Available sites
115 total sites
RV Sites
Tent Sites
About Mathews Arm Campground
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Year-round
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Rates, Sites & Availability
115 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
115 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (987)
What Guests Are Saying
Mathews Arm Campground offers a clean, quiet, and well-maintained environment with ample wooded sites that provide privacy for campers. Many visitors appreciate the proximity to various hiking trails and the helpfulness of rangers and camp hosts. While the campground lacks showers and can be crowded on weekends, the overall experience is enhanced by its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings.
What Guests Are Saying
Mathews Arm Campground offers a clean, quiet, and well-maintained environment with ample wooded sites that provide privacy for campers. Many visitors appreciate the proximity to various hiking trails and the helpfulness of rangers and camp hosts. While the campground lacks showers and can be crowded on weekends, the overall experience is enhanced by its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings.
Review Summary
Anne M
VerifiedJune 16, 2026 • Stayed at: B130 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
The campsite and restroom was clean. The last day the water was out at the two restrooms closest to the campsite but there was one functioning further away in the campground. The site was shaded.
Saul S
VerifiedJune 16, 2026 • Stayed at: A066, Loop: A - 14 Day Advance Purchase
Great spot, clean. The lack of staff was apparent. Saw volunteers instead of employees.
Meredith P
VerifiedJune 14, 2026 • Stayed at: A001, Loop: A - 4 Day Advance Purchase
Matthews Arm was a great campsite. I don’t normally love established campgrounds but wanted to bring some friends for car camping. MA was surrounded by forest and had multiple hiking trails passing through. If you are with family or newer campers, inner sites may help folks feel safer. Outer sites might be better spaced for folks looking for a quieter experience. Staff were friendly and helpful, and explained campsite rules clearly. Restrooms were fairly clean for a campsite. A bear cabinet was provided at our site. We had a great time!
Dave M
VerifiedJune 14, 2026 • Stayed at: C150, Loop: C
The irony of camping is you go out in the forest to commune with nature and you get jammed into a campsite in the middle of a giant forest closer to your neighbors than you would be if living in the inner city. Our campsite was so close to the next one that you have absolutely no privacy. You could see and hear everything the neighbors were doing. What’s the reason for that when you have a huge forest surrounding you?
We stayed in the Mathews Arm campground one night. Thought we were in a refugee camp we were so close together.
Zack B
VerifiedJune 14, 2026 • Stayed at: B135 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
Grass was really tall and needed mowed, but a great campground
tim p
VerifiedJune 13, 2026 • Stayed at: C157, Loop: C
site and bathrooms were nice, enjoyed the stay
Cathleen C
VerifiedJune 12, 2026 • Stayed at: A001, Loop: A - 4 Day Advance Purchase
As always, the place did not disappoint. We love Matthew's Arm! Bird watchers would really be impressed by the variety of birds you can see here. I saw a Scarlet Tanager for the first time ever, but the highlight of the trip was a Barred Owl in our campsite the day of our departure! I've never seen one so close up. It was amazing!
Thomas H
VerifiedJune 11, 2026 • Stayed at: B141 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
Staff were great. Campground was true to the descriptions on the website. It was decently maintained. Restrooms were clean and functional. Campers followed the rules. I went when it wasn't crowded so it felt wonderful out of doors. Lots of birds, wildlife. Great hikes right there or short drive away. Staff cuts seem to have hurt the Elk Wallow Wayside -- the staff there were way overworked and they were clearly embarrassed to report that they had no ice to sell (and that the nearest other park facility with ice is a 50 minute drive away!) and didn't know when they'd get more -- and didn't get more over my 3 day stay there! So something is wrong at the management and staffing levels of NPS. But still, it was Shenandoah National Park and as a natural and wild area, it was wonderful.
Richard R
VerifiedJune 11, 2026 • Stayed at: C146, Loop: C
.
Michelle R
VerifiedJune 10, 2026 • Stayed at: C161, Loop: C
Nice for a one-night stopover. Grass hadn't been mowed and it was really tall, so it made setting up the tent a little tricky
Location & Directions for Mathews Arm Campground
3655 Highway 211 East, Luray, VA 22835 United States
Elevation: 828 ft
Getting There
From Washington, D.C. metro area, travel west on Interstate 66 to exit 43A. Take US Highway 29 South to Warrenton, Virginia, then take US Highway 211 west for 28 mi to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive Thornton Gap Entrance. Follow Skyli...
From Washington, D.C. metro area, travel west on Interstate 66 to exit 43A. Take US Highway 29 South to Warrenton, Virginia, then take US Highway 211 west for 28 mi to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive Thornton Gap Entrance. Follow Skyline Drive north approximately 9 mi and turn left into Mathews Arm Campground.
From Richmond, Virginia area, travel north toward Fredericksburg on Interstate 95 approximately 55 mi to exit 130B for Highway 3 and Culpeper, Virginia. Take Highway 3 approximately 33 mi west to US Highway 15/522 north. Continue on 522 North approximately 20 mi to Sperryville. Turn left onto US Highway 211 West and follow 8 mi to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, Thornton Gap Entrance. Follow Skyline Drive North approximately 9 mi and turn left into Mathews Arm Campground.
Nearby National Park
In Shenandoah National Park
Approximate driving time: 14 min
Policies & Rules
General
- Black bears, deer, skunks, raccoons and other wildlife share this space with you; please plan to store all food, hygiene items and trash in appropriate containers or your vehicle.
- You are responsible for following all park and campground regulations.
- There are no RV hook-ups but there is a dump station with potable water available.
- Generator hours are 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. with a 60 decibel limit. Vehicle engines must be shut down when parked and may run for no more than five minutes.
- There is a $30 fee per vehicle to enter the park. The pass issued is valid for one week.
- Upon arrival to the campground, please check in at the registration office. If you arrive after hours, directions will be posted at that office.
- Unleaded fuel is available 24/7 at Big Meadows Wayside (milepost 51.2). Electric Vehicle charging stations are only available at Skyland Lodge (milepost 41.7)
- Firewood is available at Elkwallow Wayside 2 miles South of the campground, Sunday - Thursday until 5pm and Friday - Saturday until 6pm. Due to the spread of invasive insects, only kiln dried USDA approved firewood is permitted. Help protect our forest, Click here for more information.
- Cell phone reception is very limited throughout the park.
- There are no showers available at this campground or the closest wayside.
- A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date and will hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 20, 2026
Need help?
Our team is here to help you find the perfect spot for your next adventure.
Replies within minutes
Explore Luray, VA
Population: 4,827
Nearby city: Harrisonburg, VA
Approx. 38 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 794 ft
From our Travel Guides
