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The Peaks of Otter Campground is nestled between the bases of two dominating mountains in the rolling hills of Virginia. Campers enjoy a rare serenity in this rustic setting. Relax, and leave your cares behind!
The 24-acre Abbott Lake is one of the biggest attractions the Peaks of Otter Park has to offer. The lake is well-stocked with small mouth bass and bluegill. A crystal-clear mountain stream winds through the nearby picnic area.
Numerous hiking opportunities range from demanding, scaling the area's high mountain peaks, to the moderate short, flat trail around Abbott Lake. Hikers are likely to stumble upon one of the mountain meadows, filled with wildflowers and migrating butterflies in the spring and a fantastic assortment of colors in the fall.
Abundant wildlife like deer and wild turkey are spotted daily at the Peaks of Otter Campground, and many rare species of birds reside or migrate along the mountain ranges. Summer interpretive programs are provided for visitors to learn about the wildlife as well as the history of the area.
Campsites are shaded under an umbrella of thick trees, and provide campers with picnic tables, lantern poles, and campfire rings/grills. The campground also offers modern conveniences like flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station.
Peaks of Otter Campground almost always has campsites available. In addition to the 60 sites available for advance reservation, there are 79 first-come, first-served campsites available. Availability of first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. These sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk.
Three mountain peaks sitting atop a thick blanket of forest make up the Peaks of Otter-- a recreational oasis spanning acre upon acre of rolling landscape along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway that follows the high crests of the central and southern Appalachians for 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
**The Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant** are located within walking distance of the campground, as is the **Sharp Top Country Store**. Restaurant dining, grab-and-go meals, snacks, souvenir items, camping supplies, firewood, and ice are all readily available to campground patrons.
The **Johnson Farm** , an old mountain farmstead restored and preserved to look as it did in the mid-1800s, is just a short walk away. Another restored historic structure, **Aunt Polly's Ordinary** , sits on the northeastern shore of Abbott Lake.
From Roanoke, Virginia, take the Blue Ridge Parkway north for 26 miles to Milepost 86.
From Bedford, Virginia, follow Route 43 to Blue Ridge Parkway; the campground is on the left before reaching the Parkway.
This is primitive car camping. If you don't know what that means, "car camping" means you have your own parking spot, very close to the place where you will put your tent (most of these sites have a small up or small down to traverse to get to the site, with a few rough stairs). 'Primitive" means that there is no electricity or water anywhere near your site. You will not be able to charge your phone. It also means that you should be prepared for very limited bathrooms/bathhouses (in this case, sporadically placed bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks).
If primitive car camping is what you want, I highly recommend this campground. Most of the sites are roomy and shaded. Lots of birds! Quiet! There are both reserveable and first-come-first-served sites. Loop A is closer to the road, and the sites aren't as nice, but it is also generator free. The sites in Loop B are nicer, but presumably someone camping next to you could use a noisy generator. A number of hiking trails are available within a reasonable driving distance.
There are bears. Be prepared to closely follow protocol. Bear boxes are scattered throughout the grounds.
Good plan: Camp here. Hike the next day. Go to the local YMCA and pay a few bucks for a shower. Camp for night 2. Continue your trip.
First time camping here. Sites seemed well-maintained and well-spaced. Good selection of both RV and tent sites, with 3 separate loops of sites that all cost $20 per night. No water or electrical hookups, but there are restroom facilities spread throughout the campground that are in good shape, though they offer no exterior or interior lighting. There is a store within easy walking distance, as well as a visitor center, lodge/restaurant and a range of hiking trails, ranging from easy to difficult. The campground was quiet and dark after around 10 p.m. Made for a relaxing time around the campfire. Keep an eye and ear out for bears - they are very active in and around this campground, according to the rangers. Would definitely return here.
This is a beautiful place. The ranger was so helpful. There are only a couple of spots that could fit our 39ft 5th wheel. No water or electric on site. Potable water and dump station available. No cell service but who needs that with such a great view. Lots of trees so our StarLink could not connect, but again who cares. We stayed 3 nights.
Sometimes a memory is better left a memory. We camped here about 26 years ago. We wanted to go back for another memory, we will remember this stay. Extremely small campsite and it wasn’t level at all. The ranger was awesome that checked us in. Peaks of Otter is a great backwoods campground. It is not for everyone.
Camp sites are spacious and spread out relatively well for privacy. The picnic tables are nice and sturdy and the fire pits have a grill. Bathrooms were well maintained, kept stocked with toilet paper, soap, and paper towels. We did need to walk through another campsite to get to the trail for the bathroom. We stayed on the outer ring, to avoid that possibility.
