227 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campers looking for a spot around Bristol, Virginia have several good options within a reasonable drive. Hungry Mother State Park includes both cabins and regular campsites for those who want different levels of comfort. At Grayson Highlands State Park, you'll find campsites with mountain views where wild ponies sometimes wander through the area. Though Eleanor the Airstream R has closed permanently, you can still find plenty of other places to camp nearby. The parks enforce fire rules and limit how long you can stay to keep the woods in good shape. During busy times like summer weekends, you should book ahead since the better sites fill up quickly. Some camping spots have trees for shade and feel more private than others. When making reservations, check the site size and what facilities are available so you know what to expect. Many local campers think spring and fall are the best seasons here - temperatures are comfortable and the trees look great, especially in October. Bristol camping works well for both quick weekend trips and longer vacations.
"Long way from Bristol, so don't forget anything."
"**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."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"We had a change of plans and made reservations at Warrior Path State Park on a whim - and are VERY glad we did."
"This park is located about 15 minutes off I-81 just south of the VA/TN border, making it extremely convenient, and a great place to stop for anyone traveling that stretch of the country."
"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
Check Availability"Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites."
"Booked site 13 online for the last weekend before the season ended in October 2021, but the hosts caught us at check-in and moved us to site 32, which was right next to the water."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Close to Bristol Speedway, immaculate bath house and laundry, office staff is very friendly and helpful,well kept sights and maintenance and camp host during race time are superb"
from $28 - $40 / night
Check Availability"I came here on a couple of break days while working at a nearby summer camp and it was such a fun experience. The lake surrounded by mountains was breathtakingly beautiful."
"Nestled next to the.Holly River. Prices were good."
from $30 - $95 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Fire pits you had to walk up to but were away from tents, which I liked. Bathhouse was clean, well lit, pretty warm showers. Campground was very clean and has a lot of amenities."
"Great tent pads with running water located right next to every pad. Plenty of hiking and biking to do. Pool and playground for the kids to enjoy, a great place for easy camping."
from $14 - $54 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability
TravelerWe ended up booking 2 campsites (due to planning on moving) but stayed at our first one the whole time. The camp host was so nice and friendly! Very helpful! Wasn’t a place to swim there, but was very close to a nice beach area!
ScoutThe management is terrible they are disrespectful and dont deserve to run this campground. Not sure what gives him the right to call my wife at 10 oclock at night and start screaming and yelling at her telling her that he doesn't like her and kick us out over a bike being being out at 830 at night while my son was fishing. There rules are so unrealistic and childish thats not to mention they have convicted felons staying there harassing kids all night. The management should be remove from this position immediately its not safe there for the kids anymore and is the most disrespectful biased campground I have ever been at.
GuideJust $20 for a spacious site in the woods with hook ups and Wi-Fi! It’s first come first serve, but on a June weekend there were many sites available when I arrived in the early evening not every site has water, so if that matters to you look carefully before you park your trailer or vehicle
ScoutGreat amenities for kids, clean restrooms and showers, several spots with easy access to lake
Scouttent site 32 is a gorgeous site that is beautiful maintained and sits right on Doe River. The Doe is so beautiful and the water cascades of small rock ledges. Perfect for cooking off and safe enough for children to splash around. We had our campervan so they allowed us in the tent area.
TravelerSuper simple. Big space and only 3 camping families tops. We had only one other - Yes please! Creek was so clear. BYO water and food. Fished, grilled, relaxed, kids went full feral for 24 hours. Everyone slept like logs and woke up to the creek. 5 stars always.
TravelerJust book. You will survive a night or two without electricity. Just plan accordingly. This was our third camping experience, we are learning as we go! This is the spot we wished we camped our first try. No cars on property is the bonus. Waking up to the creek is in fast the payoff! We had a waterfall to ourselves most of the time. Fishing was good (nothing too big, but plentiful). Walk up and down the creek through the neighbor's properties on both sides (which is legal), what amazing land! EB JEFFRESS is like 15 minutes away for hiking and a waterfall.
GuideStoping here for one night for a road trip. People were very curious about our set up. One of the workers was our neighbor and helped more than we needed, however he was great and we were very thankful. Pulled in kinda late. Helped us start a fire and kept it going with some fun tools. We do a lot of dispersed camping in RMNP and like to take our time with things. He was great to speed up our set up so we could relax. Talked with him about an hour. The grounds kept well. No issue. Bath house was good. Only improvement would be AC(if you care about that) But not needed. Fun activities to do aswell; driving range. Basket ball. Pool. Big slide(Saturday 11-noon). Super friendly staff.
GuideI 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. I have a 23 dollar a year permit so camping is free. Beautiful lake and wildlife abundant.
Bristol, Virginia sits along the Tennessee-Virginia border in the Appalachian Mountains at approximately 1,680 feet elevation. Campgrounds near Bristol VA offer access to South Holston Lake, which covers 7,580 acres and provides shoreline camping with mountain backdrops. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F while fall brings cooler 60-70°F days with colorful foliage.
Water activities at the lake: At Little Oak Campground, campers can fish, boat, kayak and swim in South Holston Lake. "There are few places that I've been to that top this location. Super easy camp ground to get to with excellent paved roads in very close to each of the Tri-Cities. The camp ground is well organized with many amenities including super easy access to the water on all sides," notes Nathan F.
