Hiking

Wood Mountain Campground

6 RV Sites, 16 Tent Sites, 4 Glamping Sites

Wood Mountain Campground in Glen Jean, West Virginia, offers six full-hookup RV sites, 16 tent sites, and four glamping sites on a hilltop directly off Highway 19, at the heart of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Sites carry 30 and 50-amp with water and sewer, sized to 35 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Six sites run in standard and premium full-hookup configurations carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp, sized to 35 feet — note the 35-foot cap before booking a larger rig. Sixteen tent sites and four glamping sites round out the accommodations, alongside two-bedroom cabins with fully equipped kitchens and large covered porches. Restrooms, showers, and site WiFi handle the practical side. The hilltop position gives views across the surrounding forested ridgelines, and a disc golf course, barn, pavilion, corn hole, and picnicking areas fill the grounds. The operators put it plainly: this is West Virginia, where there are more trees than people, and guests who want to keep to themselves are as welcome as those who want to chat. Pets are welcome. Glen Jean sits directly across from both the Summit Bechtel Reserve — one of the largest scouting and outdoor education facilities in the world — and the national park's administrative hub, which puts this about as close to the action as any private property in the gorge. River outfitters and the town of Fayetteville are a short drive, and a creek and mountain terrain surround the property. Summer whitewater season and October foliage drive demand in the gorge. With six RV sites, reserve as early as you can.

from $24/night

Lake Ridge RV Resort

84 RV Sites, 20 Cabins, 7 Tent Sites

Lake Ridge RV Resort in Hillsville, Virginia, offers 84 RV sites, 20 cabins, and seven tent sites on a lake in Carroll County's Blue Ridge Mountains, with 30 and 50-amp full-hookup service and rigs accepted to 65 feet. An outdoor pool with water slides, a clubhouse, and a full activity calendar make this a family resort rather than an overnight stop. Sites run from back-in and deluxe back-in with 30-amp water and electric to VIP back-in and pull-through options and super pull-throughs with 50-amp, all sized for rigs to 65 feet. Twenty cabins serve guests traveling without a rig, and seven tent sites cover simpler camping. A general store, snack bar, laundry, propane fills and exchange, and a dump station handle the practical side, and WiFi reaches the property. On-site recreation is extensive. An outdoor pool with water slides anchors the summer, with a lake on the property for fishing, boating, paddle boats, and paddle boarding. Sports courts, basketball, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and gaga ball spread across the grounds, with an arcade and clubhouse indoors and a playground, pavilion, dog park, and walking trails besides. Golf cart rentals make the resort easy to cross, and planned activities run through the season. Pets are welcome. Hillsville sits near the Blue Ridge Parkway close to the Virginia–North Carolina line. Galax and its Old Fiddlers' Convention, the New River Trail State Park, and Grayson Highlands State Park are all close. Roanoke and Winston-Salem are each about 75 minutes; Virginia Tech is 52 miles. The resort runs the Blue Ridge season, with summer families and October foliage driving peak demand. Reserve ahead for both, and check pool and slide operating dates when booking shoulder-season stays.

Roan Creek Campground by Doe Mountain

Roan Creek Campground by Doe Mountain in Butler, Tennessee, offers spacious full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric, alongside tent camping and rustic cabins on Roan Creek in northeast Tennessee. Fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi serve guests using the property as a base for the region's outdoor recreation. Full-hookup back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric with fire pits and picnic tables. Rustic cabins provide enclosed lodging, and tent sites cover simpler camping. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and WiFi handle the practical side. Pets are welcome. The creek is the setting. Walking trails run the property, with fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, and birding all available from camp. The mountain terrain surrounds the campground on every side, and the water is the reason most guests book. Doe Mountain Recreation Area is the headline draw — 8,700 acres of trails and adventure terrain, and one of the more substantial riding and hiking areas in the region. Beyond it, northeast Tennessee's high country opens up in every direction, with the Appalachian corridor's lakes, rivers, and ridgelines all within reach. The campground works equally well for a quiet getaway and an active outdoor trip, which is much of its appeal — guests can ride Doe Mountain all day or spend it beside the creek without leaving the property. The campground serves the northeast Tennessee mountain season. Summer water recreation and October foliage drive the heaviest demand, with riding season on Doe Mountain extending through the shoulder months. Reserve ahead for fall color weekends.

