Chickery's Travels

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  • Home
  • Campground Reviews
    • The Best U.S. National Park Campgrounds
    • 28 Must-See State Park Campgrounds You Can’t Miss
    • Alternatives To National Park Campgrounds: Discover Hidden Gems Just Outside the Park Boundaries
    • Best Luxury RV Resorts For All RV Types
    • Best Waterfront Campgrounds For Every Budget
    • Alabama
      • Gunter Hill Campground (Montgomery, Alabama)
    • Arizona
      • Best Campgrounds in Arizona
      • Aspen Campground (Payson, Arizona)
      • LazyDays KOA (Tucson, Arizona)
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, AZ)
    • Arkansas
      • Catherine’s Landing (Hot Springs, Arkansas)
      • Downtown Riverside RV Park (Little Rock, Arkansas)
    • California
      • Best Campgrounds in California
      • Crescent City Redwoods KOA (Crescent City, California)
      • Sea Breeze RV Park (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station)
    • Delaware
      • Cape Henlopen State Park (Lewes, Delaware)
    • Florida
      • Best Campgrounds in Florida
      • Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area (Pensacola, FL)
      • Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Southeast FL)
      • LazyDays RV Resort (Tampa, FL)
      • MacDill AFB FamCamp (Tampa, FL)
      • Military Camping in Key West
      • Patrick AFB FamCamp (Cocoa Beach, FL)
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Ocala, FL)
      • Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness (Orlando, FL)
        • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
        • Chickery’s Travels Podcast Episode 5: Fort Wilderness Campground Review
    • Maryland
      • Cherry Hill Park (College Park, Maryland)
    • Michigan
      • Port Huron KOA (Kimball, Michigan)
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
      • Boondocking Near Las Vegas
    • New Hampshire
      • Lincoln / Woodstock KOA (New Hampshire)
    • New York
      • Round Pond Recreation Area (West Point, NY)
    • North Carolina
      • Outer Banks West / Currituck Sound KOA (Coinjock, North Carolina)
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City East KOA (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
    • Texas
      • Best Campgrounds in Texas
      • Alsatian RV Resort (Castroville, Texas)
      • Maverick Ranch (Lajitas, Texas)
      • Texas Wine Country Jellystone (Fredericksburg, Texas)
    • Tennessee
      • Camp Margaritaville (Pigeon Forge, TN)
      • Crossville I-40 KOA (Crossville, TN)
      • Midway RV Park (Memphis, TN)
    • Virginia
      • Complete Guide to Camping at Shenandoah National Park
      • Fort Belvoir Travel Camp (Alexandria, VA)
      • Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah Views Campground (Luray, Virginia)
      • Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA (Monroe, Virginia)
      • Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)
    • Washington
      • Crescent Bar RV Resort (Quincy, Washington)
    • West Virginia
      • Harper’s Ferry KOA (Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia)
  • USA
    • Alaska
      • 5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Trip To Alaska
    • Arizona
      • Apache Trail: A Crazy, Scary, Beautiful Drive
      • Lost Dutchman State Park (Phoenix, Arizona)
      • Phoenix Faves: Best Activities to Enjoy on Your Arizona Vacation
    • District of Columbia
      • Budget Friendly Fun in Washington D.C.
      • Favorite Hikes near Washington DC
      • Indoor Skydiving and TopGolf: Just Another Day of Family Fun!
    • Florida
      • Best Walt Disney World Festivals For Adults
      • Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida
      • Bok Tower Gardens
      • Daytona Beach – The World’s Most Famous Beach
      • Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
      • Gasparilla – Tampa’s Pirate Invasion
      • 3 Days on the Nature Coast 
      • Florida Freshwater Springs on the Nature Coast
      • Halloween at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
      • Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral
      • Island Hopping at Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks
      • Must See Sights in St. Augustine, FL – America’s Oldest City
      • Rainbow Springs State Park & Campground (Dunnellon, Florida)
      • Enjoy the Best of Sunny Sarasota
      • Tampa
        • Get Back to Nature in Tampa Bay
        • Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Spring Training in Tampa, FL
        • The 5 Best Beaches in the Tampa Bay Area
        • Why We Love Tampa
      • Tarpon Springs – The Gulf Coast Town with Greek Flavor
      • Top 5 Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
      • What Not to Do When Kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
    • Georgia
      • Visiting Atlanta? Don’t Miss These Civil Rights Museums
    • Hawaii
      • Everything You Need to Know About Camping in a Jeep Wrangler in Hawaii
    • Illinois
      • One Day In The Windy City – Chicago Itinerary
    • Maine
      • Coastal Maine Road Trip
      • Discover the Beauty of Monhegan Island, Maine
      • Acadia National Park: Highlights You Can’t Miss
    • Nevada
      • Best Campgrounds in Nevada
      • Las Vegas RV Campgrounds: Nellis Air Force Base and Lake Mead RV Village
    • North Carolina
