Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah (VA)

Shenandoah National Park

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.

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.

Notifications and Alerts

• Our facility will be undergoing construction that could impact the availability of some amenities and services. Please visit our agency website for additional information.

• Sections of the waterline at Big Meadows Campground are being replaced. Work is ongoing and may continue into the fall depending on weather. We will provide updates if construction is expected to impact visitors planning on staying in the campground.

Need to Know

• Black bears, deer, skunks, raccoons and other wildlife share this space with you; please plan to store all food, hygiene items and trash in appropriate containers or your vehicle
• You are responsible for following all park and campground regulations here
• There are no RV hook-ups but there is a dump station with potable water available
• Bring a wash basin for washing your dishes, utility sinks are not provided for all sites; dirty water may be dumped in toilets.
• Generator hours are 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. with a 60 decibel limit
• There is a $30 fee per vehicle to enter the park. The pass issued is valid for one week
• Upon arrival to the campground, please check in at the registration office. If you arrive after hours, directions will be posted at that office
• Unleaded fuel and diesel are available 24/7 at Big Meadows Wayside (milepost 51.2)
• Firewood may not be available for purchase after 5 p.m. If you plan to arrive late, you may want to consider purchasing firewood in route. Due to the spread of invasive insects, only kiln dried USDA approved firewood is permitted. Help protect our forest, Click here for more information.
• Cell phone reception is very limited throughout the park
• No propane or propane fill up is available in the park

• Check out time is noon.  

• campground map 

• "Walk up" sites are sites that are only available on a first come/first served basis. We cannot hold these sites-you must be present to occupy the site. The inventory shown on this site only shows how many sites are walk ups, it does not show the current occupancy. These sites typically sell out late Thursday evening or early Friday morning. There are seldom any available by Saturday.

•  To call the campground office directly call: 540-999-3231 

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.

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.

Changes & 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.

Contact Information

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Shenandoah National Park Headquarters,
3655 U.S. Highway 211 East Luray VA 22835

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 540-999-3500 X 3747

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Washington, D.C., metro area, travel west on Interstate 66 to exit 43A. Take US Highway 29 south to Warrenton, Virginia, then merge onto US Highway 211 west to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive Thornton Gap Entrance. Take Skyline Drive south approximately 19 miles and turn right into the Big Meadows area. Follow the signs to Big Meadows Campground.



From Richmond, Virginia area, travel west on Interstate 64 to exit 136 for Zion Crossroads, Virginia. Take exit to US Highway 15 North, then turn onto US Highway 33 west and follow 28 miles to the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, Swift Run Gap Entrance. Take Skyline Drive North approximately 15 miles and turn left into the Big Meadows area. Follow the signs to Big Meadows Campground.

Available Campsites

• Site D144, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E180, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A064, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D164, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D162, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B120, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B110, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A068, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E177, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site F202, Loop F Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site E182, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E181, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E197, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 043, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site E190, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D148, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A069, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B116, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A091, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A094, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E188, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A072, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site H217, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D168, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A071, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D147, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A081, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B107, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site B115, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A061, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A073, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site B111, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B105, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A079, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E172, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G207, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E185, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D145, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E187, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B109, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A074, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E178, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A070, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A087, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site H211, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site F203, Loop F Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E192, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site E191, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D151, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A101, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E196, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D158, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A082, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A100, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D157, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A078, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A058, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site G208, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G209, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A062, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 037, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site E186, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A080, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D153, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G206, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B108, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D166, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E184, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D159, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E176, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A086, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D161, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G205, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D156, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site F200, Loop F Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site H216, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D149, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site F198, Loop F Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A103, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E174, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A077, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D142, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site H213, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B119, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A095, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G204, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A092, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A104, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D160, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E193, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A083, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D167, Loop D Loop, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D165, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B114, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site E194, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A099, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A102, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D146, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A085, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A066, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D155, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B117, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E183, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site B113, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A089, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site H215, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E173, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E189, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site F201, Loop F Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A090, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A088, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E179, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site E195, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site H214, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A067, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A076, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A065, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G210, Loop G Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A098, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B106, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site B112, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site D150, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D143, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D154, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site H212, Loop H Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D169, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site E175, Loop E Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A075, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site F199, Loop F Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D163, Loop D Loop, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
• Site A063, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A060, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A084, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A093, Loop A Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D152, Loop D Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B118, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop Generator Prohibited, Type Tent Only Nonelectric

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