Peaks Of Otter Campground
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Peaks of Otter Campground is nestled between the bases of two dominating mountains in the rolling hills of Virginia. Campers enjoy a rare serenity in this rustic setting. Relax, and leave your cares behind!
Campsites are shaded under an umbrella of thick trees, and provide campers with picnic tables, lantern poles, and campfire rings/grills. The campground also offers modern conveniences like flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station.
Peaks of Otter Campground almost always has campsites available. In addition to the 60 sites available for advance reservation, there are 79 first-come, first-served campsites available. Availability of first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. These sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk.
Notifications and Alerts
Need to Know
- Firewood Regulation: 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.
- 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
Three mountain peaks sitting atop a thick blanket of forest make up the Peaks of Otter-- a recreational oasis spanning acre upon acre of rolling landscape along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway that follows the high crests of the central and southern Appalachians for 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
Nearby Attractions
The Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant are located within walking distance of the campground, as is the Sharp Top Country Store. Restaurant dining, grab-and-go meals, snacks, souvenir items, camping supplies, firewood, and ice are all readily available to campground patrons.
The Johnson Farm, an old mountain farmstead restored and preserved to look as it did in the mid-1800s, is just a short walk away. Another restored historic structure, Aunt Polly's Ordinary, sits on the northeastern shore of Abbott Lake.
Recreation
The 24-acre Abbott Lake is one of the biggest attractions the Peaks of Otter Park has to offer. The lake is well-stocked with small mouth bass and bluegill. A crystal-clear mountain stream winds through the nearby picnic area.
Numerous hiking opportunities range from demanding, scaling the area's high mountain peaks, to the moderate short, flat trail around Abbott Lake. Hikers are likely to stumble upon one of the mountain meadows, filled with wildflowers and migrating butterflies in the spring and a fantastic assortment of colors in the fall.
Abundant wildlife like deer and wild turkey are spotted daily at the Peaks of Otter Campground, and many rare species of birds reside or migrate along the mountain ranges. Summer interpretive programs are provided for visitors to learn about the wildlife as well as the history of the area.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
c/o Revenue and Fee Business Specialist Blue Ridge Parkway 199 Hemphill Knob Road Asheville NC 28803
Physical Address
Milepost 85.9 Blue Ridge Parkway
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 540-586-7321 (MAY - OCTOBER)
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Roanoke, Virginia, take the Blue Ridge Parkway north for 26 miles to Milepost 86.
From Bedford, Virginia, follow Route 43 to Blue Ridge Parkway; the campground is on the left before reaching the Parkway.
Available Campsites
- Site A17, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T29, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B04, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B23, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A45, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T23, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B45, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T46, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B34, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T03, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A33, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A04, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B25, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T09, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A32, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A44, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B17, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T15, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A23, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B19, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T07, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A10, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A02, Loop Loop A, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B11, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T13, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T27, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B22, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T51, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T24, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A03, Loop Loop A, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T34, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B06, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T44, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B16, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A13, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T04, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B35, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B05, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B13, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T19, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B31, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T16, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A40, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A28, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A20, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T52, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T39, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B09, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T14, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B38, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T47, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T11, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T12, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B36, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A27, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B20, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A14, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B02, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T26, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A15, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B43, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A12, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T10, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T37, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B21, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A46, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B18, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B40, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T08, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A36, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T36, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A26, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T38, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T31, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T49, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T50, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T40, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A38, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B44, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A30, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T30, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B24, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A21, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A18, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B28, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B26, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B29, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T17, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B32, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T32, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A43, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B12, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B30, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B14, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A29, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T02, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A25, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T25, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T06, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A07, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T33, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T28, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T05, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T42, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A11, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A35, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A01, Loop Loop A, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T01, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B42, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T35, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A19, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B39, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B41, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B08, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A34, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A08, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A16, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A39, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T22, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A42, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A09, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A37, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A06, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A41, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B10, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B07, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B37, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A05, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B01, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B33, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site A24, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T41, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B27, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T48, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A31, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T53, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site B03, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site B15, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site T20, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site T18, Loop Loop T, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site A22, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
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