Shenandoah Camping: A Guide to All 4 Campgrounds, Fees, and Reservations

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Shenandoah

In a nutshell: Yes, you can camp inside Shenandoah National Park. Four NPS-managed campgrounds line Skyline Drive from north to south, with a total of 623 sites. Online reservations are required at Big Meadows; Loft Mountain and Mathews Arm offer a mix of reservations and first-come, first-served sites; Lewis Mountain is entirely first-come, first-served. Every site costs $30 per night, with no difference in price between campgrounds. Our complete guide to Shenandoah provides the park's broader context.

Campgrounds in the park (4)

• Campground Mathews Arm Campground first come, first served · 165 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Big Meadows Campground recreation.gov · 221 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Lewis Mountain Campground first come, first served · 30 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Loft Mountain Campground first come, first served · 207 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can you camp inside Shenandoah National Park?

Yes, and it's one of the best ways to experience the park. Shenandoah has four official campgrounds spread along its 105-mile length, from the northern district to the southern district. Dispersed camping isn't allowed outside designated sites or marked backcountry areas. The NPS enforces this rule strictly, and rangers patrol regularly.

The park's campgrounds, district by district

Mathews Arm (northern district, milepost 22)

Mathews Arm is the first campground you'll reach from the Front Royal entrance. With 165 sites, including 3 group sites, it's the park's most basic campground: no showers, store, laundry, or firewood for sale on site. You'll find the essentials, including restrooms, running water, a dump station, and bear-proof lockers. It opens in spring and closes in fall. Exact dates vary from year to year, so check the chart or Recreation.gov before you go. Some sites can be reserved, while the rest are first-come, first-served.

Big Meadows (central district, milepost 51)

This is the park's largest and best-equipped campground, with 221 sites, including 51 tent-only sites and 2 group sites, on a broad grassy plateau more than 3,300 feet above sea level. Amenities include hot showers, a camp store, laundry, a dump station, firewood for sale, and bear-proof lockers at every site. Reservations are required for all sites, and they fill quickly as soon as the booking window opens. The campground is open in spring, summer, and fall; it closes from December 1 through March 25.

Lewis Mountain (central district, milepost 57)

With 30 sites, Lewis Mountain is the park's smallest campground. Available services include showers, a store, laundry, running water, and bear-proof lockers, but no dump station. The setting is quiet, with dense forest. All sites are first-come, first-served, so arrive early in the morning for a peak-season weekend. The campground is open in spring, summer, and fall; it closes from December 1 through March 25.

Loft Mountain (southern district, milepost 79)

The large campground in the southern district has 207 sites, including 50 tent-only sites. Loft Mountain offers the same full range of services as Big Meadows, including showers, a store, laundry, a dump station, firewood, and bear-proof lockers, and it often sees fewer visitors in midsummer. It offers a mix of reservable sites through Recreation.gov and first-come, first-served sites. The season runs from late spring through fall.

RV or tent: which site should you choose?

RV campers will find the most complete services at Big Meadows and Loft Mountain, including showers, a dump station, and an on-site store. Mathews Arm offers more space and has a dump station, but no showers or store. Lewis Mountain works well for smaller vehicles or tents. Sites there are narrow, and there's no dump station. None of the park's campgrounds offer electrical hookups. For a full-service setup, a private campground outside the park is a better fit. The Shenandoah RV camping guide covers RV options around the park.

Camping nearby: private campgrounds outside the park

When the campgrounds inside the park are full, which is common from July through August, several private campgrounds line the park along US-340 near Front Royal and US-33 near Elkton. Some offer full hookups, a pool, and a grocery store. They don't have ridge-top views, but they'll do the job. The Shenandoah lodging guide lists alternatives when the park campgrounds are full.

Dispersed and backcountry camping

Backcountry camping is allowed in Shenandoah, but you need a free wilderness permit from an entrance station or ranger station. The basic rules are straightforward: camp at least 250 feet from a trail, road, or stream, and stay out of areas marked as closed to camping. Hang food high or store it in an approved bear-resistant canister. Backcountry fires aren't allowed except in designated fire rings. The Shenandoah hiking guide includes routes that work well with an overnight backcountry trip.

How and when to reserve a Shenandoah campsite

All reservations go through Recreation.gov. The booking window generally opens six months in advance on a rolling basis. A site for August 15, for example, becomes available on February 15. Log in at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on the day reservations open because July and August weekends can disappear within minutes. Lewis Mountain is entirely first-come, first-served, so arrive early in the morning during peak season. Check when to visit Shenandoah to choose the season that fits your trip.

Fees: how much does a night of camping cost in Shenandoah?

All four park campgrounds charge the same rate: $30 per site per night, regardless of the campground. There is no difference based on amenities or location. The park entrance fee ($30 per vehicle, or $55 for the park's annual pass) is added to the camping fee. The America the Beautiful pass ($80 per year) covers admission to all U.S. national parks and other federal recreation sites. It pays for itself after visiting two or three parks. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Park Fees & Passes page.

Camping safety and best practices

Black bears: Shenandoah is home to a large black bear population. The rule is firm: never leave food, a cooler, or scented products such as toothpaste, deodorant, or sunscreen in a tent or vehicle overnight. All four campgrounds have bear-proof lockers, so use them every time. If you encounter a bear, speak firmly, make yourself look larger, and don't run.

Temperatures: The ridge averages 9 to 11°F cooler than the valley below. In spring or fall, temperatures at higher elevations can drop below freezing overnight even when the daytime weather is mild, so bring a sleeping bag rated for the conditions.

Snakes: Timber rattlesnakes live in the park. Watch where you place your hands and feet on rocks, and wear high-top shoes on the trails.

Speed on Skyline Drive: The speed limit is 35 mph along the entire road. Deer and bears frequently cross, especially at dawn and dusk.

Which campground fits your trip?

Family with kids: Big Meadows, with 221 sites, full services, showers, and an on-site store.

RV without electrical hookups: Big Meadows or Loft Mountain for the amenities, including showers and a dump station; Mathews Arm for larger sites and convenient northern access from the Washington, D.C., area.

Quiet tent camping in the woods: Lewis Mountain, with 30 first-come, first-served sites and dense forest, or an overnight backcountry trip with a free permit.

Fall foliage: Loft Mountain offers open views of the colorful ridges in the southern district, along with 207 sites and full services.

Find the forecast on the Shenandoah Weather page.

Frequently asked questions