Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping
George Washington & Jefferson National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: NATURAL BRIDGE STATION, VA, VA
Price: From $25 per night
Price range: $25–$47 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (670 reviews)
Season: May through October
Sherando Lake Recreation Area’s Family Campground provides an ideal camping destination. It is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known locally as the jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking in the shade, fishing in the lakes, or swimming and relaxing on the sandy beach.The campground is divided into three loops: Meadow Loop (Loop C) and River Bend Loop (Loop B) have campsites with electric hookups which are suitable for larger camping units and RV’s;
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Bear Boxes, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/sherando-lake-recreation-area-family-camping to be notified when sites open up.
Sherando Lake Recreation Area offers a highly-rated family camping experience (4.7/5 stars) in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a pristine 25-acre lower lake featuring a sandy beach, well-maintained facilities, and excellent fishing and hiking opportunities.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Eastern Bobcat, Timber Rattlesnake, and Barred Owl present in the area — use bear boxes provided and follow standard wildlife safety protocols.
Insider tips for Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with high demand Bring a Virginia fishing license if you plan to fish either lake Bring your own firewood — it is sold on-site but reviewers noted occasional shortages
Skip Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping if: You need full hookups — only select sites have electric; no water or sewer hookups available. You require camping outside May-October — campground operates seasonally. You prefer first-come, first-served — advance booking is necessary.
Best time to visit Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping: May-October — Official operating season as stated by campground.
Nearby campgrounds: Sherando Lake Group Camp (NATURAL BRIDGE, VA), Loft Mountain Campground (Elkton, VA), Otter Creek Campground (Asheville, VA), Todd Lake Campground (Mount Solon, VA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping
Cell signal at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping (NATURAL BRIDGE STATION, VA): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Sherando Lake Recreation Area’s Family Campground provides an ideal camping destination. It is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known locally as the jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking in the shade, fishing in the lakes, or swimming and relaxing on the sandy beach.The campground is divided into three loops: Meadow Loop (Loop C) and River Bend Loop (Loop B) have campsites with electric hookups which are suitable for larger camping units and RV’s; White Oak Loop (Loop A) has non-electric campsites, suitable for tents and camping units less than 20 feet in length. All camping requires a reservation prior to arriving.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with high demand
Bring a Virginia fishing license if you plan to fish either lake
Bring your own firewood
it is sold on-site but reviewers noted occasional shortages
Official operating season as stated by campground
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From I-64, take Exit 96 just east of Stuarts Draft. Go south on State Route 624, which becomes State Route 664 at Lyndhurst. Continue south on State Route 664 approximately 8 miles to the entrance to the Sherando Lake Recreation Area on the right. The gatehouse is approximately 0.5 miles ahead. If the gatehouse is closed, continue through the recreation area to your assigned campsite in either White Oak Loop (Loop A), which is the first turn to the right after passing the lower lake or Meadow Lo
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — George Washington & Jefferson National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at George Washington & Jefferson National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping cost per night?+
What season is Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping open?+
Does Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?+
How do I make reservations at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?+
What is the cell service like at Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping?+
What season is Sherando Lake Recreation Area Family Camping open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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