Camp Observer1 of 8 photos
Otter Creek Campground
Overview
Otter Creek Campground is located at the Blue Ridge Parkway's lowest elevation, only 649 feet above sea level. Picturesque Otter Creek winds through this quiet, rustic campground. Night skies are spectacular here, and there are several nearby trails to hike including the Otter Creek Trail, which is accessible from the campground. Just imagine enjoying the crackle of an evening campfire with the murmur of the creek in the background! Relax....
Recreation
The James River/Otter Creek recreation area has fishing in Otter Lake and a number of hiking trails including Trail of Trees, Otter Creek, Otter Lake Loop, and James River Canal.
Hike the Otter Creek Trail to James River Visitor Center. There visitors can view a restored canal lock from the Kanawha Canal, part of the historic James River transporation artery which was once the primary commercial route in the state of Virginia.
Facilities
Both RV and tent sites are available at this well-kept campground. Sites are equipped with grills, picnic tables and lantern posts. Amenities such as flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station are also at hand. All sites are available for advance reservation, and may be booked on the day of arrival.
Natural Features
This area's abundant water and warmer temperatures support plant and animal communities that are unlike those found at other areas on the Parkway. A short walk along the Trail of Trees or a hike along the clear, cool waters of Otter Creek will give ample proof that there is more to the Blue Ridge Parkway than mountain-top vistas.
Nearby Attractions
- Otter Creek Trail (3.5 miles/5.6 km) parallels the Parkway road as it meanders from Otter Creek campground to the James River Visitor Center. Most sections of this trail are easy to hike and can be reached from many points along the motor road.
- Otter Lake Loop Trail (0.9 miles/1.4 km) provides scenic views of Otter Lake. This is also a good trail for watching wildlife. Look for beaver lodges and dams along tributary streams. Early morning and late evening are prime times for wildlife observations.
- Trail of Trees (0.4 miles/.6 km) begins near the James River Visitor Center and wanders through a shaded stream drainage. Trail signs identify many of the trees and shrubs of the river valley. This trail also affords a handsome view of the James River water gap, a rare geological feature.
- Canal Lock Trail (0.4 miles/.6 km) begins at the visitor center and crosses the James River on a walkway beneath the bridge. The restored Battery Creek Lock, located a short distance from the bridge, is typical of those constructed in the 1800s as part of the James River and Kanawha Canal. This canal, with nearly 100 locks, helped make the river a major transportation corridor before the Civil War. Exhibits at the Battery Creek site explain how locks were used to raise and lower boats to adjust for the changing elevation of the river.
Camp site features
Across 68 camp sites:
- Picnic table: 67 of 68 sites
- Pets allowed: all 68 sites
- ADA accessible: 4 of 68 sites
- Longest rig: 66 ft
- Largest party: 6 people
- Equipment: Tent
Directions
Traveling from the Lynchburg area on Rte 29, turn onto Rte 130 West. Travel
approximately 25 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance. From the ramp, turn
right (north) onto the Parkway. Travel one mile to the Otter Creek Campground.
Traveling from the Lexington/Buena Vista direction on Rte 81, take the Blue
Ridge Parkway exit to Rte 60 E towards Amherst. Drive approximately 16 miles,
turning at the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance sign. At the Stop sign, turn left
(south) onto the Parkway. Travel approximately 16 miles to the entrance of
Otter Creek Campground.
Stay Limit
Check in from 3 PM, check out by 12 PM.
Reviews
Ratings (143)
5 stars
98
4 stars
27
3 stars
13
2 stars
4
1 stars
1
Michele D
Loop:A
Site:066
Reviewed 20 days ago
Nice level spot for my campervan. If I had it to do over again, I’d stay in the tent loop because RV’s running generators are annoying. Close to the bathrooms.
Clifford M
Loop:B
Site:031
Reviewed a month ago
magical small campground, a must adventure finding a famous pie shop within a 15 miles radius. dancing fireflies at night
Tobias T
Loop:A
Site:067
Reviewed a month ago
Beautiful campground right at a creek, possibility to make nice moderate hikes. Quiet and with direct access to the Parkway. A perfect location to explore the Parkway and surroundings to the north and south.
