The best camping near Claytor Lake State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Claytor Lake State Park adventure.

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Explore the miles of hiking trails along this serene lake.

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Public campgrounds in the park

Stay at a public campground in Claytor Lake State Park

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Claytor Lake State Campground

16 sites · RVs, Tents In Claytor Lake State Park

Explore camping beyond Claytor Lake State ParkDiscover 200+ magical spots to camp in State Parks

Top-rated campgrounds near Claytor Lake State Park

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Savage Acres on Craig Creek

7 sites · RVs, Tents120 acres · Catawba, VA

In a remote valley just north of Roanoke VA, along the banks of Craig's Creek, the property includes mature hardwood forest, pasture, and an 1830s log cabin where we live. We love to share this special place with visitors, and have some basic amenities for campers. The campsites are at the edge of a large pasture and just a few steps from the creek and our big swimmin' hole. Totally secluded in a remote valley - barely a house in sight (but our cabin is a short walk through the woods if you need something), no cell service for most providers, but within a short drive of Roanoke and Blacksburg, and countless outdoor recreation opportunities.

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Beaverdam Falls

4 sites · Lodging65 acres · Covington, VA

Nestled on a private 65-acre farm in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia, Beaverdam Falls is located on VA SR-311 (Kanawha Trail) in the Sweet Springs Valley. Nestled in the old community of Earlehurst, between Covington & Roanoke, Beaverdam Falls are an historic series of waterfalls on private property. The Falls are at the headwaters of Dunlap Creek and are the terminus for the Sweet Springs. Available for guest stays & recreation, are the Upper Falls portion. Surrounded by the verdant George Washington National Forest, the Upper Falls, displays a constant waterfall of around 40-feet in height, & decorates the final mile stretch of the Sweet Springs, both on our property. Additional beautiful cascades pepper our tract of Beaverdam Falls as well. This private tract of unparalleled Virginia countryside will simply astonish your expectations. As the source of the Falls, Sweet Springs Creek, serves as a long, unique home for trout, calcified travertine rock, chalybeate water, and ancient beaver dams (as well as active ones!). Beaverdam Falls is a rare place for the lack of stone and the centuries of beavers who have left their trace in & on our creek—and swamp, the Stick Marsh, which has an active beaver dam. Be careful! They do bite!

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100 Acre Wood

3 sites · RVs, Tents101 acres · Draper, VA

100 Acres of forested land in the Draper, Virginia area with scattered clearings that are connected by various roads/trails throughout. Over the years cutting roads has been a hobby that has resulted in miles of cleared pathways throughout the property that are perfect for hiking, running, cycling, and horseback riding. The property includes a small stream, several ravines, ridge lines and trails to explore. We frequently encounter deer, rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional turkey, black bear, coyotes and Bigfoot. The thing people seem to enjoy most is the privacy and and quiet that allows you to connect with nature with no one else around. Things to watch out for other than the wildlife mentioned above the two main concerns in this part of Virginia are deer ticks and poison ivy. We are located about 5 minutes from I-81 or 15 minutes from I-77 making it an easy place to stop when passing through on your way to other adventures. If you are coming on I-81, use exit 89-A. Don't let Google maps take you to Frog Level Ct near the town of Pulaski (LOL). Nearby attractions include Appalachian Gem and Gold Mine on Route 100 (5 min), New River Trail State Park (10 min), Claytor Lake State Park (20 min) and the Town of Draper has a couple small town shops to explore including The Draper Mercantile and Trading Company and the newly opened Conery where you can get wonderful ice cream cones and more. We love hosting campers and are happy to help make accommodations to help you have an enjoyable stay. We have 3 sites but only allow 2 to be in use at a time on the property. This insures that all guests continue to feel complete privacy from others and allows us to always have an alternate site available if campers want to change. Available "Extras" include portable toilet setup, Woodshop class making a cutting board, big foot siting's as well as various camping gear items and games. If there are other extra's you would like to see or something you forgot to bring please let us know and we will see what we can do.

