12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Chestnut Hollow Horse Campground at Grayson Highlands State Park offers dedicated equestrian sites with water and electrical hookups for both tent and RV campers. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings with access to firewood on premises. The campground provides clean shower facilities and restrooms, while offering convenient access to the park's extensive network of horse-friendly trails. Bathrooms remain well-maintained throughout the camping season, allowing riders to focus on exploring rather than dealing with facility issues.
The extensive trail system connects to both park paths and surrounding wilderness areas, providing multiple route options for riders of varying experience levels. Horse owners can access miles of bridle trails directly from the campground without needing to trailer to trailheads. Fox Creek Horse Camp, located 36 miles from Elkin in Marion, Virginia, offers an alternative option with water hookups and sewer connections for extended stays. This campground operates seasonally from April through December, giving riders access through most of the year. Trailer parking is available at both locations, with sufficient space for larger rigs. Group camping options exist for those traveling with multiple horses and riders, requiring advance reservations during peak seasons.
"But, ya know North Carolina summers."
"The site also had a huge area for the picnic table and the fire ring is far away from your camper. There was a huge grassy area behind our site with a creek, lots of space for our dog."
from $17 - $72 / night
Check Availability"The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park. Very fun long weekend at a family friendly campground. Would definitely camp here again!"
"Stayed there for a weekend, great location close to Stone Mtn park. Hiked from there into the state park. Very clean kept campground and nice owner"
"Near a creek as well. Just follow the basin creek trail for about a mile and then cross bridge."
"This camp ground is very small and on the side of a very quiet road next to beautiful fields with breath taking views it has no paved roads so bring a truck or suv sedans will get stuck easily there is"
"Walking path paved. Bike trails and horse trails. Near to I40 but any noise from that is very minimal. Full hookups. Wi fi present but not strong enough for any streaming. Will definitely return"
"Great hosts, spacious spots, nearby dog park, loved staying here. The bath houses are a little dated but very clean. There is horse shoe, volleyball, soccer goals on the camp ground."
from $35 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $151 / night
Check Availability"This equestrian campground in a beautiful state forest allows for other campers to make reservations no more than 30 days in advance; priority is for campers with horses."
"We camped at an equestrian campgrounds, chestnut ridge perhaps? Saw a Family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day!"
from $37 / night
Check Availability"Other than the bear hunting that went on, was scary..this is a peaceful spot to reset with plenty of hiking trails right next to the creek."
"Trails were well maintained & short walk down to the river. Would definitely stay again!"
from $5 / night
"We don't have horses so I wouldn't stay here when it is full. For us it is great as a cheap stop if we are traveling through the area at the right time."
"With a wide network of multi-use trails in this area, Fox Creek Horse Camp provides a nice base for exploring on horseback. Sites have a gravel/grass pads, picnic table, and fire ring."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"Tho, no immediate fresh water pumps, walking distance water access for horses and dogs. As well as bathing down from the campgrounds. Creak water. Very spacious and scenic."
from $5 / night
TravelerWe came here as our second ever camping trip and it wasn’t exactly what we were expecting but it was definitely an adventure. It was beautiful and quiet and relaxing. The only thing we were not happy about is the insane amount of bugs in the bathroom. But, ya know North Carolina summers.
LegendThis is a group equestrian camp that can be reserved via Recreation.gov for$50/night for up to 25 people. There is no potable water available, so plan to bring your own. There is a stream at the site where the horses may drink. There's enough space for a number of trailers, including large ones, and up to 25 horses. There's a fair amount of grassy area and it's lined with rhododendron. Dumpster provided. No cell service.
There are a number of horse trails that connect, starting with the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail nearby, so you don't need to trailer your horses to get to the trailhead
LegendThis equestrian campground in a beautiful state forest allows for other campers to make reservations no more than 30 days in advance; priority is for campers with horses. This state park has wild horses of its own, but has numerous multi-use and equestrian trails and connects with additional trails in the area for up to 66 miles of riding. Chestnut Hollow is distinct from the Hickory Ridge campground.
The campsites are back-in along a single spur with turn-around at the end. There are bathrooms with showers and a sink for laundry. Fees are $20-23/night, slightly higher for out of state campers. There are open and closed stall options for an additional fee. These were clean and in good repair. Although the official season runs May - October, it is open for primitive camping March, April, and November.
Site are long, gravel, relatively level with water/electric.
TravelerI went back and forth on whether I should give this rating two stars or three. In the end, I chose three stars because the mountain itself is so amazing. Geologically this was great place to visit and the trails were well marked and maintained. Beautiful hike.
The campground was beautiful but the facilities were run down and dirty. It had, by far, the nastiest park/campground facilities I’ve seen in Kentucky, North Carolina or Virginia this year. I know this park is mobbed on the weekends, but I checked in on a Tuesday and stayed for two nights. The facilities, including the campground bathhouse and the park’s “comfort stations” were dirty, smelly and had bugs in them. The trash in the bathhouse was not emptied in the two days I was there. There was not a single exterior light to the bathhouse, not even something as reasonable as a motion sensor light that would be more energy efficient than a constant lighting option.
Compared to New River State Park, despite the giant Stone Mountain, this was the bottom of the barrel.
GuideTho, no immediate fresh water pumps, walking distance water access for horses and dogs. As well as bathing down from the campgrounds. Creak water. Very spacious and scenic. The trails are near and beautiful. Lovely for horseback riding or hiking, or just tent camping. Latrine are located at campground, walking distance.
