Big Meadows Campground
The Quick Take
Big Meadows is the campground equivalent of a base camp for Shenandoah's greatest hits. Parked right at mile 51 on Skyline Drive, it puts you within striking distance of Dark Hollow Falls — the park's shortest waterfall hike and therefore its most crowded — plus the sprawling meadow that gives the place its name. With over two hundred sites, a camp store, and a dump station, this is Shenandoah's full-service option, which means you trade solitude for convenience. There are no showers or flush toilets, which surprises people given the price tag and the otherwise solid amenity list. Cell service is nonexistent, so plan your entertainment accordingly. Bears are genuinely active here, and the food storage rules are enforced, not suggested. Choose Big Meadows if you want a central location with easy road access and don't mind neighbors — this is the campground for doers, not hermits.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 221 sites are reservable.
Book at Shenandoah LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Seven ADA accessible sites are available for wheelchair access. Showers and laundry facilities are also wheelchair accessible. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10 p.m.
- Bear Safety:Bear, deer, raccoons, and skunks are year-round residents of Shenandoah.
- Checkout:Checkout time is noon.
- Occupancy:Be sure to clip your camping pass to your site post to show occupancy.
- Stay Limit:Stays are limited to 30 days.
Pro Tips
Reservations fill fast for fall foliage weekends in October — book the maximum six months in advance and target midweek arrivals if you have any flexibility. Weekend-only campers create Tuesday and Wednesday openings that are easier to snag.
Dark Hollow Falls trailhead is practically in your backyard, but hit it before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the Skyline Drive day-trippers. For a quieter waterfall experience, drive ten minutes south to South River Falls instead.
No electrical hookups means no charging devices unless you bring a portable battery pack. The camp store sells firewood and ice but mark up accordingly — stock up in Luray before you enter through Thornton Gap and save yourself a few dollars per bundle.
Photos
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
Via Thornton Gap Entrance Station (Luray, Route 211): upon entering Skyline Drive, make your way south to mile 51.2 (mile markers can be seen on the side of the Skyline Drive). Follow the signs to Big Meadows Campground, on your right. Via Swift Run Entrance Station (Elkton, Route 33): head north on the Drive to mile 51.2 (mile markers can be seen on the side of the Skyline Drive). Follow the signs to Big Meadows Campground, on your left.
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