Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground

FIRST, I'm giving a word of advice to anyone with a larger rig. We have a 40 ft. 5th wheel, and small campgrounds can present some real problems. You should enter the campground TO THE RIGHT (against the direction of the arrow). The sign in place if in front, and you go straight to it, so walk back and do that. But, the angles of the sites are really pointed in the wrong direction to back into your site. Someone else had written that the sites were "backwards", and they were right...or the arrows are backwards.

Since we have a America the Beautiful Pass, the winter rate of 10. / day was 5./ day. Despite the cold and rain, as well as the showers/restrooms being closed, there were still campers there in smaller rigs and tents. The vault toilets were operating. The campground host, Steve King, is a really great person and directed us as to where we could get repairs done (locally) to our truck and RV. He and other rangers keep an eye on things fairly regularly so you feel pretty secure. There is a great trail system in and around this campground. I took my dog for walks on these trails. The ones around the furnace have historical information all along the trails. There are some larger sites, but, if you need one, you are better served to check them out first.

The vault toilets are clean and stocked. But, I think the campground may close for the winter on December 1.

Beautiful, small campground an hour west of DC near the intersection of I-66 and I-81. No cell (T-Mobile), no TV via antenna.

When we visited on a Thursday in November, the park was unattended and check-in was on a typical USFS honor system. The bathhouse and dump station had been closed for winterization on October 19, so the normal rate of $16 per night was reduced to $10 a night. This is important if you are expecting to be able to dump your tanks after mid October. Plan ahead. Pit vault toilets remained open.

The largest site in the park was #16 - a pull-in. I wouldn't expect a rig much larger than 36' would be able to fit anywhere in the park. Site 10 would be the second best alternative for larger rigs. The canyon access road is a white-knuckler too. The speed bumps in the park are a KILLER for MHs.

There are some great hikes and historical sites near the park and the gorgeous Passage Creek runs through it. It is a popular place on summer weekends, so be sure to plan a visit on the fall or spring if you can. No reservations: first come, first serve.

We will be back!

16-MAY-20: Campground currently closed due to COVID-19. Parked at the neighboring trailhead, walked through campground to get some photos. 12miles / 20minutes to Front Royal, Virginia, which has all amenities. 32 sites, level enough, most have tent pads, are large enough for medium-length RVs (sorry, didn't measure), with room to park a tow vehicle. Very clean area, each site has a fire ring and picnic table. No hookups, but fresh water available at spigots around the park. Clean bathhouse on-site. Nice brook/creek behind the campground that can get very rough and flood during sustained heavy rains; wouldn't recommend trying to swim in it. Lots of people fishing the brook downstream. Very easy access to Elizabeth Furnace Day Use Area, and numerus Easy-to-Difficult Hikes. Hike maps and trail info available at www.alltrails.com and www.hikingupward.com
Self-Registration station.
Campground Host site next to Bath House.
Site Rates are $16/night in 2019/2020, and rates go up to $20/night in 2021.
National Park passholders are entitled to 50% discount.
Fort Valley Road (VA 678) is 1-lane each direction; narrow and winding; wouldn't recommend for Class A's, and could be tough for trailers over 26'.