North Carolina / Alleghany County / Doughton Park / Blue Ridge Parkway

Doughton Park Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Typically operates mid-May through late October. Check Recreation.gov or call the park for current season dates.

About

Nestled within the 7,000-acre Doughton Park along the Blue Ridge Parkway, this campground offers a mountain camping experience at 3,688 feet elevation. The park features rolling ridgetop meadows and steep mountainsides with over 30 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous. Popular trails include the 7.5-mile Bluff Mountain Trail with scenic vistas, the 4.9-mile Basin Cove Creek Trail with 26 creek crossings and waterfalls leading to the historic Caudill Cabin, and the family-friendly 1.4-mile Fodder Stack Trail. Originally known as The Bluffs, the area was renamed in honor of Congressman Robert Doughton, a long-time advocate for the Parkway. Historic attractions include the Brinegar Cabin dating from 1885, where weaving demonstrations are offered seasonally, and a historic cemetery near milepost 245.5. The park is one of the best locations along the Parkway for viewing white-tailed deer, raccoons, red and gray foxes, and bobcats. Wildflower displays include flame azalea and rhododendron in late spring and Dense Blazing Stars in mid to late July. The campground has 108 sites total with 31 reservable sites and 77 first-come, first-served sites, plus three group sites. Facilities include seasonal flush toilets, potable water, and a dump station, but no hookups or showers. The campground offers both tent and RV sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Basin Cove Creek offers stocked trout fishing with a valid North Carolina or Virginia license.

Directions

Located at Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 239.2 in North Carolina. GPS coordinates: 36.42889, -81.15444. Do not rely on GPS mapping programs as they may route to unsuitable roads for RVs. From I-77 North, take Exit 83 to US-21-BYP North toward Roaring Gap/Sparta, merge onto US-21 North for 18.1 miles, then turn left onto the Parkway South ramp and continue 10 miles south to the campground.

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