Roanoke Mountain Campground

Roanoke Mountain Campground is the smallest campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Park Service site in North Carolina's Blue Ridge region that spirals up a one-way loop road toward an overlook at about 2,000 feet. Sites are tucked along the climb, so you get a mountaintop campground with the city of Roanoke spread out below and surprisingly lovely night views of its lights. It suits van campers, pop-ups and small trailers who want Parkway camping with groceries, restaurants and fuel about 10 minutes away.

Roanoke Mountain Campground at a glance

Sites	74 tent sites, 30 RV sites (no hookups)
Max RV length	25 ft (tight turns on the loop road limit larger rigs)
Cost	$30/night
Reservations	recreation.gov — usually available even on short notice
Season	May through October
Elevation	2,000 ft
Dump station	No (nearest NPS dump station is at Peaks of Otter)
Best for	Small rigs, van campers, and anyone who wants Parkway camping with city convenience nearby

Why RVers stay here

The practical picture is basic even by Parkway standards: 30 RV sites and 74 tent sites, no hookups, no dump station on site (the nearest NPS dump is at Peaks of Otter), and a 25-foot limit driven by tight turns on the loop road. Sites are small and heavily wooded, and some are genuinely tight for anything bigger than a pop-up. It costs $30 a night, runs May through October, and books on Recreation.gov, where sites are usually available even on short notice. The trade-off is that a conventional travel trailer will find it cramped; this is a tent and van campground with an urban safety net.

✓City-light views over Roanoke from 2,000 feet, unusual for a Parkway campground.

✓Ten minutes to full grocery stores, restaurants and fuel makes it a practical base camp.

✓Sites are usually available on Recreation.gov even without much notice.

✓$30 a night for a National Park Service site on the Parkway.

!25-foot limit and tight one-way loop turns; sites are small and wooded and some suit little more than a pop-up.

!No hookups and no dump station; the nearest NPS dump station is at Peaks of Otter.

What our guides say about Roanoke Mountain 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

The smallest campground on the entire Parkway, and the most unusual. Roanoke Mountain is a one-way loop road that spirals up Roanoke Mountain to an overlook, with campsites tucked along the climb. It's essentially a mountaintop campground with an urban backdrop — the city of Roanoke spreads out in the valley below, and the night views of city lights from 2,000 feet are unexpectedly beautiful.

The campground is basic even by Parkway standards. Sites are small, heavily wooded, and some are genuinely tight for anything over a pop-up camper. This is more of a tent and van campground than a place for a travel trailer. But its proximity to Roanoke — 10 minutes to full grocery stores, restaurants, and fuel — makes it practical as a base camp.

Read the guide →

Roanoke Mountain Campground: frequently asked questions

Does Roanoke Mountain Campground have hookups?

No. All 30 RV sites are dry, and there is no dump station on site; the nearest NPS dump station is at Peaks of Otter.

What is the max RV length at Roanoke Mountain Campground?

25 feet. Tight turns on the one-way loop road limit larger rigs, and some sites are only comfortable for pop-ups and vans.

How much does Roanoke Mountain Campground cost per night?

$30 per night, according to our Blue Ridge Parkway guide.

Do you need reservations at Roanoke Mountain Campground?

Book on Recreation.gov. Our guide notes sites are usually available even on short notice.

Is Roanoke Mountain Campground open year-round?

No. The season runs May through October.

How far is Roanoke Mountain Campground from Roanoke?

About 10 minutes to full grocery stores, restaurants and fuel in the city, which sits in the valley directly below the campground.