from $20/night

Fish Springs at Little Pond Mountain Campground

19 RV Sites

Fish Springs at Little Pond Mountain Campground in Hampton, Tennessee, offers 19 full-hookup RV sites with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, sized for rigs to 45 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout, at the base of Roan Mountain in the upper Doe River valley. An outdoor pool and ball field sit on a property built as a base for southern Appalachian mountain recreation. Nineteen back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 45 feet, with picnic tables and site WiFi. A dump station, laundry, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. One vehicle is allowed per site, with an extra vehicle fee of $1 per night on arrival — among the more modest such charges in this batch. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a ball field and basketball on the grounds. Boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and biking all run from the area, with off-roading and a golf course nearby. The cold, clear mountain streams around Roan Mountain hold some of the finest wild trout water in the East, which is why many guests book. Pets are welcome. Hampton sits in Carter County where the Cherokee National Forest's spruce-fir summits, the Appalachian Trail's high-elevation traverse, and Watauga Lake's shoreline converge — one of the most recreation-rich environments in the southern Appalachians. The campground serves the mountain season. The June rhododendron bloom on Roan Mountain and October foliage are the two peak windows, with summer lake and trout traffic between them. With 19 sites, reserve well ahead for any of the three.

from $20/night

Blue Bear Mountain Camp

13 RV Sites, 1 Cabin, 29 Tent Sites

Blue Bear Mountain Camp in Todd, North Carolina, offers 13 RV sites, a cabin, and 29 tent sites across 150 acres at 4,000 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with 30 and 50-amp electric service and rigs accepted to 40 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Stargazer dome glamping, a hand-painted tepee, and hike-in backcountry sites make the accommodation mix unusually varied. Thirteen sites carry electric service on 30 and 50-amp in back-in and pull-through configurations, sized to 40 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables — note there are no water or sewer hookups at the sites, though a dump station is available, so plan tank capacity. Twenty-nine tent sites include hike-in backcountry positions, and a cabin, a 22-foot hand-painted tepee, and stargazer dome glamping units round out the range. Laundry, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. The 150 acres carry the experience. Walking trails run the property for hiking and biking, with fishing available and the 4,000-foot elevation delivering mild summer temperatures and cool mountain air that the valleys below cannot match. The dome glamping units are built for the night sky, which at this elevation is worth the trip on its own. Pets are welcome. Todd sits eight miles north of Boone in Watauga County, where the New River's ancient headwaters drain one of the most geologically significant valleys in the Appalachians — the New is among the oldest rivers in North America. The Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail corridor, and Boone's university-town infrastructure are all close. October foliage is the peak in the High Country. Reserve well ahead.

from $30/night

Black Bear Resort

Black Bear Resort in Hampton, Tennessee, offers cottages, cabins, a bunkhouse, tent sites, and RV camping four-tenths of a mile from the Dennis Cove Trailhead, with a breakfast cafe, laundry, and shuttle service to Appalachian Trail access points. It is an Appalachian Trail Passport stamp location, and the section-hiker infrastructure is what the resort has built its identity around. Accommodations span the range. Cottages and cabins provide enclosed lodging, a bunkhouse offers hostel-style dormitory space for thru-hikers and groups, and tent sites and RV sites cover the rest. Laundry and restrooms serve guests coming off multi-day sections, and the on-site dining room handles meals — the breakfast cafe in particular is a fixture for hikers heading out. Pets are welcome. Walking trails run from the property, and the resort's shuttle service to multiple AT trailheads is the practical amenity that sets it apart in this corridor. Hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and biking are all accessible from camp, and a playground serves families. Firewood is available on site. The Dennis Cove Trailhead, four-tenths of a mile away, enters the Appalachian Trail near Laurel Fork waterfall. Watauga Lake's 6,430 acres provide warmwater and tailwater fishing across the Big Creek inlet, the Laurel Creek embayment, and the Watauga River below the dam. The Roan Highlands' rhododendron balds bloom in June, visible for miles from the surrounding ridges. The resort serves the Carter County mountain season. Thru-hiker traffic peaks in spring as northbound hikers come through, and the June rhododendron bloom and October foliage draw the general visitor market. Reserve ahead for all three.

Doe River Landing

5 RV Sites, 1 Cabin, 1 Onsite RV/Trailer

Doe River Landing in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, offers six RV sites with water and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp service, plus a cabin and a travel trailer rental, in the Doe River gorge of Carter County. Sites take rigs to 45 feet with fire pits and picnic tables, and site WiFi reaches the property. At six sites this is a small, modern operation minutes from Roan Mountain State Park. Six back-in sites carry water and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, in premium and standard configurations sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. A cabin and a travel trailer rental serve guests without a rig. A dump station is on site for guests without sewer connections, and a general store, firewood, laundry, restrooms, and showers cover the practical side. The property makes good use of its river frontage and mountain setting. Walking trails run the grounds past a community fire pit and a pavilion, with a dog park and playground for families and pets. Fishing, swimming, hiking, volleyball, horseshoes, corn hole, and picnicking all run from the property, and the mountain and creek terrain makes for good birding. A barn on site doubles as a wedding venue. Pets are welcome. Roan Mountain State Park and the Appalachian Trail's Roan Highlands balds are minutes away. Bristol Motor Speedway, Grandfather Mountain, and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort are all within day-drive range, and skiing and snowboarding are nearby in season. Office hours run 9am to 6pm Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 9am to 8pm Friday and Saturday, seasonally. The June rhododendron bloom on Roan Mountain and October foliage are the two peak windows — with six sites, book as far ahead as you can.

