Mathews Arm Campground

Location

3655 Highway 211 East
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Policies

Check-in

12:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Mathews Arm Campground sits in the cooler, forested folds of Shenandoah National Park's Blue Ridge spine, just off Milepost 22 of Skyline Drive and roughly nine miles north of the Thornton Gap entrance about a 75-mile drive from the Washington, D.C. area. The campground feels like a classic mountain basecamp: towering hardwoods, rolling hills and open grassy spots where children can play. With 164 sites total, every site is set up to accommodate both tents and RVs and includes a picnic table, fire ring and a defined vehicle pad. The campground is laid out in named loops Loop A (the largest) contains 48 sites designated for 14-day advance reservations, 22 sites released on a 4-day advance window, and 45 first-come/first-served sites; Loop B has 24 sites, Loop C 22, and Loop D holds three group sites so whether you're planning months ahead or arriving spur-of-the-moment there's a mix of reservation options. Mathews Arm's trails give direct access to the backcountry: a moderately difficult path from the campground leads to Overall Run Falls, the park's highest cascade at 93 feet, and the campground is a convenient jumping-off point for sections of the park's 500+ miles of trails (including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail) and for wildlife watching expect to see deer, wild turkey, songbirds and, occasionally, black bear. Facilities at Mathews Arm are straightforward and family-friendly: flush toilets, drinking water, and a single dump station support the 164 sites, but there are no showers on-site, so plan accordingly. Fees are $30 per night per site (or $15 with an Access or Senior Pass present your pass/ID at check-in), with group sites priced at $75 per night; standard Recreation.gov service charges apply. The park's reservation rules and refund policies are detailed: you may modify reservations without a fee when changes keep dates inside the original booking or swap to an identically priced site in the same facility, but switching to dates entirely outside the original booking carries a $10 change fee, and reservations that include dates beyond the booking window cannot be altered until 18 days after the booking date. Cancellations normally incur a $10 service fee; canceling the day before or on arrival also forfeits the first night's rate (one-night reservations forfeit the entire payment). No-shows are charged a $20 service fee and lose the first night's rate, and early departure refunds are handled case-by-case through the call center (check-out time is noon). The campground's location on Skyline Drive also makes it ideal for auto touring to any of the 75 overlooks, visiting nearby Elkwallow Wayside for supplies and sandwiches, or using one of the visitor centers found along the drive as you explore hiking, fishing, horseback riding, climbing and picnicking opportunities across the park.