If you are prepared for a longer drive (3 hours), go to Monongahela National Park in WV. Big Bend campground is on the bend of the Potomac. We have been there two falls in a row and it is stunning.

Anonymous wrote:If Mathews Arm only shows walk-in sites, what's the likelihood that we could try to camp there Columbus Day weekend in early October? Are there other good places to camp in October? Just need hiking, no swimming.

The trouble is that Oct weather can be unpredictable. We camped at Bull Run Park last year Columbus Day weekend (with no reservation-- everywhere else was booked), and days were nice but the temperature got into the upper 30s at night. Which is fine if you are prepared-- just be aware. Shenandoah has seen snow in October.

I've been able to get a walk in site on a Saturday in Shenandoah when arriving before 10 am.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Loft mtn is better than Big Meadows for tent campers at Shenandoah NP.

Mathews Arm is nice for tent camping, too.

+1. We did MA a year ago and enjoyed it. And it was our first time camping!

Anonymous wrote:If Mathews Arm only shows walk-in sites, what's the likelihood that we could try to camp there Columbus Day weekend in early October? Are there other good places to camp in October? Just need hiking, no swimming.

getting a walk in spot in Shenandoah Columbus day weekend is near impossible unless you get there on Thursday or maybe very early Friday. We went there just to hike the saturday of Columbus day weekend last year and signs said that all campsite were full at 11am. This year a booked a spot back in May.

Mathews Arm is closed right now:

"Mathews Arm Campground is currently accepting reservations for July and August 2016. No additional reservations are available beginning September 1, 2016, due to the start of a scheduled major rehabilitation construction project of the campground sewage system. Currently, the end of the project is scheduled for mid-April, 2017."

https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

If Mathews Arm only shows walk-in sites, what's the likelihood that we could try to camp there Columbus Day weekend in early October? Are there other good places to camp in October? Just need hiking, no swimming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:does anyone know if you can still swim at the lake at cunningham falls after labor day? its certainly still warm enough!

Yup. There are no lifeguards, but they don't prohibit swimming.

I called them and they told me no swimming was the official policy. We'll see what people are actually doing.

Anonymous wrote:I think Loft mtn is better than Big Meadows for tent campers at Shenandoah NP.

Mathews Arm is nice for tent camping, too.

Anonymous wrote:does anyone know if you can still swim at the lake at cunningham falls after labor day? its certainly still warm enough!

Yup. There are no lifeguards, but they don't prohibit swimming.

I think Loft mtn is better than Big Meadows for tent campers at Shenandoah NP.

does anyone know if you can still swim at the lake at cunningham falls after labor day? its certainly still warm enough!

New Germany State Park is nice too, it's a bit of a drive from here but we liked it.

Cunningham Falls/Catoctin Mtn
Or further away, Ohiopyle State Park in PA
Prince William Forest Park is really nice, too, but not a lot of variety in foliage color.

So we have camped all over this summer, looking for beaches. Now we are trying to find one last fall camping spot with good hikes and foliage. We are tent campers, not RVers. Any suggestions? Big Meadow seems to be completely reserved. Thanks!