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
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 (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
Saverio G
VerifiedAugust 9, 2021 • Stayed at: B135 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
The store at Elkwallow [sp?] should be moved closer to the campground. As it is now, two miles and 1/2 of steep road away, it is inconvenient for anybody but the motorized campers.
Or, maybe, the camp should have its own store. It won't disturb things and would make the experience equally enjoyable for all, even those of us who like to avoid burning fossil fuel in a national par .
Michelle R
VerifiedAugust 3, 2021 • Stayed at: B141 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
We had an absolutely wonderful experience. The Park staff were pleasant and welcoming - and very friendly. The campsite was clean and spacious. We will definitely come back!
Michelle R
VerifiedAugust 3, 2021 • Stayed at: B141 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
We had an absolutely wonderful experience. The Park staff were pleasant and welcoming - and very friendly. The campsite was clean and spacious. We will definitely come back!
Gabriella R
VerifiedJuly 30, 2021 • Stayed at: B136 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!) to ice, wood, and other essentials at Elkwallow.
We had originally made a reservation online for a site in Loop B, but when we arrived, we were able to choose a different site number. The A loop has the most appealing sites with many being situated along the forest’s edge (include bear boxes, not all sites here do), providing a pleasant mix of shade and sun throughout the day.
Site A072 was perfect for our liking. It’s sheltered on one side by brush with only one neighbor on the other side, yet it’s angled in such a way to feel much more secluded than one expects to feel in a large, dense campground - the sites can/are very close to one another. As for activities, there’s an amphitheater and several hiking trails that start within or in close proximity to the campground. The Appalachian Trail is one of them. I’d definitely recommend this campground.
Gabriella R
VerifiedJuly 30, 2021 • Stayed at: B136 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!) to ice, wood, and other essentials at Elkwallow.
We had originally made a reservation online for a site in Loop B, but when we arrived, we were able to choose a different site number. The A loop has the most appealing sites with many being situated along the forest’s edge (include bear boxes, not all sites here do), providing a pleasant mix of shade and sun throughout the day.
Site A072 was perfect for our liking. It’s sheltered on one side by brush with only one neighbor on the other side, yet it’s angled in such a way to feel much more secluded than one expects to feel in a large, dense campground - the sites can/are very close to one another. As for activities, there’s an amphitheater and several hiking trails that start within or in close proximity to the campground. The Appalachian Trail is one of them. I’d definitely recommend this campground.
ed m
VerifiedJuly 27, 2021 • Stayed at: B123, Loop: B
campground was very clean, our first site was not level enough for us but we were able to move. ranger was super friendly
ed m
VerifiedJuly 27, 2021 • Stayed at: B123, Loop: B
campground was very clean, our first site was not level enough for us but we were able to move. ranger was super friendly
Felix B
VerifiedJuly 26, 2021 • Stayed at: B130 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
The trees were more plentiful and taller than I expected. The wind in them was soothing
Felix B
VerifiedJuly 26, 2021 • Stayed at: B130 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
The trees were more plentiful and taller than I expected. The wind in them was soothing
Deborah G
VerifiedJuly 19, 2021 • Stayed at: B123, Loop: B
The campsite was clean and well maintained as well as the restroom.
The staff was friendly and helpful.
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
