Otter Creek Campground map (click to enlarge)

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The Otter Creek Campground closed in August 2023, supposedly because, despite high unemployment, the National Park Service was not able to hire anybody to run it. It was closed for 2024 as well, so I guess the NPS still can’t find anyone looking for a job. I drove by in August 2024, and the camp office is falling apart, so I have my doubts about it reopening.

CAMPING SEASON

Otter Creek Campground is one of eight campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway that is operated by the National Park Service. It is typically open from late May until the end of October, though the official opening and closing dates change each year. Be sure to get the latest schedule on the official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Otter Creek Campground can accommodate tent campers, RVs, and other self-contained sleeping vehicles. There are no group campsites.

There is one campsite reserved for disabled visitors in Loop B.

If a campsite has a tent pad, all tents must be pitched on the pad. I’m not sure of the pad size, but they are at least 10′ x 10′. This should allow one large tent or two small tents. If you have more tents than can fit on the pad, you must pay for another campsite. Tent pads are pre-leveled areas of earth that are enclosed in a wood or concrete frame, so regardless of hilly or sloping terrain, you will have a level area on which to pitch your tent.

All sites in Loop B of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Otter Creek Campground have level tent pads

NUMBER OF SITES

Otter Creek Campground is comprised of two loops and has a total of 67 campsites. All sites can accommodate up to six people. Most allow campers to bring two vehicles. All vehicles must be parked on the pavement.

Loop A

Loop A is for RVs and other self-contained sleeping vehicles. The loop has 23 campsites, 15 of which can be reserved in advance. The campsites have either large back-in parking areas or pull through driveways that can accommodate even the largest RVs. Back-in sites designed for trailers have a double-wide parking area: one side for your trailer and another for your vehicle. Driveways range from 20 to 90 feet in length. Maximum vehicle lengths for each campsite are given on the reservation website, Recreation.gov.

Campgrounds along the Blue Ridge Parkway are not set up for long term camping, so those with large RVs won’t be able to put up awnings and wood decks, as there is very little space on the sides of the parking areas. There is a small yard where you can set up a table or sitting area.

Each site has a picnic table and a grill / fire ring. Sites 57 through 69 are along Otter Creek.

Pull through campsite in Loop A in the Otter Creek Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Loop B

Loop B is for tent camping only. There are 45 campsites, 25 of which can be reserved in advance.

In addition to the tent pads, each site has a picnic table, a grill / fire ring, and a lantern post. All sites have a driveway deep enough to fit at least a single vehicle. Some may fit two vehicles end to end, but if you can’t fit your vehicles in the parking space, you must park at another location. All vehicles must be parked on the pavement.

There is one handicap site in Loop B, which is right next to the restroom. Sites 1 through 14 border Otter Creek.

Some campsites at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Otter Creek Campground border Otter Creek

AMENITIES

Each loop has a restroom building with modern toilets and sinks, but no showers or hot water. No sites have electricity or water hook-ups. There is a dump station for RVs located at the entrance to Loop A. Keep in mind that many of the National Park Service campground restrooms along the Blue Ridge Parkway do not have paper towels or a hand dryer, and the lighting is often very poor. Lights tend to be over the sink area, but not over the toilet stalls. Bring some sort of lantern with you at night if you plan to use one of the toilets. A flashlight will not provide the proper illumination.

The Otter Creek Trail runs 3.5 miles from the campground to the James River Visitor Center. There is a parking area before entering the campground for non-campers who want to hike the trail. This is a one-way trail, so either have a ride at one end or be prepared to hike 7 miles round trip. You can get onto the trail at many of the pullouts between the campground and the visitor center. I did not hike this trail, but the Blue Ridge Parkway Outdoor Guide rates it as fairly easy.

RESERVATIONS

Select campsites at Otter Creek Campground can be reserved up to six months in advance online at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. The rest are taken on a first come, first served basis. Current fees are listed on Recreation.gov. When making reservations you will be given information about the size of the parking areas, so choose appropriately if you are in an RV or trailer. Holders of the Interagency Senior, Access, Golden Age, or Golden Access passes are entitled to a 50% discount on campground fees.

