Camping spots near Thaxton, Virginia tend to be situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with elevations ranging from 900-1,200 feet. The region experiences moderate rainfall year-round with summer temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak camping season. Winter camping options remain available at select locations, though nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Disc golf course access: Chantilly Farm RV/Tent Campground offers a 9-hole disc golf course for guests. "They have a brand new 9 hole disc golf course! They also have free wifi along with acres of woods with hiking and mountain biking trails," notes a visitor to Chantilly Farm.
Explore Blue Ridge trails: The region provides easy access to numerous hiking paths. "The campground is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking trails (a plus!) but, definitely opt for a full hook-up site! Plenty of activities to include water sports, trail system as noted, and the area is absolutely stunning," according to one camper at Thousand Trails Lynchburg.
Swimming options: Middle Creek Campground maintains both a traditional pool and a swimming pond with inflatable features. "They had a fishing pond, lake to swim in with fun inflatable slides and trampoline and a pool. We made use of all them during our stay. The lake was super fun and such a cool idea to have the slides and trampolines."
Local events and festivals: "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 a reviewer at Glen Maury Park.
What campers like
Creekside camping: Several campgrounds offer sites adjacent to moving water. "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 hike, blue ridge parkway, etc," notes a visitor at Middle Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Don's Cab-Inns Campground receives consistent praise for its upkeep. "Campground is very new and bath facilities are immaculate. Staff was great, and would probably come again in the fall or early spring," mentions a camper. Another adds, "Both the bathrooms/showers and cabin are push code to get into. This makes it so easy and convenient. You don't need to worry about losing a key."
Family-friendly environments: Many campgrounds cater specifically to families with 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. It stormed our first night, and the raised gravel tent platforms prevented us from flooding," shares a visitor to Lynchburg Blue Ridge Parkway KOA.
Pool facilities: "The pool was great for my son and we had it to ourselves multiple days," notes a camper at Sweetwater RV Park, highlighting the less crowded nature of some facilities even during summer months.
What you should know
Seasonal openings: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. "Only open from May to October each year so be sure to check that out before just showing up!" advises a Thousand Trails visitor. Similarly, Peaks of Otter Campground operates from early May through late October.
Terrain considerations: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain. "The sites and tent pads were pretty small, a 4p tent is about all you can fit; food lockers are shared between several sites; and it's not a good campground for hammocks," reports a camper at Peaks Of Otter Campground.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating challenging roads. "Getting there was quite a journey over narrow curvy roads but once there it was a nice area," shares a Middle Creek camper.
Shower availability: Not all campgrounds offer shower facilities. "There are no showers and that's a big deal if you're staying more than a night or two," notes a visitor to Peaks of Otter Campground.
Wi-Fi considerations: Internet access varies widely. "Cell service is spotty but WiFi is available and adequate enough to stream movies," reports a visitor to Lynchburg Blue Ridge Parkway KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sweetwater RV Park offers dedicated play areas for children. "This campground was exceptionally clean and very quiet/peaceful. We went to the playground to play and pool to swim - had it to ourselves - with our 18 month old. The staff is amazing and clearly love what they do," shares a visitor.
Multiple recreation options: "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," notes a Lynchburg Blue Ridge Parkway KOA camper.
Evening activities: Some campgrounds organize special events after dark. "They had a water fight where the kids went on a wagon ride and squirted the people in campsites with water and the adults at the camp sites used their hoses to fire back. This place is a blast for kids," continues the same KOA visitor.
Wildlife viewing: "Very territorial deer, will stalk you on way to dumpster!" warns a Peaks of Otter camper, noting an aspect of wildlife interaction that may excite or intimidate children.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: RV sites near Thaxton, Virginia vary considerably in size and proximity. "The sites were spacious and well kept. There were sites open on the holiday weekend," notes a visitor to Peaks of Otter Campground.
Pull-through availability: Several campgrounds offer convenient access. "We had the opportunity to stay a couple of nights at this campground on our way to the east coast. We stayed in a full hookup site 8 on top of a hill overlooking other areas of the park. They have sites for everyone and every type of camping!" reports a Chantilly Farm camper.
Water pressure issues: "My water pressure was good but talking to other campers, the farther away you get from the front of the park the worse the water pressure gets. This came from a gentleman who had a site at the very back of the campground," shares a visitor to Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA.
Site preparation: Many RV sites require additional setup. "Stayed here 7 day enjoyed the stay this campground needs some tlc but we had everything for a enjoyable stay," notes a camper at Thousand Trails Lynchburg.
