NPS · Shenandoah National Park · Elkton, VA

Loft Mountain Campground

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.

More like this: reservable in Virginia · big rigs in Virginia · pets allowed in Virginia · group sites in Virginia

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Loft Mountain CampgroundLoft Mountain CampgroundA photo of campground regulations at the facility of Loft Mountain CampgroundA photo of signage nearby facility Loft Mountain Campground
Photos courtesy of Samantha McCoy, Paula Keeter Britt · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups154
Tent-only44
Group sites3
Standard with electric1
Host/management11
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

202 sites in 10 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
A051A LoopStandardPull-through35PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A052A LoopStandardPull-through40PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A053A LoopStandardPull-through30PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A054A LoopStandardPull-through30PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A055A LoopStandardPull-through35PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A056A LoopStandardPull-through35PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A057A LoopStandardPull-through40PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A058A LoopStandardPull-through45PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A059A LoopStandardPull-through40PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes
A060A LoopStandardPull-through45PavedPartialNo / –6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length55 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$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
AccessibilitySites G187, G188 are listed accessible

This expansive campground offers 207 campsites, as well as amenaties like flush toilets and water and dump stations, which create a comfortable camping experience. Pay showers are nearby at the camp store.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Loft Mountain Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.50 inches of precipitation, 4.1 inches of snowFebruary: 2.84 inches of precipitation, 3.1 inches of snowMarch: 3.89 inches of precipitation, 1.4 inches of snowApril: 3.32 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 4.31 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.50 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 5.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.68 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 3.76 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 3.56 inches of precipitation, 2.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.5°F averageFebruary: 36.8°F averageMarch: 43.8°F averageApril: 54.6°F averageMay: 62.6°F averageJune: 70.6°F averageJuly: 74.9°F averageAugust: 73.2°F averageSeptember: 66.7°F averageOctober: 56.1°F averageNovember: 45.8°F averageDecember: 37.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Free Union, 12 miles from the campground at 590 feet, station USC00443213 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 47 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 11 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Washington, D.C. metro area, travel west on Interstate 66 to exit 43A. Take US Highway 29 south approximately 55 miles to Ruckersville, Virginia, then take US Highway 33 west to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive Swift Run Entrance. Follow Skyline Drive south approximately 15 miles and turn left into the Loft Mountain area.

Nearest townElkton, Virginia
Coordinates38.2487° N, 78.6706° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Changing Reservations: There is no change fee if a visitor extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. Additionally, there is no change fee if the visitor wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a visitor wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Onsite staff will assist with changes or cancellations. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's approved rate including tax and applicable add-on.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.3 mi
Outdoor gearAppalachian Trail Outfitters ↗11.3 mi
RV sales & serviceRoad Trip Camping ↗31.1 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Loft Mountain Campground | Shenandoah National Park

Natural features

Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the Shenandoah Valley to its west. Loft Mountain's location on the mountain top offers easy access to Skyline Drive which offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding rolling hills and open meadows.

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 other animals abundant across the park. The campground is located right off of Milepost 80 on the famous Skyline Drive, which runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stunning views are available from any of the 75 scenic overlooks.

Nearby

Two visitor centers with bookstores and exhibits are located in the park (milepost 5 and milepost 51). There are concession managed restaurants, gift shops and lodging facilities scattered throughout the park.

Guidebooks for Shenandoah National Park

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Appalachian Trail Guide To Shenandoah National Park With Side Trails
    John Hedrick, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Shenandoah National Park
    Bert Gildart and Jane Gildart, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Guide to Waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park
    Larry Brown, 2020
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Top Trails: Shenandoah National Park
    Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Loft Mountain Campground?

Sites at Loft Mountain Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Loft Mountain Campground?

$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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Loft Mountain Campground?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Loft Mountain Campground?

A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Loft Mountain Campground have?

213 sites, including 154 standard sites without power, 44 tent-only sites, 3 group sites, and 1 standard site with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Loft Mountain Campground?

The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at Loft Mountain Campground?

This expansive campground offers 207 campsites, as well as amenaties like flush toilets and water and dump stations, which create a comfortable camping experience.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Loft Mountain Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Loft Mountain Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Loft Mountain Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Loft Mountain Campground?

Sites G187 and G188 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Loft Mountain Campground?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Loft Mountain Campground?

Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation