The best camping near Douthat State Park

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

97% (17 reviews)

Can’t decide between lake or mountain? Douthat—one of Virginia’s original state parks—has both.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Douthat State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Douthat State Park

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Douthat State Park Campground

58 sites · RVs, Tents In Douthat State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Douthat State Park

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James River Depot

6 sites · Tents30 acres · Glasgow, VA

An active hay field nestled between the river and the railroad. A great place to enjoy some R and R. We love to float the James and there is easy access to the river on our property. A beautiful field as well as some trees for added shade. Fun to hear the trains and the water as you get amazing views of the night sky.

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Savage Acres on Craig Creek

6 sites · RVs, Tents120 acres · New Castle, VA

In a remote valley, along the banks of Craig's Creek, just north of Roanoke VA, 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 Craig Creek and our big swimmin' hole. Totally secluded in a remote valley - no houses or roads 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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Thunder Bridge

24 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Natural Bridge Station, VA

Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordering the Jefferson National Forest, Thunder BRidge has scenic, large, private tent sites and cabins in the woods for those who want to experience camping at its finest. Many of the sites border Elk Creek. Our RV sites are large, flat and at the edge of the forest in a well kept open green space. Our 100 acres was originally a camp built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the "30s and early '40s, then a boys' juvenile detention center and Big Brothers'/Big Sisters' camp, which closed in 2009. The tent sites and cabins are in the forest, away from the buildings out front, but you're free to walk around and check out the historic site. We'd like to share the camp with others and see it come back to life. All within a short driving distance are the Natural Bridge, wineries, breweries, Natural Bridge Zoo, Safari Park, Dinosaur Kingdom, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, James River, historic Lexington, Devil's Marbleyard, Glenwood Horse Trail, swimming holes, etc. We have river access 2 miles up the road if you'd like to fish or put your kayak or canoe in. Truly, there is something nearby for everyone. We'd be happy to give you recommendations of things to see and do. If you are a star gazer you won't be disappointed by our dark sky.

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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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Wilderness Adventure

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

Wilderness Adventure is more than just a campground. Along with our wide range of camping and lodging options, we also offer free and paid adventure activities like tubing, canoeing, hiking, biking, and more! Don't miss out on our group program offerings like retreats, corporate gatherings, youth groups, and weddings. Camping WA offers private and communal campsites to fit the needs of any size group you are traveling with and has a shared bathhouse with showers and toilets. Drinking water is available from multiple locations Activities for Guests Hiking, mountain biking, and trail running on our onsite trails, Canoeing, tubing, swimming or fishing in our pond, creek sitting, fire pits, sand volleyball, horseshoes, disc golf, corn hole, and endless open space to wander and relax. Basecamp Adventure Activities Canoe Rentals/Shuttle $40/trip/boat Sit on top Kayak Rentals/Shuttle $30/trip/boat Tubing/Shuttle $20/trip/person Mountain Bike Rental $25/half day, $50/full day Area Activities Hiking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bikepacking, 4-wheeling, Rock Crawling: Virginia's Triple Crown - Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs Hoop Hole Roaring Run North Mountain/Dragons Back Carvins Cove Mill Mountain Douthat State Park Craigs 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. Campstore: 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. (hours vary or by appointment) Check out our event calendar for all upcoming events. Annual Events Include: Camp Reckoning Yoga Venture WA Fest DiscVenture Appalachian Mountaineer Retreat Center, Group Program, Corporate Retreats, Family Reunions https://www.wilderness-adventure.com/groups Whether you’re organizing a group retreat or looking to get away for a weekend with the family in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, let us be your Basecamp for Adventure. Wilderness Adventure offers an extensive list of adventure activities for any group along with easily accessible rentals for quick getaways. 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, ponds for fishing and swimming, canoeing and tubing. Giant Swing, Team Building, Low Ropes, High Ropes, Caving, Rock Climbing, Mountain bike lessons and guided trips, Other Cool Stuff The Swinging bridge Restaurant - Paint Bank VA The Mill Mountain Star - Roanoke VA Lasterday Market - New Castle, VA Lemon & Vale Cakery, New Castle, VA Bibos Pizzeria - New Castle, VA Parkway Brewing Company - Salem, VA And so much more!

