Shenandoah National Park187
Campsite #187 at Big Meadows Campground, Shenandoah National Park, VA
$30
Campsite #187
| Drive-In | 6 people |
| 15 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | weak |
4/16
Campsite #187 Features: Drive-In access, Back-in parking, 15ft driveway, Fire ring w/ Grill, Food Storage Locker, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (11)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 27% |
| 4 star | | 36% |
| 3 star | | 27% |
| 2 star | | 9% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@JasonDE6DED4C6 · Camped on Sep 12, 2025 at Campsite #187
Great experience for my sons first real camping trip.
Some Coverage
@JamieN8EE2E673 · Camped on Sep 4, 2025 at Campsite #187
Big campsite. Lots of spaces, but lots of people too, so if you are looking for solitude, this is not the place. Coin-operated showers a little pricey at $5, but clean. Plenty of amenities. Friendly staff. At $30 a night, the campground offers very little to a backpacker over a hut as you can use the showers, visit the store, even do laundry, then hike up to the nearby shelter for the night and save yourself thirty bucks.
Major Issues
@DanielF1136472 · Camped on Nov 3, 2024 at Campsite #187
First Off buy wood elsewhere. The wood was wet and they know it based upon the conversation when I told them I went through 11 bundles for a two night stay and it was near impossible to start and keep going every time. This spot is close to the road and other sites. Also closest to Appalachian trail. Lots of people walking by. But also wildlife walking by. A six point buck walked up and stopped opposite the fire posing for the Christmas card! And a doe 20 minutes later. Otherwise it was good too.
Some Coverage
@CaroleT9888E10 · Camped on May 14, 2024 at Campsite #187
Shenandoah National Park is my local park, and I have hiked, fished, and backpacked there for over 50 years. So I was disappointed to see how much neglect there was when I recently camped at Big Meadows on the E loop. First, both the mens and womens side of the bathroom closest to our site were inoperable, but there were no signs to tell you so. They just locked the doors, and nothing was done for the four days we were there. When we went to use the showers,which take 20 quarters for 10 minutes, I had set up and taken off my clothes before putting in the first quarter, only to find the machine was jammed. I had to put all my clothes back on and gather up my toiletries and try a different shower. Our site was not as described, lengthwise, which made setup of our teardrop camper difficult. At the lodge in the common room, all of the jigsaw puzzles were missing dozens of pieces and were mixed up in their boxes. The espresso machine wasnt working. Dinner was quite good the one night we ate there, but breakfast was awful. We have camped at MANY state and national parks, and this was just about the worst, unfortunately. I know the park system is hugely underfunded, but still, its time to upgrade some things here!
Some Coverage
@CameronH251012 · Camped on Sep 18, 2023 at Campsite #187
Great location. The camper pad was very slanted and hard to level on.
@KimS7922535 · Camped on Jun 13, 2022 at Campsite #187
It was hard to pick a # of stars because this was the most horrible camping experience we have hadbecause of horrible timing with an invasive species. The sites we had (E185 + E187) were great and probably the best non-walk-in sites in the campground because they are on the edge of the mountain with pretty filtered views through the trees, not on top of each other with no privacy like many/most sites in this campground. They were plenty big enough for our big tents. When we got to our sites there was something falling out of the trees, so much that it sounded like it was raining on the tents. By the next day we realized the constant "rain" was gypsy moth (now "spongy moth") caterpillar poop. They were eating the oak leaves above so much that if you stepped out of the tent without a wide-brimmed hat, you were pelted by poop - in your hair, down your bra, etc., etc. The disgusting caterpillars themselves were also falling out of the trees. Fortunately we had happened to bring a screen porch that we rarely use, and we set that up over the picnic table so we could use our camp stove without getting poop in our food. We also had brought a canopy we never use that we rigged over the fire ring so we could sit around the fire and cook on the fire w/o, yes, getting pooped on. If we hadn't brought those extra shelters we wouldn't have been able to cook at our campsite. The first-time campers across from us had to pack up and leave. Bad timing (middle of June), and a heads-up from the rangers when we checked in would have been appreciated. My brother's new $$ tent now has poop stains that won't come out. Other than that ... the location of the campground is convenient to many hikes, you can get free ice at the lodge (if you ask at the front desk they'll give you a bag to fill up at the ice machine), there were plenty of showers that were clean enough and worked well, we appreciated the flush toilets, and it was nice to hang in the lodge during a rainy day.
@BarbaraG281779 · Camped on Sep 28, 2021 at Campsite #187
We were through hiking the AT and our site was right off the trail as Id hoped. The draw back, the showers were all at the front and not convenient when one is already exhausted after hiking all day. Having the camp host drive around and offer rides to hikers w/o cars would make the campground perfect! Or a small shuttle that would could transport campers to the wayside.
@BarbaraG671 · Camped on Sep 28, 2021 at Campsite #187
We were through hiking the AT and our site was right off the trail as Iād hoped. The draw back, the showers were all at the front and not convenient when one is already exhausted after hiking all day. Having the camp host drive around and offer rides to hikers w/o cars would make the campground perfect! Or a small shuttle that would could transport campers to the wayside.
Some Coverage
@CourtneyW928 · Camped on May 31, 2021 at Campsite #187
Really enjoyed this spot!
@PatriciaK11756 · Camped on Oct 15, 2019 at Campsite #187
The campsite was beautiful and spacious -- I loved that the Appalachian Trail went right behind it. I also was happy that pay showers were provided. That was a very nice perk! Shenandoah is such a beautiful park, and we were glad to get a chance to camp there.
Some Coverage
@STEPHANES3715A · Camped on Jul 31, 2019 at Campsite #187
Big Meadows Campground needs improvement
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