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Roan Mountain State Park Campground accommodates pets throughout its tent sites, RV areas, and cabins with water and electric hookups. The campground features clean, spacious sites with picnic tables and fire pits, many situated alongside a soothing creek. Leashed pets remain welcome throughout the park's extensive trail system and common areas, though owners must maintain control of their animals at all times. The campsites provide ample room for dogs to rest on long leads while still maintaining appropriate distance from neighboring campers. Most tent sites contain large, flat areas with tent pads surrounded by trees offering privacy and shade for pets needing relief from summer heat.
Numerous hiking options exist for campers with dogs, including access points to the Appalachian Trail at nearby Carver's Gap, just a short drive from the campground. The park maintains several pet-friendly trails with varying difficulty levels, from casual walks to challenging hikes with panoramic mountain views. Grassy Ridge Bald offers dispersed backcountry camping where pets are permitted, though hikers should bring sufficient water for themselves and their animals as no facilities exist at these remote sites. The campground remains open year-round with the lower loop accessible during winter months. Pet owners particularly appreciate the large sites in the upper section that provide ample space for dogs to relax while still maintaining appropriate distance from neighboring campers. Wildlife encounters remain possible, so keeping pets properly leashed protects both local fauna and visiting animals.
"Roan Mountain is a beautiful campground with wooded sites, some with water views and access! Next time we’d definitely try for a water site."
"We brought our puppy on his first camping trip and it was close to Roan Mountain and lots of great hiking!"
from $14 - $54 / night
Check Availability"Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites."
"Great camp sites right on Lake Watauga with nice little coves and private beaches. The Appalachian Trail runs by the lake and not far from the campsites."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Some RV sites are on the edge of the road. Clean restrooms and showers. Great hiking trails nearby beginning in the campground. Dog friendly. If you have a National park pass you get a discount."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Many hiking trails. Pets are allowed here also which is a great plus. Friendly staff who can't do enough for you if needed & small camp store on property."
"The campground is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains...so beautiful! Quiet campground with hiking trails, small fishing lake, playgrounds, an arcade room, and camp store."
from $24 - $999 / night
Check Availability"The positives: Location: very close to Grandfather Mountain entrance and BRP. There are plenty of stores, restaurants, antiques nearby too."
"We were next to the stream near the entrance. The facilities were very nice and you can hike right around the campground.
The campground is very close to Grandfather Mountain entrance."
from $35 - $42 / night
Check Availability"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"There are cabins, RV spots and tent sites all with access to newly renovated restrooms and coin operated laundry."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Water fill up spots are well positioned and each site has a fire ring. We stayed in spot #2 which is very close to the road, but it felt secluded and traffic is light."
"Really nice, small campground situated near several trails."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"These prices are steep for tent camping, but include 2 adults, kids and pets. Additional adults come with a fee, but we were happy the kids were included. "
"Pet friendly!"
"Check your tour cd to verify it works before driving away from the gate. It is helpful as you drive through and not all function correctly."
"This is the most beautiful hiking trails in the world! A lot of climbing rock slopes and ladders with scenic views from 6000 ft plus elevation."
from $17 - $37 / night
Check Availability"After a glorious hike up Roan Mountain and back down I crossed the road and hiked out along the three balds and found a few lonely trees to hang a hammock between."
"Beautiful 6000’ bald off the AT and along the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee, plenty of places to pitch a tent. Firewood is scarce so bring a lantern and cook stove."
GuideRoan Mountain is a beautiful campground with wooded sites, some with water views and access! Next time we’d definitely try for a water site. We loved Roan Mountain with its rocky streams, shady secluded sites, and winding wooded walks. We will definitely be back.
GuideThis was such a great campsite!! We had such an amazing experience! It wasn’t very crowded and very clean. We brought our puppy on his first camping trip and it was close to Roan Mountain and lots of great hiking!
GuideFirst time to stay at Roan Mountain. Trout fishing and good hiking and mountain drives. Campground is modern with water, 50 amp for rv’s and very clean showers.
LegendThis campground is one of our favorites. It is located in Roan Mountain Tennessee. The campground has clean bathhouses with hot showers. It also has several events at it throughout the year, like trick or treat in the campground and the Rhododendron Festival.