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Mane Gait Equestrian Center

2 sites · RVs, Tents140 acres · Natural Bridge, VA

Mane Gait is conveniently located right off route 81 and can accommodate large rigs. You won't find better views of the blue ridge mountains on this gorgeous working horse farm. We have hiking trails through beautiful private scenery for beginners to advanced hikers. Pets are welcome if leashed! Picnic area on site as well as laundry machine. We are 10 minutes from downtown historic Lexington Virginia that provides great restaurants and lots of history in the charming town of Lexington. Site 2 should be booked for smaller campers around 25 feet. Site 1 is better for larger campers.

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Devils Backbone Camp

5 sites · RVs, Tents90 acres · Roseland, VA

Beer and nature come together here at Devils Backbones Camp. We’re tucked in the Rockfish Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains, five miles from the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our forested paradise is open year round. Here you’ll find 71-acres of campground, including 25 full RV hookup sites, 22 standard non-electric sites, and 24 primitive tent sites (and yes, there’s a 24/7 bath house, too). Our Basecamp Brewpub is open 7 days a week. Please visit our website for up-to-date hours and events.

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River Trail Hollow

19 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Hillsboro, WV

-This Campground can only accept vehicle heights less than 10 feet (In order to fit under the Greenbrier River Trail bridge at Stamping Creek) GREENBRIER RIVER and TRAIL (GBRT) steps from your campsite -PEACEFUL, quiet, NO big rigs, NO generators, limited occupancy -DARK, no unnecessary lighting, fireflies are spectacular -COUNTRY STORE with rentals, beer, food, supplies - 0.5 mi -PET FRIENDLY -MARLINTON restaurants, shopping, tavern - 12 mi by road, 10 mi by trail -WATOGA STATE PARK, lake and pool - 5 mi -THE BEACH in Seebert yards away -Active MAPLE FARM on premises - https://hillsboromaple.com/ -TENT, VAN, POP-UP, tear drops, small trailers 10 FEET in height or less (must clear GBRT bridge to access) LOCATION: At junction of the Greenbrier River, Greenbrier River Trail and Stamping Creek, sits on approximately 40 wooded acres. Convenient to all Pocahontas County Attractions - Highland Scenic Hwy, Cass Scenic Railroad, Greenbank Telescope, Beartown SP, Falls of Hills Creek, Snowshoe Mountain Resort and more - https://pocahontascountywv.com/ AMENITIES: Primitive sites Porta-john Bath House Tables and fire rings at each site Firewood - 1st crate FREE, $5 per additional crate. COUNTRY STORE: Jack Horner's Corner - 0.5 miles downriver along Greenbrier River Trail. Open 7 days a week, 9am-9pm, Apr-Oct. Tubes, bicycle & kayak rentals. Fast food, soft-serve, craft beer, grocery, supply & souvenir sales. (304) 653-4515 CELL SERVICE LIMITED: 1-2 bars (good enough to text) at the beach; 2-3 bars (maybe a call) at store; Full signal at 219 (2 miles away)

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Mountains,Woods,Ponds, Natural

21 sites · RVs, Tents300 acres · Lewisburg, WV

Learn more about this land: We have 4 ponds on our property we have open areas, wooded areas, we raise cattle, sheep and chickens. All of the acreage has mountainous views. Our town of Lewisburg is 15 minutes away. Lots to do and enjoy. We sell beef, eggs, firewood, and seasonal vegetables. We also have a Porta potty now on the property for use.

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MountainTop

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents32 acres · Sugar Grove, WV

Live sustainably, enjoy life. Enjoy our family's 32 acre eco-wonder property that features forested mountain walking trails, two small ponds, seasonal waterfall, and the Potomac River that runs through it. Perfect private retreat for nature enthusiasts, writers, artists, musicians, contemplatives, and small families. MountainTop got its namesake over 30 years ago for the small mountain plateau that resides at the top of the property, just a short hike from the cabins and campsites. One can easily find the soothing voice of water nearby at the seasonal waterfall or alongside the flowing river. Rejuvenate with friends, families, nature lovers, and contemplatives. Mountaintop offers superb stargazing, swimming, fishing, hiking, strenuous mountain biking, camping, serenity, peace, and connective nature immersion. There are currently three sites: the MountainTop Cabin (sleeps up to 4); the Retreat Cabin (sleeps up to 4): and the Fern Grove campsite (sleeps up to 4). You can book a cabin or the campsite for your family, or the whole place for a small group by booking each site--that will ensure privacy. Last year we hosted wellness retreats for small groups at this little oasis tucked in the mountains of gorgeous West Virginia. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." John Muir Note: All wheel drive or 4-wheel drive needed to cross river. 1 hour from downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. 1 hour 40 minutes from Charlottesville. 3 hours from Washington, D.C.

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Swedish Lilac Campground & Events

14 sites · RVs, Tents16 acres · Vesuvius, VA

With 15 campsites, over 1,000 feet of river frontage, and mountains in every direction, Swedish Lilac Campground is the perfect getaway to reconnect with nature and relax with loved ones. Campsites accommodate RVs and Pop-ups up, access to showers and dumpsite, pavilion, and picnic areas, and is only a 20-minute drive to beautiful historic Lexington Virginia. Hiking, fishing, and swimming are all close by with restaurants and shopping a short distance away means there is something for everyone at Swedish Lilac Campground.

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Arcadia Sanctuary

15 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents83 acres · Buena Vista, VA

Arcadia is the name we gave to our 83-acre mountainside retreat center for Earth-Based Spirituality. It’s nestled on the south-eastern slope of 4000-foot Mount Pleasant in Central Virginia, convenient to I81. (Note, there is a town called Arcadia off I81, but that is not us. Not to confuse.) We have a mountain creek with waterfalls, towering Beech and Sycamore trees, Witch Hazels leaning over the water, trout, crayfish, snakes, salamanders, and all the rest. We have about 2000 feet of the vertical mountainside with trails to explore. (But the stage and most of the camping is down closer to creek-level.) There are more sites higher up the mountain if you like more isolated camping. More of a trek to the bathrooms/showers/freshwater. We have one of the finest private stages on the East Coast with a top-notch sound system and a natural amphitheater which is like a single pie wedge of a Stadium that has regular live performances throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Our yurt is regularly booked as a unique glamping experience. There are chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowl free-roaming. Two dogs, nine cats, and several humans are blessed to call this home.

The best camping near Douthat State Park guide

Overview

About

The 50-acre Douthat Lake is the epicenter of its namesake state park, framed by the forested slopes of the Allegheny Mountains. Take to the water to cruise or kayak, rent a hydrobike or stand-up paddleboard, or fish for bass, trout, and crappie in the lake and streams. There’s plenty for landlubbers to explore, too, with more than 40 miles of wooded trails ready to hike, mountain bike, or horseback ride. Spending the night? Choose from four campgrounds dotted throughout the park, including equestrian camps with stables, rustic cabins, and plenty of RV/tent sites, some right by the lake.

Notable campgrounds

Best for family campers: Whispering Pines Campground has 23 sites with electric and water hookups, space for up to 50-foot RVs, and a playground nearby.
Best for horse lovers: Beaver Dam Campground has equestrian camping with covered stalls available for rent.
Best for water activities: Lakeside Campground has 19 RV/tent sites with gravel pads and electric hookups.

Tips for snagging a campsite

You can reserve a cabin or a campsite at one of the park’s four campgrounds online.
Campsite reservations open 11 months in advance and must be made at least one day before arrival.
Campsites can book up fast, especially on summer and holiday weekends. Book a minimum of six months in advance.

When to go

Peak season at Douthat State Park is April through October, and this is the most popular time for hiking, camping, and water sports. Outdoor activities are enjoyable year-round, but summer visitors have the added bonus of a swimming beach (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day) and trout-stocked waters (twice weekly through the high season). Whispering Pines is the only campground open year-round, but cabins are also available for winter rentals.

Know before you go

Douthat State Park is just over an hour’s drive north of Roanoke.
Day-use parking fees and camping reservation fees are charged at Douthat. State fishing licenses and equestrian permits are also required.
Facilities include a visitor center and gift shop, camp store, restaurant, restrooms, and picnic areas. Cell phone service is patchy throughout the park, but free wifi is available near the bathhouse.
You can bring your own non-gasoline-powered boats to Douthat, and boats and watercraft are available to rent in season. Swimming is only permitted at the swimming beach.
There are accessible campsites, restrooms, and picnic areas at Douthat State Park. The swimming area is also accessible.