Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah
Open for the 2026 season as of March 25. All sites are reservation-only through Recreation.gov. Repaving project scheduled for summer 2026; some sites may be temporarily closed or reservations relocated during construction. Intermittent power outages affecting showers and restrooms occurred in April but work has concluded.
From Recreation.gov
Big Meadow Campground will be **repaved this summer**. Some sites may be **closed or reservations relocated** during the project.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 11 at 4:13PM EDT until June 11 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 315 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 12 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND ANNE ARUNDEL HOWARD MONTGOMERY PRINCE GEORGES IN NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND CARROLL FREDERICK WASHINGTON IN NORTHERN MARYLAND BALTIMORE BALTIMORE CITY HARFORD IN WESTERN MARYLAND ALLEGANY GARRETT IN VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 21 COUNTIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA ARLINGTON CITY OF ALEXANDRIA CITY OF FAIRFAX CITY OF FALLS CHURCH CITY OF MANASSAS CITY OF MANASSAS PARK CULPEPER FAIRFAX FAUQUIER LOUDOUN PRINCE WILLIAM IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA CITY OF WINCHESTER CLARKE FREDERICK MADISON PAGE RAPPAHANNOCK SHENANDOAH WARREN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA CITY OF HARRISONBURG ROCKINGHAM IN WEST VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES IN EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA GRANT HAMPSHIRE HARDY MINERAL PENDLETON IN PANHANDLE WEST VIRGINIA BERKELEY JEFFERSON MORGAN THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ABINGDON, ADAMS MORGAN, ADEN, AIRLIE, ALBIN, ALEXANDRIA, ALONZAVILLE, ANNANDALE, ANNAPOLIS, ANTIOCH, ARCO, ARLINGTON, ARNOLD, BAKERTON, BALLENGER CREEK, BALLSTON, BALTIMORE, BARCROFT, BEAN SETTLEMENT, BENTONVILLE, BERKELEY SPGS, BERRYVILLE, BERRYVILLE, BETHEL, BETHESDA, BLOOMERY, BOWIE, BOYDS, BRADY, BRAKE, BRANDYWINE, BUCKEYSTOWN, BUCKTON, BURKE, BYNUM, CABINS, CARDOVA, CATALPA, CATONSVILLE, CEDAR GROVE, CEDARVILLE, CHANTILLY, CHARLES TOWN, CHERRYDALE, CHESTER GAP, CLARKSVILLE, CLARY, CLINTON, COLLEGE PARK, COLUMBIA, COMPTON, COUNTRYSIDE, CULPEPER, CUMBERLAND, DALE CITY, DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DUNDALK, EDGEWOOD, ELDERSBURG, ELLERSLIE, ESSEX, FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX STATION, FAIRVIEW, FALLS CHURCH, FELLS POINT, FISHER, FIVE FORKS, FORDSVILLE, FORT ASHBY, FOUR CORNERS, FRANKLIN, FREDERICK, FRENCHBURG, FRONT ROYAL, FROSTBURG, GAINESBORO, GAITHERSBURG, GAMBER, GERMANTOWN, GLEEDSVILLE, GLEN BURNIE, GLEN ECHO, GLENMONT, GRANTSVILLE, GREENBELT, HAGERSTOWN, HALFWAY, HAMBURG, HANCOCK, HARFORD FURNACE, HARRISONBURG, HAWKINSTOWN, HEADSVILLE, HICKORY, HISTORIC ELLICOTT CITY, HOWELLSVILLE, INDEPENDENT HILL, KEYSER, KIMBALL, KLINE GAP, LAKE RIDGE, LANDES, LANGLEY, LEESBURG, LINVILLE, LUCKETTS, LURAY, MADISON MILLS, MAGNOLIA, MAGNOLIA, MANASSAS, MANASSAS PARK, MARTINSBURG, MASONVILLE, MCCOOLE, MCLEAN, MCNEILL, MIDDLEWAY, MILLVILLE, MONTCLAIR, MONTPELIER, MOOREFIELD, MOUNT CLIFTON, MOUNT JACKSON, MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK, NEW CREEK, OAK FLAT, OAK GROVE, OAKLAND, PARK HEIGHTS, PARK MILLS, PARKVILLE, PAW PAW, PETERSBURG, POINTS, PURGITSVILLE, RANDALLSTOWN, RANSON, RAPIDAN, RAWLINGS, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, RESTON, REVA, RIDGEVILLE, RIDGEWAY, RILEYVILLE, RIVERCREST, RIVERTON, ROMNEY, ROSSLYN, RUDDLE, RUSSELLDALE, SEVERN, SEVERNA PARK, SEYMOURVILLE, SHADY GROVE, SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, SILVER SPRING, SIMPSONVILLE, SKYLAND, SMITH CROSSROADS, SOUTH GATE, SPRINGFIELD, STERLING PARK, STEVENSBURG, STRASBURG, STRINGTOWN, SUGAR GROVE, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, TANTALLON, THREE CHURCHES, TOWSON, TURNBULL, TWYMANS MILL, WAPOCOMO, WARRENTON, WASHINGTON, WELTON, WESTMINSTER, WINCHESTER, WINSTON, WOODBRIDGE, WOODLAWN, WOODSTOCK, AND WOODSTOCK.
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.
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | Yes |
| Price | $30 - $75 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 70ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 85ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (540) 999-3500 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Availability
Photos
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