The 5 Best Places To Camp In The Blue Ridge Mountains, According To Seasoned Campers

The U.S. boasts some of the best off-grid destinations for adventure enthusiasts in the world. With an unbelievable wealth of wilderness, backcountry, and stunning mountain ranges to explore, there are incredible opportunities for hiking, camping, exploring, and getting back to nature in almost every corner of the country.

While it would be impossible to pick a single best place in the U.S. for a camping vacation, the Blue Ridge Mountains definitely deserve consideration. This majestic mountain range, part of the larger Appalachian range, stretches from northern Georgia to southern Pennsylvania, stretching across North Carolina and Virginia as well. The rolling landscape covers over 34,500 square miles, covered in oak and pine trees and filled with crystal-clear lakes, glittering rivers, deep valleys, and soaring peaks. Known for their distinctive blue haze (caused by trees releasing a gas called isoprene), the Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the most charming places in the U.S. to spend a few nights under canvas.

Given the extent of the region and the fact that it encompasses two national parks, it is hardly surprising that there are so many great places to pitch a tent within the Blue Ridge Mountains. Choosing the perfect spot to camp can be a challenge, purely because of the variety of options! We've explored social media and review websites to get recommendations from seasoned campers on where the best places to camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains are, depending on the style of campsite you prefer. These five spots include Vogel State Park, Peaks of Otter Campground, Pisgah National Forest, Davidson River Recreation Area, and Doughton Park Recreation Area.

Tucked away beneath the leafy hardwoods of the Chattahoochee National Forest and overshadowed by the looming peak of Blood Mountain, Vogel State Park is a charming destination for outdoor activities and one of Georgia's oldest state parks. There's plenty to do in this delightful corner of Georgia, with plenty of water for swimming and fishing, and some excellent hiking trails for all levels. The Bear Hair Gap loop is perfect for beginners, while the 13-mile Coosa Backcountry Trail will challenge even the hardiest of veterans. The Neel Gap is a spectacular pass near Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia, which adds an extra layer of visual excitement for visitors.

Redditor u/Momnurseteach1014 commented on r/camping that "Vogel State Park [is] beautiful and family/dog friendly," and it is blessed with an array of excellent options for overnight accommodation. There are a total of 90 tent, trailer, and RV campsites, alongside 18 walk-in campsites, as well as 34 cottages if you prefer something a little more luxurious. With picnic shelters, a 22-acre boating lake, and a pavilion that seats up to 100 people, the facilities are great. There's even a museum, telling the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps, who helped construct many of the park's amenities during the Great Depression.

Described as "a gem of the Blue Ridge Parkway" by Johnathan B on Tripadvisor, the Peaks of Otter Campground is a haven of peace, serenity, and natural beauty. It's set on the exquisite Abbott Lake, nestled between two mountains in Virginia, and has plenty to offer for campers looking to get off the beaten track and commune with nature. It provides an older, slightly more rustic style of camping, with restrooms but no showers, and is "not what a lot of campers with big rigs want," according to David S on Recreation.gov. But this old-style, smaller-scale experience is perfect for plenty of visitors looking to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

The lakeside setting makes Peaks of Otter an excellent option for fishing, and Abbott Lake offers fantastic opportunities to reel in smallmouth bass and bluegill. The campsite is often visited by wild turkey and deer, and the stream that runs through the middle offers another level of calm serenity. Redditor u/jasonbarnette on r/camping says, "I recommend the Peaks of Otter Campground because it's near a lot of really nice hiking trails and scenic overlooks," and the trails nearby are undeniably attractive, whether you have a taste for a gentle, flat stroll around the lake or a more strenuous challenge up one of the nearby mountains. The Sharp Top Mountain Trail is the toughest summit, but the Flat Top Mountain Trail takes you higher, and also offers the chance to explore the Fallingwater Cascades Trail, with the reward of a beautiful 100-foot waterfall.

Covering over 50,000 acres of western North Carolina around the charming town of Asheville, Pisgah National Forest is a stunning and historic spot. Often considered the birthplace of modern forestry in the U.S., it boasts a magnificent combination of deep, old-growth, hardwood forest, incredible rushing rivers, and some of the most dramatic mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway, known for its amazing fall foliage.

