Crabtree Falls Campground, near Marion, North Carolina, is a peaceful spot along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. This campground offers a mix of RV and tent sites, all equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for those cozy campfire evenings.

Visitors appreciate the well-maintained facilities, including flush toilets, though there are no showers available. The campground is dog-friendly and allows fires, making it a great place to unwind after a day of exploring. One camper noted, “The campground is serene and such a lovely place to stay,” highlighting the tranquil atmosphere that many enjoy.

A major draw here is the 2.5-mile loop hike to Crabtree Falls, which is a must-do for anyone staying at the campground. The trail is accessible and offers stunning views, especially after recent rains, as one reviewer mentioned the waterfall's beauty. Plus, you're just a short drive from Mount Mitchell State Park, where you can tackle more challenging hikes.

While some sites can feel a bit tight, especially for larger rigs, the overall vibe is quiet and friendly. Whether you're looking to relax or embark on outdoor adventures, Crabtree Falls Campground is a solid choice for your next getaway.

The campground offers comfortable tent or RV camping, with the convenience of flush toilets, dump station, and drinking water. Grills/fire rings and picnic tables at each site create a perfect environment for family barbeques or late-night marshmallow roasting. 

In addition to the 27 sites available for advance reservations, 54 campsites are available on a first come, first served basis. Availability of first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. These sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk.

Crabtree Falls Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

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Little Switzerland

The Best Camping Near Little Switzerland, North Carolina

This review (just as future reviews to this page should be) is about the Crab Tree Falls Campground that is in North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway and is managed by the National Park Service. There is another Crabtree Falls Campground quite a ways away in Virginia. Google maps recognizes this campground as Crab Tree Meadows Campground (which is the name of the area along the Parkway that the campground is located in). It's all a little confusing.

This is a wonderful stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are few campgrounds that are a park of the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park area. This campground passed by more often than some of the bigger Parkway campgrounds which means that it doesn't fill up as quickly. That doesn't mean that it won't full up. I visited in late October and the campground was pretty darn full by early evening.

This is one of the few national parks where you can collect firewood. However, campers are prohibited from bringing their own wood in, especially from out of state, unless it was been properly treated.

There are picnic tables, fire pits, and running water in the bathrooms. It's a little but funny that many of the campsites share parking with neighboring sites. It was occasionally challenging to tell which parking went with which site. Many of the sites are a little removed from their parking spot which help create separation between the sites.

Loop A is for RVs while Loop B is for tents (Loop C was closed when I visited)

The campground hosts were very friendly. If you have time take the short but very steep hike down to the actual falls.

Wonderful Stop off the Parkway

This review (just as future reviews to this page should be) is about the Crab Tree Falls Campground that is in North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway and is managed by the National Park Service. There is another Crabtree Falls Campground quite a ways away in Virginia. Google Maps recognizes this campground as Crab Tree Meadows Campground (which is the name of the area along the Parkway that the campground is located in) but the Parkway's Crab Tree Meadows and Crab Tree Falls campgrounds are one and the same. It's all a little confusing.

This is a wonderful stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are few campgrounds that are a park of the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park area. This campground passed by more often than some of the bigger Parkway campgrounds which means that it doesn't fill up as quickly. That doesn't mean that it won't full up. I visited in late October and the campground was pretty darn full by early evening.

This is one of the few national parks where you can collect firewood. However, campers are prohibited from bringing their own wood in, especially from out of state, unless it was been properly treated.

There are picnic tables, fire pits, and running water in the bathrooms. It's a little but funny that many of the campsites share parking with neighboring sites. It was occasionally challenging to tell which parking went with which site. Many of the sites are a little removed from their parking spot which help create separation between the sites.

Loop A is for RVs while Loop B is for tents (Loop C was closed when I visited)

The campground hosts were very friendly. If you have time take the short but very steep hike down to the actual falls.

Nice, quaint campground off the BRP, near Little Switzerland {which offers the lovely Little Switzerland Cafe, open 11am to 4pm, with an adjacent general store, next to that is a cool eclectic bookstore with art, coffee &amp; treats.}

Campground is non electric, no showers - flush toilets. The bathroom is usually rather unkempt - but tolerable. 

Rv loop, tent loop - one car per tent sight. Extra cars must park in the overflow. 

There’s a picnic area to the right and up a ways as you exit the campground. It’s lovely and offers a bit of a look out. 

There’s an open area in the tent site loop with inner and outer sites, the outer ones seem more private. 

Small picnic table and fire ring at sites, across to water. 

Dog friendly, alcohol prohibited. 
$20 a day. 


Be warned: Tent pads are small.. and you must keep tents on the pad so if you have a large family sized tent the pad may not accommodate. 