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Uncover the Coastal Charm of North Carolina’s Outer Banks | A Guide for Visitors
    • Tennessee
      • Complete Guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
      • Burgess Falls: 3 For 1 Waterfall Special
      • National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, TN
      • Window Cliffs, TN – I’m Not Afraid of Heights, But I am Afraid of Falling!
      • WWII History in Tennessee
    • Texas
      • Best Restaurants in Fredericksburg
      • Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Texas Hill Country
      • Explore Nature’s Untamed Beauty at Big Bend National Park
    • Virginia
      • Explore Great Falls Park, Virginia
  • RV Resources
    • 3 Simple Steps to Find the Best RV Campgrounds
    • 5 Years Full-Time RV: Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret
    • Boondocking – What We Learned From Our First Dry Camping Experience
    • Tips for Boondocking Success
    • Essential RV Gear
      • Essential RV Gear Guide
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • RV Must Have: Tire Pressure Monitoring System
      • RV SnapPads Product Review
      • RVLOCK Keyless Entry Door Handle Installation and Review
      • Shop “RV Local” With TechnoRV
      • Top RV Gadgets & Accessories
      • WeBoost Cellular Booster Review
    • Maintenance
      • DIY RV Power & Solar Upgrade
      • DIY Power Upgrade – “Solar Ready” Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel
      • An Easy Way to Protect Your RV Water Heater
      • Easy DIY Project to Protect Your RV Water System
      • How to Reduce the Likelihood of Tire Blowouts on your RV
      • Odor Free RV Black Tank Tips
      • RV Condensation: What It Is, What It Does, and How To Stop It
      • RV Roofs – What You Need to Know
    • Living in an RV
      • 9 Lessons From 2 1/2 Years on the Road
      • Biggest Regret Full-Time RV Living
      • Dealing with my Biggest Full-Time Travel Struggle, Missing Family While Traveling
      • Downsizing: 3 Areas That Make The Biggest Impact
      • Full-Time RV: 2019 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV: 2018 Year in Review
      • Full-Time RV Travel – 2017 Year In Review
      • How Full-Time RVers Celebrate the Holidays
      • Get Ready for Full-Time RV Travel
      • Internet Solutions for RV Travelers
      • The Ultimate Guide to Embracing the Full-Time RV Lifestyle
      • Living in a Tiny, Traveling Home
      • Making Friends (and reconnecting with old friends) While Traveling Full-Time
      • Pros & Cons of Full-Time RV Travel
      • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
      • Short-Term RV Storage: Leaving The RV Behind
      • Top 3 Lessons Learned & Biggest Regret: 3 Years Full-Time RV Living
      • What We Wish We Knew Before Full-Time RVing – Stories from the Road
      • What You Need To Know Before Selling Everything And Moving To An RV
      • Why We Are Traveling Full-Time In Our RV
    • Must Read Books Before Becoming A Full-time RVer
    • RV Organization & Storage Ideas
    • RV Remodel
      • Planning an RV Remodel
      • RV Kitchen Cooking Videos
      • Painting Your RV Interior
      • Update the RV Kitchen – Backsplashes & More
      • Updating Your RV Window Treatments
      • RV Bedroom Makeover
      • RV Remodel Costs with Before & After Photos
      • Vintage Camper Renovation
    • RV Holiday Tour – Decorating Our Small Space
    • RV Hurricane Evacuation
    • RV Misery Can Be Overcome By The Generosity Of Others
    • How Book Readers Can Space and Weight in the RV
    • Slow Travel
    • Small Kitchen Cooking
      • Cooking Videos
      • Eating Healthy on Travel Days
    • Staying Healthy
      • Traveling with Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and Other Chronic Pain Conditions
    • Trip Planning
    • Traveling with Pets
      • RVing with Your Cat
      • Traveling with Restricted Breed Dogs
    • Why I Prefer RV Travel Over Flying
    • Your Guide To Planning The Best Family Vacation This Summer
  • Travel Finance
    • 5 Tips to Save on RV Travel
    • 5 Ways to Fund Full-Time Travel
    • Creative Ways To Save Money On Your Next Vacation
    • Full-Time RV Expenses
      • Annual Full-Time RV Expenses – The Big Three
    • Five Credit Card Strategies To Improve Travel
    • How Much Do Campgrounds Cost?
    • How Much Does it Cost to RV Full-Time?
    • How to Camp for Free
    • How to Start a Profitable Blog
    • How to Save Money on RV Fuel Costs
    • How to Save on Food While Camping
    • How We Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time (And How You Can Too)
    • How We Paid $139,000 of Debt in 2 Years While Full-Time RVing
    • Learn How to Finance Your Dreams
    • The Top 7 Ways to Save Money While Traveling Full-Time
    • RV Purchasing
      • RV Purchasing: Understanding RV Types
      • Benefits of Renting an RV: Try Before You Buy
      • Should I Buy A New or Used RV?
      • The Costs of RV Ownership
      • The True Cost of Financing an RV
      • Attend An RV Show – Even If You Already Own An RV | Exciting Reasons Why
    • Save Money Using the Public Library (On More Than Just Books)
  • Military Travel
    • Guide To Using Military Campgrounds
    • Health Care for Retired Military Full-Time RVers
    • Why Military Retirees Should Fly Space-A
  • About Us
    • RV Shows We’re Attending
    • Contact Us
    • Follow Us
    • Why We Are Full-Time RVers

