Big Meadows Campground

We stayed her for 5 nights in site F202, a pull-through site. Our site was huge and level, with lots of room between sites. Most sites in the campground are back-ins. About half of the sites are level, many are best suited for tents only. There is zero cell service in the campground itself, but you can walk 5 minutes to the amphitheater and get a signal. The campground was very quiet during the week (in May) but was very busy and noisy on the weekend. There are no hook-ups here. Most of the sites are reserveable, but there are some first-come-first-serviced sites also. We would stay here again.

We paid the senior rate and had a large, level pull thru site. Lots to do here - hiking, ranger led activities, visitor center, views along skyline drive, a lodge with restaurant and gift shop, etc. We loved that the Appalachian Trail was just a couple of campsites away! It was very quiet during the week and completely full on the weekend. The bath house near us was old but adequate, though not air conditioned and the electrical outlet didn't work. There was another one close by but it was closed as they were working on it. The only showers were in a temporary trailer while the permanent ones were being remodeled. The new ones were beautiful, but are for pay. We found the cell service at the amphitheater to be spotty as was the wifi service at the lodge. The campground is on the Skyline Drive which has very limited access but terrific views as you come and go. The star rating for access reflects the idyllic Skyline Drive to get there, not convenience.

The campground is ok. Very little privacy with open areas with few trees. Facilities where decent. No hookups at all and no cell service.

One of the nicest national park campgrounds we have ever been in. Like all national parks, it is dry camping. Sites are large, we can easily fit our 35’ fifth wheel and truck. There are two loops that can’t be reserved – 32 sites. The rest are reservable. We arrived the Monday before Memorial day and there were plenty of sites. There are coin operated showers, laundry, shop, restrooms, dump station, trash and recycle bins. Water is available from the restrooms and there are water spigots, drinking fountains and taps throughout the campground. The campground is halfway along the Skyline Drive.

Green grass, lots of trees that are not too close to your asphalt parking pad and therefore are not in the way of your slides. Some sites have a concrete pad for the table. All have a fire pit.

Cell reception can be found at the amphitheatre if you get out of your car, once connected you can get back in. We also got reception out on the Skyline drive. The Big Meadow lodge has free WiFi. There is gas and diesel available at the turnoff to the campground. Generators are allowed in nearly all the campsites, except loops A&B which are mainly tent sites. Generator hours are 8-10am and 4-7pm.

Non reservable loops are C & I, while the sites in I are pull through and long, all but one is on a slope.

Showers: $1.75 for 5.25 minutes
Washers: $1, Dryers: 0.25 for 10 minutes
Restrooms: have luke warm water, an power outlet for a hairdryer, soap and hand dryer

I was excited about our stay in Big Meadows – we reserved out spot months in advance and carefully selected site E-173, a pull-through right next to the Appalachian Trail. How cool would that be?! Well, not nearly as cool as we thought. The site was situated so our door/patio faced the very busy camp road and was on a fairly steep slope that made getting level a real trick. But we’re still right next to the Appalachia Trial – well sort of. The space next to us is angled so our neighbors tent is maybe 5 feet from our RV and between us and the trail. We are KOA close – just not what I had anticipated.

It appears that site quality and separation vary quite a bit. Getting level would be extremely challenging in many of the spaces. Limited generator hours throughout the park and some areas where generators are prohibited. No hookups. Probably the best options for larger rigs are some of the pull-throughs in the middle of the campground (loops F, G and H). There are lots of mature trees but no vegetation for privacy between sites. There are bathrooms, dumpsters and recycling cans throughout the park. A concessionaire runs a small store, showers, and laundry facilities by the entrance.

Big Meadows it situated about the middle of the Shenandoah National Park and you can walk to the Byrd Visitor Center and Big Meadows Wayside (store, restaurant, gas station). Easy access to a number of hiking trails including the Appalachian Trail. We enjoyed our time here and would stay again for the great hiking and lovely Skyline Drive.

Note – many of those beautiful mature trees are huge oaks and when the falling acorns hit the RV roof it sounded like gunshots! Let’s just say my startle reflex got a good work out. :)

We did not have consistent Verizon cell service – it fluctuated almost constantly going from no service at all to 1X, 3G, and occasionally 2 bars of 4G. Our booster didn’t help. No Wifi.

Our site was on the outside edge (always my first choice) so we had a view of an endless woods filled with golden ragwort. There are many excellent hiking trails in the area, several short but rocky ones to waterfalls, and even some for the hardcore hiker (try White Oak Canyon or stretches of the AT). It is Virginia, so don't be shocked by radically changing weather. On this short trip we started off with hot, sunny, passing thunderstorm weather, woke up to nice-but-I'm-still-sweaty-after-hiking weather, quickly shifting to damp, bone-chilling, down-jacket-wearing, even my dog is shivering and needs a blanket, how can it almost be June weather for most of Saturday and Sunday. (Seriously, it is May 21st.) The cold was caused by thick clouds that just sat on us (and must have been part of the nor'easter) so you could watch the clouds just pass between you and the tent 5 feet away. The woods looked like a scene from the hobbit. Several people in our group who were in tents opted for warming up in the lodge tap room and the campstore diner, but one got lost twice walking back in the fog. Bicyclists on Skyline Drive had to give up or risk almost certain vehicular death. Very heavy bear traffic here as well, but they provide bear boxes to the walk-to tent sites, which doesn't keep them from trying, though, as one did near us this morning. This is a popular campground, so don't expect to drive up and get a site on spring, summer and fall weekends. Laundry, pay showers, decent camp store, lodge with wifi, ampitheater, cabins. Verizon 4G, 3 bars at the amphitheater, but not at our site. I think folks with sites on the outer edges that back up to the woods and meadows have a different experience than those on the inside or near the camp road. We reserved months ahead to get one.

