Shenandoah offers a wealth of camping opportunities, from backcountry sites and huts along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to family friendly campgrounds.
There are four campgrounds in Shenandoah, all located along the Skyline Drive. The Mathews Arm Campground can be found at Milepost 22.1, Big Meadows at Milepost 51.2, Lewis Mountain at Milepost 57.5, and Loft Mountain at Milepost 79.5.
Below is a quick rundown of each campground. For more detailed information, click on the campground name. Each link to recreation.gov is specific to that campground. If you notice informational discrepancies between the park's webpage for a campground and recreation.gov's page, it's best to stick with recreation.gov since that is where you'll make your campsite reservation. For a particular site in which you are interested, click on the View Details link in recreation.gov for that site to learn more details, including RV/trailer-vehicle length for that site.
Open April 29-November 1, 2026
Mathews Arm (mile 22.1) is the nearest campground for those entering the park from the north. It is next to a nature trail and the trail to Overall Run Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park. Elkwallow Wayside, with camping supplies and food service, is two miles away.
This campground offers 165 sites, including four ADA accessible sites (B126, B127, C143, C144). There are also three group sites, each of which accommodates 7 – 25 people. Standard campsites go for $30 per night and group sites are $75 per night. This campground has a combination of first-come, first-served sites and reservable sites through recreation.gov.
Maximum RV/vehicle-trailer length is 50 feet. Generators are prohibited at some sites. Drinking water, a dump station, trash collection, and flush toilets are all available seasonally.
Open March 25-November 29, 2026
Big Meadows (mile 51.2), though secluded, is near many of the major facilities and popular hiking trails in the park. Three waterfalls are within walking distance; the Meadow, with its abundant plant growth and wildlife, lies within walking distance.
This campground offers 221 sites (51 tent only), including four ADA accessible sites (053, A063, B111, D163). There are also two group sites (D163 & D167), each of which accommodates 7 – 15 people. Standard campsites go for $30 per night and group sites are $75 per night. Reservations are required through recreation.gov.
RV/vehicle-trailer maximum length is 70 feet. Generators are prohibited at some sites. Drinking water, a dump station, camp store, trash collection, showers, and flush toilets are all available seasonally.
Open March 27 – November 22, 2026
Lewis Mountain (mile 57.5), the smallest campground in the park, offering 30 sites, none of which are designated as ADA accessible, according to recreation.gov. This campground appeals to those who want a little more privacy without venturing deep into the backcountry, yet it is within 7 miles (11 km) of the popular Big Meadows area. Sites are $30 per night and are first-come, first-served, payable by recreation.gov's Scan and Pay mobile app. RVs/vehicle-trailer combinations are permitted, but neither the park webpage for this campground nor recreation.gov indicate the maximum allowable size. Drinking water, laundry facilities, camp store, showers, flush toilets, and trash collection are all available seasonally.
Open April 29-Novmber 1, 2026
Loft Mountain (mile 79.5) sits atop Big Flat Mountain with outstanding views to east and west. Two waterfalls and the trails into the Big Run Wilderness area are nearby.
This campground offers 207 sites (50 tent only), including two ADA accessible sites (G187 & G188). Although the park's webpage for this campground does not indicate this, there are also three group sites, each accommodating 7-20 people. Standard sites are $30 per night and group sites are $75 per night. This campground has a combination of first-come, first-served sites as well as sites which may be reserved through recreation.gov. Maximum RV/Vehicle-trailer length is 55 feet, but only one site with accommodate that length, while other campsites will accommodate lengths up to 50 feet.
Drinking water, laundry facilities, camp store, dump station, showers, flush toilets, and trash collection are all available seasonally.
Backcountry camping options abound, whether you're hiking down the A.T., which runs 101 miles (163 kilometers) through the park, or head down one of the side trails where you pitch your tent pretty much where you want. And with more than 500 miles (805 kilometers) of trail, and 196,000 acres of backcountry, 80,000 acres of which are federally designated wilderness, you should be able to find some solitude with little effort.
Permits ($6 non-refundable plus a $9 refundable per person recreation fee) are required and Shenandoah National Park has implemented a new process to obtain a new backcountry permit.
To help with your trip planning, be sure to check out Shenandoah's webpage on planning a backcountry trek.
- By Kurt Repanshek - May 18th, 2026 1:48pm