The campground has a creek between some of the sites. It is not easily accessible, but sounds great from inside your tent. There are both tent and RV sites - mostly private sites due to heavy shrubbery. The loop is perfect for kids to ride scooters and bikes. We enjoy hiking at Carver's Gap (at the top of the mountain) and hiking up to Jane Bald and Round Bald - fantastic views!
TravelerBeautiful campground up on roan mountain. 8miles to Carvers Gap, 45 minutes to Grandfather mountain. Park is well kept and maintained. Bathroom are heated and clean. Some sites are still not available due to hurricane damage but amazing park reguardless!
LegendThis was truly one of my most memorable campsites I’ve ever stayed at. After a glorious hike up Roan Mountain and back down I crossed the road and hiked out along the three balds and found a few lonely trees to hang a hammock between. The Appalachian Trail is frequently referred to as The Green Tunnel because of the amazing wormhole effect of trees, rhododendron and other vegetation that shroud your views. But not here! There was an evening thunderstorm over an adjacent mountain, a beautiful sunset, a full moon to howl at, and a sunrise that can’t be beat. The hike back was in and out of the clouds. Pure bliss!
Pro Tip : Please do not skin or scar trees. Bring your own firewood.
RangerNice big park with a lot for everyone to enjoy, from the pool and fishing to mountain biking. Amazing plants and view everywhere. Tons of hiking trails (including the Appalachian Trail), our favorites were the grassy hills with 360 views of rolling mountains.
Camping options include RV, tent, and cabin. Sites are lightly wooded.
Yay: There are events every month. Wonderful Appalachian feeling to this whole area.
Nay: Parts of it feel a little too much like a resort, but it is quite well maintained and bustling rather than over crowded.
Surprise: The rhododendron gardens are incredible, surreal. The historic farm is also great, as is the adorable town of Roan Mountain.
TravelerSites #1-40 are for tent camping and the rest are for RVs. We camped with tents in the RV section because it was all that was available. It was definitely tough to find places to put our tents in our site (86), but the designated tent sites were large and flat. It was pretty crowded while we were there and campsites are close together.
The campground has lots of amenities—a pool, amphitheater, camp store with firewood and ice for sale, flush toilets, laundry machines, etc. They put on lots of fun activities like group hikes and educational talks. We went to the see the live music at the amphitheater Saturday night and it was charming. There are lots of hiking trails you can walk to, but we didn‘t have time to check them out.
The highlight of the trip was hiking the grassy balds starting at Carver’s Gap. Get there early! Parking was tricky when we got there at 9:30am and impossible when we left around 2pm. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. Overall a nice weekend in Roan Mountain State Park!
LegendThis campground was pristine - from the moment we turned the corner, until the moment we left!
We met Kimberly within seconds of pulling on the property. She was incredibly kind and made us feel at home immediately. As tent campers, she told us our best choices were a 30 amp site on the river ($50) or a 30-amp site off the river ($44). These prices are steep for tent camping, but include 2 adults, kids and pets. Additional adults come with a fee, but we were happy the kids were included. Not only were the pets included, but they have a dog park area that they can run free and stretch their legs!
We came into the cute little office where Kimberly gave us a campground map (which was painted by a resident camper glass blower) and told us about her property. Several items were on sale inside the store, including many shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. They also sell kids fishing poles, stickers and even a fresh coffee cup machine. They have recently renovated the bathhouse (wait until you see it!) they have a library with books and games, an outdoor sink to wash dishes etc. and even a laundry room that operates on the honor system. How great is that! I thought it was wonderful that we could wash a wet sleeping bag or a quick load of stinky hiking clothes if necessary! Kimberly explained that they have a pretty good mix of short and long term campers (primarily RV's) and even a cute little cabin that can be rented.
Kimberly said that they choose not to allow on-line bookings to maintain the atmosphere that they desire. You can call, or submit a request, but they want to have a conversation with you before booking. The campground was calm, friendly and so so clean. Campers were friendly, the campground host was as kind as could be, and so proud about her new bathrooms. (See below). This is the kind of campground we would feel good about our kids biking around in the evening as they chase fire flies and meet new friends!
The campground was located on the river, but the slope was challenging from several sites. With kiddos, I may prefer a site closer to the road because it was nearly a flat walk out to the river. We will surely be back!
