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
Bernard S
VerifiedOctober 27, 2020 • Stayed at: C154, Loop: C
Matthews arm campground was well spaced and quiet it has a hike out of the group camping area down to a over look and waterfall that the whole family can enjoy. Love our national Parks !
Kevin M
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: B133 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
We always have fun here! Only wish they sold firewood on site 😀
Aria G
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: C163, Loop: C
Great site, easy access.
Alex S
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: B141 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
This is a pretty campground with clean facilities and easy access to trails. However, the first come first serve system is extremely poor for 3 main reasons.
1) they allow individual vehicles in the first come first serve line to book multiple spots. One person booked 5! This is extremely unfair to the people that actually got up to get in line at 7 in the morning. Should be 1 vehicle = 1 site.
2) Campers in first come first serve sites can extend the reservation any time before 12 without getting back in the line. If you were planning to leave and want to stay longer you should have to go back in line.
3) Issue #2 leads to people having to wait hours in line for spots instead of actually exploring the park. If you get in line at 8am, you could reasonably expect to sit in your car for 4 hours. You should allow campers to attach their registration slip to a first come first serve site that is opening up and come back after 12 to set up.
Once you get a campsite Mathews arm is enjoyable but wasting half a day because of a poor first come first serve system was very frustrating.
Jacqueline S
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: C155, Loop: C
Any issues we had were our own fault (getting in after dark and under prepared). We felt safe and private considering how many folks were camping around us. Someone did have a generator or engine running all night which was frustrating but still a wonderful experience!
Kevin M
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: B133 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
We always have fun here! Only wish they sold firewood on site 😀
Aria G
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: C163, Loop: C
Great site, easy access.
Alex S
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: B141 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
This is a pretty campground with clean facilities and easy access to trails. However, the first come first serve system is extremely poor for 3 main reasons.
1) they allow individual vehicles in the first come first serve line to book multiple spots. One person booked 5! This is extremely unfair to the people that actually got up to get in line at 7 in the morning. Should be 1 vehicle = 1 site.
2) Campers in first come first serve sites can extend the reservation any time before 12 without getting back in the line. If you were planning to leave and want to stay longer you should have to go back in line.
3) Issue #2 leads to people having to wait hours in line for spots instead of actually exploring the park. If you get in line at 8am, you could reasonably expect to sit in your car for 4 hours. You should allow campers to attach their registration slip to a first come first serve site that is opening up and come back after 12 to set up.
Once you get a campsite Mathews arm is enjoyable but wasting half a day because of a poor first come first serve system was very frustrating.
Jacqueline S
VerifiedOctober 25, 2020 • Stayed at: C155, Loop: C
Any issues we had were our own fault (getting in after dark and under prepared). We felt safe and private considering how many folks were camping around us. Someone did have a generator or engine running all night which was frustrating but still a wonderful experience!
Patricia W
VerifiedOctober 23, 2020 • Stayed at: B131 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
Such a pretty campground!
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
