Claytor Lake State Park Campground permits pets at all camping sites, cabins and yurts, offering a variety of accommodation options for visitors with animals. The campground features four camping loops with water and electric hookups, clean bathroom facilities, and spacious sites for tents, RVs, and trailers. Camping areas include fire rings and picnic tables, with most sites providing adequate shade from surrounding trees. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the park, including on hiking trails and in camping areas. The campsites are relatively close together with limited privacy between sites, though loops A and B provide more wooded settings than the more open C and D loops.
The park's trail system welcomes leashed dogs on approximately five miles of hiking paths, many offering scenic lake views. Raccoons and wildlife frequent the campground area, requiring careful pet management during evening hours. Water activities abound at Claytor Lake with a swimming beach, boat rentals, and multiple boat launches where pets can enjoy shoreline access but are not permitted on the designated swimming beach. Fort Chiswell RV Park and Wytheville KOA provide alternative pet-friendly options nearby, both featuring full hookup sites and cabin accommodations that welcome dogs. Seasonal considerations impact the camping experience, with summer months bringing higher occupancy and occasional mosquito issues that can affect pets as well as their owners.
$24 - $413 / night
"Conveniently located bath house. We got sites right next to our friends where we wanted to be. The lake and beach area were beautiful. Sand was soft and very clean."
"Lots of space, cheap price, walking distance from the lake raccoons and skunks everywhere all night."
$50 - $170 / night
"Dog park needs to be updated but the fact they had a dog park was amazing. There was live music, karaoke, candy scavenger hunts for kids, even a bowling ally! I recommend this 100%"
"Game and rec rooms, dog park, store well stocked playgrounds, sand boxes. No messing around. Staff very friendly."
$35 - $38 / night
"While driving out to the monument in his honor I found this site and loved what I saw!"
"There is plenty of room to walk your pet and some of the sites provide shaded areas. You are just about .25 miles from the freeway, but you do not hear it. Staff is very friendly."
"A great out of the way location. A bit of a drive in but worth the travel. Extremely clean and well maintained facility. Peaceful and level spots."
"We camped in this park for one night as we were just passing through Virginia on our way south. Overall, we liked the park and was what perfect for our overnight stay."
"We have 2 dogs and there was plenty of great area to walk them. Â The bathhouse was very clean but there was no A/C and only a few small windows for ventilation."
"There’s a nice dog park, and the facilities are clean."
"They have a pool, a pond, a playground, a dog park, and a great camp store. The bathrooms and laundry room are exceptionally clean. If you order ice or firewood, they bring it to your site."
$21 / night
"Really cool campground located right on the New River, located at Foster Falls. The river sounds amazing at night."
"Ever wake up on a foggy Virginia morning and walk only a few feet fro your tent and watch the fog rise off the water? I DID and it was AMAZING!!"
"I stayed at Lake Ridge RV Resort for quite a while. Great place to spend the evenings after work. Pond and surrounding area are very well maintained."
"Comfortable and cozy, we really enjoyed our morning walks along the trails and lake. Â "
GuideThis place is amazing!! Dog park needs to be updated but the fact they had a dog park was amazing. There was live music, karaoke, candy scavenger hunts for kids, even a bowling ally! I recommend this 100%
TravelerBy far the best KOA I have stayed at. This place is huge and some thing for everyone. Game and rec rooms, dog park, store well stocked playgrounds, sand boxes. No messing around. Staff very friendly.
ScoutWe stayed here for vacation last year. There’s a nice dog park, and the facilities are clean. My only negative was that they had us camp up on the top of the hill and it was difficult to navigate back down, with some very sharp turns for our fifth wheel. They seemed to have some nice amenities, and the staff was very friendly.
TravelerNice, clean campground with friendly staff. Outdoor pool, mini golf, bowling alley and more to keep everyone busy. We stayed on Labor Day weekend so it was crowded and of course it was a bit noisy but would definitely recommend anyone to stay here and we would definitely go back. They also have two dog parks in the campground which is nice for your furry family! 😊
GuideI really like what loves is providing RVs. Groceries, gas, Arby’s, private showers, dog park and full hookups for a reasonable price. I’m a single female in a van, I wasn’t about to test out the private showers, but they have a great app to order food reserve your space and reserve a shower. Noise from road and trucks, but that’s to be expected - it’s a truck stop not a state park. I would stop here again if I needed a place to hook up, dump, and fill my propane.
T-Mobile - 4 bar 5g 300+mbps Starlink - 30-40 mbps ATT 5G 4 bars - 60-70mbps
TravelerI typically steer clear of KOA's because most of the sites are super close together. This KOA is different! There is a row towards the front that are pretty close together, but I think they use those for one-nighters. We were in a tent and loved our spot. The staff was UNBELIEVABLY awesome and nice. They have a pool, a pond, a playground, a dog park, and a great camp store. The bathrooms and laundry room are exceptionally clean. If you order ice or firewood, they bring it to your site. They also have food you can order and they will bring it to your site. I am sure there are many things I am forgetting, but this is a must stay and we will be back.