8:33 pm by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Shenandoah River State Park (Bentonville, Virginia)

Are you planning a visit to Virginia and looking for an unforgettable outdoor getaway? Look no further than Shenandoah River State Park, where you can experience nature at its finest with breathtaking views, entertaining outdoor activities, and excellent campground amenities. Whether you’re a first-time camper or an experienced outdoorsman, Shenandoah River State Park is the perfect destination for your next adventure. In this article, we will explore the reasons why you should pack your bags and head to this beautiful spot for your ultimate camping experience.

Watch the video review below or read on for more information:

Discover the Comfort of Campsites and Cabins

Shenandoah River State Park is open year-round and is only minutes from Shenandoah National Park. Whether you are camping in an RV, tent, or cabin, there is something for everyone. The best part about this campground is that it is situated only a few minutes walk from the beautiful Shenandoah River. However, it is important to note that you won’t have a river view from the campsites as there are trees between the campground and the river. 

Shenandoah River State Park is open year round and has 32 RV sites with water and electric.
  • RV Sites: The campground has 32 back-in sites with water and power, as well as plenty of room for your RV, tow vehicle, and even a tent or canopy. 
  • Cabins: The campground has nine 2-bedroom cabins with a bathroom, heating, and air conditioning. They also have four primitive camp cabins that don’t have a bathroom, heating, and air conditioning.
  • Yurts: The campground also has three yurts that have one queen bed and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. The yurts do not have electricity or water, but water is available at the bathhouse. There is no heat or air conditioning. Each yurt has a dining table, a large wooden deck with patio tables, a picnic table, and a fire ring with a cooking grate.
  • Tent Sites: There is a separate tent-only, hike in campground with primitive sites.

Enjoy the Array of Campground Amenities 

This is a typical state park campground, which means there aren’t as many amenities as you’d find in a private RV resort. However, the natural beauty of the area more than makes up for it. Shenandoah River State Park’s campground features restrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, laundry facilities, and a dump station. 

Explore the Wonders of Shenandoah River State Park

With over 1,600 acres of pristine wilderness, Shenandoah River State Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The park has 24 miles of well-maintained trails catering to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders of all skill levels. Immerse yourself in nature as you walk along the tranquil riverbanks, or take on the challenge of exploring the park’s higher-elevation trails, which offer stunning panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley below.

