The best camping near Douthat State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Douthat State Park adventure.

97% (17 reviews)

Can’t decide between lake or mountain? Douthat—one of Virginia’s original state parks—has both.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Douthat State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Douthat State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Douthat State Park

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Thunder Bridge

24 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Natural Bridge Station, VA

Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordering the Jefferson National Forest, Thunder BRidge has scenic, large, private tent sites and cabins in the woods for those who want to experience camping at its finest. Many of the sites border Elk Creek. Our RV sites are large, flat and at the edge of the forest in a well kept open green space. Our 100 acres was originally a camp built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the "30s and early '40s, then a boys' juvenile detention center and Big Brothers'/Big Sisters' camp, which closed in 2009. The tent sites and cabins are in the forest, away from the buildings out front, but you're free to walk around and check out the historic site. We'd like to share the camp with others and see it come back to life. All within a short driving distance are the Natural Bridge, wineries, breweries, Natural Bridge Zoo, Safari Park, Dinosaur Kingdom, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, James River, historic Lexington, Devil's Marbleyard, Glenwood Horse Trail, swimming holes, etc. We have river access 2 miles up the road if you'd like to fish or put your kayak or canoe in. Truly, there is something nearby for everyone. We'd be happy to give you recommendations of things to see and do. If you are a star gazer you won't be disappointed by our dark sky.

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(676)

James River Depot

6 sites · Tents30 acres · Glasgow, VA

An active hay field nestled between the river and the railroad. A great place to enjoy some R and R. We love to float the James and there is easy access to the river on our property. A beautiful field as well as some trees for added shade. Fun to hear the trains and the water as you get amazing views of the night sky.

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(548)

Savage Acres on Craig Creek

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents120 acres · New Castle, VA

In a remote valley, along the banks of Craig's Creek, just north of Roanoke VA, the property includes mature hardwood forest, pasture, and an 1830s log cabin where we live. We love to share this special place with visitors, and have some basic amenities for campers. The campsites are at the edge of a large pasture and just a few steps from Craig Creek and our big swimmin' hole. Totally secluded in a remote valley - no houses or roads in sight (but our cabin is a short walk through the woods if you need something), no cell service for most providers, but within a short drive of Roanoke and Blacksburg, and countless outdoor recreation opportunities.

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(29)

Stoney Creek Campground

11 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Bedford, VA

Learn more about this land: Located 5 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian trail is a small camping area with a bathhouse with toilet and hot shower 300 ft from site. A cool mountain stream rushes next to the site providing a peaceful and tranquil stay. Outside enjoy a shady relaxing nap next to the stream. At night enjoy a fire while looking at the stars up above. During the day, explore all there is to offer in the Blue Ridge Mountains 5 miles from very popular hikes and waterfalls.

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(210)

Why be Square?! Blue Ridge Yurt

2 sites · Lodging2 acres · Pilot, VA

Blue Ridge Yurts is a woman-owned company in Floyd, Virginia, started by my mother, Sharon. We were staying at Treebones, a yurt 'glampground' in Big Sur, California, and fell in love with yurts together. My mom said, "I think I could build one of these," and the company was born! She does all the woodworking, using sustainable practices, with locally-sourced wood, and her best friend Kathy does the fabric end of things. I was one of her early guinea pigs, and love my yurt property dearly <3 This 24' yurt sits on a beautiful private acreage off an end-state maintenance road, with biking and hiking trails just a 20 minute drive from the touristy town of Floyd, Virginia. There's a steam shower sauna, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a deck overlooking the mountains with a table and seating. Enjoy!

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Ultimate private camping

1 site · RV, Tent235 acres · Hot Springs, VA

Since Hipcamp called to clarify... we are indeed offering the entire property to only one group at a time. You read that right you can camp anywhere on the property, move around, and feel free to stay multiple nights. This 235.51 acre property has all of the most sought-after characteristics: close to the amenities of Hot Springs and The Homestead resort, total privacy and protection, beautiful trout stream, direct access to hiking and mountain bike trails on the adjoining 3000 acres of National Forest, and a 60-mile sunset view. It offers over 1,000 ft of vertical gain. The property includes a half mile of Cowardin Run. With generally mild winter weather, the property is perfect for experience the magic of the Allegheny Mountains. Significant improvements to the road with addition of culverts and a top coat of stone were done over the 2023-2024 winter. We offer the same low light level as the International Dark Sky Park in Millboro for excellent astronomy and night-sky viewing. *Note: Game trail cameras in use - they are not hidden and are not for the purpose of video surveillance* *Note: During business hours Environmental Specialist, VDOF or USDA may visit to check in on the forest/structures/habitat. *

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(501)

Wilderness Adventure

92 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents500 acres · New Castle, VA

