Doughton Park Campground
Nestled in a landscape of mountains, open meadows and pioneer cabins, Doughton Park Campground is surrounded by 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails offering opportunities to view wildlife as well as get a feel for the lives of those who lived here long ago. Originally known as The Bluffs, the area came by its present name in honor of Congressman Robert L. Doughton, a long-time advocate and supporter of the Parkway.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in North Carolina · reservable in North Carolina · big rigs in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina · group sites in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 49 |
| Tent-only | 45 |
| RV, no hookups | 25 |
| Group tent areas | 3 |
| Host/management | 13 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 90 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
122 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A01 | A | RV | Back-in | 34 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A02 | A | RV | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A04 | A | RV | Back-in | 41 | Paved | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A05 | A | RV | Back-in | 42 | Paved | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A06 | A | RV | Back-in | 43 | Paved | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A07 | A | RV | Back-in | 21 | Paved | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A08 | A | RV | Back-in | 44 | Paved | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A09 | A | RV | Pull-through | 90 | Paved | Full | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A10 | A | RV | Back-in | 22 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A11 | A | RV | Back-in | 22 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 88 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites B48, B49, B50, B51 are listed accessible |
Doughton Park has a picnic area (at milepost 241), a campground (milepost 239), comfort stations, drinking water and access to 30 miles (48 km) of trail over bluegrass bluffs. The historic Bluff’s restaurant has reopened (at milepost 241). Campsites are shaded under an umbrella of thick trees, and provide campers with tables, latern posts, plus, campfire rings and grills. The site also offers camper conveniences like flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station. Doughton Park Campground usually has campsites available. In addition to the 33 sites available for advance reservation, 70 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk. With regard to backcountry camping: A permit is required to camp at Basin Cove Backcountry Camping. The cost is $15 per night.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Note: GPS devices and mapping programs do NOT provide accurate directions to Doughton Park Campground. GPS devices and mapping programs may take campers onto steep grades and gravel or dirt country roads not suitable for RV or trailer travel. From Charlotte: Take I-77 North. Merge onto US-21-BYP N via EXIT 83 on the left toward Roaring Gap/Sparta.
| Coordinates | 36.4289° N, 81.1544° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | S & L Outdoor Sprots Supply ↗ | 5.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Robert Handy Camping Center ↗ | 19.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Worth a stop
- 1.3 miDoughton Park Visitor Center (Milepost 241) ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Brinegar CabinBuilding · Whitehead · 0.9 mi
- Alleghany County CourthouseBuilding · Sparta · 5.6 mi
- Downtown Sparta Historic DistrictHistoric district · Sparta · 5.6 mi
Natural features
Rolling ridgetop meadows and steep mountainsides characterize the 7,000-acre Doughton Park. The elevation is a cool 3688 feet. It is one of the best places along the motor road to view white-tailed deer, raccoons, red and gray foxes, and bobcats. Visitors can enjoy spectacular shows of flame azalea and rhododendron in the late spring and fields of Dense Blazing Stars in mid to late July. Nearby Bluffs picnic area features open areas for night sky viewing with limited light pollution. 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.
Recreation
Over 30 miles of trails are available varying from strenuous to easy. Bicycles and motorized vehicles are prohibited on trails. Mileage listed is only traveling one way. Double the trail mileage to include out and back trip. Trail elevations can change more than 2,000 feet as trails descend into the Basin Cove Creek area from the parkway. Bluff Mountain Trail (7.5 miles) offers many scenic vistas and traverses relatively flat terrain. The trail runs near the parkway and is accessible from many locations along its route from Brinegar Cabin to Basin Cove Overlook. Cedar Ridge Trail (4.4 miles) descends a forested ridgeline to Grassy Gap Fire Road. Trailhead is located at the Brinegar Cabin. Grassy Gap Fire Road (6.1 miles) is wide enough for hikers and horseback riders to travel side by side. The trail starts at Milepost 243.9 and ambles down the mountainside past the primitive campground to State Route 1730 (Longbottom Road). Horseback riders must enter and exit at Longbottom Road. Flat Rock Ridge Trail (5.0) miles begins on the mountain-top meadow of Basin Cove Overlook. And ends on the damp, cool banks of Basin Cove Creek.
Guidebooks for Blue Ridge Parkway
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Lonely Planet Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trips 2Amy C. Balfour and Virginia Maxwell, 2022Find at Bookshop.org- Hiking and Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, Revised and Expanded EditionLeonard M. Adkins and J. Richard Wells, 2018Find 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 Doughton Park Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Doughton Park Campground?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Doughton Park Campground have?
135 sites, including 49 standard sites without power, 45 tent-only sites, 25 RV sites without hookups, and 3 group tent areas.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Doughton Park Campground?
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
Are there showers or a dump station at Doughton Park Campground?
The site also offers camper conveniences like flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Doughton Park Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Doughton Park Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Doughton Park Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Doughton Park Campground?
Sites B48, B49, B50, and B51 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. 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 Doughton Park Campground?
Over 30 miles of trails are available varying from strenuous to easy. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Doughton Park Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Basin Cove Backcountry Camping (2.7 mi), Fort Hamby Park (21.7 mi), and Bandits Roost (21.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Doughton Park Campground in?
Doughton Park Campground is a Blue Ridge Parkway campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Blue Ridge Parkway