Road to the Ridge: An RV Adventure Through Shenandoah National Park

Set Up Camp

Luray RV Resort and Campground

First thing’s first! Settle down and park up your RV at Luray RV Resort and Campground. This location offers amenities including a camp store, dog park, golf cart rentals, pickleball courts, basketball, a mountain bike track, corn hole, glamping accommodations, and more!

All RV sites at Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River are full hook-up with a choice of 30 amp or 50amps. There is also a bathhouse with hot showers that is available to all guests. The campground offers mid-week and week-end rates for RV sites as well as peak season and off season rates. Groups may be eligible for special rates depending on size of the party.

Hawksbill Greenway Trail

This two-mile trail is only a short 10 minute drive from Luray RV Resort and Campground. Restrooms, benches, and drinking fountains are available, and the trail is paved and accessible for those with disabilities. Dogs are allowed to explore the trail on leashes. The Hawksbill Greenway Trail provides ample opportunities to hike, bike, and view the wildlife. Go enjoy the fresh air!

Explore Shenandoah

Mary’s Rock Summit

This outcrop provides magnificent views of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain. RVers can take advantage of the opportunity for a sunrise hike, or visit later in the day and take in the stunning mountain landscape. The hike is a 3.7-miles round trip. Leashed dogs are permitted on the hiking trail.

Skyline Drive

Hop in your RV and take in the beautiful views along Skyline Drive. This road runs 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the park. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length on a clear day. Note that Marys Rock Tunnel (mile 32.2) has a maximum clearance of 12'8", so make sure your RV will be able to clear it before embarking on your journey!

West Main Market

Enjoy lunch at West Main Market, a full-service delicatessen and sandwich shop located in Downtown Historic District in Luray, VA. This is only a ten minute drive from Luray RV Resort and Campground. Their menu features specialty meats, cheeses, and homemade side dishes.

Big Meadows

This sprawling meadow is found near the center of Shenandoah National Park, located directly across from the Harry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor Center. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, Big Meadows provides an essential habitat for many plants and animals. It can also provide an ideal space for stargazing and viewing wildlife.

Luray Caverns Tour

Head underground for an otherworldly experience through Luray Caverns, the largest cavern in the eastern United States. Self guided tours are available, and take just over an hour, although 2-3 hours is recommended. One-hour guided tours are also available, and feature an in-depth history of the discovery of Luray Caverns, as told by an 1870s tour guide. Ample free parking is available for RVs. Additionally, leashed pets are allowed on the Luray Caverns grounds outside, and guests are permitted to carry small pets on the tour.

Hawksbill Brewing Company

Conclude the day’s activities at Hawksbill Brewing Company. This establishment, which opened in 2017, uses local ingredients whenever possible and is always creating new recipes. Patrons can also stop by the nearby Main Street Flavors to end the day with a sweet treat.

Embark on More Outdoor Adventures

Stony Man

This hike along the Appalachian Trail brings you to an outstanding view of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond. Note that pets are not permitted on this one-hour hike, although service animals are welcome. Similar to Mary’s Rock, Stony Man provides another excellent vantage point for a sunrise hike or morning adventure.

Whiteoak Canyon Trail⁣

This popular (albeit challenging) hike is a 4.6 mile round trip to the Upper Whiteoak Falls. Leashed pets are permitted on the journey. Enjoy the scenery and embrace the adventure of chasing waterfalls!

Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen⁣

It’s lunchtime! With locations in Front Royal and Winchester, Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen⁣ is a full-service restaurant that offers a range of options. The Front Royal location is closer to Luray RV Resort and Campground. Vibrissa Beer and Kitchen⁣ offers surprising twists on pub favorites, shareable starters, traditional American-style handhelds, special entrees, and yummy desserts. 

It also has fresh, nutritional dishes including gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options on the menu.

Shenandoah River State Park⁣

Shenandoah River Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. State Park (also known as Shenandoah River State Park⁣) is different from Shenandoah National Park, but also located in the Shenandoah Valley. 

Shenandoah River State Park⁣ is known for its beautiful river views and plentiful hiking trails. The park covers over 1,600 acres along the Shenandoah River, where visitors can kayak, canoe, and fish. In spring and summer, visitors can see the beautiful bluebells. There’s even a Bluebell Festival held in this location every April, when the flowers are in full bloom.

Hawksbill Summit Trail⁣

End the day by exploring Hawksbill Summit Trail– a short, steep route to Shenandoah’s highest peak. The viewing area on top of Hawksbill offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont. Leashed pets are permitted on this one-hour hike.

Explore Harrisonburg

Visit Harrisonburg, VA

Visit the nearby town of Harrisonburg– the county seat of Rockingham, VA. This town is only a 40 minute drive from Luray RV Resort and Campground. 

There is no shortage of activities in Harrisonburg. Visitors can grab coffee at Coffee Hound, a dog-friendly coffee shop with  25 varieties of specialty/boutique/gourmet coffee using only the finest Arabica coffee from all over the world. Engage with public art Harrisonburg’s Downtown Art Walk, which shares the talent of local artists and features 30 murals, mosaics, and sculptures.

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum⁣

A tour through Harrisonburg wouldn’t be complete without visiting James Madison University’s Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. This woodland sanctuary, on the James Madison University campus, is a public, urban garden and forested greenspace that preserves native species, provides opportunities for research, and promotes knowledge of the natural world. The Arboretum is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk.

Pale Fire Brewing Company⁣

As your Shenandoah Valley visit draws to a close, visitors can dine at Pale Fire Brewing Company. This production brewery is an eight-minute drive from Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, and features a tap room with ample seating for parties of every size.