Roan Mountain sits at 6,285 feet in the southern Appalachian Mountains, straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border. The area contains one of the world's largest natural rhododendron gardens with over 600 acres of the purple-flowering shrubs. Camping options range from established campgrounds with full hookups to remote backcountry sites situated along streams or at higher elevations where temperatures often remain 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding valleys.
Fly fishing opportunities: Doe River runs through several campgrounds, providing accessible fishing spots for campers. At Roan Mountain State Park Campground, one camper noted, "Doe River runs through so fly fishing is available. husband did catch a rainbow trout near group tent sites. Several small brookies near the history center."
Visit local orchards: When staying near the mountain, consider taking a short drive to nearby apple orchards. While camping at Spacious Skies Bear Den, one visitor shared, "Close to an apple orchid, which is so cool to visit (they're dog friendly) and not too far of a drive from the Linville Falls."
Explore mountain balds: The grassy summits provide 360-degree mountain views. A camper at Grassy Ridge Bald - Dispersed BackCountry reported, "It's a short hike up from Carver Gap. There are several spots on the bald to pitch your tent. There are not too many spots to gather firewood. A few sites already have rock pits made for you."
Creek-side sites: Many campers seek spots near flowing water. At Dennis Cove Campground, a visitor noted, "The campground is in a nice secluded area that can be very silent and relaxing. The sites are well set-up and all are easy to access. Water fill up spots are well positioned and each site has a fire ring."
Lake access for kayaking: Several nearby campgrounds offer direct water access. A camper at Cardens Bluff Campground shared, "Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites. The interior campsites are nice as well, with vegetation giving enough privacy between campsites."
Heated bathrooms: During cooler months, this feature becomes important. One visitor to Roan Mountain State Park Campground said, "Bathroom are heated and clean. Some sites are still not available due to hurricane damage but amazing park regardless!"
Weather considerations: Mountain elevations mean rapidly changing conditions. At Grassy Ridge Bald, a camper warned, "Super windy so dress appropriately!" Another noted their experience: "There was an evening thunderstorm over an adjacent mountain, a beautiful sunset, a full moon to howl at, and a sunrise that can't be beat."
Seasonal closures: Some facilities operate on limited schedules. One recent visitor to Julian Price Park Campground reported, "Campground is closed due to hurricane damage."
Limited firewood availability: At higher elevations, gathering wood can be difficult. A Grassy Ridge Bald camper advised, "Firewood is scarce so bring a lantern and cook stove."
Reservation systems vary: Some parks require advance planning. At Grandfather Mountain State Park Campsites, "The sites all throughout Grandfather are pretty awesome but you have to really look into the details for each site as many do not allow for a campfire, so you will want to ensure you have an alternate (approved) cooking system."
Look for playground amenities: Several campgrounds offer child-friendly features. A visitor to Spacious Skies Bear Den noted, "Campground has all the amenities you could want. It has a small lake on property to fish or swim. Has a pretty good market for the things you might have forgot. They have firewood and ice to purchase. The campsites are good size. Playground on site for the kids."
Consider winter accessibility: Roads to higher elevations can be challenging in colder months. For pet-friendly camping near Roan Mountain, Tennessee, check if lower campground loops remain open year-round.
Seek out educational opportunities: Many parks offer programs. At Grandfather Mountain State Park Campsites, one camper shared, "The visitor center could be a zoo. It is full of educational information and animals."
Bridge access limitations: Some campgrounds have restricted entry points. At Mountain River Family Campground, one reviewer suggested, "If pulling a camper, don't follow the Bearden sign, go to Linville to get on the parkway and go left. This way you will avoid the steep curvy road going up a mountain."
Check site dimensions: Many mountain campgrounds have size constraints. At Julian Price Park Campground, a visitor advised, "We rode through all of the loops to see what the other sites were like, and some of the sites are seldom used if the picnic tables and surrounding vegetation is any indication. Some of the picnic tables are covered in moss. Those were mostly in the sites that were small or sloped. For that reason, it is a good idea to look at the photos on the website for each site before reserving."
Uneven terrain considerations: Mountain sites often require additional leveling equipment. One camper at Grandfather Campground reported, "The site was quite un-level side to side, and we couldn't get our trailer completely level side to side. The site was a bit tough to maneuver into (doable, though!)"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Roan Mountain, TN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Roan Mountain, TN is Roan Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 50 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Roan Mountain, TN?
TheDyrt.com has all 248 dog-friendly camping locations near Roan Mountain, TN, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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