ScoutWhat a lovely campground. Sites are long and wide but some have quite a slope to them. There are large shady trees but no vegetation between sites. 3 camp hosts that rotate duties. Walking path paved. Bike trails and horse trails. Near to I40 but any noise from that is very minimal. Full hookups. Wi fi present but not strong enough for any streaming. Will definitely return
GuideLot s of wildlife! We camped at an equestrian campgrounds, chestnut ridge perhaps? Saw a Family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day! Great facilities and located very close to Wilbur ridge where the wild ponies are! The AT is very close and waterfall hikes can be accessed from camp.also lots of great bouldering in the area
LegendThis is a neat campground. We camp in the area a lot and this campground is either completely empty or totally full. We have stayed here a couple of times when it was empty. We don't have horses so I wouldn't stay here when it is full. For us it is great as a cheap stop if we are traveling through the area at the right time. A nice creek goes through the campground that is right on the highway, so we usually stay in the back to get away from the road noise. Not that there is much traffic in the area at night.
Check it out in our 360° Video and see it like you are there.
https://youtu.be/dlGXzrFK31Q
GuideGreat hosts, spacious spots, nearby dog park, loved staying here. The bath houses are a little dated but very clean. There is horse shoe, volleyball, soccer goals on the camp ground. I would stay here all the time if I could!
Horse campgrounds near Elkin, North Carolina offer direct access to extensive trail networks through the Blue Ridge Mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet. The region's moderate climate allows for equestrian camping from April through late November at most locations. Sites typically range from primitive to full hookup options with special features designed for equestrian campers.
Trail riding through Stone Mountain State Park: Take advantage of multiple trail loops at Stone Mountain State Park Campground where riders can explore varied terrain. As camper Charlie R. notes: "We camped here and didn't even leave. It has so much to do and see. We camped at RV site 40 and I think it's the best. There's a roaring large creek that flows behind the site and a grassy field full of deer beside it."
Wildlife viewing at Grayson Highlands: Ride through areas with wild ponies at Chestnut Hollow Horse Campground located about 45 miles from Elkin. "Saw a family of black bear about a mile from camp then a bobcat in camp later that day! Great facilities and located very close to Wilbur ridge where the wild ponies are!" reports Kelly C.
Waterfall tours on horseback: Access multiple waterfall viewing areas on designated bridle paths. As Jimmy M. from Sandy Creek Family Campground explains: "Access to a sliding rock and waterfall in Stone Mountain State Park with an approximate 1 mile easy hike. The bath house is kept spotless."
Spacious equestrian-friendly sites: Horse campgrounds feature larger sites with space for trailers and tethering areas. Jean C. writes about Fox Creek Horse Camp: "Sites have a gravel/grass pads, picnic table, and fire ring. Portable toilets available. Bring your own water. No hookups provided. Hitching posts at sites. Manure collection available. At $5/night, it's hard to beat the price."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain appropriate sanitation for both humans and horses. Brandon C. says about Sandy Creek: "Very clean kept campground and nice owner." Similarly, David B. notes at Stone Mountain: "The camp sites are mostly level, well maintained and have tent pads, tables and fire rings. I chose a site that had water and electric hook-ups. The bathrooms were heated, clean and the men's bathroom had two showers."
Multi-use trail connections: Horse trails connect to broader hiking networks. Julie L. mentions at Basin Cove: "The site is surrounded by excellent hiking trails and is a great place to set as 'base camp' for day hikes."
Seasonal limitations: Many equestrian campgrounds have specific operating seasons. Fox Creek Horse Camp operates from April through December, while others may close during winter months due to weather conditions.
Trail difficulty varies: Prepare for different terrain challenges. Scott B. warns about Basin Cove: "This place is by far the windiest place I've ever camped in. We couldn't get a proper fire started due to the wind! It was blowing up all over the trails at some points!"
Reservation requirements: Most equestrian campgrounds require advance booking. Jean C. explains that Chestnut Hollow "allows for other campers to make reservations no more than 30 days in advance; priority is for campers with horses."
Water and waste management: Not all horse campgrounds offer full facilities. "There is NO clean water source, you have to bring a filter system with you," notes Julie L. about Basin Cove. And Becca C. mentions about Sandy Creek: "The biggest negative I would say was the dump station. It was on the hill so you had to back up to it and it wasn't easy location to do so."
Playground access: Some equestrian campgrounds include play areas for children. Ann H. shares about Sandy Creek: "The kids enjoyed playing in the creek and on the playground. The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park."
Educational wildlife opportunities: Children can learn about wild horses. Heather L. from Chestnut Hollow writes: "The ponies were awesome and the hike was even better. We stayed on the campgrounds at night and we were able to watch a beautiful sunrise while making breakfast."
Safety considerations: Maintain appropriate distance from wild animals. As Sarah C. cautions: "There are wild ponies here (notice the adjective wild) that are not intimidated by people. Do everyone a favor and keep your distance, please."
Weather preparedness: Mountain conditions can change rapidly. Scott B. advises: "The windchill was a serious issue for some in our group so bring lots of layers and gloves."
Site leveling challenges: Many equestrian campsites require significant leveling equipment. Tiffany D. from Tanglewood Park warns: "Negatives are unlevel lots (we had to lower ours by over 4" and still weren't level, but couldn't adjust anymore)."
Water and electrical hookups: Check availability before arrival. Kristy Gary B. notes about Tanglewood: "Full hookups. Wi fi present but not strong enough for any streaming."
Space for trailers: Ensure sufficient space for horse trailers. Jean C. mentions: "The campsites are back-in along a single spur with turn-around at the end."
Stall options: Some equestrian campgrounds offer permanent stalls. Jean C. explains that at Chestnut Hollow: "There are open and closed stall options for an additional fee. These were clean and in good repair."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Elkin, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Elkin, NC is Stone Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Elkin, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Elkin, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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