23 campgrounds with availability next weekend
The small town of Abingdon in Virginia has good camping spots within driving distance for all kinds of setups. Campgrounds near Abingdon range from RV parks with hookups to tent sites and cabin rentals, giving campers plenty of options regardless of how they travel. Hungry Mother State Park stands out with its cabins and yurts that many campers book well ahead of time. Kids have plenty to do at Linville Falls Campground, where hiking trails lead to some nice views of the surrounding area. Most people camp here in spring when wildflowers bloom or fall when the trees turn color. Summers get hot and humid in this part of Virginia, so bring plenty of water if you visit then. Some campgrounds stay open during winter, but you'll need warm gear for the cold nights. Many campers come to this area specifically to bike or hike the Virginia Creeper Trail, which runs through the region. The town of Abingdon itself has restaurants and shops when you need supplies or want a break from camp cooking. Both tent campers and RV drivers can find spots that work for their needs in this area.
"**Holston Lake is absolutely beautiful. The campground is deep in the national forest, out on a series of peninsulas, making all the campsites quite close to the water."
"This campground is located about an hour or so from our home but it feels like a million miles away — in a good way!"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 / night
"Trails right off the campground to walk around the park, not huge but nice. Close off the highway but no road noise."
"From the road you wouldn’t guess there’s a giant park beyond the entrance. The rangers at the entrance were super friendly, but they patrol a lot, so often no one is actually at the gate house."
from $20 / night
"Great amenities for kids, clean restrooms and showers, several spots with easy access to lake"
"We do lots of walking, so this campground has many drives to walk. Takes no time at all to walk a mile plus without going the same drive. Many shaded sites, lots seem to be seasonal."
from $25 - $35 / night
"Close to charming Abingdon VA with great local restaurants, the Barter Theater and the Virginia Creeper Trail."
"There are about 8-10 sites that are right behind the pool and more sites down a short hill all along the river. This campground accommodates tents, pop ups and RV's comfortably."
from $28 - $40 / night
"With camping just a moderate day hike away from Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, this campground is a hiker's paradise."
"Campground Review: There are two campgrounds in Grayson Highland SP which is located by The Mouth Of Wilson, VA, near the North Carolina border."
from $27 - $98 / night
"Just across the Virginia state line, this national forest offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Beaver Dam Creek. Opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, and paddling are abundant."
"Stayed in Campsite #1 Even though it is within view of the road, the running water sound of the creek behind us lulled us to sleep."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $20 / night
"This spot is very nice, close to the water’s edge (although no camping allowed lakeside). There’s quite a few rings, bear bins, and a porta-loo. We had the place to ourselves which was really great."
"I have camped at this location multiple times. There used to be portable potties and trash cans. No longer. Pack in pack out now. Regularly patrolled by officers who are fantastic."
"We were in Damascus for the Appalachian Trail Days Festival and needed an RV spot but didn’t think we could get one because we were so late in looking for one."
"This was a good spot right on the Laurel Creek and the Creeper Trail. Walk to town for restaurants and bike/outdoor shops and a convenience store. Grocery store is a little further away."
from $55 / night
"At the intersection of the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia state lines, sits this national forest which offers multiple dispersed camping areas along Bear Creek."
"Only downside was the spot I set up camp was very close to the road and headlights from passing cars would light up the spot. However the road was quiet most of the night."
"Located in the Mount Rogers Recreation Area, this campground is close to enough activities to fill a whole week of outdoor fun!"
"Large secluded campsites surrounded by rhododendron bushes with a mountain spring creek meandering through the campgrounds."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $55 / night
GuideMother nature is amazing and helps relieve stress from the ones who never deserved to be around you to take and cover it up. So I'll run to God's beauty, and enjoy my fire at the same time. Come on baby light my fire! ;)
TravelerEasy to get to, cheap, good bathrooms.
ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutGreat camping spot! Road isn’t horrible going up but there are some rougher areas toward the end of the road. Gorgeous sunset and sunrise spot! Fire rings seemed fairly abundant at the pull offs.
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
Traveler3 stars only because it says water hookups but they are far and few between communal. No spigot at individual sites. Need long hose(s)to reach the connection. Good T-Mobile 5G but too wooded for StarLink. Quiet, shady, somewhat level sites were available. $20/night.
TravelerThe road was very bumpy but I got up on my 2WD Honda Odyssey. A couple people came during the day to take photos, but the night was peaceful. A couple campsites on the drive up, less secluded though. View was gorgeous and the sunset was amazing. Amazing spot for stargazing.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
ScoutWe brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back
Abingdon camping sites range from lakeside to mountainous, with elevations from 1,800 to 3,600 feet across the region. Most campsites near Abingdon, Virginia are situated within the Jefferson National Forest or along the South Holston Lake, creating distinct microclimates depending on your chosen location. Winter temperatures frequently drop below freezing at higher elevation campgrounds from December through February.
Paddle the lake: South Holston Lake offers excellent kayaking and paddleboarding at Little Oak Campground, located 20 minutes from Abingdon. "Holston Lake is absolutely beautiful. The campground is deep in the national forest, out on a series of peninsulas, making all the campsites quite close to the water," notes Lynn G.