David C
Loop:B
Site:004
Reviewed a month ago
The camp hosts were attentive to the issues that came up. Thanks to the volunteers!
neil r
Loop:B
Site:041
Reviewed 2 months ago
It’s very hard to pick a good site from the Website. Luckily someone showed up later in the evening and let me pick out a nicer site.
I feel it’s a bit over priced for a campground with no Showers.
The Restrooms were very nice and clean.
Harmony S
Loop:B
Site:020
Reviewed 2 months ago
Staff were all very nice and helpful. It rained for the whole weekend but we still had a fun time camping!
Barry S
Loop:A
Site:067
Reviewed 7 months ago
This campground is a hidden gem. Sit at the lowest point on the parkway, it boasts nice pave sites, clean restrooms and a picturesque babbling creek running on the RV as well as the tenting loops. You will not regret staying several nights in this campground.
Stephanie H
Loop:B
Site:019
Reviewed 9 months ago
Super clean campground with friendly camp host. Site had elevated tent area which was great, picnic table and firepit.
John B
Loop:A
Site:058
Reviewed 9 months ago
Good campground for an overnight stay. The Otter Creek Trail was a good hike!
Mark D
Loop:A
Site:047
Reviewed 9 months ago
I showed up late but it was easy to find my site and I had a peaceful night in my truck camper.
Gretchen M
Loop:B
Site:032
Reviewed 9 months ago
Beautiful spot, close to multiple hiking trails. Fire pit and grate were helpful. Bathroom facilities were clean. Highly recommend.
John B
Loop:B
Site:013
Reviewed 9 months ago
The tent sites were very well maintained.i really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the camp grounds.
Carolyn R
Loop:A
Site:053
Reviewed 9 months ago
The campground is beautiful. It was not heavily populated. The host was friendly. There are many beautiful sites.
Sara M
Loop:B
Site:001
Reviewed 9 months ago
We love Otter Creek. I have been coming since I was a child and we were able to take my girls for the first time!
Kristen O
Loop:A
Site:063
Reviewed 9 months ago
Beautiful sites, super friendly & helpful ranger, well-maintained bathroom facilities.
Matthew H
Loop:B
Site:009
Reviewed 9 months ago
Quiet and peaceful spot, Park rangers, and campground hits made the entire experience pleasant and enjoyable. Too bad it rained almost the whole time. But it ain't camping if it doesn't rain haha
Dale L
Loop:A
Site:065
Reviewed 10 months ago
Great site and easy to navigate with our class B campervan. Staff was very friendly and available late. We were able to arrive a day early and get our same site we had previously booked. There was alot of shade which impacted our ability to get a good signal with our Starlink.
Chris O
Loop:A
Site:064
Reviewed 10 months ago
The campground is in great condition. The asphalt has all been redone in the last year or two. The Rangers, working without pay due to the shutdown, were very friendly and helpful.
Henry H
Loop:A
Site:064
Reviewed 10 months ago
Very quiet. The sound of the creek very peaceful. Park ranger and camp host were both very good. Regular checks arond camp.
Janet H
Loop:A
Site:067
Reviewed 10 months ago
We love all the work done on Otter Creek campground. The asphalt on the sites is so much better. Love this campground.
Robert F
Loop:B
Site:012
Reviewed 10 months ago
The park ranger was very helpful. Proximity to beautiful hiking trails was a plus. Otter Creek was gorgeous. The campground was laid out well with nice tent pads built up.
Linda L
Loop:A
Site:064
Reviewed a year ago
We enjoy this campground a couple of times a year. Unfortunately, at our last visit someone left their dog unattended in their pop up camper and the poor dog barked and barked for hours. There needs to be better enforcement of the rules.
Brenda K
Loop:A
Site:050
Reviewed a year ago
Campground is convenient , right along BR Parkway. Quiet location with creek running alongside which masks any light traffic noise.. Bathrooms are clean, our ranger was friendly and helpful. Will be headed back to keep exploring the area. Close to Otter Lake Dam, James River footbridge and Enchanted creek 4x4 trail.
Ronald L
Loop:B
Site:001
Reviewed a year ago
Had a great time at otter creek. The staff was friendly and very professional. The sites were clean and well organized. I will return soon and I already recommend otter creek to all of my friends. Even though it was to hot to be camping in had a great time. Two thumbs up .
