2.4 Miles From the Park
Camping Near Grayson Highlands State Park
There are two realistic ways to camp within a few minutes of the wild ponies: inside the park at Hickory Ridge, or here, 2.4 miles down Highway 58. This page is an honest comparison of both.
Start with the state park
If Hickory Ridge has space on your dates and you want to wake up inside the park, book it. It is a good campground in a spectacular setting, it reopened in May 2026 after a long renovation closure, and nothing beats being able to walk to the balds from your tent. It has 38 sites with 20/30/50-amp electric and water taking rigs up to roughly 50 feet, 28 primitive tent sites, plus yurts, a bunkhouse and a group area. Chestnut Hollow next door handles horse campers. Reservations run through the Virginia State Parks system and open eleven months in advance.
We say that plainly because the two things that send people looking for an alternative are entirely predictable, and you may as well know them before you start refreshing a reservation page.
The first is availability. In season, Hickory Ridge books out roughly three months ahead. If you are planning a trip four weeks from now for a Saturday in October, the odds are not good.
The second is winter. From November through March the campground runs primitive — porta-johns, no bathhouse, no hot water. That is fine if you came for exactly that. It is less fine at 4,300 feet in February.
Hickory Ridge vs. staying here
Two and a half miles apart. The differences that actually change a trip:
| Hickory Ridge (state park) | Jeff Davises | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking window | Opens 11 months out; book ~3 months ahead in season | Often available the same week |
| November – March | Primitive only — porta-johns, no bathhouse | Open year-round, indoor heated shower |
| Hookups | 38 water & electric sites, rigs up to ~50 ft | One RV spot, 50-amp + spring water, no waste hookup |
| Tent sites | 28 primitive sites | 4 creek-side pads |
| Trail shuttles | None | Elk Garden, Massie Gap, Dickey Gap, Bear Tree Gap |
| Gear rental | None | Full packs and individual items |
| Food on site | None | On request, locally grown |
| Nightly cost | $15 – $40 | $15 – $100 |
When we're the better call
When the park is full. When it's November and you want a hot shower. When you want to walk a one-way section of the Appalachian Trail and need someone to drive you to the trailhead rather than shuffling two cars. When a piece of your kit has failed and you need to rent a tent, a bag or a stove. When you would rather not carry food. Those are the gaps a state park campground structurally cannot fill, and they are most of why this place exists.
We're on the AT at mile 496.5, run by people with more than 5,000 trail miles between them, with Cabin Creek and its trout at the bottom of the field. Options run from a $15 tent pad through an RV spot with 50-amp electric, a heated bunkhouse, a glamping tent and a yurt — all of them including the same shower, rec room, party deck and spring water.
Getting to the ponies
From here it's 6.4 miles to the Massie Gap parking area, then a walk of one to five miles across the balds depending on how far you range. The ponies are free-roaming, so nobody can promise you a sighting at a particular rock — but the open high meadows above Massie Gap are where they graze, and most people find them. Don't feed or touch them. There's more detail in our guide to finding the wild ponies, and a wider survey of every camping option in the area on camping near Whitetop.
Camping near the park — common questions
How far is the hostel from Grayson Highlands State Park?
About 2.4 miles to the park entrance, and roughly 6.4 miles to the Massie Gap parking area where most people start walking to find the ponies. It is the closest lodging of its kind to the park.
Is there camping inside Grayson Highlands State Park?
Yes. Hickory Ridge is the main campground, with 38 water and electric sites taking rigs up to about 50 feet and 28 primitive tent sites. Chestnut Hollow handles equestrian campers. The park also has yurts and a bunkhouse. Reservations go through the Virginia State Parks system and open eleven months ahead.
Do I need a park pass if I stay outside the park?
Grayson Highlands charges a parking or entry fee per vehicle regardless of where you slept. Budget for it as a day-use cost on top of your camping, whichever campground you choose.
When is the best time to see the wild ponies?
They are out year-round and free-roaming, so there is no guaranteed spot — the open balds above Massie Gap are where they graze. Early morning and evening tend to be better than the middle of a busy summer afternoon. Do not feed or touch them.
Can I camp near the park in winter?
It gets harder. Hickory Ridge runs primitive with porta-johns only from November through March, so no bathhouse and no hot water. We stay open year-round with the indoor heated shower running, which is the main reason people book with us in the cold months.
How cold does it get up there?
Colder than the forecast for the nearest town suggests. The park sits above 4,300 feet and we are at roughly 2,900, so shoulder-season nights routinely run well below what people pack for. Bring a layer more than you think you need.
Two and a half miles from the ponies
Tent pads, RV, glamping and bunks — plus shuttles, gear and food. Check what's open on your dates.