Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Dryden. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. It's easy to find Dryden campgrounds for horse camping with The Dyrt. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect equestrian sites that are scenic and easy to access.
$26 - $42 / night
Strategic Location for peaceful camping with lots of nearby options. Camping is very primitive and rustic as new amenities come online in planned future. The best time of booking is the weekend at present.
We have:
Wooded/Grassy hills with plenty of tree cover and open space to spread out . A uniquely positioned community fire pit is available with an impressive view. It is very rustic and primitive, but well kept, quiet, secluded, with developing surroundings.
There is direct access to Jefferson National Forest and miles of hiking, biking and horseback trails. Equestrians encouraged, but is Bring your own horse and Tie Line.
Nearby sites include Bark Camp Lake, Guest River Gorge, Bear Rock, Little Stony Falls, Chief Benge Trail, Devils Bath Tub, and High Knob. We are also located along several driving and scenic routes to include: Backroads of the Cumberland's, Appalachian Backroads, Virginia Wildlife and Birding Trail, and Thomas Jefferson Scenic Byway (Rt. 72). In addition, within a short drive there is an ATV trailhead in the local town. The Clinch River is not far at all as well.
There is a small quaint downtown less than 5 miles with grocery, gas, supplies, and a few places to eat.
Mission:
The original idea for CR Adventure Outpost came many years ago. We grew up visiting "Grandma & Grandpa" in Wise County and developed a deep love for the area, the outdoors, and all it had to offer. There came a point, , when we realized that the amount of outdoor activities and authentic cultural experiences could indeed support visitors. It could also support many business opportunities once everyone became aware of what was all around them. At that point, a process began of research and planning on ideas some thought were pointless. People deeply want to get back to nature and withdrawal from a fast paced materialistic society, at least long enough to realize what is really important in life. There is a huge need and vast opportunity to take advantage of the many beautiful landscapes in Southwest Virginia.
$20 - $35 / night
$20 - $30 / night
$25 - $50 / night
The Cedar Ridge Hammock Campground is a unique camping area for primitive and group-style camping.
The details: The Wild Cherry, Sweet Gum, Locust, and the Pine Wheel sites accommodate six hammocks and the Pine Wheel Site can hold up to 24 hammocks. Amenities for each site include access to water, a stone picnic table, fire ring, lantern hook, and grill. A bathhouse is located a short distance away via a gravel path along with proximity to a dumpster. Finally, the hammock campground has a close and convenient parking area for vehicles, small buses, and enclosed trailers common with groups.
Groups may also reserve this area, but you must reserve all four sites at the same time. All group reservations must be made in advance and by calling the park office directly.
What makes this camping area so cool? This is the first campground in the Tennessee State Park system that was designed and built with all recycled or reutilized materials as well as lumber from felled trees inside the park. The campground was designed to be waste-free and self-sustaining with amenities such as composting areas for campfire and grill waste. The four sites are built from cedar posts salvaged from a winter storm. The sites are named for the trees located inside. A solar charging station (suitable for charging handheld devices) is in the works in the immediate future.
You could not ask for a more perfect combination of location and beauty. Just a mile from the interstate you will find a peaceful well-kept campground nestled in a beautiful country setting. Close to the famous Bristol Motor Speedway as well as many nearby area attractions.
$55 - $76 / night
$15 - $45 / night
Our farm is beautifully located adjacent to the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. The White Rocks trailhead is within walking distance and is a very popular for both horseback riding and hiking. The campsite has a great view of the White Rocks and is located just a few minutes from Hwy 58 making it a convenient stop if traveling through. The campsite is equine friendly, bring your horse trailer and stay the night after a long ride.
$15 - $25 / night
Are you looking for a primitive tent camping experience? Come stay at this small campground located along the banks of Jennings Creek. Large walk-in tent sites are screened by native vegetation. In the early 1900’s, this area was the site of an iron forge. Iron ore was smelted and made into materials for the railroad operation that harvested timber in the area.
Guide
We arrive very late, after all day travels from Florida. My phone had three bars, Verizon 5G ultra wide signal.
Scout
There are 2 main campgrounds here for rvs and tents. Is it a nice safe place for families. Pets welcome. 30 and up a night with a good security faculty.
Guide
Stayed 4 nights in section D. Our site was ok. There were a lot better sites to stay though. Staff was helpful and friendly. We had full hookups. Lots of shade.
Scout
Nice clean campground with affordable pricing, I highly recommend this camp
TravelerGreat place to camp along side the creek or rv lots with mountain views. Walking distance to Clinch River. Kayak, Hiking, Biking, spacious lots
Traveler
Had a great camping weekend with a buddy at Cliffhanger Ranch. The cabin we stayed in is very cozy and good size for two people. We were able to have a few nice fires at the top of the hill with great views. What makes this place great is that the entrance is directly across from the Jefferson National Forrest. There we were able to kayak at Bark Camp Lake which was not busy at all and hike at Little Stoney Falls. Plenty to do and see in this area. Would highly recommend!
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Staying at The Cliffhanger Ranch places you in a quiet area surrounded by forests and a small downtown nearby, perfect for adventuring around a new area. Check them out and share of your favorite parts of the trip on the Dyrt!
