup and pull-through sites
- 2026 season
- March 27 – November 29
- Propane
- Fill station, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Note
- Laundry closed for the 2026 season
- Three pools, water slides and mini golf on 73 acres
- About 10 minutes from Luray Caverns
Facts from campluray.com
Central Valley RV parks: Woodstock, New Market, Harrisonburg & Elkton
The middle of the Valley is the most convenient base if you want I-81 access, the caverns around New Market and Luray, and a short drive to either the Thornton Gap or Swift Run Gap entrances.
Creekside Campground
- Rig access
- Big-rig friendly
- Wi-Fi
- Fiber-optic Wi-Fi
- Facilities
- Showers, pavilion; laundromat in town
- Pets
- Allowed on leash
- Creekside sites on Stoney Creek with fishing and wading
- Walk to Edinburg's small downtown
Facts from creeksidecampgroundva.com
Fort Valley Ranch
- Hookups
- Pull-through water/electric (30/50-amp); full-hookup back-ins (30-amp); water/electric back-ins (15-amp)
- Dump
- Dump station on property
- Season
- Year-round; dry camping only Nov 15 – Mar 1
- Horses
- Covered pens; negative Coggins required
- Tucked inside Fort Valley between the ridges of Massanutten Mountain
- One of the few Valley campgrounds set up for horse trailers
Facts from fortvalleyranch.com
Shenandoah Valley Campground (Mount Jackson)
- Hookups
- Water, electric & sewer at all RV sites · 30/50-amp
- Rig access
- Limited big-rig sites — ask when booking
- Season
- Year-round
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi, laundry, camp store, saltwater pool (Memorial Day–Labor Day), mini golf, dog run
- Propane sold, but supply is limited — call before you count on it
- Not to be confused with the similarly named campground in Verona
Facts from shenandoahfamilycampground.com
Endless Caverns RV Resort
- Hookups
- Full hookups
- Rig access
- Back-ins, pull-throughs for larger rigs, buddy sites
- 2026 season
- March 27 – November 15
- Amenities
- Pool, camp store, hiking and biking
- 265 mountainside acres at the base of Massanutten
- Guided tours of Endless Caverns right on the property
Facts from endlesscaverns.com
Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA Holiday
- Power
- Up to 50-amp
- Rig access
- 75 ft maximum length
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi, pool, propane, 24-hour laundry, fishing, dog area
- Booking
- Online booking unavailable — call the campground
- From Exit 257: US-11 north 0.1 mile, then Route 608 for 3.1 miles. KOA warns not to rely on GPS.
- One of the longest official rig limits in the Valley
Facts from koa.com
Swift Run Campground & Pool
- Power
- 20/30/50-amp
- Rig access
- Up to 44 ft · back-in only
- Sites
- 58 total (camper and tent)
- Amenities
- Two seasonal pools, concessions, catch-and-release pond
- About 1.5 miles from the Swift Run Gap entrance and Appalachian Trail crossing
- Shower house open year-round
Facts from swiftruncampground.net
Southern Valley RV parks: Staunton, Waynesboro & Lexington
The southern Valley puts you between the Rockfish Gap entrance, the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Staunton's downtown and Natural Bridge. Two KOAs here have the Valley's longest official rig limits.
Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park
- Rig access
- Large pull-through sites
- Pool
- In-ground pool, Memorial Day – Labor Day
- Amenities
- Camp store, laundry, fenced dog park
- 2026
- Events schedule published
- Fishing on Lake Kerplonken and nine-hole disc golf
- Minutes from downtown Staunton
Facts from walnuthillscampground.com
Shenandoah Valley Campground (Verona)
- Hookups
- Full-hookup RV sites
- Amenities
- Heated pool, laundry, camp store, mini golf
- Pets
- Pet-friendly sites
- Private waterfall and river access
- Cabins and tent sites alongside the RV loops
Facts from campsvc.com
Natural Chimneys Park & Campground
- Hookups
- Water & electric RV sites
- Rig access
- No paved pull-throughs; many open, grassy sites
- 2026 season
- Closes at noon, November 1
- Booking
- Augusta County online reservations
- Camp beside the Natural Chimneys limestone towers
- Home of historic jousting tournaments in June and August
Facts from Augusta County
Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley
- Hookups
- Full · 30/50-amp
- Rig access
- Gravel pull-throughs up to 60 ft; back-ins up to 36 ft
- Season
- Overnight sites Jan 1 – Dec 31; seasonal sites Apr 1 – Oct 31
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi at RV sites, pet-friendly
- Swimming lake with a sandy beach on 130-plus acres
- Four playgrounds and a fishing pond
Facts from sunoutdoors.com
Stoney Creek Resort & Campground
- Sites
- 400-plus spaces
- Hookups
- Water/electric and full-hookup, incl. lakeside sites
- Amenities
- Two pools, coin laundry, general store and grill
- Pets
- Dogs welcome, no breed restrictions; leashed
- Stream-fed swimming lake with a sandy beach
- Campers can fish the stocked lake without a fishing license
Facts from stoneycreekresort.net
Waynesboro North 340 Campground
- Power
- 20/30/50-amp
- Dump
- Sanitary dump station
- Season
- Year-round
- Amenities
- Resort-wide Wi-Fi, seasonal pool, camp store, dog park
- Bills itself as the closest campground to the Rockfish Gap entrance
- Themed weekends and monthly stays
Facts from waynesboronorthcampground.com
Glen Maury Park Campground
- Hookups
- 30/50-amp electric + water; sewer at select upper sites
- Rig access
- Upper loop not recommended over 32 ft — big rigs use the lower areas
- Dump
- Dump station
- Booking
- By phone only
- On the Maury River, with grassy lower sites and wooded upper sites
- Pets leashed; not allowed at the pool or in buildings
Facts from City of Buena Vista
Natural Bridge / Lexington KOA Holiday
- Power
- Up to 50-amp
- Rig access
- 82 ft maximum length
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi, laundry, pool, store, propane
- Southbound: Exit 180B, entrance across from the ramp. Northbound: Exit 180, left on US-11 North, about ¼ mile.
- The longest official rig limit we found in the Valley
Facts from koa.com
Jellystone Park Natural Bridge
- Hookups
- Full-hookup RV sites · 30/50-amp (confirm sewer on riverfront sites)
- Rig access
- Gravel sites for "RVs of any size"
- Amenities
- Wi-Fi, pool, splashground, swimming lake; propane at the store
- Pets
- Max two per site; leashed
- Swimming lake with a sandy beach
- Near Natural Bridge, the Appalachian Trail and Jefferson National Forest
Facts from campjellystone.com
State park and national forest campgrounds
Virginia State Parks take reservations up to 11 months ahead and until 2 p.m. on your arrival day, online or at 800-933-7275. Douthat and Shenandoah River are the only parks in the state that run full-service camping year-round. Forest Service campgrounds are cheaper and quieter, but most have no hookups and several aren't suited to large RVs.
Shenandoah River State Park
- Sites
- 31 RV sites (26 back-in, 5 pull-through)
- Hookups
- Water + 20/30/50-amp electric
- Rig access
- Up to 60 ft
- Season
- Year-round
- Check-in / out
- 4 p.m. / 1 p.m.
- Facilities
- Bathhouse with hot showers; firewood at the camp host
- 5.2 miles of South Fork shoreline and more than 25 miles of trails
- All sites are reserved by site number — no walk-ups
Facts from Virginia DCR
Douthat State Park
- RV sites
- 50 sites up to 40 ft; 23 sites up to 50 ft; 14 equestrian sites
- Season
- Full-service camping year-round
- Mountain lake park built by the CCC, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Facts from Virginia DCR
Sherando Lake Campground
- Hookups
- Electric sites in Loops B and C
- Loop A
- Non-electric; tents and units under 20 ft
- Booking
- Reservation required — no first-come sites
- Facilities
- Showers, flush toilets, dump station, separate potable RV fill station
- Length limits are set per site — e.g. site C01 allows a 38-ft trailer even though its driveway is 47 ft
- The best-equipped national forest campground in the Valley
Facts from Recreation.gov
Todd Lake Recreation Area
- Rig access
- RVs allowed but "not suitable for large RVs"
- Facilities
- Dump station; showers for campers
- Booking
- First-come, first-served
- Season / fee
- Mid-May – late October · $20/night
Facts from USDA Forest Service
Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground
- Sites
- 32 family sites, first-come, first-served
- Season
- Year-round, reduced amenities in winter
- Fee
- $20/night peak · $10 winter
- Along Passage Creek on the east side of Massanutten Mountain
Facts from USDA Forest Service
Hone Quarry Campground
- Limit
- One RV or two tents per site
- Season / fee
- Year-round · $5/night
Facts from USDA Forest Service
Other Forest Service campgrounds in the Valley's mountains — Camp Roosevelt, Little Fort, Wolf Gap, Hidden Valley and Blowing Springs — are small and primitive. Little Fort and Wolf Gap are free but have no drinking water. Confirm whether your rig fits before you go; the Forest Service doesn't publish length limits for most of them.
