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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.
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.
Doughton Park Campground usually has campsites available. In addition to the 24 sites available for advanced reservation, 97 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campsites are shaded under an umbrella of thick trees, and provide campers with tables, campfire rings and grills. The site also offers camper conveniences like flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station.
Primitive Backcountry Camping is available at Basin Cove.
Milepost 239 Blue Ridge Parkway
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. Go 2.9 miles. Merge onto US-21. Go 18.1 miles. Turn left to take the Parkway South ramp. Turn south onto Blue Ridge Parkway. Go 10 miles to Doughton Park Campground.
From Raleigh: Take I-40 West. Merge onto US-421 North via EXIT 188 toward Yadkinville/Wilkesboro. Go 28.3 miles. Merge onto I-77 N via EXIT 265A toward Elkin. Go 10.1 miles. Merge onto US-21-BYP N via EXIT 83 on the left toward Roaring Gap/Sparta. Go 2.9 miles. Merge onto US-21. Go 18.1 miles. Turn left to take the Parkway South ramp. Turn south onto Blue Ridge Parkway. Go 10 miles to Doughton Park Campground.
Obtain a free permit from the Doughton Park campground office (May-October) or the Bluffs District Office 828-348-3487.
This is yet another beautiful, rustic Nat’l Park campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is not as pretty as some of the others, the sites are not that large so choose carefully, but we like them all better than private campgrounds. We’ve stayed here twice-once in a smaller site along the outer perimeter and this time in A1, the first as you enter and closest to the Parkway. It was open and sunny (great for charging our solar) and surprisingly quiet as there was little traffic; especially at night. We did the gentle hike to The Bluffs Restaurant through forests and meadows as well as the hike in the opposite direction to the old homestead called Brinegar cabin. We highly recommend both. We held back a star due to the condition of the bathroom. Rustic is ok but there was no lighting at all and it was not too clean. We intend to go back and highly recommend.
This is a very peaceful and pretty campground. It's a bit worn down and the tent pads are rough on many sites (some don't even have tent pads at all). There are no showers and the toilets are a bit grim, but if you're used to camping it's pretty typical. My biggest complaint is that the water spouts are few and far between. We tend to cook a lot and it can be a long haul for water to clean up with. Access to trails and unique areas om the parkway is great.
We arrived the last weekend they were open and had the place mostly to ourselves- it’s was amazing. It took a while to find a spot that our van would fit in, but it worked out. The one thing that is important to note, there are *very few* bathrooms, so be prepared for that.
The park is extensive and beautiful, with trails that will keep you occupied for days. The views are amazing, too. We will definitely be back next year 🌲🌳