Most recent stay was June 23rd thru June 26th 2017 - I'm "late" in posting my review ~ We camp in a "Tear Drop” style RV only 15' long w/o toilet or shower ~ plus we like to eat outdoors using the picnic table and set up our dining canopy for sun and weather protection and thus rely on condition of campgrounds facilities and being nearby our site ~ so our critique is focused in that area

We had reservations in Big Meadow Campground [recommended] and did get close to the restroom with flush toilets and warm water sinks[several placed throughout the camp] but showers [private lockable rooms] were further away; the only one in camp at the entrance. Restrooms were cleaned twice a day [am/pm] but showers once daily [am] and they ran out of hot water every night due to full campground; best to take showers early am and bring extra quarters – in case you can’t finish in allotted time. Each shower had bench and hooks for towel and clothes but no rubber mats to keep feet dry when toweling off. Overall still a good experience using both facilities

Campsite B107 was a paved dry camp [no hookups] but potable water was close by. Best thing about government campgrounds is the sites are roomy, and private with wide grassy greenspaces between neighboring sites. Had nice shade trees all around to ward off summer heat, but still somewhat sunny Big Meadow is a great location for a base camp as you explore the park [its very large] to hike the many trails – including the Appalachian Trail which runs through it and be sure to visit the several visitors centers to gather more information of things to do. Don’t miss driving Skyline Drive taking advantage of pulling off the side of the road at the many overlooks and don’t miss the lodge. A camping trip to the Shenandoah is a perfect place to get away from the typical tourist traps laced with commercialism if you want to unwind turn off the phone and enjoy nature along with the peaceful solitude it has to offer.

We stayed here in mid June. Days were low 70s and nights were about 60 F. There are lots of trails and the AT goes right through here. There is an old lodge and many cabins to stay in. The lodge has a bar and dinning room also a gift shop. The camp store sells firewood and you can get 5 minute shower for $1.75. There is also laundry at the camp store. Do not leave food or a cooler out or in your tent if you are not on site, they will fine you. This is because there are bears around there. We saw 3 at different times. The deer walk right through the campsites. The best sites with a view are on E loop, 173, 175, 177,178,180, 183 and 185. Do not choose these sites with small children as the back of the sites drops down the side of the mountain. There are many walk up sites also and this is what we used. There are restrooms but no showers right in the camp area. The showers are up the hill at the camp store. You can get cell signal at the lodge area, the road on E loop and over by the amphitheater at the picnic grounds. There is also a nice information, park store and small restaurant where they serve burgers and ice cream on Skyline drive where you turn off to the Big Meadows Campground.

We really did have a good time at Big Meadows; however there were enough drawbacks that I would first try other campgrounds in the park. Since we only stayed here I can’t know whether the other campgrounds are any better.

My number one conplaint is that the dump station and water fill is far outside the campground. i.e there is no walking to it. So I had to tow my blue tank all over.

Second conplaint is just how close the sites were. B117 was a decent site but there were much better ones.

Also drainage is reall bad in some sites if it has been raining. Our site was surrounded by a swamp the whole time.

Gnats were annoying again maybe because so much rain.

But otherwise the canpground was mostly quiet and nice to be at.

We arrived at the park at 3:30PM, plenty of daylight to pick a decent spot. The park is seasonal and this year will close for the winter on November 12th. The campground was less than half full when we were there. We chose site A93. Nice almost level asphalt pad with fire ring and picnic table. Sites are clean and well maintained. There are no hookups here but there is fresh water at the dump station. There are plenty of restrooms located around this campground and there is a bathhouse with numerous showers and great laundry facility. But choose your shower in the laundry building as they seem to be cleaner and more spacious.
The Camp-Hosts and and staff here are friendly, informative and approachable. They have a great weather board at the gate that is kept current with a 3-day forecast. Internet is non-existent with Verizon and AT&T is very weak. You’ll have to head south on Skyline Drive to the first overlook to find decent reception but beware, you might not be able to turn around and come back for quite a ways depending on your length. And when driving, be sure to drive at or below the speed limit as there are numerous deer and other wildlife that stroll through the campground.
We stayed only one night. During our first night, a new camper arrived after dark and proceeded to set up their tent a few spots from us (A88) using a large tent with an attached screened in area. A dog, probably a puppy used this area as it’s dog-house through the rest of the night. Over that night, anytime the dog heard a noise, or someone walked by the tent, the dog barked for about five minutes. My wife and I were awakened at least 4 times during the night and as a result, didn’t get much sleep. When I approached the camp host in the morning and then a staff member later in that same morning and complained, I was told I could move. When I asked why I should move and not them, the response amounted to that dogs are not included when it comes to quiet hours. “As long as they are on a leash or inside the tent or car, there’s nothing we can do about it.” the staff member said. “I did speak with the camper about it, but there is nothing more we can do.” they said. We have found that Rangers really frown upon one camper addressing an issue with another camper, so we choose not to.
Since the campers with the dog picked a spot very central to the campground, we didn’t feel that it would make much difference if we decided to re-locate. So, we left. My wife and I have camped for the last year, many times using National Forest or National Park campgrounds. Though we have only seen this issue about 10% of the time, we feel it needs to be addressed. Quiet hours are not just for humans, they should apply all the way across the board.
Though we did leave the next day, we returned after the weekend and stayed for an additional 4 days. The return visit was fine and we would return again.