Dump stations, propane and RV service
Where to dump
- Shenandoah National Park: dump stations at Mathews Arm (mile 22.2), Big Meadows (mile 51.2, dump and fill) and Loft Mountain (mile 79.5). Lewis Mountain has none.
- Candy Hill Campground in Winchester publicly lists dump-station use for non-guests: $40, or $50 on holidays and special-event weekends (2026 rates).
- For guests: Watermelon Park (free), Low Water Bridge, Gooney Creek, Fort Valley Ranch, Waynesboro North 340, Glen Maury Park, Sherando Lake and Todd Lake all list dump stations.
- Don't plan on Virginia's I-81 rest areas — VDOT's facility list doesn't show dump stations at any of them.
Propane
Campgrounds that list propane sales: Candy Hill (Winchester), Jellystone Luray (fill station 9 a.m.–5 p.m.), Harrisonburg KOA, Natural Bridge KOA and Jellystone Natural Bridge. Shenandoah Valley Campground in Mount Jackson sells it but warns supply is limited.
RV repair and service
- Dove's Camper Sales — 2136 Rawley Pike, Harrisonburg. RV sales, supplies, repairs from small fixes to rebuilds, and Virginia trailer inspections. dovescampersales.com
- Charlie Obaugh RV Center — 213 Rolling Thunder Lane, Staunton. Routine maintenance and major RV repairs. charlieobaughrv.com
Rules every RVer should know
- No overnight parking at Virginia rest areas. It's in state regulation, not just a sign.
- Generators in Shenandoah National Park: 8–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m., under 60 decibels. From October 15 to April 14 you can run until 9 p.m., for heat only. Generators are banned in generator-free loops and group sites.
- Bears: in the park, food, trash, coolers and cooking gear must go in a bear locker or a locked hard-sided vehicle or camper. A pop-up or other soft-sided camper doesn't count.
- Firewood in the park must be USDA-certified and labeled (sold in the park), or dead wood picked up from the ground. Don't cut standing trees, alive or dead.
- Outside the park, Virginia's rule of thumb is 'buy it where you burn it' to avoid spreading emerald ash borer. Shenandoah River State Park asks you not to bring firewood.
- Quiet hours are 10 p.m.–6 a.m. in park campgrounds and 10 p.m.–8 a.m. at Shenandoah River State Park.
- Charcoal grills aren't allowed in Shenandoah National Park campgrounds; camp stoves are fine.
When to go
| Campground | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Big Meadows (NPS) | March 25 | November 29 |
| Lewis Mountain (NPS) | March 26 | November 22 |
| Mathews Arm (NPS) | April 29 | November 1 |
| Loft Mountain (NPS) | April 29 | November 1 |
| Luray RV Resort | March 20 | November 29 |
| Endless Caverns RV Resort | March 27 | November 15 |
| Jellystone Luray | March 27 | November 29 |
| Gooney Creek | April 1 | November 15 |
| Natural Chimneys | — | November 1 (noon) |
May through September is the easiest window: every park campground is open and the ridge runs about 10°F cooler than the Valley floor. October brings the foliage and the crowds — NPS says it's impossible to predict a peak week, so watch its weekly fall updates and webcams rather than banking on a date, and book as early as reservations open.
For winter trips, these list year-round camping: Candy Hill, Shenandoah River State Park, Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views, Shenandoah Valley Campground in Mount Jackson, Waynesboro North 340, Sun Retreats (overnight sites), Douthat State Park, Fort Valley Ranch (dry camping only from mid-November) and Elizabeth Furnace (reduced amenities).
