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
Byron N
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: C159, Loop: C
We stayed here in August. Nice campsites and facilities. Made reservations in the campground for a first night and a last night, with plans to backpack in the park in between. When bad weather caused us to abandon our backpacking plans, and our current campground had been reserved by others for the next night, the campground staff made it very easy for us to move to a new campsite, including transferring our reservation for the last night with no penalty, so that we wouldn’t have to move more than once.
Jenna P
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: B121, Loop: B
Matthews Arm had no real standout features, but it served my purpose and was an enjoyable stay. It is a long way up Skyline Drive, so not a short distance from the park's Front Royal entrance. Overall everything that I needed was there. My favorite part was the sound of all the frogs at night; it was like being enveloped in a chorus of croaks and chirps. I would recommend getting a site close to the campground host if you are a woman camping alone; I was a bit nervous being several sites away from the host in case anyone caused trouble.
Connie L
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: D166, Loop: D - Group sites
Every year my camping group enjoy this trip so much. One of the lower group site become muddy when is raining will be great if the park take care that only little problem.
Richard E
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: C154, Loop: C
The sites have good space, and it was quiet. I love the open feeling of this site.
Byron N
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: C159, Loop: C
We stayed here in August. Nice campsites and facilities. Made reservations in the campground for a first night and a last night, with plans to backpack in the park in between. When bad weather caused us to abandon our backpacking plans, and our current campground had been reserved by others for the next night, the campground staff made it very easy for us to move to a new campsite, including transferring our reservation for the last night with no penalty, so that we wouldn’t have to move more than once.
Katherine B
VerifiedJanuary 11, 2020 • Stayed at: B119, Loop: B
Our group loved our stay here. There are plenty of hikes in close proximity, and we even saw a bear!
Katherine B
VerifiedJanuary 11, 2020 • Stayed at: B119, Loop: B
Our group loved our stay here. There are plenty of hikes in close proximity, and we even saw a bear!
Rebecca M
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2020 • Stayed at: B134 Generator Prohibited, Loop: B
Kody D
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2020 • Stayed at: C155, Loop: C
Great Hiking trail access. a little busy as to be expected on weekend in July. once the campground cleared out on Monday we had a close call with a bear, so LOCK UP YOUR FOOD. We will absolutely be returning for a winter trip before it closes for the year.
John F
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2020 • Stayed at: C162, Loop: C
Shenandoah was really pretty, and this is a nice campsite there. Our only big complaint was the noise. One night a group was having some sort of party/function/ritual that was really loud throughout the whole campground. They quiet down at 10pm for quiet hours, but with two little kids I was not happy to have such loud noise so late. We also hadn't been prepared for how loud the local wildlife is at night. There is some sort of frog or insect that makes an incredible amount of noise in the summer.
But this was a nice place to start some decent hikes, and we did get to see a bear not too far from the campgrounds. There were plenty of bathrooms, the sites were clean, and it wasn't too crowded.
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
