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Published: Jan 4, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links

Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah National Park

Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia is centrally located in the park with easy access right off of the famous Skyline Drive. This front country campground is near the lodge, store, and attractions within the park. 

Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah National Park

Camping in Big Meadows Campground is the perfect way to enjoy a vacation in Shenandoah NP. There is a paved road and parking pads for each campsite, the sites are shaded, and well maintained.

We were really impressed with how nice the campsites were and how close the campground is to everything in the park. 

Number of Sites: 221

Location in the park: centrally located in Shenandoah National Park

Campsite Cost: $20 for standard campsites, $40 for group sites

Senior/Access Camping Fee: Holders of Interagency Senior and Access passes are eligible for a 50% discount on their camping fee. 

Park Entrance Fees: $30 for a 7 day vehicle pass.

Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.

The park pass covers everyone in the car for per vehicle sites and for up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Reservations: Yes, starting in early May there is a combination of first come first serve and reservation sites. 

Campground Address: 304 Big Meadows Access Road, Robertson, VA, 22851

Latitude

38° 31' 43.0298" N

Longitude

78° 26' 19.4100" W

Accessible Sites: Seven accessible sites are available at Big Meadows Campground. Showers and laundry facilities are also wheelchair accessible.

Pets Allowed: Yes, Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. 

Check out our full Shenandoah NP Camping Guide

Campground Reservations 

In early spring, Big Meadows Campground operates on a first-come-first-serve basis, only. Beginning in early May, there is a combination of sites offered through reservations and on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

168 sites are reservable, 53 sites are first come first served. 

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes, there are also first come first served sites

Phone Number? 877-446-6777

Online? Recreation.gov

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? 6 months

First Come, First Served? Yes

Campground Amenities

Dump Station: There is a dump station a 1/4 mile from the campground. 

Bear Boxes: Yes, Most sites had bear boxes. Black Bears are common in the park so you want to make sure to secure your food at all times. 

Flush Toilets: Yes

Payphone: No

Is wifi available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available? Yes, we had 5G service with T-Mobile in the campground

Is camp host available on site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? To help slow the spread of the emerald ash borer, visitors must only use USDA-certified firewood (signified by the USDA stamp on packaging), which can be purchased in the Park.

You can purchase firewood at the store just down the road. 

Amenities at each campsite: 

Fire pit in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Potable Water? Yes

RV Camping at Big Meadows Campground

Big Meadows Campground features pull-through and deep back-in sites which can handle most RVs and a tow vehicle.

Generators:  Generators may be used from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

From October 15 through the end of the season, generator hours are extended to 9 p.m. for the purpose of generating heat.

Generator use is prohibited in sites designated as “generator-free” and in group sites.

For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss! 

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando

How to get to Campground

Via Thornton Gap Entrance Station (Luray, Route 211): upon entering Skyline Drive, make your way south to mile 51.2 (mile markers can be seen on the side of the Skyline Drive). Follow the signs to Big Meadows Campground, on your right.
 
Via Swift Run Entrance Station (Elkton, Route 33): head north on the Drive to mile 51.2 (mile markers can be seen on the side of the Skyline Drive). Follow the signs to Big Meadows Campground, on your left.
 

Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: 6

Checkout time: 12 pm

Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am

Stay Limit: 30 days

use of charcoal grills is prohibited.

 

Big Meadows Campground Map

Big Meadows Campground Photos

Tent Site 6

 

Tent Walk In Sites

 

Site A59

 

Site A69

 

Site A74

 

Site A76

 

Site A79

 

Site A82

 

Site A99

 

Site F202

 

Site F203

Lodging near Shenandoah National Park

Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Conference Center -  At Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Conference Ctr, you can look forward to a terrace, a coffee shop/café, and dry cleaning/laundry services. The onsite restaurant, Montpelier Restaurant, features brunch and happy hour. In addition to a fireplace in the lobby and a bar, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

The Blackburn Inn - At The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center, you can look forward to a grocery/convenience store, a terrace, and shopping on site. Treat yourself to reflexology, a Swedish massage, or a manicure/pedicure at The Spa at the Blackburn, the onsite spa. Be sure to enjoy a meal at Second Draft, the onsite restaurant. In addition to a coffee shop/café and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Clarion Pointe Harrisonburg - At Clarion Pointe Harrisonburg, you can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and a garden. In addition to dry cleaning/laundry services and a 24-hour gym, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

The Village Inn Harrisonburg - A playground, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour gym are just a few of the amenities provided at The Village Inn Harrisonburg. The onsite restaurant, The Village Inn, features southern cuisine. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a business center.

Doubletree by Hilton Harrisonburg - Take advantage of dry cleaning/laundry services, a bar, and a gym at Doubletree by Hilton Harrisonburg. Free Wi-Fi in public areas is available to all guests, along with a 24-hour business center and a restaurant.

Click on the map below to see additional vacation rentals and lodging near the park.

 

Additional Shenandoah Resources

Shenandoah NP Camping Guide

Shenandoah Lodging Guide

Things to do in Shenandoah NP

Appalachian Trail

Check out all of the National Parks in Virginia along with neighboring National Parks in Washington DC , National Parks in North Carolina, National Parks in Kentucky, National Parks in West Virginia, and National Parks in Maryland 

« National Parks in the Southeast
Devils Garden Trail – Arches National Park »

Filed Under: Travel, US National Parks

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