You can hike to the stunning Crabtree Falls from the campground.. it’s about 45 mins to an hr round trip.

Walmart is in nearby Spruce Pine for fuel and supplies as well as a farm stand &amp; BK.

NC Gem museum is closeby as well as Grassy Creek Falls, one of my favorite waterfalls. 

Roaring Fork Falls is close, off the 80. 

There’s plenty of look outs on the BRP.. 

It’s definitely worth a stop. 




Brp Mile Marker 339.5/Aka Crabtree Meadows Campground 

This campground is beautiful, peaceful, and scenic! If you are looking for somewhere that isn't super crowded but has a lot to offer at a great price, this is it! Located on the beautiful Blue Ridge Park in between Little Switzerland and Craggy Gardens/Mt Mitchell area at Milepost 339.5. Far enough away to be in nature and Crabtree Falls but also around 20ish minutes to a Walmart and other great stuff. RV sites, tent sites, flushing toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, clean bathrooms, etc. National Park Service operated campground as well which is a plus. Had a great time,we  will be back!

A True Hidden Gem!

This campground and trail is located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

We decided to do the loop, rather than hiking back up the rocky path after the kids were tired from playing in the water. The trial was easier on the second half of the loop, as it was dirt rather than rock. 

Overall, the view of the waterfall is mesmerizing! And a nice breaking spot for the loop distance.   

Moderate Trail to Spectacular Views

The best part of this campground is Crabtree Falls. It's absolutely beautiful and there is plenty of room to picnic on a rock and swing in a hammock near by. The sites are large and many are very private. On that note, I have never heard as much animal activity outside my tent as I did camping here. It sounded like something, perhaps a fox or coyote, was hunting mice in the leaves right next to my tent.

Cool but spooky

30 minute drive to Mount Mitchell State Park - our hiking destination. The campsites closer to Mitchell were reserved. This campground has 20 rv spots &amp; 70 renting spots. $20 per day. There’s a great 2.5 mile hike to Crabtree falls within the campground. 

Great campsite

At milepost 339 on the Blue Ridge Parkway is another typical National Park Service campground. At this one, there was someone to greet and check us in at 4 pm, which was welcome especially as it was mere days before the campground closed for the season. We did not make reservations for a weekday so late in the season, but I would recommend you do so at peak times. There are three loops in this campground: one for RVs (but no hookups), and two for tents/vans. We drove around the tent/van loop, which was much more sparsely occupied, but not all of the pads were level. Many of the pads were meant to be shared with multiple campsites, making them more optimal for tent campers, but not out of the question for our van. We settled into Site 22 in the A (RV) loop, which was a pull-in side pad(making it easy in and out). 

  

Restrooms are typical of what I’ve come to expect in NPS campgrounds– functional but not luxurious. Three stalls plus what looked to have once been a fourth. Two sinks but the water was sparse in one and dripped from the other. No showers but there was a soap dispenser, garbage receptacle, and lights, things not always found in NPS campground bathrooms! 

  

The biggest draw to this campground is the 2.5-mile loop hike to Crabtree Falls. I recommend you hike in a clockwise direction, starting from the B loop and ending in the A loop. This leaves the bulk of the strenuous climbing for the end, rather than descending sharply at the beginning. The waterfall was beautiful, likely made more so due to recent rains.

Hike to a beautiful waterfall!

This place is serene and such a lovely campground to stay at. The hike up to see the waterfall was relatively easy. If you get a chance to camp here do it! You won’t regret it.
Checking in was effortless

Beautiful, peaceful campground

The campground is very pleasant. The sites are narrow and small especially those on the right side of the loop.
A-20 was narrow and our slide out stuck out in the road. The picnic table and fire ring was down about 8 steps and no hand rail. Difficult if you have disability in walking. The rangers are very nice and the campground is quiet even with generators able to run from 8AM to 9PM.

We would stay here again but get a site on the left hand side of the road.

Nice camp on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Right off the BRP, the upper loop is RV parking with 2 lower loops with plenty of tent sites some pretty secluded. No showers but decent bathrooms. RV sites are not on top of each other although they are out in the open and spread out. Very quiet and nice

Very nice spot

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground is an older style NPS campground, but has been well maintained. Sites are back-in and pull through on the side of site. Most sites will allow for 30’ rigs. All sites have picnic table and built-in fire pits. There are no hookups. There are no showers in the trailer (RV) loop, but does include a couple comfort station with flush toilets. Campground Ranger was helpful and very friendly. Sites are split between first come first serve and reservations. Payment made with Ranger by cash or credit card. At $30 per site per day, the price is a little steep.

Photos of Crabtree Falls Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

Real photos from real campers