For those arriving at the campground without a reservation, some sites are available on a first come, first served basis, and sites that can be reserved but are not taken are available for that night only. To tell the two types of sites apart, look on the campsite post for a diamond. Solid diamonds are first come, first served sites, and diamonds with an R on them designate sites available for reservation.

Coded posts identify the type of campsite at campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway: reservable site (left) vs. first come, first served site (right)

When you arrive, drive around and pick out a site. Unoccupied first come, first served sites are yours for the taking for up to 30 days. If there are none left, you can get an open reservable site for one night only. However, don’t assume that just because it is 10 PM and nobody is at a reservable site that it hasn’t been reserved because the person may show up at midnight. Rangers put yellow tags on the posts of sites that have been reserved, so look for R-Diamond posts with no yellow tag. If the campground office is open, you might want to double check before setting up at a reservable site.

Once you have a site, return to the camp office and self-register. You can pay with cash, check, or credit card, though regardless of whether there is a Ranger or camp host on duty, you do not make payment to them. Instead, get a self-registration envelope, provide the requested information (pen or pencil required), and then place cash or check into the envelope, or if paying with a credit card, write the card information on the envelope. When done, tear off your receipt (which you attach to the camp post) and drop the payment envelope into the secure payment box.

If you have a reservation and arrive after hours and there is no tag on your site post, you must get one in the morning at the campground office.

CAMPGROUND RULES

• Camping is limited to a maximum of 30 consecutive days in any one campground and/or 30 days total per calendar year across all Parkway facilities.
• A maximum of 6 people may occupy a site.
• Checkout Time is 12:00 PM.
• Camping is permitted only at designated sites. Sites are for use by a single family or parties not exceeding six people.
• Hammocks may be used within established campsites. An established campsite is defined as within 50 feet of the existing grill/fire pit. They must be at least 20 feet from any public use areas such as trails, water spigots, restrooms, or other facilities. Hammocks may not be connected or tied to any facility. If tied to a tree, the tree must be at least 4 inches in diameter, and anchor ropes/webbing must be ½ inch or greater in width. Padding must be used if less than ½ inch in width. Trimming of trees and underbrush is prohibited.
• Campground speed limit is 15 mph. Vehicles are to be parked on the pavement of an assigned site or in designated parking areas. No more than two vehicles may be parked in each site (i.e., trailer and car, two cars, two motorcycles).
• All food, coolers, equipment used to cook or store food, and anything that may smell like food (such as toothpaste) must be stored in a closed vehicle or a camping unit made of solid, non-pliable material. Food may also be stored in food lockers provided in some campgrounds.
• Only charcoal can be used in any grill provided. Gas grills and stoves are allowed. Extinguish all fires before leaving the campground or picnic area. Do not leave any fire unattended. Only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state agency may be brought onto the Parkway.
• Wood gathering for use in park campgrounds is limited to dead material on the ground lying no more than 100 yards from the camp or picnic site.
• Respect quiet hours between 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Use of generators is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Please keep in mind that continuous, loud generator or audio equipment noise, at any time of the day, disturbs other campers.
• Do not drive nails into trees or strip bark, leaves, or branches from trees or shrubs. Use the lantern posts provided at each site. Do not hang lanterns from trees or loop them over branches or vegetation; these practices always damage and sometimes kill trees and vegetation.
• All dogs, cats, and other pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet or under physical restraint at all times. Do not leave pets unattended in the campground or your car. Please prevent excessive barking and properly dispose of pet waste.
• The use of skateboards, roller skates, and other coasting devices is not permitted in the park or campground. Bicycles are permitted on roads only. NC law requires persons under 16 years of age to wear an approved bicycle helmet when operating a bicycle. In Virginia, bicycle helmet regulations vary by county.

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