Wilderness Adventure is more than just a campground. Along with our wide range of camping and lodging options, we also offer free and paid adventure activities like tubing, canoeing, hiking, biking, and more! Don't miss out on our group program offerings like retreats, corporate gatherings, youth groups, and weddings. Camping WA offers private and communal campsites to fit the needs of any size group you are traveling with and has a shared bathhouse with showers and toilets. Drinking water is available from multiple locations Activities for Guests Hiking, mountain biking, and trail running on our onsite trails, Canoeing, tubing, swimming or fishing in our pond, creek sitting, fire pits, sand volleyball, horseshoes, disc golf, corn hole, and endless open space to wander and relax. Basecamp Adventure Activities Canoe Rentals/Shuttle $40/trip/boat Sit on top Kayak Rentals/Shuttle $30/trip/boat Tubing/Shuttle $20/trip/person Mountain Bike Rental $25/half day, $50/full day Area Activities Hiking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bikepacking, 4-wheeling, Rock Crawling: Virginia's Triple Crown - Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs Hoop Hole Roaring Run North Mountain/Dragons Back Carvins Cove Mill Mountain Douthat State Park Craigs Creek Food, Summer Events and Festivals Throughout the summer we have delicious made-to-order meals from our Outpost from Friday dinner to Sunday Breakfast. Campstore: Our camp store is open during select hours. You can purchase firewood, ice, sunscreen, beverages, merchandise, and other items you may enjoy during your stay. (hours vary or by appointment) Check out our event calendar for all upcoming events. Annual Events Include: Camp Reckoning Yoga Venture WA Fest DiscVenture Appalachian Mountaineer Retreat Center, Group Program, Corporate Retreats, Family Reunions https://www.wilderness-adventure.com/groups Whether you’re organizing a group retreat or looking to get away for a weekend with the family in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, let us be your Basecamp for Adventure. Wilderness Adventure offers an extensive list of adventure activities for any group along with easily accessible rentals for quick getaways. All of our listings lie on 500 gorgeous acres run by Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing. Bordered by 500 yards of Craigs Creek along the front of our property and mountains in the rear, Wilderness Adventure offers our guests extensive trails to hike, ponds for fishing and swimming, canoeing and tubing. Giant Swing, Team Building, Low Ropes, High Ropes, Caving, Rock Climbing, Mountain bike lessons and guided trips, Other Cool Stuff The Swinging bridge Restaurant - Paint Bank VA The Mill Mountain Star - Roanoke VA Lasterday Market - New Castle, VA Lemon & Vale Cakery, New Castle, VA Bibos Pizzeria - New Castle, VA Parkway Brewing Company - Salem, VA And so much more!

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Mountains,Woods,Ponds, Natural

21 sites · RVs, Tents300 acres · Lewisburg, WV

Learn more about this land: We have 4 ponds on our property we have open areas, wooded areas, we raise cattle, sheep and chickens. All of the acreage has mountainous views. Our town of Lewisburg is 15 minutes away. Lots to do and enjoy. We sell beef, eggs, firewood, and seasonal vegetables. We also have a Porta potty now on the property for use.

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Love Ridge Mountain Lodging

24 sites · Lodging, Tents17 acres · Lyndhurst, VA

Love Ridge Mountain Lodging--NEAR SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARKExperience the beauty of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail. Take a dip at nearby Sherando Lake and stop in to some of the many local food and craft beverage hotspots. Then retreat to your own mountain cabin or campsite.Situated at 2,800 feet in the hamlet of Love, Virginia, Love Ridge Mountain Lodging borders the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 16. Whether you are seeking a peaceful retreat to the mountains or a jumping off point for exploring central Virginia, Love Ridge Mountain Lodging is the perfect choice.CABINSIndulge in a romantic getaway at one of our Blue Ridge Parkway Cabins, creating lasting memories with your loved one. 4 of our cabins are pet friendly.FAMILIESOur family cabins sleep 10+ and are the perfect place for kids to connect to nature and and an opportunity for busy parents to relax. PET FRIENDLYSelect from our four mountain cabins and campsites that offer a dog-friendly experience, ensuring a great space for both humans and their four-legged companions. View White Rock Cabin, Meadow Mountain Cabin, Sherando Cabin or Spy Rock Cabin for a pet-friendly cabins.HOT TUBSSome cabins offer a private hot tub, while a number of the smaller cabins offer jetted in-room tubs.GRILLS and FIREPITSGuests love the convenience of private outdoor grills for cooking and communal firepits.EXPERIENCES FOR YOUR STAY AND ONLINE STORERent an e-bike and cruise the parkway, take in the night skies around Love Ridge. Love Ridge has a variety of experiences to choose from. Our online store has a variety of food options. Advance notice may be needed for some items, so book early.

