
GENERAL INFO: This park's hours of operation are between 8 a.m. and dusk. NOTE: This park is a Trash Free Facility - refuse must be removed by park visitor. A central refuse collection area is at the Cullers Overlook.
The park is 1,604 acres with 5.6 miles of river frontage along the south fork of the Shenandoah River. The rolling, mountainous land features steep slopes and is mostly wooded. In addition to meandering river frontage, the park offers scenic vistas overlooking Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.
Park Size: 1,604 acres, 5.6 miles of river frontage along the south fork of the Shendandoah River. About 140 acres are pastoral.
Weather: Click here to visit the Weather Channel's site for this zip code.
AT-A-GLANCE
The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: The park is in Warren County, eight miles south of Front Royal and 15 miles north of Luray. It's off Rt. 340 in Bentonville.
Latitude, 38.854777. Longitude, -78.306552.
View all Shenandoah River photos.
PARK MAP: Click here (PDF). Click here to download a close-up map (PDF) of the River Right Campground. You'll need a copy of the free Adobe Acrobat reader to view the map.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES:
The park is open year-round; it has standard tent only sites, electric-water camping, four camping cabins (bunkhouses), regular cabins and a lodge. For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK (7275). Click here for park fees.
Visit a Flickr photoset of typical cabins and lodges at the park. Cabins and lodges vary. Dwellings may not match what's shown in the photos.
Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. There is a charge, plus tax, per pet per night for overnight stays. There are no designated swimming areas at the park.
Note: Be sure to bring confirmation letter(s) or reservation number(s) when you check in. If someone else is checking in for you, make sure the person has the reservation number. The number is needed to enter the cabin or lodge. Camping, cabin and lodge guests should also be prepared to show an ID.
Weekly rentals, required for these facilities during prime season, start on Saturday or Sunday. This park has no extra bed rentals. A two-night minimum stay is required the rest of the year. In prime season, however, guests who wish to stay less than a week may call 30 days prior to desired arrival date to see if there is vacancy for two-night minimum stay. Cabins and lodges are open year-round and may be reserved up to 11 months in advance. Check-in is 3 p.m., and checkout is 10 a.m.
Late arrivals: Guests who arrive after 4 p.m. should bring confirmation letter(s) or reservation number(s). Part of the reservation number is the passcode needed for keyless entrance of the cabin or lodge. Also, those arriving after-hours should check in at the park office between 9:30 and 11 a.m. the next day and bring with them an ID.
Lodge: Shenandoah River State Park has one six-bedroom lodge that sleeps up to 16. No bed rentals. During prime season, the lodge is rented week-long from Saturday to Saturday. Check-in is 3 p.m., and checkout is 10 a.m.
It has:
Cabins: During prime season, cabins 1 through 5 rent for weeklong stays starting on Saturday; the rental period for cabins 6 through 11 begins on Sunday. No extra bed rentals. Call the park several days beforehand to arrange to pick up the key if you think you’ll arrive late. Check-in is 3 p.m., and checkout is 10 a.m.
Cabins have:
Total sites of each type: Two-bedroom frame, 9; three-bedroom frame, 1; six-bedroom lodge, 1
Site Types:
Total: 10 cabins; one lodge
Camping is year-round. Shenandoah River's EW Campground has 32 sites with water and electric hookups for various equipment - tents, popups and RVs up to 60 feet long. Water at campsites is turned off when tempertures are below freezing. There's no reduction in fees - water is still available elsewhere in the park at such times. The campground has centrally located restrooms that have hot showers. Sites have fire-rings, picnic tables and lantern holders. Twenty-seven sites are back-in, and five are pull-through. Site assignment is made upon arrival, not at the time of reservation.
Four camping cabins (small bunkhouses) also are in the EW campground. They are unheated. The maximum occupancy for the camping cabins is four. There are 10 standard tent sites - for only tents - in the Right River Campground, which isn't near the EW Campground.
EW Campground Sites (year-round)
Camping Cabins - (Camp Cabins 1-4, small bunkhouses, maximum occupancy 4, year-round)
The transfer deadline policy, cancellation and pet fees for camping cabins are the same as those for cabins.
