U.S. Forest Service · George Washington & Jefferson National Forest · Troutdale, VA

Grindstone

Grindstone Campground is tucked in the Fairwood Valley among pastures and wooded hillsides. The surrounding Mount Rogers National Recreation Area provides endless opportunities for fun and relaxation in the nature setting. Opossum Loop will be open for tent campers. There will be no available water. No Dump Station available.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov136 sites110 ft maxElectric hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: electric hookups in Virginia · reservable in Virginia · big rigs in Virginia · pets allowed in Virginia

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Grindstone CampsiteGrindstoneGRINDSTONEGRINDSTONE
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length110 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
AccessibilitySites 023, 025, 026, 022 and 6 more are listed accessible

All sites have a fire ring with a cooking grate, lantern post, picnic table, and tent pad. Domestic pets are allowed as long as they are attended and kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Standard electric sites have 30 amp service and a water hook-up. No available water in opossum, COTTONTAIL, and groundhog den loops.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
Seasonmid-April to late-November
ForestGeorge Washington & Jefferson National Forest

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Grindstone30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.80 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowFebruary: 3.77 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowMarch: 4.35 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowApril: 4.28 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowMay: 4.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.39 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 5.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.53 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.46 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.97 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 3.04 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 4.12 inches of precipitation, 2.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.7°F averageFebruary: 36.6°F averageMarch: 44.0°F averageApril: 53.2°F averageMay: 62.0°F averageJune: 69.5°F averageJuly: 73.1°F averageAugust: 72.2°F averageSeptember: 66.5°F averageOctober: 55.0°F averageNovember: 44.0°F averageDecember: 36.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Saltville 1N, 19 miles from the campground at 1,733 feet, station USC00447506 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 48 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 10 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Marion, Virginia, take exit 45 to Highway 16 south. Continue for 17 miles, then turn right onto Highway 603. After 6 miles turn left into the Grindstone Campground entrance.

Nearest townTroutdale, Virginia
Coordinates36.6869° N, 81.5411° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗12.6 mi
Outdoor gearDamascus Outfitters ↗14.2 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗26.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Camping at Grindstone Campground in Mount Rogers National Recreation Area & a day trip

Worth a stop

The Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, which traverses more than 50 miles with views of forestland and open rural countryside, is accessible nearby.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Mount Rogers Tie
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Whispering Waters
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Mount Rogers ↗
    4.1 mi trail · hiking · national_recreation_or_other
  • 0.5 mi
    Fairwood Valley
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Grassy Branch
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 0.7 mi
    Flattop
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Lewis Fork Wilderness.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

At 3,800 feet, Grindstone is surrounded by mixed hardwoods, hemlock and rhododendrons. The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area spans 200,000 acres of National Forest, with four wildlife-rich wilderness areas.

Recreation

The area offers excellent hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and hunting. Recommended hiking trails include the Mount Rogers Trail at 7.5 miles and the Whispering Waters Nature Trail at 0.6 miles. Several streams pass by just beyond the campground, with trout fishing available in abundance. The campground boasts a water play area in the creek, an amphitheater, a playground and volleyball courts to entertain families.

Guidebooks for Virginia

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Virginia
    Randy Porter, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Virginia and West Virginia
    Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best tent camping
    Johnny Molloy, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Grindstone?

Sites at Grindstone are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Grindstone?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Grindstone open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season mid-April to late-November.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Grindstone have?

136 sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Grindstone?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Grindstone have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Grindstone?

Yes, pets are allowed at Grindstone. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Grindstone?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Grindstone?

Sites 023, 025, 026, and 022 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 10 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Grindstone?

The area offers excellent hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and hunting. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Grindstone?

Troutdale, Virginia. The Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, which traverses more than 50 miles with views of forestland and open rural countryside, is accessible nearby.

Source: Getting there

What if Grindstone is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Fox Creek Horse Camp (2.2 mi), Old Virginia Group Horse Camp (3 mi), and Hurricane Campground (3.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby