fees, RV limits, trails & mountain biking

Loft Mountain Campground

National Park Service campground in Shenandoah National Park, near Elkton, Virginia.

$15–$30nightly fee
202overnight sites
Reservablebooking
Not statedseason (agency text)
55 ftmax RV/trailer length
26named USFS/NPS trails within 5 mi (44.7 mi)
5.2 mibike trails within 5 mi

How it compares

  • With 202 sites it is the #3 largest of 43 Virginia campgrounds that publish a site count (busy, more amenities).
  • Its lowest fee ($15) is $1 below the Virginia median of $16/night.
  • There are 8 other campgrounds in our data within 25 miles; 0 of them list a lower starting fee.
  • 33% of Virginia campgrounds that publish a length limit accept a rig this long (55 ft).
  • 97% of sites with a shade rating are listed as shaded or partly shaded.
  • Pets allowed on 202 of 202 sites; campfires allowed on 201 (subject to seasonal fire bans).
  • Straight-line distance: Charlottesville ~18 mi, Harrisonburg ~18 mi, Lynchburg ~63 mi.

Site mix

Tent-only44
Electric1
Group3
Accessible2

Amenities & rules

AmphitheaterCamp hostFire pitsFire ringsFlush toiletsFood storage lockersGrillsPicnic tablesTent padsPets allowedTentsRVs/trailers2 accessible sites

Fee notes from the agency: *$30.00 per night/per site *$15.00 per night/per site with an Access (disability/golden age) or Senior Pass Must present pass/ID upon check-in *plus recreation.gov administrative fees with reservation

Trails within 5 miles

TrailClosest pointMapped miles within 5 miSource
Loft Mountain Campground Trail0.0 mi0.8NPS
Loft Mountain Campground Trail 20.1 mi0.3NPS
Loft Mountain Campground Trail 10.1 mi1.3NPS
Loft Mountain Campground Trail 30.2 mi0.1NPS
Doyles River Trail0.7 mi2.0NPS
Big Run Loop Trail-North0.8 mi2.1NPS
Frazier Discovery Trail1.0 mi0.9NPS
Patterson Ridge Trail1.2 mi3.0NPS
Ivy Creek Maint Hut Trail1.4 mi0.1NPS
Jones Run Trail1.8 mi2.3NPS
Big Run Loop Trail-South1.9 mi1.8NPS
Big Run Portal Trail1.9 mi4.3NPS

+ 14 more named trails.

Mountain biking nearby

5.2 miles of bike-legal trail lie within 5 miles. Difficulty mix: Unrated: 5.2 mi

TrailClosest pointMiles within 5 miDifficulty (as tagged)KidsSource
Little Flat Mountain Loop1.5 mi3.2UnratedOSM
Blackwell's Trail1.9 mi0.9UnratedOSM
Blue Ledge Trail1.9 mi0.4UnratedOSM
Great Mountains Trail2.0 mi0.7UnratedOSM

Ratings come only from OpenStreetMap mtb:scale / IMBA tags. Untagged trails show as "Unrated", and we never guess. Check conditions and maps on Trailforks or MTB Project.

Activities listed

Auto TouringCampingClimbingDay Use AreaFishingHikingHorseback RidingPicnickingWildlife Viewing

Nearest campgrounds

CampgroundMilesStateFee/nightSitesHookupsMax RVPetsBookingTrails ≤5 mi
Swift Run Campground
Private campground
9.7VA—— — —— ?8 (9.0 mi)
Misty Mountain Camp Resort
Private campground
15.0VA—— — yes— ?0
Lewis Mountain Campground
Shenandoah National Park
16.6VA$15–$3030 — —— First-come27 (31.4 mi)
Hiker Camping
OpenStreetMap listing
17.7VA—— — —— ?1 (4.0 mi)
Shenandoah Valley Campground
Private campground
18.9VA—— — —— ?0
Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah
Shenandoah National Park
23.1VA$15–$75215 — 85 ftyes Reserve38 (52.7 mi)

Hookups: E = electric (max amps), W = water, S = sewer. "—" means the agency doesn't publish it. Trail counts are named USFS/NPS trails within 5 miles. 🟢 = kid-friendly (green-rated) bike trail nearby.

From the managing agency

Overview Perched on top of Big Flat Mountain, this is one of the largest campgrounds in the park. Loft Mountain is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, providing a wilderness getaway in the historic Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. Recreation Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or lookout, while others wind deep into the forest and wilderness. Trails to the Big Run Wilderness area are accessible from the campground, and pristine waterfalls are a common site along the popular trails. Wildlife viewing is also a popular pastime, with black bears, wild turkey, deer, birds and countless … read the full description on Recreation.gov