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
Ulyana P
VerifiedJuly 8, 2021 • Stayed at: C148, Loop: C
We had a great time camping, hiking and catching up with friends. However, the size of campsite didn't match description in reservation system. We reserved three sites for our group. The sites noted that 2 tents fit in one campsite. However, we could barely fit one tent (6 people). We had to move the table to the side to accommodate the tent. We even considered putting it on the driveway. That is to say that terrain of the campsites we had did not allow for 2 tens as described on reservation site. Other than that, everything was great. Thank you.
Martin D
VerifiedJuly 8, 2021 • Stayed at: C161, Loop: C
Very friendly and helpful staff. Campgrounds well maintained. - Love the food storage units.
Ulyana P
VerifiedJuly 8, 2021 • Stayed at: C148, Loop: C
We had a great time camping, hiking and catching up with friends. However, the size of campsite didn't match description in reservation system. We reserved three sites for our group. The sites noted that 2 tents fit in one campsite. However, we could barely fit one tent (6 people). We had to move the table to the side to accommodate the tent. We even considered putting it on the driveway. That is to say that terrain of the campsites we had did not allow for 2 tens as described on reservation site. Other than that, everything was great. Thank you.
Jeffrey D
VerifiedJuly 7, 2021 • Stayed at: B128 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
This campground was mostly empty during the mid-week. It appears that 70% of park is first-come first-served. Many of the sites can handle larger RV's. Unfortunately the hike to the waterfalls was cut short by reports of no water going over the falls.
Jeffrey D
VerifiedJuly 7, 2021 • Stayed at: B128 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
This campground was mostly empty during the mid-week. It appears that 70% of park is first-come first-served. Many of the sites can handle larger RV's. Unfortunately the hike to the waterfalls was cut short by reports of no water going over the falls.
Amanda M
VerifiedJuly 5, 2021 • Stayed at: D166, Loop: D - Group sites
Beautiful campground - so convenient and close to great hikes! We stayed in a group site and it was perfect for little kids and adults alike. The bathrooms were great too - real toilets!
Amanda M
VerifiedJuly 5, 2021 • Stayed at: D166, Loop: D - Group sites
Beautiful campground - so convenient and close to great hikes! We stayed in a group site and it was perfect for little kids and adults alike. The bathrooms were great too - real toilets!
Chris D
VerifiedJuly 2, 2021 • Stayed at: B134 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
Mathew's Arm campground is at the north end of the Shenandoah National Park. There is so much to see and so many trails to hike that it is difficult to single out any activity to recommend. We could have stayed for a month and not exhausted all of the possibilities. Outside of the park the Luray Caverns are a must see, but inside the park it is all about becoming one with nature!
Chris D
VerifiedJuly 2, 2021 • Stayed at: B134 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
Mathew's Arm campground is at the north end of the Shenandoah National Park. There is so much to see and so many trails to hike that it is difficult to single out any activity to recommend. We could have stayed for a month and not exhausted all of the possibilities. Outside of the park the Luray Caverns are a must see, but inside the park it is all about becoming one with nature!
Michael M
VerifiedJuly 1, 2021 • Stayed at: C155, Loop: C
I have been coming to Mathews Arms for over 30 years. Except for the years it was closed. Some areas of the park have become old and tired like myself. I have seen improvements and neglect.
It has always been a good place to start my stay entering from the north. I will always have good memories.
This year I was greeted by a young gentleman who had the personality of the old self check in of past. He fumbled to find my reservation. As we went through the pile of papers he had. He acted like I was interrupting him. When I asked a question 🙋♂️. I got no response. A lot of the trails are now neglected. Because of my age I won’t be hiking them anyway. A lot of the overlooks have become over grown to the point where you can’t see anything.
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
