About Mathews Arm Campground
Number of accommodations: 115
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
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Rates, Sites & Availability
115 Sites Available
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Site Details
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115 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (851)
What Guests Are Saying
Mathews Arm Campground offers excellent, spacious, and well-maintained sites, making it a perfect base for nearby hikes. Reviewers appreciate the clean facilities, friendly staff, and the intimate atmosphere, particularly during less crowded times. While some noted the restrooms could use upgrades, the overall experience is highly recommended for nature lovers and families.
What Guests Are Saying
Mathews Arm Campground offers excellent, spacious, and well-maintained sites, making it a perfect base for nearby hikes. Reviewers appreciate the clean facilities, friendly staff, and the intimate atmosphere, particularly during less crowded times. While some noted the restrooms could use upgrades, the overall experience is highly recommended for nature lovers and families.
Review Summary
Pranita W
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2024 • Stayed at: A010, Loop: A - 4 Day Advance Purchase
Site is very bumpy...not a flat surface
It has slope. No network at all
Lynn D
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2024 • Stayed at: B117, Loop: B
We were surprised that the A and C loop sites all have bear vaults, but the B loop does not. Of course, our reservation was a site in the B loop. So, if you make a reservation, select a site in the A or C loop.
The bathrooms were clean and well lit. The trails around the campground (Traces Trail and Mathews Arm Trail) were nice, especially in the evening.
Skyline Caverns (not part of the national park system) was interesting. A bit touristy, but worth the tour of the caves.
Lynn D
VerifiedSeptember 23, 2024 • Stayed at: B117, Loop: B
We were surprised that the A and C loop sites all have bear vaults, but the B loop does not. Of course, our reservation was a site in the B loop. So, if you make a reservation, select a site in the A or C loop.
The bathrooms were clean and well lit. The trails around the campground (Traces Trail and Mathews Arm Trail) were nice, especially in the evening.
Skyline Caverns (not part of the national park system) was interesting. A bit touristy, but worth the tour of the caves.
Bradley R
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2024 • Stayed at: A065, Loop: A - 14 Day Advance Purchase
We stayed in spot 65 which is near the group camping area. The overall experience was great but the group campers were a ton of middle school aged kids that were loud most of the time (not a peep during quiet hours thank goodness). They also wandered around the adjacent campsites playing various games etc. it wasn’t very disturbing but mildly annoying. The parents and chaperons did a good job of reining them in and keeping them relatively quiet which was nice. It could have been much worse just 4/5 for that. Everything else was great!
Bradley R
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2024 • Stayed at: A065, Loop: A - 14 Day Advance Purchase
We stayed in spot 65 which is near the group camping area. The overall experience was great but the group campers were a ton of middle school aged kids that were loud most of the time (not a peep during quiet hours thank goodness). They also wandered around the adjacent campsites playing various games etc. it wasn’t very disturbing but mildly annoying. The parents and chaperons did a good job of reining them in and keeping them relatively quiet which was nice. It could have been much worse just 4/5 for that. Everything else was great!
John S
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2024 • Stayed at: C155, Loop: C
Very quiet midweek in September. A little hazy weather that affected photos but no dense fog like the last time we were here. Plan your long scenic drive well. Find a book on trails and select a few. You have to get into the trees to feel Shenandoah. Visit the Caverns and associated museums. If it wasn’t for the drive to and from Los Angeles, I’d be back more often.
John S
VerifiedSeptember 22, 2024 • Stayed at: C155, Loop: C
Very quiet midweek in September. A little hazy weather that affected photos but no dense fog like the last time we were here. Plan your long scenic drive well. Find a book on trails and select a few. You have to get into the trees to feel Shenandoah. Visit the Caverns and associated museums. If it wasn’t for the drive to and from Los Angeles, I’d be back more often.
Bob B
VerifiedSeptember 16, 2024 • Stayed at: A039, Loop: A - 14 Day Advance Purchase
The facilities were clean and the camp host was friendly and helpful. The limited nearby easy trails was a disappointment, but overall, it was a good experience.
Dining at the lodge was expensive and the food quality was poor.
Bob B
VerifiedSeptember 16, 2024 • Stayed at: A039, Loop: A - 14 Day Advance Purchase
The facilities were clean and the camp host was friendly and helpful. The limited nearby easy trails was a disappointment, but overall, it was a good experience.
Dining at the lodge was expensive and the food quality was poor.
Erica G
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2024 • Stayed at: B129 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
The campground was east to find and so very clean. There was a good amount of people, but it wasn’t loud and everybody was very respectful.
Location Mathews Arm Campground
Address:
3655 Highway 211 East
Luray, VA, 22835
United States
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 miles to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive Thornton Gap Entrance. Follow Skyline Drive north approximately 9 miles and turn left into Mathews Arm Campground.
From Richmond, Virginia area, travel north toward Fredericksburg on Interstate 95 approximately 55 miles to exit 130B for Highway 3 and Culpeper, Virginia. Take Highway 3 approximately 33 miles west to US Highway 15/522 north. Continue on 522 North approximately 20 miles to Sperryville. Turn left onto US Highway 211 West and follow 8 miles to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, Thornton Gap Entrance. Follow Skyline Drive North approximately 9 miles and turn left into Mathews Arm Campground.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.7601 / -78.2979
Elevation: 828 feet
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.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
