U.S. Forest Service · George Washington & Jefferson National Forest · Virginia

Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping

Sherando Lake Recreation Area's Family Campground provides an ideal camping destination. It is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known locally as the jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking in the shade, fishing in the lakes, or swimming and relaxing on the sandy beach.

Open now Reservable · Recreation.gov 65 sites 40 ft max Electric hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: electric hookups in Virginia · reservable in Virginia · big rigs in Virginia · pets allowed in Virginia

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗

Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups		34
Standard with electric		31

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

Towing a trailerRear or front mounted accessoriesi

Tow vehicle length, ftTrailer length, ft

The longest site here provides 38 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

65 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Fits, ft	Surface	Shade	Power	People / vehicles	Fires	Rating
C01	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	38	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Standard
C02	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	56	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Preferred
C03	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	39	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Standard
C04	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	37	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 1	Yes	Basic
C05	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	59	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Standard
C06	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	30	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Standard
C07	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	80	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Standard
C08	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	39	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Standard
C09	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	50	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Preferred
C10	Meadow Loop C	Electric	Back-in	47	Gravel	Partial	50 amp	8 / 2	Yes	Preferred

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

Hookups	Electric
Max vehicle length	40 ft
Equipment	RVs & trailers, Tents
Pets	Allowed
Campfires	Allowed, subject to restrictions
Tent pads	Yes

The campground is divided into three loops: Meadow Loop (Loop C) and River Bend Loop (Loop B) have campsites with electric hookups which are suitable for larger camping units and RV's; White Oak Loop (Loop A) has non-electric campsites, suitable for tents and camping units less than 20 feet in length. All camping requires a reservation prior to arriving. No first-come, first-serve sites. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, serving table, lantern post, and campfire ring with grill. The designated tent pads are covered with a fine brown sandy gravel. Showers, flush toilets and drinking water hydrants are located in each loop. The water hydrants are not threaded for hose hook-ups. Most campsites are equipped with a food storage locker for securing your food due to bear activity. It is mandatory that all food be either stored in a food storage locker or secured in a locked vehicle. Violators are subject to a fine. You are camping in the mountains with unlevel ground. Please be prepared. A trailer dump station is located along the main road between the entrance station and the road to the lower lake parking.

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

Season & status

Status	Open
Season	early-April to late-October
Forest	George Washington & Jefferson National Forest
Booking	Sherando Lake Recreation Area Reservation Information. Campers with a reservation will be provided with a code to open the new electronic gate.
Fees	$8 per vehicle up to 8 passenger capacity for day use. $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins for day use. $25 per single site per night, plus $7 electric fee (some sites). $40 for the double site per night, plus $7 electric fee (maximum 12 people).
Rules	Alcoholic beverages prohibited in day use area. No combustible engines allowed on the lake. Hand carry boats only. Forest Order 15-08-17 applies.

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →

The line is the average temperature at Montebello Fish Cultural Stn, 8 miles from the campground at 2,667 feet, station USC00445690 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From I-64, take Exit 96 just east of Stuarts Draft. Go south on State Route 624, which becomes State Route 664 at Lyndhurst. Continue south on State Route 664 approximately 8 miles to the entrance to the Sherando Lake Recreation Area on the right. The gatehouse is approximately 0.5 miles ahead.

Coordinates

37.9198° N, 79.0101° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

Swimming is not allowed in the upper lake.

Supplies & services

Dump station	Dump station ↗	1 mi
Outdoor gear	Trading Post ↗	24.2 mi
RV sales & service	R.B. Taylor & Sons ↗	40.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Campground Tour: Sherando Lake Recreation Area, Lyndhurst, Virginia

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

0.2 mi
Blue Loop Water Tank
1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
0.3 mi
Sherando Cliff
0.8 mi trail · hiking, bike
0.4 mi
Sherando Dam
0.3 mi trail · hiking, bike
0.5 mi
White Rock Gap
2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
0.5 mi
Sherando Lakeside
1.2 mi trail · hiking, bike
0.9 mi
Blue Loop Parking
1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Three Ridges Wilderness begins about 2.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

2.5 mi
Three Ridges Wilderness ↗
Wilderness · Forest Service · 4,607 acres
3.1 mi
Saint Mary's Wilderness ↗
Wilderness · Forest Service · 9,826 acres
5.8 mi
Priest Wilderness ↗
Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,994 acres

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Other campgrounds nearby

FS · VA

Sherando Lake Group Camp

Reservable1.8 mi

NPS · VA

Loft Mountain Campground

Reservable29.3 mi

NPS · VA

Otter Creek Campground

Reservable29.8 mi

FS · VA

North River Campground

First-come30.9 mi

Historic landmarks nearby

On Register Atlas →

National Historic Landmark · 11 mi

Blue Ridge Parkway

Multiple

National Historic Landmark · 25 mi

Barracks, Virginia Military Institute

Built 1848

Natural features

The campground sits between Lower Sherando Lake and Upper Sherando Lake at an elevation of about 1,800 feet in the shadows of Torry Ridge. The Upper Lake is 7 acres and is fed by the waters of the North Fork of Back Creek. The Lower Lake is 25 acres and is fed by springs, the North Fork of Back Creek, and Williams Branch, so the water stays refreshingly cool all summer long.

Recreation

The 25 acre Lower Lake offers opportunities for swimming in a designated area with a sand beach, accessible ramp to the water's edge, and a beach bathhouse with changing and shower facilities. Fishing and boating are also available outside the designated swimming area of the lake. Fishing is in stocked trout waters during the spring and fall seasons. Visitors will need to have the appropriate Virginia fishing license, National Forest stamp, and trout stamp. Boats with gasoline motors are not permitted on the lower lake - electric troll motors, canoes, kayaks, or similar boats only. A hand-carry ramp is available for access to the lake adjacent to the parking area. Fishing only is available at the 7 acre Upper Lake. This lake is also stocked during the spring and fall seasons and the appropriate licenses are required. Boats are allowed, but there is no launch access - hand carry only. Parking is available at a small area below the group camp area and a walking trail will lead you to the lake.

Nearby

There are opportunities for gas, groceries, and firewood at convenience stores and local vendors along the state road to Sherando Lake. Ice is no longer for sale on site. Additional supplies can be obtained in Stuarts Draft, about a 15 minute drive away. The Blue Ridge Parkway, with its scenic overlooks and ridgetop views, is a short 3 mile drive up State Route 664 from the Sherando Lake entrance. The Wintergreen Resort offers a golf course and ski area within 10 miles of Sherando Lake. Cabin rentals are available near Sherando Lake from local private vendors.

Guidebooks for Virginia

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

Best Tent Camping: Virginia
Randy Porter, 2018
Find at Bookshop.org
Camping Virginia and West Virginia
Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
Find at Bookshop.org
Best tent camping
Johnny Molloy, 2014
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 Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

Sites at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping are reservable on Recreation.gov. Sherando Lake Recreation Area Reservation Information. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

$8 per vehicle up to 8 passenger capacity for day use. $2 per person for vans and buses carrying more than 8 passengers and walk-ins for day use. $25 per single site per night, plus $7 electric fee (some sites).

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season early-April to late-October.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping have?

65 sites, including 34 standard sites without power and 31 standard sites with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

The longest site here provides 40 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

Does Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping have hookups?

Yes, electric hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

Showers, flush toilets and drinking water hydrants are located in each loop.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Alcoholic beverages prohibited in day use area.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?

Source: Recreation

What if Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Sherando Lake Group Camp (1.8 mi), Loft Mountain Campground (29.3 mi), and Otter Creek Campground (29.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby