Wilderness gateway · George Washington & Jefferson National Forests · est. 1918
George Washington NF — Shenandoah Valley Corridor
Shenandoah NP overflow lands here — Todd Lake's 30-ft dry-camp loop with on-site dump anchors the basecamp, and dispersed is legal along the GWJ MVUM's broad ranger-district road grid.
Max RV length
30 ft
Hookups
None (dry)
Dump station
Yes
Dispersed camping
Allowed per MVUM
RV season
April – November (developed) · Year-round dispersed
Access road
Paved US 211/250 to gravel ranger-district roads
About this area
Bordering Shenandoah National Park along three ranger districts (Lee, North River, Warm Springs), the George Washington NF absorbs the overflow demand whenever Big Meadows or Lewis Mountain inside the NPS fill up. Todd Lake, North River, and Hidden Valley are the rig-grade developed loops — 28 to 30 ft caps, dry-camp, with the on-site dump at Todd Lake. Dispersed camping is broadly allowed under the GWJ MVUM (the two adjacent forests share one MVUM document); popular pulls cluster along FSR 95 in the Shenandoah Mountain. The forest's signature scenic byway is Highland Scenic Tour (FSR 447/85), a paved-then-gravel loop that demands rig caution at the FSR 85 transition. Black bear activity has driven food-storage enforcement since 2019 — rangers cite at Todd Lake.
How to plan this area
Reservations and the Motor Vehicle Use Map
Developed loops book through recreation.gov; dispersed camping is legal only where the ranger district's MVUM allows it. Both links go straight to the official source.
Looking for the rig? Browse Virginia RV rentals on PickRV
Official sources
Every fact on this page traces back to these primary sources.
Virginia rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
Keep exploring