Hike to waterfalls: A short but steep trail near Backbone Rock Recreation Area leads to a waterfall formation where kids can wade. "There is a short waterfall hike right out of the campground!" explains Sabrina M., who found it perfect for families with small children.
Mountain biking: The Jefferson National Forest trails connect directly to many campgrounds. "There are some short hiking trails, but plan to spend most of your time on the water," advises Lynn G. who visited Little Oak Campground. Experienced cyclists often use campsites as base camps for exploring the technical forest trails.
Privacy between sites: Beartree Campground offers unusual site separation. "The sites were built in a forest of rhododendron and there is so much privacy compared to most other campgrounds. As a result, it seems quieter," shares Deb R., who has been camping there for 25 years.
Swimming options: Many campers appreciate the creek access at campgrounds. "Backbone rock sits on a small creek that runs behind most of the sites. It's perfect for small children to swim and play in!" reports Sabrina M. The water access provides natural cooling during hot summer days.
Affordability: Budget-conscious campers highlight Sugar Hollow Campground for its value. "You can't beat the price and you're secluded but yet close to Sam's and Walmart and even a Chick-fil-A," explains Mike, who paid just $20 per night for wooded, shaded sites with electric hookups.
Limited cell coverage: Many campgrounds around Abingdon have spotty service. "There is absolutely no cell service at this camp, you have to go into town or hike a local mountain to get service up high," explains Shari G. about Backbone Rock. At Riverside Campground, cell service improves but remains inconsistent in certain sections.
Booking windows: Royal Oak Campground at Hungry Mother State Park often books 6-9 months in advance for summer weekends. Joe S. notes Riverside Campground provides "the perfect spot for a family trip" but recommends reservations well ahead of time.
Weather variability: The mountain setting creates unpredictable conditions. "Weather is unpredictable, so pack a raincoat and warm clothes just in case," advises Danielle H. Summer thunderstorms build quickly in the afternoons, particularly at higher elevation sites.
Platform camping for comfort: Hungry Mother State Park offers unique wooden platforms for tents. "All campsites are on platforms, which makes it very nice to set up your stuff," explains Katrin M. The raised platforms keep tents drier during rain and provide level sleeping surfaces.
Creek-side camping: Families particularly enjoy sites where children can play safely in shallow water. "The river is perfect! It's not too deep so the kids can play in it. Fairly easily accessed from many areas at the campground," shares Heather K. about Riverside Campground.
Child-friendly activities: Schedule time for organized events at state parks. "During the peak of the summer season, it appears that it would be very popular with a nice swimming beach, paddlecraft rentals, cabin rentals," notes Dave V. about Hungry Mother State Park. Many campgrounds offer junior ranger programs on summer weekends.
Leveling requirements: Many RV sites in the mountains require significant leveling. "Not all sites are level. Sites are fairly close together," reports Shawn about Observation Knob Park. Bring extra leveling blocks, especially for the hillside campgrounds.
Water hookup locations: At Sugar Hollow Campground, water sources aren't always conveniently placed. "Water available but not at your site (mostly, if you have an extension you can make some work)," explains Kelly, who recommends bringing extra hose length to reach shared spigots.
Dump station availability: Many campgrounds only offer dump stations rather than full sewer hookups. "Only 2 dump stations, but there is a honey wagon service that's quite close and very reasonably priced," notes Michael N. about Observation Knob Park, where many visitors stay for extended periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Abingdon, VA?
Abingdon offers excellent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Riverside Campground stands out for its proximity to downtown Abingdon's restaurants and the Virginia Creeper Trail, plus its peaceful setting on the North Fork of the Holston River. For those seeking more natural settings, Sugar Hollow Campground offers affordable sites ($20/night) with good separation between campsites, phone service, and Wi-Fi in some areas. Other notable options include Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground near Mount Rogers Recreation Area and Hidden Valley WMA with lakeside camping. Most campgrounds in the area provide convenient access to hiking, fishing, and cultural attractions that make Abingdon a perfect basecamp for exploring Southwest Virginia.
Is tent camping available at campgrounds in Abingdon, VA?
Yes, tent camping is widely available at campgrounds around Abingdon. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area offers free, primitive tent camping along creeks with first-come, first-served sites. These spots are perfect for tent campers looking for a more natural experience, though they lack amenities like picnic tables or toilets. Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground provides more developed tent camping with access to a small lake with a sandy beach. For those wanting free dispersed camping options, Washington & Jefferson National Forest offers multiple tent-friendly sites along Bear Creek. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of amenities and privacy.
What amenities does Riverside Campground in Abingdon, VA offer?
Riverside Campground in Abingdon offers a range of amenities in its quiet setting along the North Fork of the Holston River. The campground is family-friendly and provides convenient access to Abingdon's attractions, including local restaurants, the Barter Theater, and the Virginia Creeper Trail. Its riverside location makes it ideal for fishing and water activities. While specific facility details aren't extensively documented in reviews, the campground appears to provide the essential amenities needed for a comfortable stay. The peaceful riverside environment creates an appealing atmosphere for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike. For more detailed information about hookups, bathhouses, and other specific amenities, it's recommended to contact the campground directly before your visit.
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