Mathews Arm Campground
The Quick Take
Mathews Arm is the first campground you hit entering Shenandoah from the north, and that positioning is both its greatest asset and its biggest trade-off. You get easy access from the DC corridor — about ninety minutes door-to-tent — but you also get every other Washingtonian who had the same Friday afternoon idea. The campground itself is pleasantly wooded and spread across rolling terrain, with a mix of reservable and first-come sites that gives planners and spontaneous types equal footing. There are no showers, no hookups, and no camp store on-site, though Elkwallow Wayside is a short drive south for supplies and a surprisingly decent blackberry milkshake. Cell service is essentially nonexistent, which is either a dealbreaker or exactly the point. Choose Mathews Arm if you want a legitimate Blue Ridge camping experience without driving deep into the park, and you do not mind trading hot showers for genuine quiet.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 165 sites are reservable.
Book at Shenandoah LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Four ADA accessible sites are available for wheelchair access. 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 drop in batches, not all at once — check Recreation.gov repeatedly as the season approaches rather than assuming everything is gone after the first release window. First-come sites fill by early afternoon on summer weekends, so arrive before noon or target a Tuesday.
Elkwallow Wayside closes earlier in the season than the campground itself, so if you are counting on it for food or supplies in October, verify hours before you drive in. Pack as if it will be closed and treat it as a bonus if it is open.
Bears are not theoretical here — they are a regular presence. Bring your own food locker combination lock since the provided lockers are shared-style, and never leave a cooler on the picnic table even while you walk to the restroom. The raccoons at Mathews Arm are seasoned professionals.
Photos
NPS Photo / Neal LewisGetting There
Directions
Mathews Arm is the closest campground for those entering Shenandoah National Park from the north (Front Royal). From Washington D.C., travel west on Interstate 66 to Front Royal, Virginia (62 miles). Take the exit onto Route 340 South, and follow signs for Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. Upon entering Skyline Drive, make your way south to mile 22.1 (mile markers can be seen on the side of the Skyline Drive), where you will find Mathews Arm Campground.
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