Loft Mountain Campground
The Quick Take
Loft Mountain is Shenandoah's best-kept secret for campers who want the full Blue Ridge experience without the Big Meadows circus. Perched on Big Flat Mountain at mile 79.5, it offers the kind of sweeping east-west views that people drive Skyline Drive for — except you get them from your camp chair. With over two hundred sites, it is one of the park's largest campgrounds, yet it feels significantly less hectic than its northern neighbors because most visitors never make it this far south. The trade-off is real: no showers, no flush toilets, and cell service is effectively nonexistent. But you get a camp store, laundry, and two waterfalls within hiking distance, plus trailheads into the Big Run Wilderness right at your doorstep. Choose Loft Mountain if you want Shenandoah's scenery with a fraction of the crowd and do not mind roughing it slightly.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 207 sites are reservable.
Book at Shenandoah LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Two 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
Reservable sites are released in sections throughout the season, so if you strike out on your first try, check back periodically — new blocks open up and sites appear that were not available a week earlier. For walk-up sites, arrive before noon on a Thursday to snag a weekend spot before the Richmond and D.C. crowds roll in Friday evening.
The Frazier Discovery Trail loop starts right from the campground and delivers panoramic views for minimal effort — perfect for an evening stroll after setting up camp. For a bigger adventure, drop into Big Run Wilderness via the Big Run Portal Trail, one of the least-traveled backcountry corridors in the park, where you can hike for hours without seeing another person.
No showers means you will want biodegradable wipes and a solar shower bag if you are staying more than a night or two. Stock up on firewood at the camp store rather than hauling it in — Virginia restricts out-of-state firewood to slow the spread of emerald ash borer. And take the food storage rules seriously: the bears here are not theoretical. Use the provided food lockers for everything, including toothpaste and sunscreen.
Photos
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
Loft Mountain is located between the Rockfish Gap entrance station (Waynesboro, I-64) at the southern end of the Park, and the Swift Run Gap entrance station (Elkton, US 33). From Richmond, Virginia (via Rockfish Gap): travel west on Interstate 64 for approximately 87 miles, then take exit 99 and follow signs to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. Once on the Skyline Drive, head north approximately 25 miles to mile 79.5, where you will arrive at Loft Mountain Campground.
Get directions
