Creek-Side Sites
Tent Camping Near Grayson Highlands
Six sites down by Cabin Creek, 2.4 miles from the state park. Bring your own tent — the heated shower, rec room and party deck come with it.
for 1 guest, $15 each additional guest
A campground near Whitetop that isn't a parking lot
Twenty-five dollars gets you a site in the grass near Cabin Creek and the run of everything else here. That last part is the bit worth underlining, because it is not how most campgrounds work: tent campers get the same indoor heated shower, the same rec room with the coffee maker, the same party deck and grill on the creek bank, and the same Starlink WiFi as anyone paying several times as much for the yurt. There is no tiered access.
There are six sites, which is deliberately not many. They sit downslope toward the water rather than in a numbered grid, so on most nights it feels less like a campground and more like camping on someone's farm — which is what it is. We have goats, chickens, dogs and a cat, and they are all reasonably interested in you.
Where you actually are
Grayson Highlands State Park is 2.4 miles up the road, and the Massie Gap parking area — the trailhead most people use to walk out to the wild ponies — is 6.4 miles. Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, is a day hike from here. We're on the Appalachian Trail at mile 496.5, with Elk Garden, Dickey Gap and Bear Tree Gap all within about ten miles by road. Cabin Creek runs through the bottom of the property with rainbow, brown and native brook trout in it; you'll want a Virginia freshwater licence if you plan to fish it.
One thing to plan around: the upper 17 miles of the Virginia Creeper Trail, between Whitetop and Damascus, are closed for reconstruction until 31 March 2027 after Hurricane Helene destroyed the trail bed and 30 of its 31 trestles. The Damascus to Abingdon half is open and rideable. We keep the details current on our Creeper Trail guide.
What to bring
Your own tent and sleep system, warm layers, and a headlamp. We're at roughly 2,900 feet and it gets genuinely cold at night well outside what the forecast for the nearest town suggests — shoulder-season campers underestimate this constantly. Cell signal in the surrounding mountains ranges from patchy to nonexistent, so download maps before you head out. If you're short a piece of kit, we rent gear — tents, bags, stoves, filtration and full packs.
If the state park is full
Hickory Ridge, inside Grayson Highlands, has 28 primitive tent sites and is a good campground. It also books out around three months ahead in season and runs porta-john-only from November through March. We're two and a half miles down the road with a heated shower running all winter. There's an honest side-by-side on our camping near Grayson Highlands page, and a wider survey of every option in the area on camping near Whitetop.
Colder than you bargained for? The bunkhouse is heated and fifty dollars, and the glamping tent has a real queen bed if you'd rather not sleep on the ground at all.
What you get
Every stay includes the heated shower, Starlink WiFi, rec room, party deck and spring water — see the full amenities list.
Other ways to stay
See all campground & lodging options
$50/night
$120/night for 2Glamping Yurt
A 16' x 16' yurt that is entirely your own — private deck, grill, fire pit, mini fridge and Keurig.
$80/night for 2Glamping Tent
A 10' x 18' canvas tent with a real queen bed, an added bunk, linens and electric.
$25/night for 1Car Camping
Park on the bank of Cabin Creek and sleep in your vehicle, with the shower and rec room across the street.
Not currently offeredTent camping questions
How many tent sites are there?
Six. They sit down toward Cabin Creek rather than in a grid, so you are not pitching a foot from your neighbour. It is still a small number, so autumn weekends and the spring thru-hiker bubble do fill — book ahead if your dates are fixed.
Can I have a campfire?
There is a fire pit on the party deck by the creek that campers are welcome to use, and a grill alongside it. Whether an open fire is allowed at any given moment depends on conditions and on any burn ban in effect for the county, so check with us when you arrive rather than assuming.
What is the ground like?
Grass and packed earth on a gentle slope down toward the creek. Standard stakes hold fine. It is a working property that we are still building out, so expect a farm rather than a manicured campground — that is either the appeal or it isn't.
Do tent campers get the shower and the rec room?
Yes, all of it. The indoor heated shower, the rec room with the microwave and coffee maker, the party deck, Starlink WiFi and the spring water tap are included whether you are paying $25 for a tent site or $120 for the yurt. Nothing on the property is gated behind a more expensive booking.
Can I leave my car here and slackpack?
Yes, and plenty of people do. We are at Appalachian Trail mile 496.5 and we run shuttles to Elk Garden, Massie Gap, Dickey Gap and Bear Tree Gap, so leaving the car with us and walking a one-way section is the usual way to do it. Tell us your plan and we'll work out the logistics.