Philip M
Loop:B
Site:017
Reviewed a year ago
We really enjoyed our nearly weeklong stay at Ottercreek. The host and ranger were helpful and friendly.
Erin C
Loop:A
Site:057
Reviewed a year ago
Otter Creek was built a long time ago. The sites are small, not level, and have a lot of vegetation that makes them very buggy sites. The creek is lovely but access is difficult. I think for young campers who are bonding with nature, this might be great. We found it to be ok for a night or two but not so much for any longer.
George J
Loop:B
Site:042
Reviewed a year ago
Camp ground was great, Ranger was very friendly and helpful. My only compliant is the loud inconsiderate people camping there, they were very loud into the evening. The kids is one thing but the adults getting loud with them instead of calming them down was another.
I feel there needs to be a sign telling people to consider other people around them. Most of us go camping to enjoy the quiet and relax
Bryan B
Loop:A
Site:067
Reviewed a year ago
All the roads and sites are newly paved. The historic curbing is refreshed. And the tent sites all had new pads in place. The overall campground has been cleaned up really well and we enjoyed our stay. The park ranger was helpful and friendly. I would recommend this campground to anyone looking for a quiet place to camp for a few days. There are no hookups but there is a dump station and a bath house with restrooms, but no showers.
Erica S
Loop:B
Site:006
Reviewed a year ago
Facility was well managed by very friendly
Rangers. The newly renovated tent pads were great, they are elevated off the ground a bit. Overall we had a great experience!
Herb D
Loop:A
Site:067
Reviewed a year ago
Amazing work done on this wonderful campground. It was great. Very happy that it has reopened. Great Ranger and campground host.
mya g
Loop:B
Site:009
Reviewed 3 years ago
very nice campground on the parkway, we loved that our site was right by the creek where we found lots of crawdads and salamanders. otter lake and the james river are both only a few miles away on the parkway which was really lovely. no cell service at the campground but i had service at both otter lake and the james river visitor center area. very quiet and wooded, but the sites along the creek are somewhat close to the parkway, though we didn’t have any problems with that (a few groups of motorcycles went by in the morning but that was the only time it was noticable). the camp hosts were kind and helpful and rangers were around as well. no firewood for sale at the campground but we went into town a few miles up the road from the parkway to get some. lots of kindling around to be gathered though. we had a lovely time!
Kim C
Loop:B
Site:001
Reviewed 3 years ago
The sites were private. Campground was clean and the Rangers were incredibly helpful and went above and beyond for us. They were wonderful
Mike W
Loop:B
Site:009
Reviewed 3 years ago
The night I reserved for camping it was raining heavy all day long. I could not get a refund on my fee. There should be an exception on refunds for bad weather.
Donald S
Loop:B
Site:009
Reviewed 3 years ago
Great Wilderness campsite. Peaceful and private. Clean facilities too.
Linda W
Loop:B
Site:006
Reviewed 3 years ago
The campsite was quiet! Had a nice relaxing evening!
We were also visited by the campground volunteers… they were very welcoming and friendly!
Britton W
Loop:A
Site:050
Reviewed 3 years ago
Probably a great location in the fall. Very hot in the summer.
Bradley S
Loop:A
Site:053
Reviewed 3 years ago
So quiet. I'm told weekend are busy though. Great hike, sorry and not step for FL folks.
Emma V
Loop:B
Site:019
Reviewed 3 years ago
We had a campsite right near the bathroom path, so we didn’t really have neighbors. Bathrooms are cleaned daily it seemed. Campground host was kind and told us where to get firewood. It was 5 minutes away. Go to the bridge near the James river visitors center. Drive up and down the parkway! Stop at every pull off (there aren’t many). Tent pad was also nice and dry.
Robert A
Loop:B
Site:013
Reviewed 3 years ago
This has become a Memorial Day tradition to camp here. Clean bathrooms and campsites. Beautiful area. The only issue we had this time was the campsite was covered in about a foot of leaves we had to clear. Luckily, the campers next to us went a purchased a leaf rake they let us borrow. Can't beat the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Popularity
Very quiet · 8%
Busiest in July, when about 8% of sites are booked. Based on 11 years of reservations.
Location
Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: 434-299-5125 (MAY - OCTOBER)
