17 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Washington & Jefferson National Forest dispersed sites provide free camping with pets allowed along creekside locations near Damascus. Most dispersed campsites sit along Bear Creek, surrounded by trees with established fire rings. Backbone Rock Recreation Area features spacious pet-friendly sites set along Beaver Dam Creek with clean flush toilets and swimming opportunities for dogs. Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground offers secluded pet-friendly sites surrounded by rhododendron bushes with a mountain spring creek running through the grounds. Most campsites require leashed pets at all times, though some lack amenities like drinking water, showers, and trash service. Many campers report spending time cleaning up trash left by previous visitors, as proper pet waste disposal facilities are limited.
The Virginia Creeper Trail provides excellent dog-friendly recreation options just minutes from Damascus campgrounds. Laurel Creek RV Park sits directly on the Creeper Trail with creekside sites where pets can cool off in the water. Several campgrounds require additional cleaning time upon arrival as previous campers often leave trash behind. Damascus town center offers pet supplies at local shops along with several pet-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating. Hikers report no cell service at most dispersed camping locations, requiring travel into town for emergency veterinary contact. The Appalachian Trail runs directly through Damascus, providing additional pet-friendly hiking opportunities with properly leashed dogs. Pet owners should bring sufficient water supplies as most dispersed sites lack potable water sources.
"Please respect the distance advice and don't feed them. We witnessed a lady attempting to pet the stallion of the herd, not respecting his signs to make her back off."
"I was car camping with my cat and found a great flat area to park at site #9. Hiking was very close by and the wild ponies were so cool! Camp hosts offered ice and firewood."
from $27 - $98 / night
"Doesn’t get much more relaxing, electric, water hook-ups and a short drive to downtown Damascus VA.. AT, Virginia Creeper, White Top Mountain and Mount Rogers all near by."
"We like to hike and there are TONS of trails in this area. One trail leaves directly from the campground and will bring you to the top of Mt. Rogers, also intersecting with the Appalachian Trail."
from $24 - $36 / 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 this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $55 / night
"**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 this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 / 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."
"30 minute drive to Grayson Highlands"
"They just reworked the rd so it was an easy drive in our class c rv"
"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."
"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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $10 - $20 / night
"The amenities cannot be missed - beach with bath house and snack bar, interpretive center with children’s activities, on-site restaurant with wonderful lake view, $8 kayak rentals, well-kept paddle boats"
"We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground was fantastic. All campsites are on platforms, which makes it very nice to set up your stuff."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 / night
"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."
"Great location also because it is close to restaurants and the center of the small town. It does have water and power and a picnic table. Being right on a little river is great too."
from $55 / night
"Amazing little campground in the heart of Mount Rogers recreational area in Western Virginia. Wonderful fall colors crisp, clean, mountain air was totally the best!"
"This camp ground is located well off any main roads under a nice quiet canopy of Hemlocks and Laurel trees. Easy walking distance to several well maintained and very clean outhouses."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $40 / night
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
ScoutOur group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.
ScoutFrom check in to our stay, large big rig drive through lot. Quiet and clean park. Even had pizza and delicious wings delivered right to our coach. Next time through we hope to stay again.
Camping near Damascus, Virginia centers around several notable Jefferson National Forest recreation areas with elevations ranging from 1,900 to 3,500 feet. The region features numerous creek-side camping options with established sites along forest roads maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Most campgrounds experience temperatures 10-15°F cooler than surrounding lowlands during summer months.
Mountain biking on Whitetop Mountain: Access Creeper Trail Campground for direct trail connections. "The Virginia Creeper trail head is right around the corner from the entrance to the campground," notes Catherine O., who appreciates the campground's location next to this popular cycling route.
Fishing in local streams: Trout fishing opportunities abound in Hurricane Creek near Hurricane Campground. "This is a beautiful campground located alongside a stream with trout fishing," reports Jean C., who visited in 2021 after volunteers had completed restoration work along the riverbank.
Hiking to mountain vistas: Multiple trail networks connect campgrounds to scenic viewpoints. "We especially enjoyed the Lake Trail - easy but quiet and lovely vegetation," writes Sarah G. about trails at Hungry Mother State Park. For more challenging hikes, "the trail to Mt Rogers, the highest point in VA is just another hour away," according to Deb R.
Natural water features: Most campers highlight the creeks and streams at dog friendly campgrounds near Damascus. "The sound of the creek was lovely all night," writes Erik C. about Washington & Jefferson National Forest dispersed sites. At Backbone Rock Recreation Area, Rebekah G. appreciates that "Beaver Dam Creek runs behind the campsite and is absolutely gorgeous with clear water, fish, and beautiful rhododendrons and trees that keep the area shaded."
Privacy between sites: Jefferson National Forest Beartree Campground offers exceptional 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," explains Deb R., a frequent visitor who has camped there for over 25 years.
Digital disconnection: Limited connectivity forces relaxation at most campsites. "You are truly away at Beartree," states Deb R., while Carissa D. notes about Grindstone Recreation Area: "If you want to escape it all, this campground is for you! There is no cell phone service."
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to some campsites requires high-clearance vehicles. Name reports about Whitetop that "the drive in is a bumpy rock terrain so some clearance is a must," though the reward is "rolled mountains" visible at sunrise.
Weather variability: Mountain locations experience rapid weather changes. Whitney B. warns about camping at Whitetop: "If there's any clouds in the sky, you're literally just in a cloud of condensation. Everything is wet. Only camp here if there's clear skies."
Limited facilities: Most dog-friendly dispersed sites lack basic amenities. "There is no drinking water, picnic tables, or even pit toilet, so come prepared," advises Shari G. about Washington & Jefferson National Forest dispersed sites. For more comfort, Hurricane Campground offers "bathroom facilities include vault toilets as well as flush toilets with showers."
Choose established campgrounds for amenities: Little Oak Campground provides clean, accessible facilities for children. "Little oak offered a great place to stay for a week. With south Holston lake at your finger tips it offers a great area to fish, boat, kayak, paddle board and swim," writes Jayme G., noting that "facilities were cleaned everyday so no stinky bathrooms and showers."
Look for natural play areas: Creeks and lakes provide entertainment for kids. Sabrina M. recommends Backbone Rock because it "sits on a small creek that runs behind most of the sites. It's perfect for small children to swim and play in!" She considers it "a hybrid between the remote camping we are use to and the ease of effort we now need because of small children."
Consider smaller campgrounds for quieter experiences: With fewer sites, some areas offer more controlled environments. "With just 11 sites, the campground chaos is kept to a minimal," writes Sabrina M. about Backbone Rock Recreation Area. Robert R. found Grindstone Recreation Area "very well maintained" with good trails nearby, noting the "Whispering Waters Trail which is good for beginners & small kids."
Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer basic or no hookups for RVs. At Laurel Creek RV Park, Geoffrey F. notes it has "good spot right on the Laurel Creek and the Creeper Trail. Walk to town for restaurants and bike/outdoor shops and a convenience store."
Water access methods: RVers should prepare for primitive water systems. Robert J. describes his experience at Beartree Campground: "We used a small ultra quiet generator and filled up our RV water tank from a faucet located at a bathhouse. You will need a hose adapter to hook-up your water hose."
Size constraints at forest campsites: Most national forest campgrounds accommodate smaller rigs only. Robert R. stayed at Grindstone Recreation Area "in site 30D (Double) with 4 tents, 9 people and 3 vehicles. It would be tight with 4 cars." The host advises larger groups to carefully select appropriate sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Damascus, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Damascus, VA is Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park with a 4.8-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Damascus, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 182 dog-friendly camping locations near Damascus, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
