I have researched some post already but I am looking for any additional information about Lot Mtn Campground and Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park. Thinking of doing a week next summer and splitting the time between these two parks. Should I skip one and or do the split? I have 36ft with Long Bed Truck. What are best sites based on first hand knowledge? Ideas of what to do other than hike and relax (have 5 and 7 yr old girls). Any trouble pulling up the Skyline Drive from 64 to Loft Mtn Campground or going from Loft to Big Meadows?Any information or photos from those that have been to these campgrounds will be very helpful.Thanks

We stayed at Big Meadows for 3 days several years ago. I remember it being a really good experience. I remember the rangers showed the campers a film about the bears and the damage they can do getting to food. Yes, we would go back.

Big Meadows will have the most wildlife to see especially at dusk each evening.. The bad thing about Big Meadows is it will be crowded and the camp grounds will fill up quickly...... We always stay at LOFT MTN which is very and not so crowded. Both places have a restaurant/way station at the entrance to the camp ground on the main road. Both places do not have Electric hookups but you can get water from a spigot near the bath room buildings... Cell Phone service is spoty at best... We got good HDTV signals from the Virginia side of the mtn using the batwing OTA antenna. Watch you battery usage however if you are not setup for camping off grid. One battery one night is the rule of thumb if you have to run your propane heater with 12VDC blower fan. If you have a generator be prepared to ask for a generator use allowed site when checking in... They will have generator run time restrictions in place also...We are sepup for camping OFF-GRID with our bigger battery bank and can do almost the same as we do at regular camp grounds running the appliances etc except for thr air conditioner and the high wattage microwave unit. We will run down our battery to its 50% charge state by 8Am the next morning which is when we can run our generator for three hours to re-charge the battery bank back up to its 90% charge state so we can do this all over again the next day/night run off our batteries.Both Big Meadows and LOFT Mtn is between two main entrance points to the Shenandoah Natl Park Drive if you are needing to go to a close by town for supplies...Big Meadows probably has more close by things to hike to to see and do but again the downside for us was they were always very much loaded down with folks coming and going.While you guys are in the this area be sure to drive down and check out Sherando Lake Recreation Area off of I64 at the Waynesboro VA exit. You might like this campground better than both Big meadows and LOFT Mtn... It is truly a jewel... Roy Ken

Remember that both campgrounds do not have any hook ups. Both have a section designated for no generators. Generator hours in the designated sites are liberal...8 AM to 9 PM if my memory serves me. Loft Mountain is quite a hill climb to the campground but is very doable. Of the two, I prefer Loft Mountain.

We avoid both as to big and busy. You might see a bear in the apple tress at Loft in the fall.

We have stayed at both Loft Mountain and Big Meadows. Although we enjoy dining at the lodge at Big Meadows, we much prefer Loft Mountain. It seems a lot more peaceful there, and we enjoy all the hiking. As "they" say - YMMV.Ted H.

Shenandoah National Park Loft Mtn and Big Meadows Info

jayco304
Explorer
Dec 09, 2016
Loft is under some construction and not taking reservation, they are doing walk up only when they open so we are going to book Big Meadows. Our kids wanted to do a different park this year other than Smokey Mtns
TriumphGuy
Explorer
Dec 09, 2016
Not sure if it has been said before, but if you're coming to Big Meadows on Skyline Drive from the north there could be a tunnel clearance issue.

Other than that, we were at Shenandoah this past summer, but stayed at the Luray KOA and drove the toad in. I was going to try to get a spot at Big Meadows but our trip got delayed and we didn't get to the area until the Thursday ... I chickened out on trying to get a first-come site and went to the KOA.

The next day (Friday) we drove up for sightseeing and spoke to a couple who were camping there. They said quite a few big sites were still open the day before :(

Next time I'll try!
pinesman
Explorer
Dec 07, 2016
Here are a few pictures for you. You can look at just about every site in both campgrounds. We really prefer Loft Mountain but not all of their sites are reservable and our 38' fifth wheel will not fit just anywhere.

Big Meadows

Loft Mountain
bukhrn
Explorer III
Dec 02, 2016

Loft Mtn. , neighbors are over there somewhere.:)
bukhrn
Explorer III
Dec 02, 2016
jayco304 wrote:
Okay now some specifics about sites. Anyone that has been enough times to remember Big Meadows best sites what is your feedback about site 190, 202, and 212? I am concerned about getting a large truck and camper in and out of the sites and being able to open slides and awning? Any feedback?
In Big Meadow, we stayed in F-203 which is huge, though I don't think you'll have any trouble getting into any of the sites, Notice the open grass area to the right in the photo, that is NOT another site, so no one will be moving in on that side.

In Loft Mtn, try A loop, nice pull through's with great separation for privacy, any site From A-14 to A-23 should work, with A-19 being the biggest. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/loft_mtn_cg_combined_web_2016.pdf
A-19 Loft Mtn.
jayco304
Explorer
Dec 01, 2016
Okay now some specifics about sites. Anyone that has been enough times to remember Big Meadows best sites what is your feedback about site 190, 202, and 212? I am concerned about getting a large truck and camper in and out of the sites and being able to open slides and awning? Any feedback?
RGar974417
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
We stayed at Big Meadows which was ok. We were in a generator loop. Loft Mountain is less crowded. But after we left Big Meadows, we wnt to Sherando Lake about 10 miles east of mile marker 18 on the Blue Ridge Highway. They have some great campsites there.
wxtoad
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
We have stayed at both Loft Mountain and Big Meadows. Although we enjoy dining at the lodge at Big Meadows, we much prefer Loft Mountain. It seems a lot more peaceful there, and we enjoy all the hiking. As "they" say - YMMV.

Ted H.
scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
We avoid both as to big and busy. You might see a bear in the apple tress at Loft in the fall.
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Nov 13, 2016
Remember that both campgrounds do not have any hook ups. Both have a section designated for no generators. Generator hours in the designated sites are liberal...8 AM to 9 PM if my memory serves me. Loft Mountain is quite a hill climb to the campground but is very doable. Of the two, I prefer Loft Mountain.