River Right Campground (tents only, year-round)
Ten standard tent canoe-in or walk-in sites (TentStd), each with a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are less than 50 yards from the parking lot. The campground has a full service bathhouse. Potable water is available near the two vault toilets, and gray water sinks are near the bathhouse and the vault toilets by the parking lot. There are two river-access points, and there is parking for up to 21 vehicles. Reserve these sites through the Reservation Center, 1-800-933-PARK. Click here < documents/shenriveright.pdf >to download a map (PDF) of the campground.
Cottonwood Primitive Group Camp
This walk-in site, for tents only, accommodates up to 30 and is about 100 yards from the parking lot. The site is for groups and generally open year-round, depending on weather and site conditions. There's a bathhouse nearby. To reserve this site, call (540) 622-6840. The cancellation fee for a group site accommodating at least seven people is higher than is the fee for individual campsites.
Total sites: 10 tent standard sites, 32 EW sites; 4 camp cabins; one group site.
SWIMMING: There are no designated swimming areas. Wading and floating are permitted.
TRAILS: 13 miles, six of which are multi-use.
Visit the Explore Virginia Outdoors website for enhanced maps and video tours of Shenandoah River's trails.
FISHING, BOATING: The park offers a car top access in the day-use area, located 3.2 miles downstream from the Bentonville access area. The "fish trap" access area, near Shelter 3, is suitable for wade fishing. Freshwater fishing is available, however there are no boat rentals. There are three car-top launches and two outfitters within five minutes of the park.
HUNTING: Click here to learn about this park's hunting opportunities.
HORSES: Yes, but no horse rentals. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: The park is building a new visitor center and gift shop scheduled to open in 2009.
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: Seasonal schedule between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Skyline Caverns, Luray Caverns, Sky Meadows State Park, Down River Canoe Co., Front Royal Canoe Co..
PICNIC SHELTERS: Four shelters may be rented through the Reservation Center. Call 1-800-933-PARK. They are available in two sizes: large and very large. They are rented all day from 8 a.m. to dusk. All shelters have lighting, are handicap accessible, and feature pedestal grills, a water fountain and electricity (a single 15 amp 120v receptacle). Also, all are adjacent to parking. Daily parking fees apply to all shelter guests. Click here for park fees.
Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.
Shelter 1 (large) - It is riverside, accommodates 50 and is handicap accessible. The shelter, which is octagonal and has 900 square feet of floor area with seven picnic tables, is about 200 feet away from a restroom. There are 29 parking spaces.
Shelter 2 (large) - It is riverside, accommodates 50 and is handicap accessible. The shelter, which is octagonal and has 900 square feet of floor area with seven picnic tables, is about 150 feet away from a restroom. There are 15 parking spaces.
Shelter 3 (large) - It is riverside, accommodates 50 and is handicap accessible. The shelter, which is octagonal and has 900 square feet of floor area with seven picnic tables, is about 300 feet away from a restroom. There are 14 parking spaces.
Massanutten Shelter (extra large) - This shelter overlooks Massanutten Mountain and the river, and can accommodate 100. It's about 34 x 34 feet with two 12 x 20 foot wings, is about 300 feet away from a restroom and is beside a 55-space parking lot.
LAUNDRY: None. The closest facility is 10 miles away in Front Royal.
RESTAURANT: Ten miles away in Front Royal. Also in Front Royal are Martin's Grocery and Food Lion. As well, there are two convenience stores about one-quarter mile away in Bentonville.
FRIENDS GROUP: The park enjoys the support of a nonprofit citizen group, Friends of Shenandoah River State Park. Its mission is to help the park provide educational and recreational opportunities while fostering stewardship and community involvement. The group meets on the first Tuesday each month, and everyone is welcome to attend the meetings. To join or learn more about the group, click here.
CONTACT INFO: Shenandoah River State Park, 350 Daughter of Stars Drive, Bentonville, VA 22610; Phone: (540) 622-6840, Fax: (540) 622-6841; Email, shenandoahriver. Learn more about park offerings by calling 1-800-933-PARK or email resvs. Be sure to specify the park of interest.