Loft Mountain Campground

Staff Rangers (Mark and Rio Stanley) at Loft Mountain Camping and Entrance station were wonderful and treated us like special family. Complaints about grass not cut was handled wonderfully and even though an ongoing problem they had maintenance cut grass for us at the handicapped sites to make it safe for walking. However unknown by these rangers, a maintenance group was replacing fireplaces and putting down gravel leaving LARGE RUTS IN CAMPGROUND CAUSING CAMPERS TO TRIP AND FALL (PARTICULARLY IN G section). They left the ruts and ditches from trucks unfixed and campers with reservations had to endure the rough sites. NOT GOOD. Before fireplaces are installed grass needed to be cut. THEY SAID THAT WAS NOT THEIR JOB many large trucks causing major damage. LURAY SUPERVISOR WAS CONTACTED BY ME (MINDY) REGARDING CONFUSION OVER HANDICAPPED SITES AND SHE WAS VERY HELPFUL AND QUICK IN GETTING BACK TO ME ABOUT HOW HANDICAPPED SITES WERE RESERVED AND NON RESERVED. UPON HEARING HER EXPLANATION, I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A GOOD WAY TO HANDLE LONG DISTANCE TRAVELERS BY HAVING ONE RESERVED SITE AND ONE NON-RESERVED SITE. TO ME THIS EXPLAINED THE SYSTEM AND I WAS COMPLETELY IN AGREEMENT OF THE WAY THESE SITES WERE BEING HANDLED. IN ALL OUR RECENT WEEK VISIT THERE WAS WONDERFUL, RELAXING AND SAFE. RANGERS WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED ESPECIALLY RIO AND MARK AND WERE UNDERSTANDING TO SENIORS HANDICAPPED STATUS MAKING OUR VISIT WONDERFUL. WE DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. BUT HAD TO LEAVE DAY EARLY DUE TO HEALTH REASONS. NOW FOR THE BAD PART. FOOD AND DINING AT LOFT AND BIG MEADOWS ARE NO LONGER GOOD. NOT ENOUGH CHOICES ON MENUE, SAME OLD ETC, NO BREAKFAST SERVED ANYMORE AS THE USED TO HAVE A WONDERFUL RESTAURANT AT WAYSIDE BIG MEADOWS AND LOFT MOUNTAIN. NO MORE. CHIPS AND HAMBURGER OVERCOOKED AND STALE ICE CREAM CONES. I HATE TO SEE THE PARK GO DOWNHILL AS I HAVE BEEN COMING THERE SINCE 1960 MANY YEARS NOW AND I AM 80 AND COMPANION 90.

This was our first visit to Loft Campground and Shenandoah, mid-September. Walking distance to the amphitheater was short, and via a very shady and wildflower-lined, narrow sidewalk. Even though the trail was right by the road, it felt 'tucked away' and wonderful. And then when you get there, the view from the amphitheater was amazing!! This view should not be missed!
As far as the campground, G Loop is the hilliest, but also more private bc the flatter loops seemed more populated. We were at G206, which also picked up noise from the dumpster nearby, the one negative. But our location was the closest to the campground entrance, so it was sheltered by any noise, and also made our mini-hike-trek to the camp store/showers very convenient. In G loop, generally, there was a lot of green growth barrier between sites, making each site nice and private.
Lastly, at the camp store / laundry, the sign on the dryer said 25cents for 5 minutes, but we got 25cents for 15 minutes - hooray!

Didn’t like the first come for spots, traveled a good distance and someone had took the spot I reserved. So won’t be doing that again.

E150 site is on a hill.

The rangers were the sweetest I have ever met.
Make sure you have cash for the shower.
The park is 105 mi long and it makes sense to check beforehand where exactly your campground is located, otherwise you might drive from the North about 3 hours to your campground, very beautiful, but long if you did not plan for it.
Amazing are the caves in Luray, outside the campground, especially when rain is in the forecast. The park itself has tons of hikes, 52 (?) lookouts. Some people backpack the Appalachian Trail, most hike parts.

My campsite was pretty great, especially considering I was only able to book it last minute and it was one of two available. If it weren't for the bugs, it would have been excellent. That said, this particular campsite G206 has some nice little "nook" where you can put up your tent, so you're a little more hidden from the road than some of the other campsites. No bear box at this particular location, but a very close walk to the camp store/showers.

A neighboring camp had 3 dogs barking all day and early morning and evening. I brought it to the attention of the ranger who was aware of the problem but nobody did anything about it and the dogs kept barking for 2 days on and off. It was a terrible experience. I go to the mountains to have some peace and quiet and I not to be disturbed by barking dogs all day long. I could have stayed home and go more rest. Please you should have a dog barking rules at your campgrounds and have your rangers and camp hosts enforce them rather then doing nothing and have 1 inconsiderate camper ruin the experience of a whole campground of many people.

For those camping in their vehicles, note that this space is very unleveled.