Legend
Wilderness Road Cumberland Gap :
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
70 yr olds in 17’ trailer:
Overall Rating: 4
Price: $24 w electricity $18 w/o. 1/2 for seniors
Usage during visit: low
Site Privacy: 2 to 4 depending on location. In some areas, sites are close in 3 directions. Looks to be better privacy in non electric sites. Study campground map for outside sites.
Site Spacing: Some are pretty close. Just look at the campground map and choose one accordingly. Our site was very nice.
Site surface: Gravel for non-electric sites. Ours was tough to level and as per rec.gov website for our site. . Electric sites have black top.
Reservations: Yes
Campground Noise 5. Quiet
Road Noise: 4, depending on location. Highway noise
Electricity. 2 loops have electricity.
Water: at dump station and restrooms
Sewer: No
Dump: Yes
Bathroom: 5 Clean
Showers: 5. Private rooms
Pull Throughs most are backing
Cell Service (Verizon): 5. Great
Setting: Deciduous forest
Weather: 60s to upper 30s
Bugs: None
Solar: Great. May change as the trees leaf out more.
Host: They are active.
Location: Near Town of Gap - quaint, make sure to visit. 1919 is the place for lunch or dinner we hear from locals. 10 minutes to good grocery stores in Middlesboro.
Loops: Portions of some sites sort of back up to each other. The sites I took pictures of are some of the better sites for privacy
GuideThe campground was nice, the staff friendly. Apparently there is a lot of bear activity, although we did not encounter one. The sunsets are to die for!
Legend
Panther Creek SP
Panther Creek State Park was an unexpected find outside of Knoxville, TN , in Morristown. I’ve driven by the sign but no need to camp so close to home. I ended up sharing a site with a friend who lives even closer, lol This is a small State Park but it offers a lot to do recreation wise. The weekend we stayed there was a youth mountain bike event and cross country running going on. There’s also horseback trails. My only complaint about the trails is they are not marked well. A Boy Scout troop needs to do some merit badge work and improve them . The campground is small, a little tight in the sides and limited on full service sites. It’s a gradual uphill drive through the camp , you curve to the left and then back down the hill. The sites in the upper curve are bigger then the ones on the hill. There are several that offer tent pads and small vehicle pads. Check your lengths and bring your leveling boards. The two showerhouses are next to pavilions. All well maintained. The upper pavilion has a very cool fire pit area. And can accommodate a small gathering. There is a trailhead in the campground and several other trailheads in easy walking, pedaling distance , plus an awesome overlook and more strenuous hike up the road. The boat ramp is in an adjacent area and the lake is beautiful.
ScoutPaved level campsites of varying lengths, so check before reserving. There are about 12 premium sites the have sewer for RV’s. Bathrooms are very clean, loads of hot water and private. There are two bathhouses each with 6 private bathrooms containing sink, shower and toilet. A separate laundry room is available, as is recycling for plastic & aluminum. The park is quiet and well patrolled by rangers and sheriff, so very safe. Store closest to campground is open 2-7:30 PM. Visitor Center at the entrance opens at 7 AM. Tent pads appeared to be 8x8’ max, so if you have a family size tent you’ll need to find flat grass to pitch on YOUR site. During my stay, 9/15-18/2022, crows gave early wake up call but muck better than waking to traffic noise. Watch for stink bugs, there were plenty during my visit and found one in my pop up when I opened up upon returning. Everything you could possibly need in Morristown and the Houston River was a nice paddle.
GuideGreat place to camp. Lots of trails for hiking and mountain biking! Easy access to the lake and a great Disc Golf course. Can’t wait to go again.
GuideThe hammock campground is super nice with its setup. However, the shrubbery/trees aren’t trimmed well so you’re going to fight through branches in some cases to hang your stuff. That’s fine. It’s the fact it is setup directly next to the overflow parking and pool along with the main thoroughfare into the park that’s a bummer. It is so LOUD. There’s also a freight rain that goes by every couple hours. It’s a cool experience but much like most state parks, it’s not necessarily peace and quiet.
LegendWe camped here for 3 nights with our dogs. Our site was in the B loop and had no water or electricity. It was surrounded by a lot of trees, so it had shade. It was a short walk to the bathhouse which was very clean with nice showers.
The campground has 4 different loops. I personally liked the B loop the best because everything was very close to it like hiking trails, laundry facility, basketball court, and a little camp store which has ice and firewood available.
The state park also has a lodge, cabins, and a beautiful lake. There is a restaurant in the park. We tried it for lunch and it was good. The landscape in the park was just beautiful. The overlooks, especially the tower overlook, are gorgeous. There are several hiking trails. Be aware that the loop is extremely strenuous and takes 4 to 5 ours. I really liked that the trails are not heavily trafficked.
We would definitely camp here again. All the park staff, hosts and volunteers were super nice and very helpful.
TravelerWe camped in site B-11.
Sites, even in the RV loops, are well spread out with mature trees separating them. Sites can be hilly, even the RV paved pads, so be cautious on site selection. That said, the roads and pads were recently re-paved and have nice curb stops at the ends to assist in backing in.
