Best RV Campground near Shenandoah National Park [Review]
If you’re looking for the best RV campground near Shenandoah National Park, look no further than Shenandoah River State Park campground.
This affordable campground is minutes away from the northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park, the adorable town of Front Royal, Virginia, and Luray Caverns.
Plus, staying here opens up even more hiking opportunities for your family while visiting western Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Below, you’ll find details on the campground, why we felt that it was the best RV camping in the area, and what else you can do nearby.
Our slightly messy campsite at Shenandoah River State Park
Shenandoah Valley RV Camping: What to Consider
Note: I was not paid or otherwise encouraged to stay at any of the following venues, and all stays were personally paid for. All opinions are my own based on my family’s experiences
The area of the Shenandoah Valley nearest the Shenandoah National Park northern entrance is the best place to spend your vacation.
Nearby Front Royal provides necessary grocery stores (Aldi, for one), as well as big box stores like Target and Walmart if you need clothes, RV items or tools.
Plus, the historic downtown Front Royal is adorable, offering quaint coffee shops and small boutiques within a few walkable blocks.
It makes sense to look at specific campgrounds in this area, so we’ve compared our #1 pick—Shenandoah River State Park—with a few others in close proximity.
Camping Options near Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park campgrounds v. Shenandoah River State Park camping
PIN ME!
While the campgrounds inside of Shenandoah National Park might be the first place you’d think to camp in this area, there are actually some drawbacks.
There are few exits off of Skyline Drive in the national park, which can make for a cumbersome day trip outside of the park.
Plus, the campgrounds inside the national park are closed in the winter, so you’re forced to look elsewhere between November and March.
Overall, we found that Shenandoah River State Park was more convenient to both the national park AND other attractions in the area.
Plus, the state park is less likely to fill up quickly like the in-demand national park spots.
Gooney Creek vs. Shenandoah River State Park
Gooney Creek campground is basic and tends to attract tent campers.
While I have absolutely nothing against tent campers (and have been one many times myself!), this area seems to draw in larger groups looking to party.
Much like our experiences at Lakewood Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, those loud, large groups can spoil an outdoor-based vacation.
The sites at Gooney Creek are also small—you’ll need a Class B or Class C under 30’ or a smaller travel trailer or pop-up.
While the sites at Shenandoah River State Park aren’t for the biggest rigs on the road, we saw several 35’ trailers and larger Class A’s comfortably parked.
Low Water Bridge Campground vs. Shenandoah River State Park
If you’re looking for a private campground similar to Shenandoah River State Park, Low Water Bridge campground is the closest.
Low Water Bridge campground is located on the Shenandoah River slightly south of the state park.
However, Low Water Bridge campsites only offer electricity hook-ups: you’ll need to top up your potable water at the entrance.
The riverfront sites don’t have any hook-ups, so you’d have to balance water views with your need for basic amenities.
We prefer Shenandoah River State Park as all of the sites have both water and electric hook-ups. There is a dump station at the front of the campground.
Stay organized on your next camping adventure! Get our list of most forgotten camping items and download the ultimate camping packing list.
Shenandoah River State Park Campground Review
Below, you’ll find everything you need to determine if the Shenandoah River State Park campground is perfect for your next camping trip in Shenandoah Valley.
We’ve included campsite photos, a review of our individual campsites, and an overview of amenities.
The campground is open year round, and rates are very reasonable. Tent sites start at $30 in the low season, while you can get a water and electric site for $45 in that same time period.
Why It's the Best RV Campground near Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah River State Park campground is the best RV campground near Shenandoah National Park for a few reasons:
The author with her Yorkie Doc Watson by the campfire in Shenandoah River State Park
It’s convenient to everything in this area.
It’s inexpensive when compared to private campgrounds in this area.
It’s clean and quiet.
There are outdoor activities on property.
When we’re traveling with our travel trailer, we look for campgrounds that have a good balance of kid-friendly amenities, location, and quiet.
Many state parks fit these requirements (such as our favorite Oconee State Park in upstate South Carolina!), so we hoped that Shenandoah River State Park would, too.
During our most recent trip to Virginia, this campground more than lived up to expectation, and we strongly recommend it to other families camping in this area.
Check-in Process
The check-in process at Shenandoah River State Park was one of the easiest that I’ve experienced so far.
The kids and puppies are ready to camp!
