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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Blue Ridge Parkway

1,204 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Stone Mountain State Park Campground accepts pets in tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping accommodations. The Blue Ridge Parkway area features multiple pet-friendly camping options including Doughton Park Campground, Raccoon Holler Campground, and New River State Park, all with established fire rings and picnic tables. Dogs must be leashed throughout these campgrounds, with most sites maintaining standard National Park Service regulations. Campgrounds generally require pets to be attended at all times and kept on leashes no longer than six feet. Basin Cove offers primitive camping opportunities for hikers with dogs willing to trek approximately one mile to reach campsites. These backcountry sites provide food storage lockers and fire pits but lack vehicle access.

Trails throughout the region provide excellent dog walking opportunities, particularly at Doughton Park where white-tailed deer often greet visitors alongside their canine companions. Peak Creek RV Campground offers stream access where dogs can cool off during summer months. When camping in primitive areas like Basin Cove, visitors should bring water filtration systems as no clean water sources exist onsite. The Blue Ridge Parkway elevation provides cooler temperatures during summer months, making it more comfortable for pets than lower-elevation campgrounds. Bears have been reported in campgrounds including Doughton Park, requiring all scent sources including pet food to be secured in vehicles when not in use. The primitive sites at Basin Cove make excellent base camps for day hikes with dogs along the basin creek trail.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Blue Ridge Parkway (169)

    1. Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Roaring Gap, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 957-8185

    $17 - $72 / night

    "Great park with large sites and plenty of space between sites.Bathrooms were clean and we'll maintained.plenty of hiking and creek wading opportunities as well as fishing.also the Blue Ridge Parkway is"

    "We stayed here one night passing through on our 3 week trip of SHEN NP, Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains NP."

    2. Wagoner — New River State Park

    17 Reviews
    Jefferson, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-2587

    $27 - $72 / night

    "Beautiful days hiking nearby, cold nights. Pet friendly. Pretty clean bath house. Visitors center nearby. Sites were mostly level, with gravel, fire pit, picnic table."

    "Also they have a pole there to hold your pets while setting up. I think we will go back."

    3. Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    14 Reviews
    Sparta, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 372-8877

    $30 - $45 / night

    "This campground is quiet, shaded, and right on the blue Ridge parkway. It's high in elevation so it's cooler than the surrounding areas. There are trails you can hike from camp."

    "Friendly and picturesque campground on the blue ridge parkway. One side for tents, with RVs across the parkway."

    CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

    4. Raccoon Holler Campground

    6 Reviews
    Glendale Springs, NC
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-2706

    "Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway this campground is a great out of the way destination. Offers full hookup as well as tent camping. Quiet and very clean. Highly recommended !"

    "I picked this campground because it was very close to Blue Ridge Parkway. My plan was to ride my motorcycle through this beautiful area of NC, but the rain didn't cooperate this trip."

    5. COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground

    18 Reviews
    Wilkesboro, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 921-3190

    $20 - $85 / night

    "My wife and I biked/ ran the trails nearby. Our dogs loved walking around the campground. Some nice wooded tent sites that a very large areas. Our spot was a two level site."

    "Swimming, kayaking, boat launch, small hiking trail. Sites have a fire pit, picnic table (it’s really heavy!) and a grill. I loved how each site is fairly unique."

    6. Twin Rivers Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Crumpler, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-3456

    "Twin rivers campground is located in Crumpler NC on the river.  It is a primitive campground with both RV and tent sites. "

    "It seems a little bit of a sketchy drive into the primitive sites, but no one had any problems as far as I know—we certainly didn’t!"

    7. Sandy Creek Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Traphill, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 957-8525

    "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"

    CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

    8. Basin Cove — Blue Ridge Parkway

    3 Reviews
    Blue Ridge Parkway, VA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 348-3487

    "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"

    9. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    27 Reviews
    Todd, NC
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 406-4226

    $25 - $136 / night

    "It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."

    "There is a place to wash dishes outside as well. Fantastic walking trails - some parts quite steep but we got a good workout through the woods on the property."

    10. Peak Creek RV Campground

    2 Reviews
    Scottville, NC
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 909-5484

    $60 - $65 / night

    "Great attractions close by. West Jefferson, home of Ashe Cheese, and much more, less than 30 minutes away."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Blue Ridge Parkway

189 Photos of 169 Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Blue Ridge Parkway

1204 Reviews of 169 Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds

  • Joe F.
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    Nice and quiet

    Great park with large sites and plenty of space between sites.Bathrooms were clean and we'll maintained.plenty of hiking and creek wading opportunities as well as fishing.also the Blue Ridge Parkway is close by for exploring.

