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Camping · Virginia

Rocky Knob Campground

Campground · Fee

106 sites

Fast facts

Cost
$30.00
Type
Campground
Season
October 26 to May 21
Sites
106 total · 57 reservable · 49 first come
Reservations
recreation.gov
Phone
540-745-9664 (MAY - OCTOBER)
Coordinates
36.8314, -80.3444
Last verified
September 19, 2026
36.8314° N · 80.3444° W
Last verifiedSeptember 19, 2026

About this place

Overview Located on the famous Blue Ridge Parkway in the hills of rural Virginia, Rocky Knob Campground is nestled amid rolling meadowlands with impressive displays of seasonal flowers, endless night skies and green pastures. Numerous nearby overlooks and the winding parkway provide an ideal backdrop for a traditional camping experience. Recreation The campground is located in the Rocky Knob Recreation area, surrounded by more than 4,000 acres of forest. The site offers easy access to the Rock Castle Gorge Trail , a 10.8-mile (17.4 km) loop trail ranging in elevation from 1,700 to 3,572 feet (518 to 1,089 m). Rock Castle Gorge, a 1,500-foot (457 m) ravine carved by the waters of Rock Castle Creek, is the focal point of this trail, offering hikers breathtaking scenery. Black Ridge Trail : a moderate 3-mile loop passing through the forest on a seldom-used gravel road and through a meadow. Accessed from the Rocky Knob Visitor Center. Numerous tours and interpretive talks are given near the Gorge and surrounding trails during the summer, offering campers the chance to learn more about the area's historical significance and abundant plants and wildlife. Facilities Rocky Knob Campground combines the exhilaration of a traditional outdoor camping experience with modern amenities like flush toilets, dump station, and drinking water. Both RV and tent sites are available, each equipped with picnic tables, lantern poles, and fire rings/grills--perfect for picnics, barbecues or late night s'mores. The campground almost always has campsites available. In addition to the 44 sites available for advanced reservation, 62 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability of the first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. The sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk. Primitive Backcountry Camping is available at Rock Castle Gorge. Obtain a free permit from the Rocky Knob campground office (May-October) (540-745-9664) or the Rocky Knob District Office (540-745-9660). Natural Features The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway that stretches almost 500 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina and Virginia. It offers plenty of natural attractions and recreational opportunities for visitors, as well as a cross-section of Appalachian mountain history from pre-historic times to early European settlements, and on to today. Rocky Knob Campground, one of the first established sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway, is home to several famous geological attractions. Rock Castle Gorge, known for its beautiful rock crystalline quartz formations, was once home to several mountain families. Visitors can still find remnants of their old apple orchards and abandoned stone chimneys along parkway trails. Nearby Attractions The nearby town of Floyd offers entertainment, shopping, food, gas and lodging. There are also multiple wineries nearby that offer tours and tastings. Visit Mabry Mill at milepost 176 near Meadows of Dan, Virginia. The campground is about 30 miles from Mount Airy, North Carolina , the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the fictional TV-series town of Mayberry. Mount Airy also offers grocery stores, gas stations and medical facilities.

From the managing agency.Official page

Is Rocky Knob Campground free?

No. Rocky Knob Campground charges $30.00. 57 of its sites are reservable through recreation.gov.

Can I bring an RV to Rocky Knob Campground?

Rocky Knob Campground has 106 sites on record. 57 sites are reservable and 49 are first come.

When is Rocky Knob Campground open?

The season on record runs October 26 to May 21. Dates move with weather and with the managing office, so check before a shoulder-season trip.

How do I get to Rocky Knob Campground?

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 36.83139, -80.34444 36°49'53"N, 80°20'40"W Rocky Knob Campground is located at Milepost 167.1 on Blue Ridge Parkway, 1.8 miles south of the intersection of the Parkway and State Route 8. Visitors are advised that directions from resources like Google Maps and GPS devices are not always correct and should be double-checked.

What is the weather like at Rocky Knob Campground?

The Parkway varies in elevation from under 650 feet at Virginia's James River to over 6,000 feet near Mount Pisgah in North Carolina. Weather can vary tremendously. Higher elevations can be cloudy and foggy while lower elevations are clear. Temperatures along the Parkway are often cooler than in surrounding foothills. Carry a jacket or blanket and emergency supplies in the car. Be aware of changing weather conditions and approaching weather systems, as summer heat can bring afternoon thunderstorms.

Nearby

No other services within 50 mi on the record.

SourceSource data is agency published. Last synced September 19, 2026. Community reports and photos are submitted by travelers and are not verified by the agency.

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Disclaimer TerrainKit is an independent product with no affiliation with, sponsorship from or endorsement by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service or any other public agency. Site and access information is compiled from publicly available sources and can go out of date without notice. Confirm current rules, closures, fire restrictions and stay limits with the managing ranger district or field office before you camp.
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Rocky Knob Campground, Camping in Virginia - TerrainKit