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Recreation Areas and Campground Database

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore...and your journey begins right here!

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Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, west of Washington, D.C. It stretches 105 miles and has four entrances: Front Royal (northern entrance), Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap, and Rockfish Gap (southern entrance to Shenandoah and the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway). The physical address listed is to the administrative offices, not the Park itself. GPS can be unreliable for navigating to the Park, so we encourage you to check out our website for more info.

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Facilities


Old Rag Mountain Tickets Ticket Facility

Welcome to Old Rag Mountain, one of Shenandoah National Park’s most popular hikes. Most often done as a loop originating near the Park’s eastern boundary, this experience offers incredible views of the park’s federally designated wilderness. The 9.4-mile loop which incorporates the Ridge, Ridge Access, and Saddle Trails is extremely strenuous and includes a significant rock scramble. Hikers need to research the requirements on the Park’s website and be sure they are fully prepared before embarking. Due to the hike’s popularity, to provide a positive visitor experience, increase visitor safety, and protect natural resources, a day-use ticket is required to visit Old Rag.


MATHEWS ARM CAMPGROUND Campground
List of Campsites

Overview

Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of the Shenandoah National Park, Mathews Arm Campground is the ideal spot for a camping getaway.

Recreation

Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint while others wind deep into the forests and wilderness.

Mathews Arm Campground is located near Overall Run Falls, which, at 93 feet, has the highest drop of all the falls in Shenandoah National Park. A moderately difficult hiking trail, which leads to the falls, is accessible from the campground. Once at the falls, visitors can enjoy views of the entire Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain.

Wildlife viewing is a also a popular pastime, with black bears, wild turkey, deer, birds and countless other animals abundant across the park.

The campground is located right off of Milepost 22 on the famous Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stunning views are available from any of the 75 scenic overlooks.

Facilities

Mathews Arm is a family-oriented campground, offering plenty of open spaces in the nearly 166 available campsites. All sites include a place for a tent or RV, a fire ring and picnic area. The campground also offers amenities like flush toilets, drinking water and one dump station, which create a comfortable camping experience. There are no showers in this campground.

Natural Features

Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the Shenandoah Valley to its west.

Nearby Attractions

Elkwallow Wayside is located just two miles away, offering camping supplies, a limited menu restaurant, prepared sandwiches, beverages, souvenirs, and more.

Two visitor centers are located along Skyline Drive. Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, 18 miles North, and The Harry F Byrd Sr. Visitor Center, 29 miles South.

Bookstores, restaurants and exhibits are scattered throughout the Shenandoah National Park.Click here for more information. 

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged.


Loft Mountain Campground Campground
List of Campsites

Overview

Perched on top of Big Flat Mountain, this is one of the largest campgrounds in the park. Loft Mountain is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, providing a wilderness getaway in the historic Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.

Recreation

Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or lookout, while others wind deep into the forest and wilderness.

Trails to the Big Run Wilderness area are accessible from the campground, and pristine waterfalls are a common site along the popular trails.

Wildlife viewing is also a popular pastime, with black bears, wild turkey, deer, birds and countless other animals abundant across the park.

The campground is located right off of Milepost 80 on the famous Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stunning views are available from any of the 75 scenic overlooks.

Facilities

This expansive campground offers 207 campsites, as well as amenaties like flush toilets and water and dump stations, which create a comfortable camping experience. Pay showers are nearby at the campstore.

Natural Features

Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the Shenandoah Valley to its west. Loft Mountain's location on the mountain top offers easy access to Skyline Drive which offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding rolling hills and open meadows.

Nearby Attractions

Two visitor centers with bookstores and exhibits are located in the park (milepost 5 and milepost 51). There are concession managed restaurants, gift shops and lodging facilities scattered throughout the park.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged


Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah (VA) Campground
List of Campsites

Overview

Secluded in the thick trees and rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park, the Big Meadows Campground is the ideal spot for an outdoor family getaway.

Recreation

Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint while others wind deep into the forest and wilderness.

Big Meadows is near many of the major facilities and popular hiking trails in the park. Three waterfalls are within walking distance, and the Meadow, with its abundant plant growth and wildlife, is an ideal nearby attraction.

Wildlife viewing is also a popular pastime, with black bears, wild turkey, deer, birds and countless other animals thriving in the park.

The campground is also located right off the famous Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stunning views are visible from any of the 75 scenic overlooks.

Facilities

This expansive campground offers more than 200 campsites, including sites that can accommodate larger groups. Picnic areas are provided, as well as conveniences like flush toilets, showers and a dump station which creates a comfortable camping experience. There is limited WIFI access at the Byrd Visitor Center and Big Meadows Lodge. Cell phone reception is available at the Amphitheather.

Natural Features

Shenandoah National Park spans 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the Shenandoah Valley to its west. The scenery at Big Meadows Campground never disappoints, with a stunning array of colors in the fall and a blanket of bright wildflowers in the spring. This green and shady campground is a wilderness paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Nearby Attractions

Two visitor centers with bookstores and exhibits are located in the park (milepost 5 and milepost 51). Byrd Visitor Center is a short one mile walk by either trail or sidewalk if you choose not to drive. There are concession managed restaurants, gift shops and lodging facilities scattered throughout the park. Big Meadows Lodge and Restaurant is a 5 minute walk from the campground and Big Meadows Wayside is located beside Byrd Visitor Center.

contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (540) 999-3231.