from $57/night

Firefly Hills

13 RV Sites

Firefly Hills in Beattyville, Kentucky, sits in Lee County's eastern Kentucky mountains within minutes of some of the most concentrated outdoor recreation terrain in the Appalachian South — Red River Gorge Geological Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, and Natural Bridge State Resort Park collectively provide hundreds of miles of hiking, world-class rock climbing, kayaking, and horseback riding accessible from a campground that specifically caters to the full-time RVers, adventure travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts who make the Red River Gorge corridor a long-term base rather than a quick passing visit. Fifteen spacious RV sites with full hookups on level concrete pads with picnic tables give guests the practical infrastructure for extended stays, and the campground's brand-new bathhouse with three full bathrooms — including an ADA-accessible unit — reflects the investment in quality daily facilities that sets Firefly Hills apart from older rural Kentucky campgrounds whose infrastructure reflects decades without renovation. An on-site laundry room with card-operated machines handles the needs of longer-stay guests, and a garbage and recycling station provides the waste management infrastructure that responsible extended-stay camping requires. The campground's welcoming atmosphere and explicit inclusion focus create a community environment suited to solo travelers, couples, and families arriving from the widest range of backgrounds and camping styles. RV rentals available through the campground extend its accessibility to guests who want the Red River Gorge experience without owning their own equipment. The campground's orchard provides a pleasant walking and exploration environment between outdoor excursions, the stocked pond offers camp-side fishing in a natural setting, and community campfires serve the social gathering function that the concentrated outdoor recreation community of the Red River Gorge corridor naturally cultivates — guests in this region tend to share climbing routes, trail recommendations, and paddling conditions in the informal evening exchanges that campfire settings specifically enable. Red River Gorge Geological Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest is internationally recognized as one of the finest sandstone arch landscapes in the eastern United States — over 100 natural arches across a deeply dissected plateau of Corbin sandstone, including Haystack Rock, Double Arch, and the accessible Sky Bridge trail that delivers a natural arch crossing experience to casual hikers. The Red River's gorge provides Class I-III paddling through the geological area, and the climbing at the Military Wall, Muir Valley, and dozens of additional crags attracts sport climbers from across the Appalachian region and the Midwest for the concentration of quality routes per canyon mile. Natural Bridge State Resort Park provides the flagship arch viewshed accessible by trail or skylift. Firefly Hills operates year-round in eastern Kentucky's mountain climate, with spring and fall representing the most popular outdoor recreation seasons — spring wildflowers in the gorge from April through May and fall foliage in October through early November create two peak windows of extraordinary natural beauty in the Lee County mountain terrain. Rock climbing season extends from March through November, and the paddling season on the Red River peaks with spring rains and fall precipitation. Reserve sites ahead for the October foliage season, when Red River Gorge area campgrounds fill from the Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati markets that specifically target the Appalachian fall color window.