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Rivers Edge Trail Camp

7 sites · RVs5 acres · Allisonia, VA

LIKE us on FACEBOOK at https://www.facebook.com/riversedgetrailcamp Standing on the New River Trail looking up where the campsites are located will give you the feeling that you truly are sleeping on the edge at Rivers Edge campground. Unique limestone formations can be found on the property. Large birds and even an eagle or two seem to prefer this area for hunting. Watch from a distance as farmers cut hay throughout the summer. This private cliff top setting has 6 newly created camp sites on 5 Acres. Enjoy less crowds and more nature! The long range views or the river and farmlands will take your breath away. At the bottom of the drive you have access to the New River and the New River Trail so bring your bike for more fun. Bike the trail, bird watch, or star gaze; the choices are endless. Don't be surprised to see bear, turkey, eagles, deer, or a coyote. PLEASE give us a rating on YELP also if you enjoyed your stay! The direct link to our place on Yelp is https://www.yelp.com/biz/rivers-edge-trail-camp-barren-springs?osq=Camping Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK at https://www.facebook.com/riversedgetrailcamp This is a great spot for people looking for peace and quiet. 26 Minutes upriver of Claytor Lake State Park. There is a zoo in nearby Ft. Chiswell. Each site has full hook ups. No tent sites at the present time. Area grocery stores are located about 30 minutes away in Wytheville, Pulaski and Hillsville. A portion of the profits will be donated to a non-profit! Bookmark the direct link to our site here on HipCamp: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/discover/virginia/rivers-edge-trail-camp

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Crooked Mountain

13 sites · Tents47 acres · Floyd, VA

We are a family/veteran-owned small farm offering primitive creek-side and open field camping that's perfect for motorcyclists, car campers, van campers, and tourists traveling on an adventure. We are located along the historic Crooked Road Music Trail and right off the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 159.3. The picturesque town of Floyd is only 4 miles away, with easy access to music, shopping, multiple grocery stores, local and international themed restaurants - all with a true feeling of Appalachian hospitality. There are 6 creek-side campsites and open-field campsites in the peaceful field with a view of the pond, all with access to our hiking trail. We have been developing our dream property and wanted to welcome visitors with affordable tent camping in an incredibly beautiful area of the country. Also, on the property we have a store stocked with essential camping needs, local products, artisan items, coffee, souvenirs and more. During the summer we offer a "YouPick" flower experience in our crop field (come purchase a container and pick your own bouquet of flowers). Peak season for flowers is during August to September. Check out our web page for special events at www.crookedmtn.com. We would love for you to camp with us and give us feedback as we are constantly improving things. Come ride, camp, and explore the area!

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Jessup Mill

7 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Westfield, NC

Hi there. Here is a little rundown of everything we do at the mill…. So, as far as camping, there are two main options on either side of the river; the mill yard or primitive camping across the river. In the mill yard, we do festival style camping, meaning that there are no individual campsites per se, but rather a large grassy lawn near the mill and bathhouse with shared fire pits, picnic tables, charcoal grill, and sinks for water/dishes. We also have two platforms up in the woods that are good for a little more privacy and are completely shaded, but do require a small climb up the hill. The bathhouse has three restrooms and hot showers in each. Across the river, there are several more primitive sites that are generally very private and offer great sounds coming from the river and waterfall, but no facilities. Most sites are car accessible, and a 5 minute walk back over to the mill (or a 1 minute drive). Lastly, our newest camping spot on the primitive side is a river front beach right by the dam with space for a several medium sized tents and a private fire pit. The beach is hike-in only (2-3 minutes along a mostly flat trail). Our normal rate is $10 per person per night. Firewood is available for $10 per wheelbarrow load. We accept cash, credit card, Venmo, Paypal, and crypto. We are also fairly flexible on check in/check out times, but just let us know if you’ll be arriving at odd hours. Dogs are generally welcome as long as they are kept on leash. Here is a little rundown of tubing at the mill (May-October, weather permitting). We have two tubing options available. We have a short Fun Run that takes roughly 45 minutes, and cost $10 per person for as many rides as you’d like. The river bends sharply like a horseshoe in this section, so it makes everything accessible by foot traffic. It’s a 3 minute walk up the trail to the dam, put in and float 30-45 minutes (depending on water level), then a 5-10 minute walk back to the mill carrying your tube. There is also the longer Forks Run, which last 3-4 hours (~2.5 river miles), and costs $15. For this, we shuttle you up the river in a vehicle, and you float back to the top of the dam, then 3 minutes walking back to the mill. Most weekends, tubing starts at 11 am and the last Forks Shuttle is around 3 pm, with the Fun Run staying open till around 5. Also, with enough heads up, we can sometimes arrange for trips during the week. Our tubes are required for each person floating for insurance and liability reasons, but you are welcome to bring your own cooler tubes to carry drinks and snacks. Technically, alcohol is not permitted on the river, but what is in your cooler is your business. Either way, please bring ALL trash out with you! Water shoes are recommended, and we have life jackets on request. Most of our tubes come with bottoms and back rests, but a few are open to the water. Most weekends, reservations are not required, but it does help tremendously if we know when you want to come and how many in your group. Lastly, check out a Facebook page for our occasional live music events and festivals!