The bath houses are generally clean and updated, with separate shower facilities that are independent from the bathrooms. It’s not especially cold right now but it did seem that they’re at least heated.
We tent camp in an RV site since we have an EV, allowing us to charge. The power post on our site was typical with 120V 20A (5-20) and 30A (TT-30) connections as well as a 240V 50A (14-50). Power supplied was at 248V while pulling 32A.
Our site accommodated our larger 9-person tent (16’x9’) well, with only a slight slope on the back end of the site. This left plenty of space for the supplied table, fire ring, and parking in the paved pad. We are across the street from the bath house.
Note: Site B-10 across the street has a significant slope for the RV pad and the grassy area that could accommodate a tent is also significantly sloped.
None of the sites I’ve seen have water at the site- there is a spigot at the bath house.
The dumpster area is at the end of the B-loop road, and also has bottle and can recycling available.
We could occasionally hear traffic (mostly engine brakes when it happened), but I think that is more an issue in the further back loops. A-loop is furthest from the highway. As a tent camper, the HVAC units of neighboring RV’s were louder than the traffic (not an issue - we know what we’re signing up for in these sites. Just giving a comparison.)
GuideGood tent camping sites. Lots of trees; level sites; fire pit; picnic table. Very clean & well supplied restrooms. Great individual private room showers with plenty of good hot water.
RangerWe enjoyed our stay here so much! There are beautiful trails, frisbee golf, a big park and pretty streams. Was great for a camping weekend. The shower stalls/bathrooms were great; much better than most are and we also used the laundry room which was clean too!
Legend
Way up the road! It's a nice place once you get here on the narrow country road. Nice clean bathhouse. Cabins, RV spots mostly level, paddocks for horses. Lots of exploration in the woods potential.
TravelerShort stay, nice site, no hassles. Was able to find a nice site near a comfort station but not near other people. Self registration, lit a fire, set up quickly. Right near a lot of trails. Will definitely return.
TravelerLoops B&C have electric hooks, no water hooks at any site. Bath houses were super clean. Not a destination spot unless you have a child attending LMU 😁. Jake brakes on the semi’s a bit loud at times, but everything shuts down after 9pm so wasn’t an issue at night. We’ll be back, at least for another 3.5 years.
TravelerThe camp on the west side is Dangerous to drive up in a motorhome. I personally drove my 36' up the most curvy incline I wouldn't recommend anyone to give this a second thought if. your not a seasoned driver 🤔
LegendBeen caravaning with "Sister" campers this week, and Breaks was our final stop over. This is just an amazing park, full of history, great trails, friendly staff (with the exception of the manager at the Lodge!!) The climb up the mountain to get here is worth it. We were in campground A, the bath house was very nice h well cleaned. The sites are well marked with wide spaces. For pulling through or backing in. Trails are well marked at trail head & with colored blazes. Info boards are at most over looks so you know what you are looking at. Wildlife is not fearful of us, or the dogs.... lol!! We will definitely come back
LegendThis park is less than 10 minutes from I-81, so very convenient for a one night stop over like we did on this trip. The camping loop is on a hill, so the sites are not 100% level (makes sure you have leveling gear). Also, we found the sites to be very short (and this is coming from someone in a teardrop trailer). Pay attention to the site lengths when making your reservations. The bathhouse was very nice; individual suites with a bench, sink, toilet, and shower. We'll definitely keep this on our list for I-81 stopovers and hope to have a point where we can explore it some more.
RangerLocated a few miles away from the Cumberland Gap visitor's center, the camping area abuts the highway (where you can still hear traffic) and after a short drive into the park, you'll come across a plethora of camping sites.
There are RV sites with power and water and for tent campers, you can choose between large spaces with open fields and hilly, shaded spots for a more secluded feel. There are also food lockers on-site to discourage wildlife, and flip-up fire rings that, for once, weren't clogged with ashes and old wood.
Speaking of fires, you can buy firewood on-site from the camp store (no cards taken).
There are care stations with toilets and showers in three locations, spaced evenly throughout the 6 rings that make up the park.
Cell service is decent, with 2-3 bars of LTE.
ScoutThis is a small quite camp ground with horse stables. Husband and wife working there were very nice. Campground consist of a fire ring in the middle with benches and tables surrounded by back-in camp sites. There was a nice clean bathhouse with showers. Free firewood. No pool or playground, but still a nice peaceful campground.
TravelerBathrooms were clean, people were friendly and quiet. Reasonably sized sites that were first come, first serve, but we had no problem finding a site on a Friday afternoon. Lots of ranger patrols.
TravelerPanther Creek was an incredible experience. We loved the campground and it's accessibility to trails. No matter where you camp, your just a short walk from a trailhead that connects to multiple trails. Not to mention the wildlife was great! A raccoon watched us make s'mores from about 20 feet away and it seems like every hour we would see deer. Two deer had lunch on some vegetation while we were having lunch about 30 feet away. We also saw a wild turkey. The rangers are super nice and helpful. Great place to camp, padeboard, hike, and play disc golf!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Dryden, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Dryden, VA is Panther Creek State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Dryden, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Dryden, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
