On average, the Parkway’s eight campgrounds (plus one state park campground reachable only via the Parkway) offer a chance to set up a tent or park your RV every 40 miles (64 km). The total 881 sites (including 285 RV only sites and 401 tent only sites) range from “lowish” elevations (800 feet / 244 meters at Otter Creek in Virginia), to cool and lofty (five are between 3000 and 4000 feet / 914 and 1,219 meters), to downright way up there (at 5000 feet / 1,524 meters, Mount Pisgah is just shy of a mile high).

A tent campsite at Peaks of Otter Campground, Blue Ridge Parkway / NPS file

Camping is one of the great national park adventures and it's a not-to-be-missed part of a Blue Ridge Parkway vacation. Parkway campgrounds have no electrical hook-ups for RVs—but they’re otherwise comfortable and provide water, restrooms, firewood for sale, and trailer dumping stations. Each site has a fireplace and picnic table. Most campgrounds offer interpretive talks by rangers at campground amphitheaters and a camp store is available at Peaks of Otter, Doughton Park, Crabtree Meadows, and Mount Pisgah. Seven offer picnic areas, four have visitor centers. Seven Parkway campgrounds offer one or more ADA sites. 

All sites are available either on a first-come, first-served basis, or via reservation up to six months in advance with recreation.gov online or by phone: 877-444-6777. All sites are $30 per night. A 50 percent discount is offered to Interagency Senior, Access, Golden Age, and Golden Access passholders. Three campgrounds (Rocky Knob, Doughton Park, Linville Falls) have group (12 - 24 people) sites at $45 per night, by reservation only with recreation.gov. Pass holder discounts do not apply for group sites. 

Fires are permitted only in designated fireplaces at campgrounds and picnic areas using firewood purchased from the campstore, dead and down wood gathered within 100 yards of campgrounds and picnic areas, or your own charcoal. Regulations ban bringing your own firewood from some states—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey and New York—to limit the possibility of insect infestations. Gas stoves and grills are permitted.

Miscellaneous campground strictures include the prohibition of all skateboards, roller skates, and other “coasting devices,” the removal of tow vehicle side mirrors when not towing, restriction of campsites to six people in one family or group, and maintaining quiet times between 10 pm and 6 am. See the Parkway's camping page for more specifics. 

Backcountry Camping: The Parkway has three backcountry campgrounds, all of which require a backcountry permit: 

• Rock Castle Gorge near Rocky Knob (MP 167.1)
• Basin Cove near Doughton Park (MP 239.2)
• Johns River Road near Julian Price Park (MP 296.9)

Parkway Campgrounds North To South

Otter Creek Campground (Milepost 60.8)

If you’re cold natured, camping at the Parkway’s lowest elevation campground—777 ft (237 m)—may be for you. Otter Creek has a total of 68 sites (42 tent only; 26 RV only), one of which is ADA accessible.

Peaks of Otter Campground (Milepost 85.9)

Tucked onto the slopes of Sharp Top, this campground at an elevation of 2,875 ft (876 m) has 139 sites ( 88 tent only; 51 RV only), one of which is ADA accessible.

Rocky Knob Campground (Milepost 167.1)

With a total of 106 sites (25 tent only; 27 RV only; no ADA accessible sites), this campground also features a 150-person capacity campfire circle. A group site for 12-20 people is also available at this campground.

Doughton Park Campground (Milepost 239.2)

There are 108 campsites (75 tent only; 24 RV only), two of which are ADA accessible sites, restrooms, a 250-person capacity campfire circle, and camp store. A group site for 12-20 people is also available at this campground.

Julian Price Park Campground (Milepost 297)

The Parkway’s largest campground offers 190 sites (90 tent only; 73 RV only), five of which are ADA accessible. Some of these sites sit directly on the shore of Price Lake. This is a perfect “golden pond” camping experience if you can get a shoreline site. 

Linville Falls Campground (Milepost 316.4)

There are 64 sites (14 tent only; 19 RV only), two of which are ADA accessible. There is also a group site for 12-20 people and a 150-person capacity campfire circle.

Crabtree Falls Campground (Milepost 339.5)

This campground’s 81 sites (18 RV only) are not far from the Crabtree Meadows Snack Bar and camp store. There’s also a 300-person capacity amphitheater.

 Mount Mitchell (Milepost 355.3)

Mount Mitchell, the East's highest peak, is not on the Parkway but it's auto-accessible tent campground is only reachable from the Parkway. Mount Mitchell State Park has the East's loftiest campground at 6,400 feet—so bring warm clothes!

Mount Pisgah Campground (Milepost 408.8)

Nearly a mile high, Mount Pisgah’s 125 sites (64 tent only; 50 RV only), three of which are ADA accessible, offer the coolest summer campsites on the Parkway. This is the only Parkway campground with showers (inquire at check-in for that loop). There’s a 100-person capacity amphitheater, camp store, plus the Mount Pisgah Inn and restaurant just across the road.