I made my reservation online and received a confirmation email nearly immediately with our site number and check-in procedures.
Essentially, all I had to do was drive to the campground, and find our last name on the site’s small wooden post out front.
The only hiccup occurred when we arrived, and it was only minor.
We had a bit of a mix-up in that we were supposed to have site 26, but our name was on the post for site 27.
We decided to pull into site 27 as it was clearly marked for us, and the camp hosts soon came around to let us know that they’d had to modify our reservation slightly.
The reasoning for the site move was because the previous inhabitants of site 26 had had a frozen water pump thanks to a big winter storm that moved out just before we arrived.
To give the park’s maintenance team time to fix site 26, they’d bumped us into site 27 in case we’d arrived early that day.
It turned out that the water had long been fixed by the time we got there around 6 PM, and all was well.
While a quick email clarifying the change would’ve been helpful, the camp hosts were great in clearing up the bit of confusion.
Setting Up Camp
Once we determined that we were in the correct site, my husband backed our Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH travel trailer into the site.
We purposefully bought a short camper—ours is just under 22’—so that we could fit just about anywhere.
The site could’ve fit a much longer camper or RV, so we had plenty of room to also park our tow vehicle on the asphalt pad.
The electric and water hook-up was easy and standard, and we were in place in no time.
Individual Campsite Review
Site 27 in Shenandoah River State Park was on the back loop (of 2 loops in the campground).
We were nearly as deep into the campground as it was possible to go without falling into the river.
We didn’t have direct river views, but we could hear the river through the trees at night.
I loved site 27 as it was near a trailhead for the Bluebird Trail, which runs along the Shenandoah River to other areas of the park.
Since site 27 is tucked back into the campground, it was quiet, and we only saw a few cars driving through during our entire 5-day stay.
The campsite, as mentioned above, does have water and electric hookups, just like all of the other campground sites.
There is a dump station at the front of the campground.
The walk to the laundry room/ bath house was less than 100 yards, but our kids rode their scooters, especially at night, to get there faster.
Shenandoah River State Park Campground Overview
Overall, this state park was clean and comfortable, and we wouldn’t hesitate to stay in in again!
While we did stay here in the low season for the Shenandoah Valley, the campground was nearly full for our entire week-long stay.
This is likely due to the fact that Shenandoah National Park closes their on-site campgrounds during the winter months.
If you’re planning to camp here from late spring to early fall, plan ahead. The rangers mentioned that the park sees a lot of activity when the weather warms up.
Shenandoah River State Park Campground Layout
The bath house and laundry room at Shenandoah River State Park
The campground is easy to find once you turn off of Stonewall Jackson Highway into the state park.
From the park’s main road, the romantically named Daughter of Stars Drive, you’ll make a left onto Overnight Road, and then turn right into the campground on Campers Loop.
As I mentioned previously, the campground check-in here is super easy. You make your way to your reserved site and a host will come by to ensure all is well.
The campground is composed of 2 loops, with the larger of the 2 loops at the front.
We stayed in the smaller loop in the back, which is closer to the river.
The bath house is situated at the junction of the 2 loops, so that the building is relatively convenient to the entire campground.
If you’re interested in tent camping, you can grab one of the 12 sites—these are all waterfront, but don’t include any water or electric.
Cabins and Yurts at Shenandoah River State Park
One of the yurts inside the campground
If you don’t have an RV, Shenandoah River State Park campground also offers up both cabins and yurts.
The cabins are small and rustic, but they would be adorable for a fun weekend away.
The yurts are about the same size as the cabins and come with a generous front porch.
Our vote for the best yurt would be Yurt 2, which is on the back loop of the campground and situated next to the river.
>> Don’t forget anything with our helpful yurt packing list (with free printable download!) <<
None of the cabins have waterfront views, and they’re all in a line, so we didn’t have a preference for those.
These accommodations start at $115 in the low season for Virginia residents. Prices are slightly higher for non-Virginia residents, with an average nightly rate of $123 during that same period.
Check the Shenandoah River State Park fees guide for the most up to date information.
Shenandoah River State Park Campground Amenities and Activities
Hiking in the Shenandoah River State Park
The park’s natural beauty is the star of the show here.
The Camping Kiddos on the Hemlock Hollow Trail
There are several trails spanning more than 24 miles in the park, and all allow you to feel as if you’re a million miles away from everywhere. (In reality, you’re less than 2 hours from DC!)
