Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah

About

Secluded in the thick forests and rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park, Big Meadows Campground provides an ideal base for exploring the central section of the park. Located at mile 51.2 on Skyline Drive, the campground sits at an elevation that offers cooler temperatures than the surrounding valleys. Each of the 221 sites includes a fire ring and picnic table, with options ranging from standard tent/RV sites to walk-in tent-only sites and group camping areas. The campground's central location provides easy access to some of the park's most popular destinations. Big Meadows itself, a 150-acre grassy clearing, is renowned for wildlife viewing and wildflower displays. Dark Hollow Falls, Lewis Falls, and Rose River Falls are all within hiking distance. Byrd Visitor Center, featuring exhibits on park history and natural resources, is a one-mile walk via trail or sidewalk. The Big Meadows Lodge and Wayside offer dining options nearby. Amenities include flush toilets, coin-operated showers, potable water spigots, a dump station, and a seasonal camp store selling firewood, ice, and camping supplies. Food storage lockers help protect belongings from the park's resident black bears, deer, and raccoons. The campground offers both pull-through and deep back-in sites to accommodate most RVs, though no hookups are available. Generator use is permitted during limited hours.

Directions

Do NOT use Tanners Ridge Road to access the campground; it does not connect to Skyline Drive. From Washington D.C., take I-66 west to exit 43A, then US-29 south to Warrenton and US-211 west to Thornton Gap Entrance. Drive south on Skyline Drive approximately 19 miles and turn right into Big Meadows. From Richmond, take I-64 west to exit 136 (Zion Crossroads), then US-15 north to US-33 west to Swift Run Gap Entrance. Drive north on Skyline Drive approximately 15 miles and turn left into Big Meadows.