Mountain biking trails: Warriors' Path State Park houses acclaimed mountain bike trails suitable for various skill levels. "This is an enjoyable State Park with a lot to offer. They have a full docket of activities, ranger-led hikes, games, crafts and wildlife lectures offered throughout the day. In addition to camping they have a full marina with canoe, kayak and paddle board rentals," explains Sara M.
Disc golf course: Warriors' Path State Park offers a free disc golf course for campers. "My son and I enjoyed a round of disk golf while my wife and daughters made use of their awesome playground," reports Jedidiah J.
Lakefront sites: Many Cardens Bluff Campground sites provide direct lake access. "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," writes Blake E.
Proximity to town amenities: Sugar Hollow Campground combines nature with convenience. "Not too much space for RV's. Ground not always levelled. But beautifully sited in the woods. Great for high temperatures. And realy inexpensive (we payed $20 per night)," mentions Catharina L. Another camper adds, "Anyone local knows about this park, however, few take advantage of the camping aspect. Few neighbors, excellent staff, and a nice area to hang out with friends, family, or even yourself! As well as trails and parks nearby, you're close enough to a Target and Walmart shopping center."
Spacious sites: Little Oak Campground provides room to spread out. "Very kid-friendly super spacious campsites every site is right on the lake with amazing sunsets every night," shares Tiffany G. Another camper notes, "The campground has plenty of room and space for your truck/boat/trailer."
Primitive vs. full hookup options: Not all camping areas around Bristol offer the same amenities. At Observation Knob Park, "Large County campground with electric and water with two pump out stations. spacious, hilly sites with some tree coverage along lake with boat ramp and capacity to tie your boat up at your site. Recommend a surge protector on your camper as there are no breakers on the electric hook up at the site (clustered elsewhere)."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the area have uneven terrain. At Warriors' Path, "Our site(62) was narrow and a little short for our 23' trailer. We had to park the truck sideways at the entrance. Our stairs opened right on the concrete pad for the table and we had very little room for our chairs."
Seasonal considerations: Local campgrounds have varying operating seasons. Cardens Bluff operates from "April 13 to November 7" while Sugar Hollow remains open "All year." Several sites fill quickly during peak periods, especially holiday weekends.
Interactive ranger programs: Warriors' Path State Park offers educational activities for children. "In the warm seasons they have a ranger that comes around and even little events for kids. I remember picking apart an owl pellet with the ranger. Very outdoor educational," recalls Travis R.
Kid-friendly playgrounds: Warriors' Path features specialized playground facilities. "This amazing campground has spots for tent and rv camping, hiking trails, a beautiful lake for kayaking and fishing, and a Marina where rentals are available! Park also has a Boundless Playground!" notes Natalie A.
Safe swimming areas: Riverside Campground provides gentle water access. "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," explains Heather K.
Site selection guidance: At Sugar Hollow, "Im in a 25ft class c, always looking for a more nature forward spot, trees out my door. There's phone service and Wi-Fi in some spots. A few will fit a larger rig, many will fit my size. A few are flat already and some will need leveling."
Campsite size limitations: Warriors' Path requires careful attention to site dimensions. "The main camping section was laid out long ago, with older style short sites and water/electric only. Many of the sites are narrow and some have challenging access. Be sure to read site descriptions and check the suggested trailer size- they seriously mean the max size!!"
Leveling requirements: Most campgrounds near Bristol VA require additional equipment for RVs. At Warriors' Path, "There are a lot of uneven campsites, so bring your leveling blocks. That said, great campground. The facilities were clean, the park was well kept and the train whistles were far enough away that they didn't interrupt your sleep!"
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Bristol, VA?
Bristol visitors have several excellent camping options nearby. Shadrack Campground offers immaculate facilities and is conveniently located near Bristol Speedway with friendly staff and well-maintained sites. For those seeking a more natural setting, Hidden Valley WMA provides peaceful lakeside camping with fire rings, bear bins, and basic facilities. Other notable options include Backbone Rock Recreation Area with its shaded sites along Beaver Dam Creek, and Pole Position Campground which operates during race weeks with full hookups. For a family-friendly option with amenities, Bristol-Kingsport KOA offers cabins, a pool, and various recreational activities while remaining accessible for large RVs.
Is there RV camping available in Bristol, Virginia?
Bristol offers several excellent RV camping options. Pole Position Campground provides electric, water, and sewer hookups at every site, though it's only open during race weeks at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bristol-Kingsport KOA features easy access from Interstate 81 and is navigable with large fifth wheels, offering amenities like a pool and recreational activities. Other options include Shadrack Campground with gravel sites that can accommodate large rigs up to 39 feet, and Observation Knob Park which is big-rig friendly. Sugar Hollow Campground has some sites suitable for RVs up to 25 feet, though larger rigs might find limited options and may need leveling equipment.
What amenities are offered at Sugar Hollow Park camping in Bristol?
Sugar Hollow Campground offers an affordable nature-forward camping experience at $20 per night. The campground features well-spaced sites nestled among trees, providing a natural setting without sites being too close together. Amenities include phone service and Wi-Fi access in some spots. The campground can accommodate various RV sizes, with some sites able to fit 25-foot class C motorhomes and a few suitable for larger rigs. Some sites are naturally flat while others require leveling equipment. The campground emphasizes a natural experience with trees and outdoor views while still providing basic conveniences at a reasonable price point.
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