  • Chris R.
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    A great campground in the Blue Ridge Mountains

    This campground is quiet, shaded, and right on the blue Ridge parkway. It's high in elevation so it's cooler than the surrounding areas. There are trails you can hike from camp. There is a basic dump station at the entrance as well as potable water.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

    Beautiful setting by the Blue Ridge Parkway

    I was looking for a campground in the latter half of April and so many of the NF and NP campgrounds were not yet open. My plans had been up in the air, so I hadn’t made reservations anywhere. Jumped on The Dyrt and located this KOA just off the Blue Ridge Parkway that was ideally located for my exploration of the area AND I was able to make a late reservation on a weekday night. The campground was much busier when I departed on a Friday morning. 

    Like many KOAs, this has a combination of tent sites and well-equipped RV sites, ranging from back-in to pull-through as well as cabins. I’ve stayed at a few, but not many KOAs and this one had some amenities that I think are worth calling out. In addition to a pet play area, there are a few sites(51, 43& 45) with pet backyards, fenced in areas for your pet to roam and play. For the tent sites there are a couple (T84& T86) with a shared covered kitchen area plus sail-style awnings. There’s also a separate kitchen pavilion for the all campers near site 83. I didn’t explore the seasonal sites, but they are available and somewhat separate from the short-term campers. 

    There’s a small camp store, laundry room, clean bathrooms with showers. Firewood can be delivered to your site. They’ll lead you to your site and help you get situated if necessary. I was in site 10, a back-up site with a slight incline. It was quiet apart from the creaking trees during a windstorm😊. 

    In peak season, there’s a pool, a small pond (catch& release unless you want to pay), ping pong, rock mining, etc. They have great wifi (they sent a text to campers to let them know they were working to get the cable restored, but in the meantime people could use the wifi to stream movies if needed). I didn’t have a need to use it as I was able to get what I needed on my phone(Verizon). 

    If you’re traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, you may want to make this an overnight stop or use it as a base to explore in different directions. I went online and discovered that Mt Airy(of Andy Griffith fame), was nearby, so I wandered into NC to explore that. I also drove along the Parkway and enjoyed Mabry’s Mill(a lot of activities were closed due to COVID, but I expect they’ll start returning to former levels as restrictions ease). On an early trip, I recall learning about making moonshine as well as the functions of the scenic mill.

  • M
    Oct. 25, 2021

    Flintlock Campground

    Friendly, fun, convenient

    Flintlock Campground is near Boone, NC, Appalachian State University and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Staff are friendly and helpful. There are many nearby activities for all ages and interests.

  • J
    May. 27, 2021

    Raccoon Holler Campground

    Hidden Gem

    Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway this campground is a great out of the way destination. Offers full hookup as well as tent camping. Quiet and very clean. Highly recommended !

  • T
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Easy Weekend Escape at a Mountain Lake

    This campground is located right on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a nice lake for fishing, boating, and SUP. No swimming.

    The campground has a wide variety of sites some are great, some leave a lot to be desired. Research your site carefully. It is a National Park and alcohol and dogs are allowed so things can get loud at night. Pack your earplugs.

    Lots of good hikes nearby, right off the Parkway. They are often busy on the weekends especially during Fall Leaf color season. Boone and Blowing Rock very close making it easy to get provisions.

  • C
    Feb. 23, 2022

    Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

    Great location!

    Had a nice stay here. Staff helped us get backed in. They have a nice shop and amenities. Even have propane refills available. Very close to the blue ridge parkway. It was nice and quiet during our 3 night stay. I would go back for sure!

Guide to Blue Ridge Parkway

Camping near Blue Ridge Parkway offers distinct seasonal temperatures with summer highs averaging 75-85°F and lows of 55-65°F. The area sits at elevations between 2,000-6,000 feet, providing cooler respites during hot weather. Dense hardwood forests surround most camping areas, creating natural shade for many tent sites.

What to do

Hiking from camp to waterfalls: Stone Mountain State Park connects directly to several waterfall trails. "Great sites. Clean bathrooms, close to many hiking trails and waterfalls," notes Joe B. about Stone Mountain State Park Campground.

Fishing in mountain streams: Freshwater fishing opportunities exist at several locations, with trout being common catches. At Basin Cove Campground, one camper mentioned "The site is surrounded by excellent hiking trails and is a great place to set as 'base camp' for day hikes."

Mountain biking accessible trails: Several trail networks connect to campgrounds in the region. "Rode the bike trails and loved it. Did some kayaking too," reports Kelley G. from Bandits Roost Campground about the extensive trail system nearby.

River floating and cooling off: The New River provides calm waters perfect for floating. At Peak Creek RV Campground, "Host was very accommodating and had inner tubes for floating in the stream," according to Lynn's review.

What campers like

Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. "The campsites are very spaced out. The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat," writes Kristen J. about Blue Bear Mountain Camp.

