Shenandoah National Park

[wbwood]

Which campground during the month of July and why?

-Big Meadow
-Mathews Arm
-Loft Mountain

[phillyg]

I used to live 10 minutes from the Front Royal (North) entrance to the SD so I'm very familiar with it and the CGs. I'd choose Big Meadows, Loft Mountain and Matthews Arm, in that order. Time of year does not matter IMHO.

[beemerphile1]

My favorite sites are in the Loft Mountain campground and cannot be reserved. They are sites A-11 through I think A-16. They are less than 50 feet from the Appalachian trail on the edge of the mountain and the sunsets are amazing.

If you rent one of those sites expect company at dusk because many other campers come down to sit on the rocks and be awed by the sunset.

Edit to add; If you like to hike my favorite is Old Rag. Pack a lunch, leave early, and picnic at the top.

[wbwood]

Shot-N-Az wrote:

wbwood wrote:
Thanks all...made reservations for Big Meadows for July 4th weekend.....got site E190

Spreading our wings a little with the NPS... have reservations for Memorial Day weekend at Linville Falls on the BRP. Will be our second time there.

And then in June, we will be heading to Oregon Inlet on the Outer Banks for a week. Will be our first time there.

That's a decent spot from what I recall, and easy to get into. I've stayed in E196 twice. E196 is level, but very tight squeezing a big MH into.

Yeah, after I made the reservation, I saw where someone listed it as one of their favorites for the campground.

[scrubjaysnest]

Our favorite is Lewis Mountain; less then 30 sites.

[Shot-N-Az]

wbwood wrote:
Thanks all...made reservations for Big Meadows for July 4th weekend.....got site E190

Spreading our wings a little with the NPS... have reservations for Memorial Day weekend at Linville Falls on the BRP. Will be our second time there.

And then in June, we will be heading to Oregon Inlet on the Outer Banks for a week. Will be our first time there.

That's a decent spot from what I recall, and easy to get into. I've stayed in E196 twice. E196 is level, but very tight squeezing a big MH into.

[RoyB]

Brain - Check out some the trees up at LOFT MTN Camp... I can't remember ever seeing this before in the woods...

This must be where a tree limb has been broken off but all over the camp sites on top of LOFT MTN have little canopy like growths shown here. You can almost gaurentee under everyone of them is a Black widow spider haha...

They look like solid tree growth to me but google claims they are a fungus growth thing...


Roy Ken

[wbwood]

Thanks all...made reservations for Big Meadows for July 4th weekend.....got site E190

Spreading our wings a little with the NPS... have reservations for Memorial Day weekend at Linville Falls on the BRP. Will be our second time there.

And then in June, we will be heading to Oregon Inlet on the Outer Banks for a week. Will be our first time there.

[RoyB]

Brian - If you really want to get OFF-ROAD like some of your NC camp spots are the place to go behind Harrisonburg on US33 and go back into the Geore Washinton National Forest along the VA and WVA wooded state line.

We got us a hidden site just down from a very popular 4WD JEEP Club site called FLAGGPOLE KNOB or RIDGE which is just off one of the Forest service Roads 85A... You almost need 4X4 and tall wheels to get back into some of these places... I really really like camping here for days on end.

My spot overlooks several rolls of mtns you can for miles away upon top. Once I get setup with my OFF-ROAD POPUP I also put up CAMO PANELS to further hide my activities. The only time I make noise is from 8AM to around 11AM recharging my battery bank running my 2KW Honda Generator.

This is where I go to get my Ham Radio Emergency Operations fills and test out new OFF-ROAD Radio things...

This is the Next bigger mountain range West of Skyline Drive...

Very seldom get bothered by anyone here...

Roy Ken

[RoyB]

Big Meadow was always FULL-UP FIRST... It is the most popular camping site. Has a hugh TENT Site setup along with a very nice and large additional picnic area.

It seems the wildlife is the biggest show here as well. A hugh meadow just off the SKYLINE DRIVE main road and when dusk comes this area is plum full of folks taking photos...

We always go for LOFT MTN which is also a very nice large area with camp store and close-by way-station with gasoline and a restaurant etc...

I got to know the rangers at LOFT Mtn very well over the years... Always turn over backwards to keep things running smooth.

Another area just South of the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance is another great place just off of US64 at AFTON MTN called SHERANDO LAKE. This is a large area and has some full hookup sites... We actually like this site better than LOFT MTN...

We camp at both places alot with our OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer and see larger trailers at both places as well...

This is a camp setup at LOFT MTN


Roy Ken

[Shot-N-Az]

Big Meadow because there are more reservable sites.

[pinesman]

I have not stayed at Matthews Arm but I have driven through and it is rather small. My favorite is Loft Mountain but with our current 38' fifth wheel, it is not as easy to get a site that we can fit in and yet like. The sites are more secluded and private with more natural undergrowth between the sites. However, they do tend to be steeper and require more leveling. Big Meadows has more larger sites which can accommodate us but they are also more open with less privacy. If given a choice and able to get into a site that I like, I would chose Loft Mt.

[Hondavalk]

Big Meadows or Loft Mountain were recommended to us by the park ranger. We were on motorcycles and tent camped at Loft Mountain and found the sites large and the scenery breathtaking. The sites were mostly pull through as I remember with a small path leading off to a secluded sitting area or tent spot.

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm