The Best Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds for every type of visitor (2024)

There are 8 campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway, each with its own unique feel. We wanted to break down how they stack up against each other so you can figure out which one is best for your next (or maybe even first) visit.

We all love that feeling of freedom, cruising down winding mountain roads- windows down, hair whipping in the breeze. That’s the magic of the Blue Ridge Parkway. All 469 miles of it!

But even the most epic drive needs a pit stop, and choosing the right campground can make or break your trip. That’s why I created this ranking of Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds. Hopefully this will guide you to the perfect spot for your dream mountain escape.

Before we get to the rankings I want to say there are no bad campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some are more private than others, or have more amenities, or are closer to the most beautiful places, but none are bad.

How the campgrounds were evaluated

We used the following criteria for deciding which campgrounds were the best.

• How private are the sites?

• What is there to do nearby?

• What amenities does the campground have?

• What makes the campground special?

We ranked each of these categories on a five point scale (relative to the other campgrounds) to see where they landed.

There are some things that can’t be captured by the rankings. A couple of the campgrounds that aren’t on the top of the list are the best for some things.

• Best for a quiet weekend at the campsite – Otter Creek Campground

• Best for hikers – Doughton Park Campground

• Best for staying busy – Julian Price Campground

We will have answers to some common questions about camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the end.

You can book your stay or just check out the individual campsites at recreation.gov.

Now that you know how we graded them let’s get to the list!

8. Crabtree Falls Campground (milepost 339.5)

Crabtree Falls is, in my opinion, the most beautiful waterfall on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Unfortunately the campground doesn’t match the waterfall. One of the biggest downsides of Crabtree Falls Campground is that sites are mostly in the open and the trail to the waterfall goes through the campground.

• How private are the sites? 1/5 – The lack of trees around sites and the trail going through the campground are a big downside.

• What is there to do nearby? 3/5 – Crabtree Falls is incredible and you really need to visit the waterfall even if you don’t stay at the campground. The campground is also very close to Mt. Mitchell.

• What amenities does the campground have? 2/5 – Flush toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, etc. All that you would expect as a bare minimum at a campground.

• What makes the campground special? 2/5 – The real draw of staying at Crabtree Falls is that you can easily get to the waterfall. Beyond that there isn’t a big draw.

The lack of privacy really hurts Crabtree Falls Campground. It is the least private campground on the parkway. There used to be a visitor center at Crabtree Falls but it has been closed for quite awhile.

Best time to visit: Late September into early October for the leaf change.

7. Otter Creek Campground (milepost 60.9)

Otter Creek Campground is a small campground along the lowest section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is the smallest campground and has some of the sparsest amenities. But it is very well maintained and getting a spot should never be an issue.

• How private are the sites? 5/5 – Sites are fairly private at the campground. It is tucked away in the forest and is rare for the campground to be full.

• What is there to do nearby? 1/5 – Unfortunately this section of the parkway has little to do unless you love fishing. The few hikes that are nearby can be completed in just a few short hours.

• What amenities does the campground have? 2/5 – Otter Creek Campground has flush toilets and fire rings like all the other campgrounds on the parkway.

• What makes the campground special? 3/5 – You can get sites right next to the creek which can be amazing if you have kids. They’ll love looking for salamanders.

Even though this is close to the bottom of the list it is still great for a quiet camping trip. If you can visit during the week you may only see a few other campers in the entire campground.

Best time to visit: late October for the beautiful fall colors. This is one of the last places to see the leaf change on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

6. Linville Falls Campground (milepost 316.3)

Linville Falls is one of the most popular stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The waterfall is powerful and there is a full trail system with five different overlooks where you can view Linville Falls.

Linville Falls Campground is the only campground with no reservable spots. All sites are first-come first-serve. The campground is tucked away along the Linville River and is heavily forested.

• How private are the sites? 4/5 – Sites are well spaced out and there are enough trees to keep it private.

• What is there to do nearby? 4/5 -Linville Falls is the best thing to do nearby but not the only thing. Blowing Rock is only a few miles away and there is a lot to do there.

• What amenities does the campground have? 1/5 – Linville Falls has all of the basic amenities (flush toilets, fire rings) but many of them are beginning to show their age.

• What makes the campground special? 3/5 – The Linville River is on the edge of the campground making this a great spot to stop if you have kids that like to explore.

The only real downside of this campground is that the facilities are badly in need of renovating. Otherwise, it is private, in a good location, and has some great natural features.

Best time to visit: Mid June – early October.

5. Doughton Park Campground (milepost 239)

Doughton Park is one of the few places on the Blue Ridge Parkway where you can really get away from everything. The campground sits on the edge of a huge backcountry with nearby historic sites easily accessible.

• How private are the sites? 5/5 – Sites are fairly private and the campground doesn’t get too busy.

• What is there to do nearby? 3/5 – There is a lot of hiking available in Doughton Park and you can get on a trail and see no one. Stone Mountain State Park is also only a little more that 30 minutes away.

• What amenities does the campground have? 2/5 – Just the basics here. It could use a few more bathrooms, though.

• What makes the campground special? 3/5 – This is a great place for people that want to seriously explore some trails. You can also eat at The Bluffs restaurant – which is super tasty.

Brinegar Cabin is a real treat to visit and the views from the parkway over the rolling mountains are stunning. This area of the parkway isn’t as busy as most of North Carolina.

Best time to visit: Mid to late October or mid June.

4. Rocky Knob Campground (milepost 167.1)

Rocky Knob Campground is on a high plateau near Floyd, Virginia. The area has plenty of hiking, beautiful overlooks to catch an amazing sunrise or sunset, and a few great historical sites.

• How private are the sites? 4/5 – sites are spread out and the campground is usually very quiet.

• What is there to do nearby? 4/5 – You can enjoy hiking at Rock Castle Gorge, visit Floyd, stop by Mabry Mill, or catch a performance at the Blue Ridge Music Center. It won’t be hard to find something awesome to do.

• What amenities does the campground have? 2/5 – Rock Castle Gorge has just the basics.

• What makes the campground special? 3/5 – The campground is big and in a great place if you want to explore a less visited section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sometimes they have live music in the campground, which is awesome.

Rocky Knob Campground is a good choice for anyone wanting to explore the Floyd area. The town, small shops, and music scene are really fun. The Floyd area has held onto Appalachian musical influences more than anywhere else on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Best time to visit: Mid to late October, fall in the Rocky Knob area is super beautiful – especially around Mabry Mill.

3. Peaks of Otter Campground (milepost 86)

The Peaks of Otter Campground is at the base of Sharp Top Mountain in one of the most beautiful spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Peaks of Otter has been a destination for escaping into the mountains for hundreds of years.

• How private are the sites? 4/5 – Sites are well spaced and the campground is heavily wooded.

• What is there to do nearby? 4/5 – There are a lot of things things to do between all the hiking at Peaks of Otter and visiting nearby Bedford, Virginia.

• What amenities does the campground have? 3/5 – Peaks of Otter Campground has all the minimal amenities as well as a camp store. On the downside, many of the sites aren’t level.

• What makes the campground special? 4/5 – The entire area around Peaks of Otter is really beautiful and relaxing. You can even head over to the Peaks of Otter Lodge and grab an adult beverage or a delicious breakfast.

Peaks of Otter Campground is the one campground on the list where you can park, set up your campsite, and then walk to everything you would want to do.

Best time to visit: Mid October, this is one of the best places to see fall colors in Virginia.

2. Mount Pisgah Campground (milepost 408.8)

Mount Pisgah Campground sits opposite from the Pisgah Inn in the highest section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This part of the Blue Ridge Parkway has some of the best mountain views.

• How private are the sites? 3/5 – The camping area has a lot of trees but many of the sites are close together. Some sites are separated and private, some not so much. It will depend on your site.

• What is there to do nearby? 4/5 – There are a few hikes close by that are nice, but most will involve a drive. The Graveyard Fields area is only about 20 minutes away and Asheville is less than an hour from the campground.

