Julian Price Campground Map (click to enlarge)

CAMPING SEASON

Price Park Campground is one of eight campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway that is operated by the National Park Service. It is typically open from April 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

Price Park Campground can accommodate tent campers, RVs, and other self-contained sleeping vehicles and trailers. The majority of the sites at this campground feature back-in parking spaces, though there are a few pull-through sites, most of which are the RV-only sites. Maximum vehicle lengths for each campsite are given on the reservation website, Recreation.gov.

Pull-through driveway at site A7 at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

There are five campsites reserved for disabled visitors. There are no group campsites.

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.

NUMBER OF SITES

Price Park Campground has 185 campsites arranged in six loops. A, B, and D Loops are for tents and RVs, though most of the parking spaces fit only small, self-contained sleeping vehicles and trailers. C Loop is for tent campers only. Loops E and F are for RVs only, and they have much larger parking spaces. A-Loop is on the opposite side of the Blue Ridge Parkway from the other loops and is closest to Price Lake.

Each campsite allows up to six people. Most RV and Tent / RV sites have parking for two vehicles, while tents-only sites tend to have room for only one vehicle. All vehicles must be parked on the pavement. Parking information is given on Recreation.gov.

A Loop

There are 35 campsites in A Loop, 14 of which can be reserved in advance. Twenty-one sites are exclusively for tent campers, six are exclusively for RVs, and eight can accommodate tents and RVs. Driveways for the RV sites range from 20 to 70 feet in length, though most are between 20 and 30 feet and are thus more suited for self-contained sleeping vehicles such as vans and pick-up truck campers, or small pop-up camper trailers. Three of these RV sites have large, pull-through parking spaces. The main difference between an RV-only site and the sites for tents is that the RV-only sites do not have a tent pad.

Sites A9 through A27 are on the shore of Price Lake, though brush and trees often block the view. Sites A9, A10, A19, and A25 have clear views of the lake. A22, A23, A26, and A27 have a partial view. All others along the lake have a very limited view of the water due to the vegetation.

View from site A9 at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

View from site A25 at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Some of the tent pads and picnic tables are either up- or downhill from the parking spaces. If you want a level site, avoid A4 through A6, A9, A10, A12, A17, A18, and A25. The tent areas at A5 and A6 are so far downhill that there are steps to climb. However, compared to some of the other loops at Julian Price Campground, A Loop is fairly level, which is to be expected since it borders the lake.

A29, a level campsite in the A Loop at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Despite having a lake view, site A7 at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway is very sloped

On thing to be aware of at the A Loop is that there is an extreme amount of road noise since the campsites are so close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. You start hearing a vehicle coming about ten seconds before it actually passes, and the sound builds like a hurricane wind is coming through.

B Loop

There are 40 sites in B Loop, 22 of which can be reserved in advance. Twenty-four of these are exclusively for tent campers, two are exclusively for RVs, and fourteen are for both RVs and tent campers. Most driveway lengths for the RV sites are between 20 and 30 feet, but there is one pull-through driveway that is 90 feet long. As with A Loop, B Loop is more suited to small self-contained sleeping vehicles and trailers.

B Loop is much hillier than A Loop, and many of the tent pads and picnic tables are up- or downhill from the parking area. Be sure to avoid B23 if you are in a tent because it is not only up a hill, it’s lopsided, so you’ll be sleeping on a slope. There is no tent pad either.

Slightly hilly site in B Loop of Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Campsite B22 a Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

C Loop

There are 28 campsites in C Loop, 8 of which can be reserved in advance. All are for tent campers only. Most of the sites are level, with the camping area and picnic table even with the parking space. However, avoid site C21 for sure, as it is lopsided. C8 and C16 are also uneven sites.

Level campsite C12 at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

D Loop

There are 20 sites in D Loop, 8 of which can be reserved in advance. Eighteen of these are exclusively for tent campers, three are exclusively for RVs, and one can accommodate both tents and RVs. Driveways for the RV sites are between 20 and 45 feet in length. Two RV driveways are pull-through and two are back-in.

As with the other loops, D Loop is not the most level, but I didn’t notice any sites that should specifically be avoided.

Site D23 at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

E Loop

There are 16 sites in E Loop, eight of which can be reserved. All sites are exclusively for RVs. Driveways tend to be around 30 feet in length, but they are double spaces and geared more for towed camper trailers; you can unhook you trailer and park your vehicle beside it. There are a few pull-though sites for large RVs. Be prepared to level your RVs, as many of the parking spaces are sloped.

RV site in E Loop at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

F Loop

There are 46 sites in F Loop, 15 of which can be reserved. Two sites can accommodate both tents and RVs, but the rest are exclusively for RVs. The majority of driveways are 30 feet in length, but they are double spaces so you can unhook you trailer and park your vehicle beside it.  Thirteen driveways are between 40 and 50 feet in length. As with Loop E, be prepared to level your RVs and trailers.

F Loop RV site with double-width driveway at Julian Price Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway

AMENITIES

Each loop has at least one restroom building with modern toilets and sinks, and Price Park Campground is one of only two campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway to have hot showers (Mount Pisgah Campground is the other). The showers are only in D Loop, but everyone can use them. Keep in mind that many of the campground restrooms along the 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.

No sites have electricity or water hook-ups, though there is a dump station near the campground entrance. Campsites for disabled visitors are located in A Loop (4 sites) and C Loop (1 site).

Tent sites have a tent pad, picnic table, grill / fire ring, and a lantern post. RV-only sites have a picnic table and grill / fire ring.

Firewood is available at the Price Lake Boat Rental shop when it is open. This is located just south of the campground.

For those looking to hike, there are three trails at the campground. You can begin the easy Price Lake Trail and take a 2.3-mile hike around the lake by picking up the trail anywhere in the middle of A Loop. The Boone Fork Trail is accessed from B Loop or the campground entrance station. The Tanawha Trail / Mountains to Sea Trail is accessed from campsite A5 in the A Loop.

RESERVATIONS

Select campsites at Julian Price Campground can be reserved up to six months in advance online at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. 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 required 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 in 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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