Clean facilities despite remote locations: Bathhouses at many locations receive regular maintenance. "The bathhouse was nice and includes showers and drinking water. You're literally on a mountain, so there's not much for hiking," notes Raven B. about Blue Bear Mountain Camp.

Walk-in tent camping privacy: Several campgrounds feature tent-only areas separated from RV sections. At Wagoner — New River State Park, "You have to walk in but the park provides little carts and wheelbarrows. The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained," says Katrin M.

Diverse wildlife viewing: The parkway region hosts abundant wildlife. "Lots of nice spot, tons of wildlife and deer. Plenary of hiking and mice shower house. A must do," writes Von B. about their stay at Stone Mountain.

What you should know

Limited connectivity: Cell service varies greatly by location and carrier. "Internet and phone service available in some parts of the park," notes Annell N. about Stone Mountain State Park Campground.

Elevation affects temperatures: Higher elevation campgrounds stay cooler. "The constant light breeze and lack of mosquitoes is a treat," reports Raven B. about Blue Bear Mountain Camp.

Water access varies: Not all campgrounds provide water hookups or potable water. At Basin Cove, "There is NO clean water source, you have to bring a filter system with you," warns Julie L.

Seasonal road closures: Some campground access roads close during winter months. "The mike to the campsite is on a gravel road closed to cars/motorized vehicles," explains a reviewer at Doughton Park Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Look for campgrounds with play areas: Some facilities include kid-friendly features. "Campground has kids activities and a nice creek for them to play in," reports Robbie N. about Sandy Creek Family Campground.

Consider creek access sites: Water features provide natural entertainment. "The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park. Very fun long weekend at a family friendly campground," notes Ann H. about Sandy Creek.

Check for easy-access bathrooms: Location of facilities matters with children. "Sites 46, 45 and 41 where my favorites with water views (46 coming in 1st). The bathrooms and showers were well kept and clean," suggests Kerrie N. at New River State Park.

Pet-friendly trail options: Most dog friendly campgrounds along Blue Ridge Parkway connect to hiking trails suitable for pets. "Love this park. Internet and phone service available in some parts of the park. Nice hiking area," says Annell N. about Stone Mountain State Park.

Tips from RVers

Water fill logistics: Many campgrounds require filling tanks at central locations. "They do not have water hookups- you fill your camper tank with water at the office area," explains Mandy R. about Blue Bear Mountain Camp.

Site leveling challenges: Mountain terrain creates uneven sites. "The site we were at was pretty level, but they don't have a specific pad they just told us to park however we wanted," notes Becca C. about Sandy Creek Family Campground.

Dump station access: Some facilities have limited dumping options. "Nice looking camp in a beautiful area. Didn't stay but did use the dump station for $17, so wanted to update info," shares Mike A. regarding New River State Park.

Electric reliability considerations: Power fluctuations can occur in remote locations. "Extended family was staying in an RV site while we were there and they had some problems with their power staying on," warns Kirsten J. about Sandy Creek Family Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway allow pets?

Most Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds are pet-friendly. Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway welcomes dogs, with pets permitted at both tent and RV sites. Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway also allows pets throughout their shaded, quiet camping areas. These campgrounds typically require pets to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times, properly supervised, and never left unattended. Remember to clean up after your pet and be considerate of other campers, as excessive barking may result in being asked to leave.

Are dogs allowed on hiking trails in the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Yes, dogs are generally allowed on most hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it a great destination for outdoor adventures with your canine companion. Linville Falls Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway provides easy access to trails where dogs are permitted. Similarly, Stone Mountain State Park Campground offers plenty of hiking and creek wading opportunities that are dog-friendly. Always keep your dog leashed, bring waste bags to clean up after them, and carry enough water for both you and your pet. Some sensitive ecological areas may restrict pet access, so check trail-specific rules before heading out.

What are the leash requirements for pets on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

The Blue Ridge Parkway requires all pets to be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. This rule applies throughout the parkway's facilities, including campgrounds like Raccoon Holler Campground and Steele Creek Park & Campground. The leash requirement helps protect wildlife, vegetation, and ensures the safety of your pet and other visitors. Pets must never be left unattended, even if leashed, and should always be under physical control. Electronic or voice control is not sufficient. Remember to bring waste bags and properly dispose of pet waste in designated trash receptacles.

Are there pet-friendly cabins or lodging options along the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Yes, several lodging options near the Blue Ridge Parkway welcome pets. Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA offers pet-friendly accommodations with convenient access to the parkway. The staff is helpful and they provide nice amenities including a shop and propane refills. Flintlock Campground near Boone also allows pets and provides access to numerous nearby activities. When booking, always confirm specific pet policies, potential breed restrictions, and any additional pet fees, as these can vary by location and may change seasonally.

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