Camping near Nellysford, Virginia offers options from primitive tent sites to yurt camping throughout the Blue Ridge Mountain region. Located at elevations between 700-3,500 feet, the area experiences moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and cooler mountain nights dropping to 55-65°F. Most campgrounds in this region close for winter between November and April, with limited year-round options for yurt camping near Nellysford.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: 1-mile trek to one of the east coast's longest cascades near Crabtree Falls Campground. "This is very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and close to Charlottesville and Staunton. The falls are a great hike and there are lots of services nearby. A great Parkway stop," notes Anna R.
Stargaze at elevation: Nighttime views available from multiple campgrounds along Skyline Drive. "At night the you could see stars. We took a walk to the overlook in the middle of the night to stargaze," reports Kate about her experience at Dundo Group Campground.
Trout fishing: Pay-per-pound catch at stocked ponds. "The trout pond is not what they make it out to be on the website. It's a very small pond with zero shade at the entrance of the resort. It is not catch and release, it is catch and keep, whatever you catch, you pay for power pound," explains Adrian K. about Montebello Resort.
Seasonal activities: Weekend events organized by campground staff during summer months. "There is always tons of activities to do for everyone of age. Gold cart parades, crafts hours, poker run, corn hole tournaments," writes Evelyn T. about Stoney Creek Resort.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Some campgrounds offer more separation than others. "Sites are right on the river, we had a walk to which gave us some extra privacy. Beautiful area for hiking, lots leading off of the AT. campground hosts are very friendly," says Heather L. about her stay at Crabtree Falls Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings common at higher elevation campgrounds. "Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife. Bear box for food storage. Fire ring with grate was available. Large site size," mentions Terri S. about Big Meadows Campground.
Clean facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "The bath house was well maintained and super clean. We will be returning for sure," reports Emily R. about her experience at Walnut Hills Campground.
Water features: Lakes and streams provide ambient sound and recreation. "This camp ground was nice and cozy. The tent sites we stayed in were 10 ft away from the Tye river, we literally fell asleep to the sound of the water every night," shares Britt S.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Signal strength varies by location and carrier. "Cell signal and camp wifi are bad. I was just able to get a decent signal with Starlink by carefully pointing at a small gap between trees," warns Dale Y. at Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA.
Bear safety requirements: Food storage rules strictly enforced at higher elevation sites. "Bear box for food storage. Loved seeing the deer so close and other wildlife," notes Terri S.
Traveler