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Why be Square?! Blue Ridge Yurt

2 sites · Lodging2 acres · Pilot, VA

Blue Ridge Yurts is a woman-owned company in Floyd, Virginia, started by my mother, Sharon. We were staying at Treebones, a yurt 'glampground' in Big Sur, California, and fell in love with yurts together. My mom said, "I think I could build one of these," and the company was born! She does all the woodworking, using sustainable practices, with locally-sourced wood, and her best friend Kathy does the fabric end of things. I was one of her early guinea pigs, and love my yurt property dearly <3 This 24' yurt sits on a beautiful private acreage off an end-state maintenance road, with biking and hiking trails just a 20 minute drive from the touristy town of Floyd, Virginia. There's a steam shower sauna, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a deck overlooking the mountains with a table and seating. Enjoy!

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Starry Nights New River Gorge

6 sites · RVs, Tents88 acres · Hinton, WV

Welcome to Starry Night New River Gorge of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Starry Nights NRG is 88 acres of mountain top land in the heart of Southeast WV with easy access to a lake, rivers, State Parks, and National Parks. Enjoy long range views to the East and West of the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains. See the sun rise and fall beyond the distant blue ridge lines as you await vast night skies free of light pollution. Watch the smoke rise from the forests creating clouds after a foggy morning or rain. Discover cliffs, caves, springs and more as you adventure the land. Hike the terrain with the East and West side of the property providing different experiences. All wildlife is in abundance and bird watchers rejoice, the forests and fields are alive. Enjoy the peace, still and quiet that comes with seclusion deep in the mountains. There are currently three camping sites available. Each one comes with a picnic table, fire ring, trash can and an outhouse. Cell phone and satellite service is excellent on the property. Benefits of being at the top. ••• Times include 15 minute descent from property to bottom of mountain ••• • 20 minutes to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve • 30 minutes to NRGNP: Sandstone Falls • 35 minutes to NRGNP Sandstone Visitor Center • 15 minutes to historic downtown Hinton, stores, groceries and gas • 15 minutes to 2000 acre Bluestone Lake State Park and Wildlife Management Area, Bertha location. 20 minutes to Bluestone Lake Marina. 25 minutes to Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management, Indian Mills • 15 minutes to Greenbrier River • 15 minutes to New River • 20 minutes to Bluestone River • 35 minutes to Pipestem Resort State Park • 70 minutes to New River Gorge Bridge

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Wilderness Adventure

92 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents500 acres · New Castle, VA

Our campsites offer beautiful scenery, exciting activities and HOT showers! There are local on-property trails to explore and all the campsite and lodging amenities that make for the perfect family getaway! All of our listings lie on 500 gorgeous acres run by Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing. Bordered by 500 yards of Craigs Creek along the front of our property and mountains in the rear, Wilderness Adventure offers our guests extensive trails to hike and bike, ponds for fishing and swimming, canoeing and tubing. We offer Giant Swing, Team Building, Low Ropes, High Ropes, Caving, Rock Climbing, Mountain Bike lessons and guided trips! Wilderness Adventure is more than just a campground or lodge. Along with our wide range of camping and lodging options, we also offer free and paid adventure activities like tubing, canoeing, hiking, biking, disc golf, and more! Activities for Guests: Hiking, mountain biking, and trail running on our onsite trails, disc golf, canoeing, tubing, swimming or fishing in our pond, creek sitting, fire pits, sand volleyball, horseshoes, corn hole, and endless open space to wander and relax. Basecamp Adventure Activities: Tubing/Shuttle: $20/trip/person Canoe Rentals/Shuttle: $40/trip/boat Sit on top Kayak Rentals/Shuttle: $30/trip/boat Mountain Bike Rental: $25/half day, $50/full day Area Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bikepacking, 4-wheeling Virginia's Triple Crown - Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs Roaring Run and Hoop Hole North Mountain/Dragons Back Carvin's Cove Mill Mountain Douthat State Park Craig’s Creek Food, Summer Events and Festivals: Throughout the summer we have delicious made-to-order meals from our Outpost from Friday dinner to Sunday breakfast. Our outpost is open select weekends, check our socials to see! Our camp store is open during select hours. You can purchase firewood, ice, sunscreen, beverages, merchandise, and other items you may enjoy during your stay. Other Cool Stuff Nearby: The Swinging Bridge Restaurant - Paint Bank VA Lemon & Vale Cakery, New Castle, VA Bibos Pizzeria - New Castle, VA The Mill Mountain Star - Roanoke VA Parkway Brewing Company - Salem, VA And so much more!