Our favorite was the Bluebell Trail, which runs the length of the park along the South Bend of the Shenandoah River.
This trail is largely flat, though it can get muddy in places after a rain.
Along the way, you’ll be treated to the sounds of the river rushing by, and you might see a kayaker or two depending on how nice the weather is.
If you’re staying in the campground, there is a trailhead to the Bluebell Trail near Yurt 2 and just across from site 27.
If you follow the Bluebell Trail to its end, you can combine that section of the Bluebell Trail with the Hemlock Hollow Trail to get to the park’s small store.
The Hemlock Hollow Trail has a bit of elevation gain, but the path is well marked and made of hard packed dirt, so it’s pretty accessible.
Kayak launch
While I wouldn’t recommend going kayaking in the depths of winter, the rest of the year is a perfect time to get out on the river!
Bring your own kayak and launch it from within the campground.
The launch is just a few feet beyond the the Bluebell Trail’s campground trailhead.
The launch is small and a bit muddy, but it still accomplishes what it sets out to do.
Best Things to Do near Shenandoah River State Park
While you could easily stay inside the state park for your entire vacation, you need to get out and explore!
This area of the Shenandoah Valley has some incredible things to do and see.
Here are our family’s favorites.
Hiking in Shenandoah National Park
My husband and son at one of the overlooks inside Shenandoah National Park
We don’t get tired of hiking pretty much ever!
If your family is like ours, and you’re always ready to hit the trail, the nearby Shenandoah National Park has some great options.
We particularly love the waterfall trails in the national park as well as the super kid-friendly Fox Hollow Trail. (The latter is a part of the incredible and free TRACK Trails program.)
Get all of our recommendations for easy, kid friendly hikes in Shenandoah National Park here.
And if you’re looking to fully experience one of the U.S.’s most visited parks, I have more helpful trip planning guides!
Here are our suggestions on how to best tackle Shenandoah National Park with kids, including what to do, how long to stay, where to picnic, and more.
For more detailed daily suggestions, check out the complete Shenandoah National Park itinerary, with plans for 1, 3, and 7 day visits.
Exploring Front Royal
An easy 15 minute drive north of the state park is the charming town of Front Royal, Virginia.
While it’s most visited as the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park, this historic locale is worth a stop of its own.
Linger over a coffee at Main Street Daily Grinds Cafe in the heart of downtown (get the window seats for the best view).
Then, explore some of the boutiques on East Main Street. We found cute t-shirts and stickers at Turnmeyers, and expanded our outdoor gear at Mountain Trails.
Wander through the rooms and rooms of new and used books at the incredible Royal Oak Bookshop on Royal Street.
The bookstore is actually 2 attached houses that have been many things over the years, including a Civil War hospital!
End your day with a movie at the vintage-inspired Royal Cinemas on Main Street.
Visiting Luray Caverns
While it might not be as big as Mammoth Cave National Park, or as elaborately decorated as Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Luray Caverns is super kid-friendly and definitely worth a trip.
The self-guided tour takes you under the valley floor so that you can see everything from thin, delicate pieces of rock that are nearly see-through to an enormous column of rock that fell millions of years ago.
Probably the most memorable item is the cave organ, which is automated to pipe out a classical song every few minutes.
It’s the largest pipe organ in the world, according to Guinness Book of World Records.
Plus, the caverns aren’t the only thing to see here. Over the years, the attraction has expanded into a campus with a candy store, toy museum, living history museum, and classic car collection.
All of these extras are included in your ticket.
Shenandoah River State Park Campground FAQs
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Shenandoah River State Park is the best RV campground near Shenandoah National Park thanks to its quiet, spacious sites and great hiking.
Plus, it’s convenient to everything that the Shenandoah Valley has to offer.
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The closest stores are going to be in Front Royal, about a 10-15 minute drive north of the campground.
Here, you’ll find grocery stores like Walmart and Aldi, big box stores like Target, and plenty of restaurants.
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The lots are paved and spacious, so most travel trailers and RVs will be able to stay at Shenandoah River State Park.
Our 21’ travel trailer took up a hilariously small patch on the concrete pad. We saw many Class A motorhomes parked in the campground, and I think that all but the largest of rigs would be able to stay here.
