Best Campgrounds near Rocky Mount, VA
Several campgrounds dot the landscape around Rocky Mount, Virginia, with options clustered near Smith Mountain Lake and Philpott Lake. The area features established campgrounds like Smith Mountain Campground, Salthouse Branch, and Horseshoe Point offering varied accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and access to bathhouses. Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground and Fairy Stone State Park Campground both offer year-round camping with facilities for tents, RVs, cabins, and even yurts or glamping options.
Roads accessing camping areas vary in quality, with some requiring careful navigation on narrow mountain roads. "The roads going into the campground is very narrow and steep up and downs. My breaks were gone by the time I got to the entrance," noted one camper about Salthouse Branch. Many campgrounds in the area have seasonal restrictions, with some like Salthouse Branch operating from March through October. Water levels at the lakes can fluctuate seasonally, affecting swimming and boat access. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Cell service is limited in more remote locations, and campers should be prepared for mountain driving conditions when accessing sites.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the area, particularly at Philpott Lake's campgrounds. "We always enjoy staying at Corp campgrounds when we travel. The sites are consistently level, spacious, with reliable facilities," shared one camper about Salthouse Branch. Several campgrounds enforce alcohol prohibition rules that surprise some visitors, with rangers occasionally checking sites for compliance. Families appreciate the playgrounds and swimming areas at locations like Salthouse Branch, while anglers enjoy the fishing opportunities in both lakes. Tent campers find particularly appealing sites at Salthouse Branch, where terraced hillside camping offers privacy among the trees. Most campgrounds maintain clean facilities with regular bathroom maintenance, though bathhouse proximity varies significantly between sites, especially in the more hilly camping areas.