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Campjames

1 site · Tent57 acres · Fries, VA

I started purchasing land in 1984 to create a forest animal wildlife preserve. After retiring from my construction business in New York I have returned to the New River to continue the project. I have a biology degree and raise various types of animals on the land Learn more about this land: Campsite with fire pit with river view near the double shoals . Wood available. Private, beautiful trail to river with immediate access to 60-mile long New River Trail in less than 5 minutes.

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Hippie Hollow

11 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Floyd, VA

Adjacent to Dodd Creek for fishing and swimming 2 miles from downtown Floyd. Unlimited free fire wood. Bring your dogs, blast your music, and enjoy the pleasant mountain weather. Electricity and fresh mountain spring water hookups available New restroom is in operation

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Camp The New River, Blacksburg, VA

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · Blacksburg, VA

One very large, private site, plenty of room for a large group. All yours, no sharing. Pet friendly! Private porta john, cleaned weekly. No electric or hook ups, Generators welcomed. Amazing tent/ small camper site. Level ground, private boat dock and boat landing! Swimming, fishing, kayaking, floating, canoeing, paddle boarding. Enjoy the beautiful sunrises, sunsets and wildlife. Firewood available for $30. per tractor bucket load, of 1/2 for $20. 15 minutes from Virginia Tech and RU. Great place for a tailgate before a game. Train comes by occasionally, but no whistle, private crossing.

The best camping near Claytor Lake State Park guide

Overview

About

In southwestern Virginia, Claytor Lake offers everything a water lover needs. This state park includes a full-service marina to launch a boat. Gather up your fishing supplies before a day of fishing on the lake or its 21-mile long shoreline.

You can rent bikes or let the kids go wild on the playground. Dine al fresco at one of the picnic shelters or grab a bite at the concession stand. Tour the historic Howe House to learn more about local ecology and history.

Want to stay a couple of nights? You have your choice of camping or something a little more like home! There are 64 standard campsites and another 39 with electric and water for an RV. A group campsite offers room for up to 35 people.

Almost 20 cabins sit around the lake and the park. You can select a two-bedroom or three-bedroom cabin. This includes three lodges that have six bedrooms, three bathrooms, and all the comforts of home. Another option is staying in a yurt. It's a combination of camping and luxury.

Notable campgrounds

Campground D: Spacious sites with water and electric hookups, accommodating RVs up to 40 feet.
Campground B: Offers a mix of sites, ideal for tents and small trailers, in a wooded setting.
Group Campsite: A dedicated area for larger groups with a maximum capacity of 35 people, featuring essential amenities.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early, especially for peak season stays between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.
Consider mid-week stays for better availability and a quieter experience.
Keep an eye on cancellations, which can provide last-minute opportunities.
Explore nearby camping options for alternative accommodations if the park is fully booked.

When to go

The prime time to visit Claytor Lake State Park is from late spring to early fall, when the weather is warm and all facilities are fully operational. Summer offers the full array of water activities, while autumn dazzles with vibrant foliage. Winter visits can be serene, though some amenities may be limited.

Know before you go

Check the park's website for any alerts on closures or natural resource management days.
Remember that quiet hours are from 10pm to 6am, ensuring a peaceful environment for all guests.
Accessibility is a priority, with many facilities catering to those with disabilities.
Day-use areas charge a parking fee, so come prepared.
Always practice Leave No Trace principles to preserve the park's natural beauty.