Rocky Knob Campground
Blue Ridge Parkway
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.
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).
Notifications and Alerts
Need to Know
- Firewood Regulation: Due to the presence of invasive insects, only heat-treated firewood bundled in its original packing and bearing a certification seal from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state department of agriculture may be brought onto the Parkway. Campers may still collect dead and down wood in the immediate vicinity of campgrounds and picnic areas. This rule is strictly enforced!
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
- Some campsites at this facility are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Status of these sites is not available online.
- There are no showers. No electric, water, or sewer hook-ups are available.
- All tents must be placed on prepared pads where provided.
- Only one tent is allowed per site unless there is adequate space on the provided tent pad. Sites are for use by parties not to exceed six people unless specifically designated as Group Camping.
Group sites have a maximum of 20 people and a minimum of 12. If you reserve a group site with less than 12 people, campground staff reserves the right to move you to a regular campsite.
- Hammock camping is permitted, but campers must abide by posted regulations.
Vehicles are to be parked on the pavement of an assigned site or in designated parking areas. A maximum of two vehicles may be parked in each site (i.e. trailer and car, two cars, two motorcycles). Most sites are limited to only one vehicle.
- Generator use is prohibited from 9:00 pm to 8:00 am.
- CAUTION: Bears frequent the area. Be aware! Keep a clean camp and store all food or scented items in your car or provided food lockers. DO NOT HANG TRASH FROM THE LANTERN POST.
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.
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.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
c/o Revenue and Fee Business Specialist Blue Ridge Parkway 199 Hemphill Knob Road Asheville NC 28803
Physical Address
Milepost 167.1 Blue Ridge Parkway
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 540-745-9664 (MAY - OCTOBER)
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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, about 8 miles (13 km) from the town of Floyd, or about 90 minutes south of Roanoke by car. Visitors are advised that directions from resources like Google Maps and GPS devices are not always correct and should be double-checked.
Available Campsites
- Site T28, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B19, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B26, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A21, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C08, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A01, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T05, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B09, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C10, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B07, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A20, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C24, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B15, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B04, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T13, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T15, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site C12, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A16, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C15, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A25, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A06, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C21, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A13, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T22, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B21, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T12, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B03, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C06, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T24, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B22, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C03, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C16, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B01, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T09, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A27, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A24, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B08, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A09, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T02, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B11, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C26, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A10, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C09, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A08, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T17, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B12, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C19, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B18, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C04, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B25, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T19, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A19, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A18, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A07, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C07, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A11, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T10, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A03, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T23, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A23, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C23, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C27, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B06, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T18, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B16, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B05, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T21, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A22, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T16, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site C20, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site C05, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T27, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site C02, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B20, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T07, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A05, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A02, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C25, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B23, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T08, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A04, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C17, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T25, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A12, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Group Site 1, Loop C, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
- Site B17, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T04, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B13, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A15, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site B10, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T20, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A14, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T03, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T11, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site C18, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B02, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C01, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B24, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A17, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A26, Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C28, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T26, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site C11, Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B14, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site T06, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T14, Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
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