Loft Mountain Campground

I routinely went here on family vacations as a kid, and to this day I have all sorts of cherished memories of this campground. The views from the amphitheater are a particular highlight.

I had the best time of my life here. Top tips and observations:
1. Go to the amphitheater at sunset for an AMAZING view.
2. Showers are $ ¹⁄₅ minutes. Your stuff will sit on an outside-​of-​stall bench. Water is warm. 4 women’s stalls.
3. Camp store is overpriced. $ 5.20 for graham crackers. $ 5.50 for a small bundle of wood. If you need it, then you’ll be willing to pay.
4. Best rangers ever. Coolest folks. The hosts allow through-​hikers to camp on their site if they can’t find a spot and don’t have a car. THAT IS COOL.
5. We saw a bear. This is bear country. Respect it.
6. $ 15/​night. Best $ 15 you will spend. Gets you a fire ring. Shared bathroom and utility closet.
7. Biking up 1.45 miles to the campsite will suck. Flying down it will be fun.
8. Biking south on Skyline from here — fewer cars, but less shoulder. Expect less amenities, and more climbing.
9. Biking north on Skyline from here — more cars, more cyclists, more amenities.

In spite of the fact that this place is too far away from DC and really the only time you’ll have the opportunity to go here is on the weekend, and the fact that rush-​hour traffic begins like at Friday at noon, so you’ll be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic… Loft Mountain Campground amounts to a rather nice weekend getaway destination. Because you’re up in the mountains, there is a lot less mosquitoes (so it seems) than your regular campsites, and the drive along Skyline Drive is breathtakingly scenic at least for the passenger… the driver is much too busy concentrating on negotiating some of the hairpin turns. The bathroom facilities didn’t have the serious ick factor that you’ve experienced or expect… and I’m talking about the men’s bathroom too! They even have coin operated laundry /​showers facilities at the camping store. Talk about convenience!!!