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Arcadia Sanctuary

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents83 acres · Buena Vista, VA

Arcadia is the name we gave to our 83-acre mountainside retreat center for Earth-Based Spirituality. It’s nestled on the south-eastern slope of 4000-foot Mount Pleasant in Central Virginia, convenient to I81. (Note, there is a town called Arcadia off I81, but that is not us. Not to confuse.) We have a mountain creek with waterfalls, towering Beech and Sycamore trees, Witch Hazels leaning over the water, trout, crayfish, snakes, salamanders, and all the rest. We have about 2000 feet of the vertical mountainside with trails to explore. (But the stage and most of the camping is down closer to creek-level.) There are more sites higher up the mountain if you like more isolated camping. More of a trek to the bathrooms/showers/freshwater. We have one of the finest private stages on the East Coast with a top-notch sound system and a natural amphitheater which is like a single pie wedge of a Stadium that has regular live performances throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Our yurt is regularly booked as a unique glamping experience. There are chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowl free-roaming. Two dogs, nine cats, and several humans are blessed to call this home.

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Devils Backbone Camp

5 sites · RVs, Tents90 acres · Roseland, VA

Beer and nature come together here at Devils Backbones Camp. We’re tucked in the Rockfish Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains, five miles from the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our forested paradise is open year round. Here you’ll find 71-acres of campground, including 25 full RV hookup sites, 22 standard non-electric sites, and 24 primitive tent sites (and yes, there’s a 24/7 bath house, too). Our Basecamp Brewpub is open 7 days a week. Please visit our website for up-to-date hours and events.

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12 Gates Farms

10 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Montvale, VA

This property was once a 300 acre plus tobacco farm. The original log cabin was built in the 1850s and now serves as our dining room. The front portion of the house was completed in April of 1861 and the back in the early 1900s. We have plans to eventually turn it into a working farm which produces tinctures, salves and extracts of various native plants including hemp. Learn more about this land: Heavily wooded mountain side with flowing creek. Easy access (walking distance) to Jefferson National Forest, National Forest horse trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Note: You cannot drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway as the path is an old forest road which has been gated, but you can walk up to it.) We also have a small, uncovered tree house which is available on a first come, first served basis. Only site 4 is next to the brook. However, the site positions are for the purposes of the listing only. You may camp anywhere on the property. There is plenty of frontage on the creek and several tents can go up there. We also now have a purple bus which is retrofitted as a camper and has a refrigerator, stove and television which is connected to our internet. The toilets at the treehouse and the bus are flushing, camping toilets with sinks. To find us easily, use what3words.com and enter the words wished.wobbles.shelves. That square is our driveway. The large white square to the right of it is our house.

The best camping near Douthat State Park guide

Overview

About

The 50-acre Douthat Lake is the epicenter of its namesake state park, framed by the forested slopes of the Allegheny Mountains. Take to the water to cruise or kayak, rent a hydrobike or stand-up paddleboard, or fish for bass, trout, and crappie in the lake and streams. There’s plenty for landlubbers to explore, too, with more than 40 miles of wooded trails ready to hike, mountain bike, or horseback ride. Spending the night? Choose from four campgrounds dotted throughout the park, including equestrian camps with stables, rustic cabins, and plenty of RV/tent sites, some right by the lake.

Notable campgrounds

Best for family campers: Whispering Pines Campground has 23 sites with electric and water hookups, space for up to 50-foot RVs, and a playground nearby.
Best for horse lovers: Beaver Dam Campground has equestrian camping with covered stalls available for rent.
Best for water activities: Lakeside Campground has 19 RV/tent sites with gravel pads and electric hookups.

Tips for snagging a campsite

You can reserve a cabin or a campsite at one of the park’s four campgrounds online.
Campsite reservations open 11 months in advance and must be made at least one day before arrival.
Campsites can book up fast, especially on summer and holiday weekends. Book a minimum of six months in advance.

When to go

Peak season at Douthat State Park is April through October, and this is the most popular time for hiking, camping, and water sports. Outdoor activities are enjoyable year-round, but summer visitors have the added bonus of a swimming beach (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day) and trout-stocked waters (twice weekly through the high season). Whispering Pines is the only campground open year-round, but cabins are also available for winter rentals.

Know before you go

Douthat State Park is just over an hour’s drive north of Roanoke.
Day-use parking fees and camping reservation fees are charged at Douthat. State fishing licenses and equestrian permits are also required.
Facilities include a visitor center and gift shop, camp store, restaurant, restrooms, and picnic areas. Cell phone service is patchy throughout the park, but free wifi is available near the bathhouse.
You can bring your own non-gasoline-powered boats to Douthat, and boats and watercraft are available to rent in season. Swimming is only permitted at the swimming beach.
There are accessible campsites, restrooms, and picnic areas at Douthat State Park. The swimming area is also accessible.