TravelerGreat spot for tent camping! Loved the hillside spots bc of all the trees and the multiple levels that the spots are on. They are all built out and flat. Bathrooms are clean and campground was quiet. I had issues finding out if pets were allowed... they are! My dog and I had an awesome time and we will be back for sure.
ScoutBeautiful lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains, hiking, fishing and boating, amazing staff, very clean shower houses and laundry facility! Very family oriented and pet friendly!
GuideI stayed at Lake Ridge RV Resort for quite a while. Great place to spend the evenings after work. Pond and surrounding area are very well maintained. Staff are friendly and shower houses were kept clean even in off season. Pet friendly; just got to scoop the poop!
Camping around Draper offers options along the New River Trail and near Claytor Lake at elevations between 1,700-2,500 feet in southwest Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains. The area experiences mild springs and falls with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F. Campgrounds in this region typically provide both primitive sites and full hookup options, with most facilities open from April through October.
Fishing at Gatewood Park: This park surrounds a 162-acre reservoir offering prime fishing opportunities with bass, crappie and catfish. "Wonderful place. Friendly staff. Good fishing. We have been there numerous time and is always a good stay," notes camper Melissa N. from Gatewood Park.
Hiking forest trails: The New River Trail State Park features approximately five miles of hiking paths with water views. "We hiked, played at the lake and attended the roving ranger talks. The bathrooms and shower facilities were clean and convenient to our campsite," shares Angela J. who stayed at Claytor Lake State Park Campground.
Paddling opportunities: Canoe and kayak rentals provide access to local waterways. "We paddled around the lake on Sunday; there are a couple of different boat launches in the park. The cliffs are freaking amazing from the launch closest to the park entrance," describes RL from a fall visit to Claytor Lake.
Privacy between sites: While some campgrounds offer close quarters, others provide more secluded options. "The campsite was large and quiet which was nice. It felt somewhat private because of the trees and design of the site," mentions Angela J. about her experience at Claytor Lake.
Waterfront camping: Many sites offer direct lake or river access. "Campsite #3 was a 2 tier site with water front access. The water front sites are difficult to book, but off water sites are more readily available," explains Stephen from Gatewood Park & Reservoir Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms receive consistent praise across multiple campgrounds. "Very clean campground. Has nice pool with waterside and game room with bowling and food and much more," notes Melissa B. who stayed at Wytheville KOA.
Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds in the area close during winter months. "Claytor Lake was a great campground for families. Our camp hosts were great at keeping us informed and sharing ideas to make the weekend fun," shares Angela J. about her summer visit.
Reservation requirements: Popular sites book quickly, especially during peak season. "The park's trail system welcomes leashed dogs on approximately five miles of hiking paths," explains one visitor to the dog friendly campgrounds near Draper.
Cell service limitations: Some more remote locations have connectivity challenges. "This is a small place and was mostly full in early April. There's no cell service but they upgraded the WiFi and it's very good," explains Nora M. about Pioneer Village.
Traffic noise concerns: Campgrounds near highways may experience road noise. "One night stay, friendly staff, escorted to level site, beautiful creek, lovely," reports Russ N. about Pioneer Village, while noting its proximity to I-81.
Water activities: Multiple options exist for swimming and water recreation. "I love this park! Plenty of tent and RV sites. Lake beach passes included in price (when not under Covid restrictions). Boat rentals. Plenty clean bathrooms and hot showers," shares Michelle W. about her Claytor Lake experience.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "A great out of the way location. A bit of a drive in but worth the travel. Extremely clean and well maintained facility," notes Dane R. who visited Fort Chiswell RV Park.
Wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to observe local fauna. "This campground is good for a one night stopover and we would return to it for that purpose. Clean, convenient sites off highway 81," comments Kathy L. about a stopover near Draper.
Site levelness: Some campgrounds require leveling equipment. "We only stayed for one night and this location is very convenient for this area when traveling Interstate 81. Easy access to pull through sites, needed one inch block on one side to level off," explains John L. from his stay at Pioneer Village.
Access considerations: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Draper have challenging terrain. "Nice place, hard to navigate. We stayed here for vacation last year. There's a nice dog park, and the facilities are clean. My only negative was that they had us camp up on the top of the hill and it was difficult to navigate back down, with some very sharp turns for our fifth wheel," shares Megan B. about her experience at Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA.
Hookup placement: Water and electric connections may require extra equipment. "We had site B9 which was near a group site - so be mindful of this! During our trip it was full of loud and unsupervised kids," advises RL about site selection at Claytor Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Draper, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Draper, VA is Claytor Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Draper, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 116 dog-friendly camping locations near Draper, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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