Where to base yourself
- Front Royal / Bentonville — for the north end of Skyline Drive, river paddling and DC-area arrivals via I-66. North Fork Resort, Gooney Creek, Low Water Bridge, Shenandoah River State Park.
- Luray — for Luray Caverns, the Thornton Gap entrance and Page Valley rivers. Luray RV Resort, Spacious Skies, Jellystone Luray.
- New Market to Harrisonburg — for I-81 convenience, Endless Caverns and the Swift Run Gap entrance. Endless Caverns RV Resort, Shenandoah Valley Campground (Mount Jackson), Harrisonburg KOA, Swift Run.
- Staunton / Waynesboro — for the south end of Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Staunton. Walnut Hills, Waynesboro North 340, Sun Retreats, Shenandoah Valley Campground (Verona).
- Lexington / Natural Bridge — for Natural Bridge State Park and big rigs. Natural Bridge KOA, Jellystone Natural Bridge, Glen Maury Park.
Frequently asked
Are there RV hookups in Shenandoah National Park?
No. None of the four campgrounds (Mathews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, Loft Mountain) has electric, water or sewer hookups. Mathews Arm, Big Meadows and Loft Mountain have dump stations; Big Meadows also has a fill station. Standard sites are $30 a night.
Can I drive Skyline Drive in a big RV?
Yes. RVs and trailers are welcome. The one hard limit is Mary's Rock Tunnel at mile 32.2, which clears 12 feet 8 inches. Taller rigs can still use the Drive by entering or leaving at Thornton Gap (mile 31.5) so they never pass through the tunnel. The speed limit is 35 mph in most places, and NPS recommends low gear on descents.
Which Shenandoah Valley campgrounds take the biggest rigs?
By official limits: Natural Bridge / Lexington KOA (82 ft max) and Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (75 ft). Shenandoah River State Park and Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley list sites up to 60 ft, Luray RV Resort has 60 × 85-ft pull-through sites, and Watermelon Park has a row for rigs from 37 to 100 ft.
Where can I dump my tanks near Shenandoah National Park?
Inside the park, use Mathews Arm, Big Meadows or Loft Mountain. Outside, Candy Hill Campground in Winchester sells dump-station use to non-guests ($40, or $50 on holidays, per its 2026 rates). Most private campgrounds have dumps for their own guests. VDOT doesn't list dump stations at Virginia's I-81 rest areas.
Can I park my RV overnight at a Virginia rest area?
No. Virginia regulation prohibits overnight parking at rest areas. Overnight parking at overlooks and trailheads in Shenandoah National Park is also prohibited — you must be in a campground.
Is there year-round RV camping in the Shenandoah Valley?
Yes. Candy Hill (Winchester), Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville), Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views (Luray), Shenandoah Valley Campground (Mount Jackson), Waynesboro North 340, Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley (overnight sites) and Douthat State Park all list year-round camping. Shenandoah National Park's campgrounds close for winter.
When can I run my generator in Shenandoah National Park?
8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., under 60 decibels. From October 15 to April 14, you can run it until 9 p.m., but only for heat. Generators aren't allowed in generator-free loops or group sites.
How far ahead should I book?
Park sites release on Recreation.gov six months, two weeks and four days before arrival. NPS says September and October weekends are usually booked months ahead and first-come sites fill by Thursday evening. Virginia state parks take reservations up to 11 months out.
Sources
Facts in this guide were checked against these official pages on October 20, 2026. Rates, dates and rules change — confirm with the campground before you go.
- NPS — Shenandoah campgrounds
- NPS — 2026 operating hours & seasons
- NPS — Campground reservations
- NPS — Big Meadows Campground
- NPS — Loft Mountain Campground
- NPS — Lewis Mountain Campground
- Recreation.gov — Mathews Arm
- NPS — Driving Skyline Drive
- NPS — Shenandoah fees & passes
- NPS — 2026 Superintendent's Compendium
- NPS — Fall in Shenandoah
- NPS — Blue Ridge Parkway tunnel heights
- Virginia DCR — Shenandoah River State Park
- Virginia DCR — RV site inventory
- Virginia DCR — Camping & reservations
- Recreation.gov — Sherando Lake
- USDA Forest Service — Bolar Mountain 2026 notice
- VDOT — Rest areas
- Virginia Administrative Code — rest area parking
- Virginia DOF — Buy it where you burn it
- 511 Virginia