The park also offers a wide range of fun-filled activities, such as fishing, canoeing, and kayaking allowing you to enjoy the river’s waters.

The visitor’s center has a great display on local wildlife including a station where you can listen to the call of the region’s birds.

Enjoy all the Local Area has to Offer

There are over 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park and several lead to waterfalls.
Dark Hollow Falls at Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is the highlight of this region and is only a ten-minute drive away. It has a multitude of activities and is open year-round. Scenic Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of 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 of the Park on a clear day. Skyline Drive is generally open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. If it’s closed due to inclement weather, you may still enter the Park on foot at one of the entrance stations or from a boundary access point. The national park also has over 500 miles of trails with several waterfalls.

Let your adventure extend beyond the park’s boundaries by discovering the rich history and culture of the surrounding region. The area is home to many historic sites, such as the nearby Luray Caverns and Skyline Drive, which offer a glimpse into Virginia’s fascinating past. Local wineries and breweries add to the charm of the area, and make for perfect stops to unwind after a day of exploring the park.

Book Your Stay Now

Whether you are looking for a quick getaway or a family vacation, you can’t go wrong with this amazing state park campground! Click here to make reservations and don’t forget to look at the map and choose the site that is best for you.

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share the image below on Pinterest.

The Shenandoah River State Park campground is the perfect base for your next RV vacation. With 5 miles of riverfront access 24 miles of multi-use trails it is the perfect location to enjoy the great outdoors. It is also located only 10 minutes from Shenandoah National Park, providing the perfect RV camping destination for your family.

Filed Under: Campground Reviews Tagged With: Campground near Shenandoah National Park, camping at Shenandoah River State Park, Shenandoah River State Park campground

9:58 pm by Julie Chickery Leave a Comment

Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA (Broadway, Virginia)

Nestled in the woods, the Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA feels like a state park campground, but has the amenities of a KOA. Stay and relax for a quiet weekend or use it as a base when visiting Shenandoah National Park and the historic Skyline Drive. Either way, you’re bound to leave a happy camper!

Campsites

The most important thing to know about any campground is what the campsites are like. The great thing about KOA campgrounds is that they always have a variety of site types, and this one is no exception. From partial hook up back-in campsites with 30amp power and water to full hook up back-in and pull-thru sites, there is something for every preference and budget.

The Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley KOA has a variety of campsites to suit any preference or budget.

Every campsite has a picnic table and fire pit. Most, but not all, sites have cable as well. Our friends stayed in the KOA Patio ™ sites which include your own private deck area, with a gas grill, outdoor dining table and chairs, fire pit, and glider swing.

If you don’t have an RV or have extra company, they also have tent sites with power and water, rustic cabins, and deluxe cabins.

Campground Amenities

Another great feature of KOA Holiday campgrounds are the amenities to provide everything you need to just stay and enjoy yourself right there. The Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA had a nature trail, catch & release fishing pond, playground, small frisbee golf course, ping pong, corn hole, and a swimming pool for hours of family fun. It also had the standard amenities like a bath house, laundry facility and fenced dog park.

Local Area

Being located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley has its perks. This campground is just miles away from Shenandoah National Park, home to the historic Skyline Drive, a must see when visiting the area. They are also near the Massanutten Ski and Waterpark Resort, antique stores, wineries, breweries, Harrisonburg’s historic downtown, caverns, and fabulous hiking trails.

Book Your Stay

Whether you are looking for a quick get away or family vacation, you can’t go wrong with this amazing KOA campground! Click here to make reservations and don’t forget to sign up for the rewards program to get 10% off every KOA stay. We love the rewards program because you also earn points to use towards discounts on future stays. We were able to get $50 off our weekend here using accumulated rewards points.

Interested in learning more about what KOAs have to offer? Click here to listen to Sean & Kenny’s interview with the President and CEO of the company.

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share the image below on Pinterest.

Nestled in the woods, the Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA feels like a state park campground, but has the amenities of a KOA.  Stay and relax for a quiet weekend or use it as a base when visiting Shenandoah National Park and the historic Skyline Drive. Either way, you're bound to leave a happy camper!

