How much does camping cost at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping?

Camping fees at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping range from $15/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Fees are typically paid at the campground entrance.

Is Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping first-come first-served or reservation?

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping before I book?

Yes! Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping has 6 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping?

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping is open January 01 to December 31. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping?

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping have?

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping has 8 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping?

Pets are not allowed at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

Q: Can I have a campfire at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping?

Fire policies at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping: Backcountry Use Regulations 1. A backcountry camping permit is required for all overnight use and must be in your possession at all times. 2. Camping outside of the designated sites is prohibited. 3. Campfires are allowed only inside the government provided fire grill. Only wood that is dead and down on the ground may be collected for use as firewood. The cutting of standing trees, whether live or dead is prohibited. The use of camp stoves is encouraged. All fires may be banned during periods of. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

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B-Report Card

Featured in:Fishing Camping Virginia

Quick Facts

1,867 ft

Price

$15/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Rocky Knob Recreational Area (Blue Ridge Parkway)Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

1,867 ft

Price

$15/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Rocky Knob Recreational Area (Blue Ridge Parkway)Official Website

Get Directions

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

$15.00 - $15.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Primitive Campsites: $15.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).

No paid fee categories listed.

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Provider

(828) 276-2300blri_campgrounds@nps.gov

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

36.8064, -80.3364

Nearby places

Floyd, VA — less than 8 miles

Driving directionsApproach and parking depend on where you begin the hike. The closest parking is at the end of Virginia State Road 605 (CC Camp Lane); SR 605 is gravel and turns to mostly dirt near the campground parking area and is directly off Virginia State Highway 8. Other parking/access points along the Blue Ridge Parkway include Rocky Knob Campground (Milepost 167), The Saddle Overlook (Milepost 168), The Rock Castle Gorge Overlook (Milepost 168.7), The Rocky Knob Visitor Center (Milepost 169) and The Twelve O'clock Overlook (Milepost 169). The Blue Ridge Parkway provides regional access; VA State Highway 8 provides closest access near Milepost 165.

Weather at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

Current alerts(5)

Cell phones most likely do not work in this area.
Check InTime is 3PM and Check Out Time is 12 Noon.
Do not print your permit until you have confirmed you will be completing your backcountry trip. Once the permit has been printed you can not cancel or modify the reservation.
Permits must be printed and carried on your person. You must write the permit number on a sheet of paper and place it on the dash of all vehicles covered by the permit.

Best Time to Camp at Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

Best season: fall. Fall offers the clearest benefit: peak leaf color, crisp low-humidity days, and excellent hiking and wildlife viewing. Expect daytime temperatures typically in the 50s–60s°F with nights dropping into the 30s–40s°F around October at this 1,867 ft elevation — ideal for long creekside hikes, photography, and trout fishing. Daytime crowds increase on Parkway weekends and mid-October, but the backcountry campground's eight secluded sites still feel remote compared with roadside campgrounds. Peak months: October, May, September, April

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

4.5 / 5

Overview lists fall as best season for peak leaf color, crisp days, and excellent hiking/viewing.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: January 01 to December 31. Book 2-3 months ahead.

About Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping sits along Rock Castle Creek in the Rocky Knob Recreational Area, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Floyd, Virginia. The campground has eight primitive sites at 1,867 feet elevation, each with a fire ring and bear locker. It's a quiet alternative to the roadside campgrounds during peak Parkway weekends.

A primitive, backcountry campground in the Rocky Knob Recreational Area of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The site is year-round and contains eight primitive campsites accessed via trail.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: fall. Fall offers the clearest benefit: peak leaf color, crisp low-humidity days, and excellent hiking and wildlife viewing. Expect daytime temperatures typically in the 50s–60s°F with nights dropping into the 30s–40s°F around October at this 1,867 ft elevation — ideal for long creekside hikes, photography, and trout fishing. Daytime crowds increase on Parkway weekends and mid-October, but the backcountry campground's eight secluded sites still feel remote compared with roadside campgrounds. Peak months: October, May, September, April

Elevation1867 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe campsites sit creekside under heavy shade, with Rock Castle Creek running beside them. The surrounding forest is typical Blue Ridge hardwood, with rhododendron in the understory. Trails from the campground climb to bare rock outcrops higher up the ridges, where you get long views across layered mountain ranges. In spring, wildflowers cover the forest floor. The gorge itself is steep and forested, cut by Rock Castle Creek and smaller tributaries.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

PrivacyEight campsites; sites are shaded and adjacent to Rock Castle Creek; each site includes a food storage locker.

Total Campsites8 campsites

Recommended SitesPack and carry your own drinking water. Each campsite includes a food storage locker — use lockers to secure food from wildlife. Access the sites from the SR 605 parking area or from multiple Blue Ridge Parkway trailhead/overlook parking areas (see driving directions).

Amenities available

Primitive backcountry campground with eight campsites. Each site has a fire ring/pad and a food storage locker; a portable toilet is available on site. Visitors are advised to pack in their own drinking water for safety. The campground is shaded and sits adjacent to Rock Castle Creek.

Fire rings

Food storage lockers

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Opportunities include hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, sightseeing and quiet relaxation with scenic Blue Ridge Parkway views. The campground sits along streams and creeks and is adjacent to Rock Castle Creek.

Winter Activities

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

Food Storage RequiredFood storage lockers are provided at each campsite for securing food and gear from wildlife.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Fire PolicyBackcountry Use Regulations 1. A backcountry camping permit is required for all overnight use and must be in your possession at all times. 2. Camping outside of the designated sites is prohibited. 3. Campfires are allowed only inside the government provided fire grill. Only wood that is dead and down on the ground may be collected for use as firewood. The cutting of standing trees, whether live or dead is prohibited. The use of camp stoves is encouraged. All fires may be banned during periods of

Trip Planning Tools

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Limited Reviews

Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

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Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

$15.00 - $15.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Primitive Campsites: $15.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).

No paid fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(828) 276-2300blri_campgrounds@nps.gov

Go if

Backpackers targeting October foliage on the 10.8-mile Rock Castle Gorge loop, who want a shaded, spaced-out creekside site with a bear locker already in place. Trout fishers with a Virginia license have Rock Castle Creek right at camp.

Skip if

No cell signal and no potable water on-site are firm realities here, anyone relying on their phone for navigation or safety, or unwilling to pack in all drinking water, will find this setup more stressful than scenic.

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Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping

B-

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 53% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 41 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.

Strengths

Grade A-.Booking
Grade B+.Crowds & noise
Grade B+.Belonging

Watch-outs

Grade C.Campsites
Grade C.Cleanliness
Grade C+.Value

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

How we grade →See how Virginia grades overall

About Blue Ridge Parkway

Context for the broader area surrounding Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.

Directions

The parkway is a 469-mile-long scenic road connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Numerous federal and state highways provide access to the parkway. Milepost markers are positioned every mile along the parkway, starting at 0 in Virginia and ending at 469 in North Carolina. We suggest using a map to identify the area you want to visit, as GPS directions often do not incorporate the parkway's milepost system.

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