from $47/night

The Barlow RV Elk Park

4 RV Sites

The Barlow RV Elk Park in Elk Park, North Carolina, is a boutique mountain RV park with just four full-hookup sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Avery County — an intimate, carefully curated camping experience near Banner Elk in the high-country corridor where Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Grandfather Mountain sustain the most concentrated alpine and ski resort environment in the southern Appalachians, giving guests the specific high-elevation mountain character and the dramatic Blue Ridge scenery that this northwestern North Carolina corner delivers at a density unmatched anywhere else in the eastern United States south of the White Mountains. The four-site scale gives the Barlow its boutique identity and its guests the genuine privacy and quietude that larger campgrounds structurally cannot provide. Four full-hookup RV sites give the campground its defining intimate character — a camping experience defined by the mountain setting and the proximity to the Avery County high-country attractions rather than by on-site amenity density, reflecting the specific appeal of a small, well-positioned boutique property where the surrounding landscape is the primary attraction and the campground infrastructure is the comfortable base from which to access it. The Elk Park location in Avery County's high valley gives guests the 3,000-foot-plus base elevation that distinguishes the Banner Elk corridor's summer climate from the piedmont heat below. Pets are welcome. Beech Mountain, five miles north of Elk Park at 5,506 feet, is the highest elevation incorporated town east of the Rocky Mountains — a ski resort community whose Beech Mountain Resort ski area sustains winter skiing and snowboarding, whose summer mountain biking trails on the ski slopes and the Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation trail network give the resort its four-season outdoor recreation character. The mountain's elevation gives it measurable temperature advantages over the valley communities below, and the Blue Ridge Parkway access via the Linville area and the parkway's high-country corridor near Beech Mountain provides the summit ridge driving and hiking experience that parkway travelers specifically seek in the Avery County section. Grandfather Mountain, 12 miles southeast of Elk Park via U.S. 221, is one of the most ecologically significant mountains in the southern Appalachians — a 5,946-foot summit in the Blue Ridge Mountains privately managed as a nature preserve and state park hybrid, whose Mile-High Swinging Bridge suspension footbridge, museum of natural history, and native wildlife habitats housing black bears, white-tailed deer, bald eagles, and river otters give it the character of a natural attraction of extraordinary quality. The mountain's eight distinct ecological communities from cove hardwood to boreal spruce-fir forest represent the most compressed elevation-driven ecological succession gradient in the eastern United States. The Barlow RV Elk Park serves guests through the Avery County mountain seasons — summer from June through August delivering the high-country cool and outdoor recreation, the fall foliage season from mid-October through early November bringing the most dramatic color display in the high-elevation spruce-fir and hardwood forest, and the winter ski season from December through March serving the Beech Mountain ski market that specifically values the walking-distance or short-drive proximity to the resort lifts. Sugar Mountain Resort, adjacent to Beech Mountain, extends the ski and snowboarding options with its own terrain and lifts. Reserve sites well ahead for the fall foliage peak and ski season weekends, when Avery County's limited boutique campground inventory fills against strong demand from the Charlotte, Raleigh, and Triad markets.

from $110/night

Roaring River Vineyards

7 RV Sites

from $25/night

4 Guys RV Park

50 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 3 Onsite RV/Trailers, 2 Houses

4 Guys RV Park in Stanton, Kentucky, offers 53 full-hookup RV sites and four cabin and house rentals in a forested valley with a river running through it, carrying 20, 30, and 50-amp service for rigs to 76 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Vintage camper rentals, a poolside home, tiny homes, and a barn house give the accommodation range real breadth. Fifty-three sites span economy full-hookup, premium full-hookup, deluxe back-in, and premium plus back-in categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 76 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Vintage camper rentals — including the Timberwolf and a vintage green camper — plus cabins, tiny homes, a poolside home, and a barn house serve guests without a rig, covering parties of any size. A general store, laundry, restrooms, showers, firewood, and site WiFi handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a game room, arcade, golf cart rentals, a playground, pavilion, barn, and pond across the grounds. Hiking, fishing, basketball, and birding run from the property, with planned activities through the season. Pets are welcome. Stanton is the base camp for Red River Gorge. The Geological Area, Natural Bridge State Park, Clifty Wilderness, Daniel Boone National Forest, Muir Valley Nature Preserve and Climbing Area, Hollerwood Offroad Adventure Park, and Wild Things of Kentucky are all close. Climbing season in spring and fall and October foliage drive the heaviest demand. Reserve well ahead.

from $60/night

Camp Holly

8 RV Sites

Camp Holly in Diana, West Virginia, offers eight full-hookup RV sites across a 22-acre mountain property in Webster County, with 30-amp service and rigs accepted to 36 feet. Cabins, glamping structures, and tent camping join a pond, playground, and general store in the state's most rugged interior. Eight back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 30-amp, sized to 36 feet, with site WiFi. Note the 36-foot cap before booking a larger rig. Cabins, glamping structures, and tent camping round out the accommodations. A general store, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Two useful tips from the operators: buy fishing passes when you book your campsite for a discounted rate, and add a jumbo firewood square at booking and they will deliver it to your site. Pets are welcome. A pond anchors the on-site recreation with fishing, swimming, paddle boats, boating, canoeing, and kayaking from the water. A community fire pit, playground, hiking, and biking fill the rest, with planned activities through the season. Diana sits on WV-20 in the heartland of the Mountain State's most remote interior. The Cranberry Wilderness, the Gauley River National Recreation Area, and the Williams River's wild brook trout stream give this the most complete wilderness and outdoor adventure access of any campground in central West Virginia's Chestnut Ridge and Back Allegheny country. Summer water recreation and October foliage drive demand. With eight RV sites, reserve well ahead.

from $10/night