• What amenities does the campground have? 5/5 – All the basics as well as showers and a camp store beside Pisgah Inn.

• What makes the campground special? 3/5 – One of the best things to do nearby is take in the view from behind Pisgah Inn. The Inn sits close to the edge of a steep mountain slope and you can see for miles and miles out over the rugged terrain.

This is a solid campground. It is in a great area and it has all the amenities you want, not just the ones you need.

Best time to visit: Mid to late September, this is one of the earliest areas to reach peak fall colors in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

1. Julian Price Campground (milepost 297)

If you have done much traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Julian Price Campground being at the top isn’t a surprise. The campground is nestled in perhaps the best area on the entire parkway. You can also get a campsite directly on Price Lake. This one wins and it wasn’t that close.

• How private are the sites? 3/5 – Some of the sites are really private. Even a few of the campsites beside the lake, but the campground is popular and if you are in a crowded spot it’s not that private.

• What is there to do nearby? 5/5 – Blowing Rock, Grandfather Mountain State Park, Moses H Cone, The Linn Cove Viaduct, amazing sunrises and sunsets, epic hikes. I mean, if you like that stuff – I guess it’s okay.

• What amenities does the campground have? 5/5 – All the basics, showers, a camp store, and kayak rentals.

• What makes the campground special? 5/5 – At its very best you can be feet from Price Lake, tucked away in a heavily wooded spot, quietly watching the reflective water next to a warm campfire.

This is the best campground for so many reasons. We’ve camped all over the country and the camp sites beside the lake are some of the best we’ve stayed at anywhere.

Best time to visit: Early June or early to mid October, you can enjoy the rhododendron bloom or incredible falls colors.

Some other things to know about camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway

People that are new to visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway usually have some questions about things you can or can’t do. We’ll cover those below.

Can you just camp anywhere?

You can only camp in authorized campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway. That mean’s no boondocking on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

There are a few backcountry options though at Rock Castle Gorge, Doughton Park, and Julian Price Memorial Park. You need a permit to backcountry camp and can get more information from the NPS.

Can you car camp at overlooks?

You can’t sleep in your car at an overlook. If you have a campground permit you are allowed to sleep in your car at your campsite.

How much does it cost to camp on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

It is $20/night to camp at all of the campgrounds for both tent and RV sites.

Which part of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the prettiest?

The short answer is the Pisgah area is the prettiest. Basically, Little Switzerland to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Why? The mountains – these are the highest mountains on the Eastern US. It is also where almost all of the tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway are.

The longer answer is: it depends on when you visit. In my experience spring is prettiest in the area around Blowing Rock, North Carolina and fall is the prettiest wherever the leaves are peaking. Leaves peak first near the Smokies, close to the end of September and later in Virginia – usually the last two weeks of October.

We’ve used this leaf prediction map for the past few years. It has helped us pick the right place at the right time.

Can I bring my own firewood?

Moving wood is bad. Pests live in dead wood and moving firewood inadvertently spreads the pests. Invasive species have been ravaging the Blue Ridge Mountains for years.

Here is how that effects you:

• You cannot bring the firewood you split in your backyard.

• You can bring bundled USDA or state certified heat-treated firewood.

• You can gather dead wood in the campground and burn it.

You can find more detailed information on the NPS website.

When are the campgrounds open on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Campgrounds all operate on the same schedule, opening in late May and closing in late October. You can reserve your sites beginning in February for the first part of the season.

Before you plan any trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway, check for closures. You don’t want to book a campground only to realize it is surrounded by major construction projects.

For most of the campgrounds sites won’t be too competitive unless you have a large RV – most campgrounds only have a few large RV sites.

The exception to needing to reserve as soon as possible are the lakeside spots at Julian Price Campground. Book those as soon as you can, they go very quickly.

Camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best ways to spend a weekend. No matter where you go, you can find a beautiful spot with waterfalls, hikes, and stunning overlooks hidden away in the dense forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you are ready to begin planning your trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway you definitely don’t want to miss the best hikes or the most incredible overlooks. And what trip on the parkway is complete without seeing an incredible sunset?