Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, camping near Natural Bridge, Virginia connects visitors with diverse natural landscapes at elevations ranging from 700 to 3,500 feet. The region experiences moderate seasonal changes with summer temperatures typically ranging from 65-85°F. Fall camping season brings vibrant foliage colors throughout October, though nighttime temperatures can drop into the 40s even during late September.
What to do
Hiking at Crabtree Falls: Access the trailhead just one mile from Crabtree Falls Campground, where you can tackle the 3.4-mile trail featuring Virginia's tallest waterfall at 1,200 feet. "The falls are a great hike and there are lots of services nearby. A great Parkway stop," notes Anna R.
Fishing opportunities: Fish for trout in the streams around North Creek, where sites provide direct water access. "Been going to this campground for over 40 years. Love that it is right beside a clean water supply with lots of trout," shares Brian V. at North Creek Campground.
Safari park access: Visit the drive-through safari park located adjacent to Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA for wildlife viewing. "It is right off the highway as well as a safari park. The campground itself has a pool, open seasonally, a game room, and a playground," explains Bridget H.
What campers like
Creek-side camping: Many sites at Middle Creek offer direct water access for wading and relaxation. "Our campsite was nice, fairly private and backed up to a creek. Relatively level site. Location of campground was excellent with convenient access to breweries, great hikes, blue ridge parkway, etc," notes Katie at Middle Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Walnut Hills Campground maintains high cleanliness standards. "One of the cleanest parks I've been to. The bath houses were pristine," reports Kate A. at Walnut Hills Campground & RV Park.
Event programming: Glen Maury Park hosts various musical and cultural events throughout the season. "There are many activities such as a bluegrass festival, fiddle festival, and jazz festival. This year they built large models of the twin towers and had a program about them on September 11th," shares Priscilla S.
What you should know
Cell coverage variability: Service varies significantly by location and carrier. "No cell service (Verizon) but good WIFI," reports Michael L. about Lynchburg Blue Ridge Parkway KOA, while Roger W. noted "No [Verizon] cell service" at North Creek Campground.
Seasonal operating schedules: Many campgrounds have limited seasons. "Open year round and is right off the highway," notes Bridget H. about Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA, while Thousand Trails Lynchburg operates from "April 28 to October 29."
Reservation timing: During peak foliage season (mid-October), Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA fills quickly. "If you want a primitive site book well in advance. These are apparently quite a difficult ticket to score at this camp," advises Crystal C.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas for children. "The tent sites were large and shaded. We were right by the fishing pond and it was a short walk to the playground, pool, jump pad, and very clean, private bathrooms," reports Shannon L. at Lynchburg Blue Ridge Parkway KOA.
Kid-friendly amenities: Many rv parks near Natural Bridge, Virginia feature dedicated play areas. "The pool was great for my son and we had it to ourselves multiple days," shares Joel B. at Sweetwater RV Park.
Family programming: Schedule your stay during planned activities. "They had activities every day for the kids. As well as lots of unstructured activities. For example, they had a foosball table and a jumping pad. But they also had a 'color a sack' thing where the kids got a KOA canvas tote and access to fabric markers," explains Michael L.
Tips from RVers
Site selection guidance: At Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA, careful site selection matters. "I was impressed with this campground from the minute I entered it. We were greeted at the entrance and then sent to an escort who smartly showed us to our site by taking the same path that the RV should take," shares Kevin M.
Site spacing considerations: Some rv parks near Natural Bridge offer more separation between sites than others. "Great campground. Very quiet, clean and right off of 81. Great place to stop on a southern trip," reports Patrice M. about Natural Bridge KOA.
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have more difficult access roads. "Access was easy. The campground was busy and everything was clean and neat. The sites were a little tight," reports Ralph P., while other campgrounds require navigating narrower mountain roads.
