Big Meadows Campground Store

[smithjv]

Not good info on where the "store" is for food resupply. Is it at the wayside, or closer to the lodge or picnic areas.
What kind of camping food do they have? We are sectioning so looking for hiking meals . . .

Also, as long as I have you, are advanced reservations really needed for tenting?

Thanks in advance for any inside info.

[chknfngrs]

Roadside storefront along skyline drive. A glorified gas station, really. Your mileage may vary.

Reservations definitely recommended bc it’s not just walk in hikertrash but drive in tourons from all over the place.

[GoldenBear]

Here's all the info you need:
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/big-meadows-wayside.htm
"Groceries, gifts, and camping supplies are also available."
https://i0.wp.com/www.skylinedriveov...line-Drive.jpg
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvis..._RoadTrail.pdf

And, as long as I have you, here's what the NPS has to say about camping at Big Meadows:
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvis...campground.htm
"All sites at Big Meadows Campground are by reservation only. Rangers can make limited reservations on site, but availability is not guaranteed. It is recommended you make your reservation ahead of time"
If you show up and there's nothing available, don't say they didn't warn you!

[thestin]

There will normally be sites available during the week, but not always. Almost impossible to get a camp site on Friday or Saturday night. You can subscribe to text updates from the Park.

[thestin]

Text SHENALERTS to 888777.

[smithjv]

Here's all the info you need:
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/big-meadows-wayside.htm
"Groceries, gifts, and camping supplies are also available."
https://i0.wp.com/www.skylinedriveov...line-Drive.jpg
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvis..._RoadTrail.pdf

And, as long as I have you, here's what the NPS has to say about camping at Big Meadows:
https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvis...campground.htm
"All sites at Big Meadows Campground are by reservation only. Rangers can make limited reservations on site, but availability is not guaranteed. It is recommended you make your reservation ahead of time"
If you show up and there's nothing available, don't say they didn't warn you!

Its the ". . . and camping supplies . . ." that I was wondering about. Does that include Mountain House-type quick heat meals??

[NJH]

All four camp stores sell dehydrated meals. It all depends on when you hit it and who was there before you as to whether or not they are sold out. Not sure exactly where you are hiking but Lewis Mountain and Elkwallow usually have a better selection. That’s probably because they get less people going thru the store.

[smithjv]

All four camp stores sell dehydrated meals. It all depends on when you hit it and who was there before you as to whether or not they are sold out. Not sure exactly where you are hiking but Lewis Mountain and Elkwallow usually have a better selection. That’s probably because they get less people going thru the store.

Thank you all in WhiteBlazeLand for your inputs. I now have a very warm fuzzy that the store can be my resupply point.

[LittleRock]

If you're going NOBO, don't wait until you get to the campground to head over to the wayside. You'll have to walk over a mile from there to get to the wayside and back. Instead, you'll pass a dirt road and a sign for the Lewis Falls Trail before the campground. Take a right on the dirt road for 0.2 mile, then left on Skyline Drive for 0.1 mile to the wayside.

[smithjv]

If you're going NOBO, don't wait until you get to the campground to head over to the wayside. You'll have to walk over a mile from there to get to the wayside and back. Instead, you'll pass a dirt road and a sign for the Lewis Falls Trail before the campground. Take a right on the dirt road for 0.2 mile, then left on Skyline Drive for 0.1 mile to the wayside.

Thanks Ben; see you in a couple months.

Packbacker

[Coffee]

I was at Big Meadows a few weeks ago. The store is more "camper" oriented than "long distance backpacker" oriented but it would be easy to do a resupply if not picky about food. They have what you'd expect in a small store, probably better than a typical gas station. In addition to all the junk food you would expect, they had things like Mac & cheese and similar items that could be cooked on trail. The small wayside restaurant was also open serving meals. The store also had some camping supplies for sale.

Between Loft Mountain, Lewis Mountain campground store, Big Meadows wayside, Skyland, and Elkwallow wayside, it is possible to travel light through the park. I've done SNP NOBO twice, once as part of a longer section, and I've done segments many more times. I usually try to go spring or fall and make sure that the waysides are open during my trips.

As for the developed campgrounds, they now cost $30 per night. Few backpackers are going to be willing to spend that kind of money on a patch of dirt when you can camp for free elsewhere so I do not recommend this. Also, inflation has made lodging very expensive. I looked up Skyland lodging a few weeks ago and it was almost $200/night for the cheapest rooms. Inflation is a killer for people on any sort of budget, especially young people and seniors on fixed income. Fortunately backpacking is still the cheapest vacation known to man.