Crabtree Falls Campground

Crabtree Falls Campground is a National Park Service campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina, at milepost 339.5 and 3,600 feet in a dense forest of hardwoods and rhododendron. It is a mid-size Parkway campground whose reputation rests on one thing: the Crabtree Falls Loop Trail, a moderate 2.5-mile circuit down to a 70-foot waterfall that we rate among the best waterfall hikes on the whole road. It suits hikers in small to mid-size rigs who want a shaded, no-hookup base on the dramatic southern section of the Parkway.

Sites	22 tent sites, 49 RV sites (no hookups)
Max RV length	30 ft (tight in places — check individual site details on recreation.gov)
Cost	$30/night
Reservations	recreation.gov
Season	Mid-May through late October
Elevation	3,600 ft
Dump station	Yes
Showers	No

Sites

22 tent sites, 49 RV sites (no hookups)

Max RV length

30 ft (tight in places — check individual site details on recreation.gov)

Cost

$30/night

Reservations

recreation.gov

Season

Mid-May through late October

Elevation

3,600 ft

Dump station

Yes

Showers

Why RVers stay here

The practical picture is simple and a little tight. There are 49 RV sites and 22 tent sites, none with hookups; there is a dump station but no showers. Sites are mostly back-in and cramped in spots, so a 30-foot rig is the realistic ceiling and anything over 25 feet needs careful maneuvering. Book on recreation.gov for the mid-May through late-October season. Mid-June rhododendron bloom and mid-October color are the payoffs; the trade-off is that October weekends turn the falls trail into a highway exit, and multiple Parkway tunnels between MP 330 and 345 mean you must confirm your rig height.

✓The Crabtree Falls Loop Trail leaves from camp and reaches a 70-foot waterfall

✓Rhododendron tunnels in mid-June and peak fall color around mid-October

✓Dump station on site, which not every Parkway campground offers

✓$30 a night for a forested Parkway setting at 3,600 feet

!No hookups and no showers

!Tight, mostly back-in sites; a few spots are awkward in anything over 25 feet and 30 feet is the practical max

!Multiple tunnels between MP 330 and MP 345, so confirm your rig height before committing

What our guides say about Crabtree Falls Campground

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Regional guide

Blue Ridge Parkway Camping: The RV Guide to America's Favorite Drive

Crabtree Falls is a mid-size campground with a standout hiking trail. The Crabtree Falls Loop Trail is a moderate 2.5-mile circuit that drops into a cove forest and arrives at a 70-foot waterfall — one of the best waterfall hikes on the entire Parkway. The trail is well-maintained but has some steep sections and can be slippery when wet.

The campground sits at 3,600 feet in a dense forest of hardwoods and rhododendrons. In mid-June, the rhododendrons bloom and the forest turns into a tunnel of pink and white. Fall color peaks here in mid-October, about a week later than the higher-elevation parks.

Sites are mostly back-in and somewhat tight. The campground loop has a few spots that require careful maneuvering in anything over 25 feet. It's doable in a 30-foot rig, but don't expect wide-open pull-throughs.

Read the guide →

Crabtree Falls Campground: frequently asked questions

Does Crabtree Falls Campground have hookups?

No. All 49 RV sites are without hookups. There is a dump station, but no showers.

How much does Crabtree Falls Campground cost per night?

Our guide lists $30 per night. Confirm the current rate on recreation.gov when you book.

What is the max RV length at Crabtree Falls Campground?

30 feet, and it is tight in places. Sites are mostly back-in and a few loop spots require careful maneuvering above 25 feet, so check the individual site details on recreation.gov.

When is Crabtree Falls Campground open?

Mid-May through late October. Fall color peaks around mid-October, about a week later than the higher Parkway campgrounds.

Do you need reservations at Crabtree Falls Campground?

Book through recreation.gov. October weekends are especially busy, so reserve ahead.

Where is the nearest fuel to Crabtree Falls Campground?

Spruce Pine, about 20 minutes east via NC-226, according to our Blue Ridge Parkway guide.