Writing on a thread in r/camping on Reddit, u/jasonbarnette described Mount Pisgah as "one of the most stunning (places to visit) at the top of a long mountain ridge," and recommended Grandfather Mountain Campground because it's near other points of interest. Grandfather Mountain Campground is certainly a great option, a rugged, primitive campsite perched high up one of the tallest peaks on the East Coast, offering stunning views, glorious hiking trails, and total seclusion. Pisgah National Forest offers an extraordinary range of things to see and do. History buffs will want to visit the Cradle of Forestry in America site, to see where the craft of caring for national forests began. 

The North Carolina Arboretum is another wonderful spot, with 65 acres of gardens and 10 miles of forested trails. Don't miss the chance to hike Mount Pisgah, the most impressive peak in the area, or to discover the magnificent waterfalls scattered throughout the forest, including Moore Cove Falls, Looking Glass Falls, and Catawba Falls.

Located just on the edge of Pisgah National Forest, the Davidson River Recreation Area deserves a special mention for campers who love to fish. This delightful spot is located on the banks of the Davidson River, renowned for its natural beauty and being a trout fisher's dream. On a fly fishing subreddit, u/Squat1998 describes it as a "nationally known trophy water [with] absolute monsters in every pool around the hatchery." With cold, clear, fast-flowing water, it is the ideal spot to cast a line and seek out brown trout, rainbow trout, and Southern Appalachian brook trout, with trophy fish over 20 inches regularly caught.

The Davidson River Campground offers excellent facilities, with picnic tables, tent pads, lantern posts, and campfire rings, as well as hot showers and restrooms. There are plenty of excellent hiking trails conveniently located near the campsite, from the challenging 12.3-mile Art Loeb Trail to the beginner-friendly 3.7-mile North Slope Trail. The river is also great for swimming and tubing, making Davidson River a lovely spot even for non-anglers.

A stay at Davidson River Recreation Area also gives you the opportunity to explore Asheville, one of the best mountain towns in North Carolina. Bursting with life and historic architecture, Asheville has an excellent arts scene and is filled with museums and galleries, offering an excellent counterpoint to the outdoor adventures along the rest of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Doughton Park Campground is a fundamental part of the history of recreation in the Blue Ridge Mountains as one of the first campsites to be designed and built along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first three loops were constructed between 1938 and 1939, and the campsite was largely completed by 1955, with a few additions added in 1964. Set amid the rolling meadows and steep mountain foothills of Doughton Park's 7,000 acres, it is one of the most picturesque camping spots in North Carolina.

Redditor u/Presspass479 says, "I highly recommend Doughton Park Campground and accompanying hiking trails/views. Added bonus, there's a restaurant right off the Blue Ridge about ten minutes from the campground." The amenities are extremely pleasant, with 120 pitches available with tables, lantern posts, and campfire rings and grills, as well as permits for primitive backcountry camping. There are several comfort stations, plenty of drinking fountains, an amphitheater, and a picnic area. There is also an excellent restaurant, The Bluffs, for campers who like a little extra luxury. The campsite is a great choice for wildlife lovers, with plenty of opportunities to see white-tailed deer, raccoons, foxes, and bobcats.

Doughton Park has a wonderful collection of hiking trails, with over 30 miles of waymarked routes climbing nearly 2,000 feet. Trails like the Grassy Gap Fire Road are shared between hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, while easy routes like Fodder Stack Trail are perfect for families. Adventurous hikers looking for a challenge will want to attempt Basin Cove Creek Trail, which is only accessible from partway along the Grassy Gap route and takes you past cascading waterfalls to the century-old Caudill Cabin.

In compiling this list of best places to camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we looked for campgrounds and camping areas that were regularly recommended on social media websites, then cross-referenced specific campsites to find the best-reviewed examples with the highest ratings on sites like Google Reviews, Recreation.gov, Hipcamp, and Tripadvisor. 

We only considered campgrounds with average scores higher than 4 out of 5 and gave preference to those with higher numbers of reviews overall. We also looked at state and national park websites where relevant to find amenities and attractions in the wider area.