Charges & Cancellations

A $10 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. If you cancel within 48 hours of your arrival date, you will lose the first night's fee in addtion to being charged the $10 service fee.


Rapidan Camp Tours Ticket Facility

Overview:

Visitors to Shenandoah National Park, located in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, can visit Rapidan Camp, President Herbert Hoover's rustic and beautiful summer vacation home. President and First Lady Hoover established Rapidan Camp as a summer retreat during his administration (1929 to 1933). The camp features three original buildings including the President's Cabin, the Prime Ministers Cabin and The Creel.

The Presidents Cabin, also known as the Brown House, has been restored to its 1929 appearance with original and period furniture and is an excellent reflection of not only its era, but also of President Hoover. The Prime Minister's Cabin includes an exhibit that offers visitors insight into the Hoovers' lives and their time at Rapidan Camp, as well as President Hoover's Depression-era presidency. Learn more about the history of President and Mrs. Hoovers Rapidan Camp, a National Historic Landmark.

Access to Rapidan Camp involves traveling in a Park-operated van on a seven mile unpaved administrative road. For this reason, visitors must join a Ranger-guided program to travel to the site. Ranger-guided programs to Rapidan Camp are offered Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week between late-May and late-October. A Ranger-guided tour of Rapidan Camp includes time inside both the Brown House and the Prime Minister's Cabin, as well as time exploring the grounds and gardens within the Historic Landmark.

  • Advance Reservations. Tour space is limited. Rapidan Camp tours are available by reservation only. First-come, first-served tickets are not available at the Park. Visitors may book a reservation up to 6 months in advance and up to one day before the tour.
  • Van Ride. The van ride to Rapidan Camp is approximately 30 minutes each way.
  • Van Seating. Seating is limited. Some vans offer wheelchair space (see below).
  • Tour Length. The total tour time (included travel) is 2.5 hours.
  • Accessibility. These popular programs require some walking and standing on level ground during the tour. Visitors with mobility concerns should book the 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. tour for easier entry into and exit from the van. Both Rapidan Camp and the van for the 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. tour can accommodate a wheelchair. Visitors may book up to two wheelchair spaces on the van through the Accessible Wheelchair ONLY Tour. Wheelchair spaces are part of the same van tour as the Historic Rapidan Camp Tour offered at the same time.
  • Rapidan Camp Hiking Option. Visitors may also choose to hike to Rapidan Camp without a reservation by hiking the 4-mile round-trip Mill Prong Trail that begins at Milam Gap (mile 52.4 on Skyline Drive). Hikers may download a map of the trail and the area from the park website. There is no guarantee that hikers will be able to tour the buildings, but a Park volunteer may be available to provide access to the Prime Minister's Cabin and the Brown House during certain times of the year. Check at the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center (mile 51 on Skyline Drive) for more information on hiking to Rapidan Camp.


Dundo Group Campground Campground
List of Campsites

Overview

Dundo Group Campground is a beautiful campground located at milepost 83.7 along the Skyline Drive with the Appalachian Trail passing through the site. The southern end is a picnic area and the northern end is the campground with three reservable group campsites. All Dundo check-ins are at Loft Mountain Campground, mile 79.5. Check out or re-register by noon. Group camping fees are non-refundable and there are no discounts. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive nights per year.

Recreation

Dundo provides a great base camp for group activities with easy access to the Appalachian Trail, Doyles River and many other popular hikes in the South District.

Facilities

Campsites are equipped with picnic tables, food storage boxes, fire grates, and parking for up to five vehicles per site. Generators are prohibited. Your group must have a minimum of seven people and a maximum of twenty. Do not trench your tent or put nails in trees. Two vault toilet facilities are located at the campground/picnic area. Firewood, ice, groceries, laundry, pay phones, coin operated showers and camp store are available 3.7 miles north at the Loft Mountain Camp Store. These facilities are open May through October.

Natural Features

Dundo offers three large, grassy group tent sites shaded by native oaks and mature pines. It is illegal to approach, feed, frighten, or disturb wildlife. Hunting is prohibited. The laws in our national parks protect all resources such as wildflowers, plants, animals, and artifacts.

Nearby Attractions

Dundo is located at milepost 83.7 along the scenic Skyline Drive. The Loft Mountain Camp Store is located 3.7 miles north, at the Loft Mountain Campground (turn up the hill across from the Loft Mountain Wayside, the store is on the left). There are over 500 miles of trails located throughout the park. The closest visitor center is Byrd Visitor Center located at Milepost 51. On Friday and Saturday during the summer, park Interpretative staff schedules Ranger programs at the Loft Mountain Amphitheater.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged


Dickey Ridge Visitor Center Facility

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6) is located near Front Royal, Virginia, in the northern part of the Park. It's the ideal place for visitors entering through the Front Royal Entrance Station to find restrooms, information, a bookstore, publications, and maps. Right across Skyline Drive from the visitor center you will find the popular Fox Hollow Trail trailhead.


Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center Facility

Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51) is located across from Big Meadows in the center of Shenandoah National Park. Available facilities include: restrooms, information desk, ranger programs, bookstore, publications, maps, and first aid. Within close proximity to countless activities and hikes, it's a great place to start your next trip!


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