Filed Under: Campground Reviews Tagged With: Campground near Shenandoah National Park, Harrisonburg KOA, Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley KOA, KOA campground in Virginia, virginia campground

10:08 pm by J Chickery Leave a Comment

Shenandoah Views Campground (Luray, Virginia)

We visited the Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views Campground when it was the Luray KOA. Nestled between Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest, it has fabulous views all around the campground, not to mention all the recreational opportunities.

Watch the short video review below or continue reading for more details.

Sites

We love KOAs because they offer so many different types of sites to suit any budget or preference, and this one was no exception. In fact, the Luray KOA had some of the most unique site offerings that we’ve seen.  

  • Deluxe Patio Sites – These are full hook-up pull-through sites with a dining table, extra seating area with lounge chairs, umbrella, and fire ring. We stayed in these sites as you can see from the image above. We loved how the fire pit area had its own little patio too.
  • Standard Pull-Thru Sites – There were standard full hook-up pull-thru sites that come with a smaller concrete patio, picnic table, and fire ring.
  • Back-In Pergola Sites – These sites were so cool, we want to stay in one next time. They have a picnic table under the pergola, which is situated at the rear of your RV. Then just below the pergola, there is an extra seating area with lounge chairs, a fire ring, and mountain views. 
The Luray KOA has the most unique campsites including these pergola mountain view campsites. The pergola has a picnic table and extra seating, then below it, you have a fire ring and more seating to enjoy the mountain views.
  • Other Back-In Sites – As usual, there are a variety of back-in sites based on RV length to accommodate small campers and big rigs. The extra long back-in sites were probably the longest I’ve seen! Another bonus of the back-ins is that they are all situated around the edges of the campground so you have greenery and views behind you — not other RVs.
The extra long back-in sites at the Luray KOA can fit the largest RVs. They also back up to greenery and views of Shenandoah National Park.
  • No RV? No problem! They have tent sites, cabins, and yurts to enjoy.

Amenities 

This campground has all the amenities you’d expect, but we thought they were nicer than most. For example, they had two swimming pools, a playground with a large open field for the kids to run around in, and the largest dog park we’ve ever seen.

Campground map of Shenandoah Views Campground in Luray, VA

Another great amenity was a camp kitchen with sinks and a long counter behind the bathhouse. This is a terrific place for those staying in the tent sites to do their dishes.

Local Area 

Luray Caverns boasts the largest caverns in the Eastern United States. They have well-lighted, paved walkways that lead visitors through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10 stories high, towering stone formations, and natural wonders at every turn. With so many fabulous formations, I can’t name them all, but here’s one of my favorites: Dominating Giant’s Hall at 47 feet in height, this column is the tallest and one of the most spectacular formations in the caverns. The Double Column is a classic example of the two basic cave formations the stalactite and stalagmite coming together as one massive wonder of nature.

Luray Caverns is the largest caverns in the eastern United States.

Hawksbill Greenway consists of two miles of trails along a quiet creek. It’s a great place just off downtown Luray to ride your bike or go for a stroll. Downtown Luray has several shops, restaurants, and a great little ice cream place. If you’re looking for an inexpensive afternoon, do some window shopping, ride your bikes on the Greenway, and treat yourself to an ice cream cone.

Shenandoah National Park spans nearly 200,000 acres of protected land and provides a diverse array of activities and amenities for tourists. The park’s Thorton Gap Entrance Station is located a short 9.5 miles from the Shenandoah Views Campground making it a “must-see” destination. Whether you want to enjoy the beautiful views along the scenic Skyline Drive, explore the park’s history at the Big Meadows Visitor Center, or take a hike on one of 514 miles of trails (with plenty of options for all fitness levels), there is something for everyone.

View from Blackrock Summit in Shenandoah National Park

Book Your Stay Now

Whether you are looking for a quick getaway or a family vacation, you can’t go wrong with this amazing campground! Click here to make reservations for a wonderful stay in the Shenandoah Valley.

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share the image below on Pinterest.

We visited the Luray KOA this spring and loved it! Nestled between Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest, it has fabulous views all around the campground, not to mention all the recreational opportunities.  It's a family friendly campground for all ages.

Filed Under: Campground Reviews, Virginia Tagged With: Campground near Shenandoah National Park, KOA Campground in Luray, koa camping, Luray KOA, Luray Virginia Campground

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