Shenandoah National Park Camping

Located in northwestern Virginia, Shenandoah National Park parallels the George Washington National Forest almost 90 miles northwest of Richmond. The park covers 197,411 acres and welcomes campers looking to explore the park's Blue Ridge Mountains, sprawling forests and natural wildlife.

Campgrounds

• The park features four organized campgrounds--Loft Mountain, Lewis Mountain, Big Meadows and Mathews Arm--which open in the spring and close in the fall. Loft Mountain, Big Meadows and Mathews Arm have RV accommodations that include drinking water and dump stations, but no water, electric or sewer hookups; Lewis Mountain offers only tent camping. Some sites may be reserved ahead of time, but most are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wilderness Camping

• Backpackers can camp anywhere within the 80,000 acres of pure wilderness in Shenandoah National Park as long as they have a free Backcountry Camping Permit. These areas are only accessibly via the 500 miles of hiking trails, so all of your equipment must be easily transportable.

Facilities

• All of the organized campgrounds except for Mathews Arm provide restrooms, showers and a laundry facility. There are also picnic areas throughout the park that include restrooms that area accessible with assistance.