Dispersed camping along the Blue Ridge parkway, in the Fall?

There is dispersed camping in the national forests. If you want to boondock those are good. Keep in mind that people hunt and fish the forests, so look up the regulations as well. You don’t want to be surprised in the early AM before light.

Otherwise, there’s beautiful spots along the lakes and rivers and in the National Park at Cades Cove.

Finally, there are some trip reports, so look those up here.

There are CG all along the BRP. You should not need reservations. But you are not allowed to camp on the side of the road or in overlooks

Which section of the BRP are you looking to travel? There are a few places off the parkway in Va that I know of that are dispersed. Some of the spots may be a bit of a challenge to get to with a truck camper but doable if you are adventurous. Research Shoe Creek and Big Levels in Nelson County for a couple of examples of dispersed camping right off the parkway.

jimh425 wrote:
There is dispersed camping in the national forests. If you want to boondock those are good. Keep in mind that people hunt and fish the forests, so look up the regulations as well. You don’t want to be surprised in the early AM before light.

Otherwise, there’s beautiful spots along the lakes and rivers and in the National Park at Cades Cove.

Finally, there are some trip reports, so look those up here.

Cades Cove in Smoky Mtn Nat Park? That is 60 miles from the southern end on the Blue Ridge Parkway. May be a different Cades Cove somewhere else.

TxGearhead wrote:
Cades Cove in Smoky Mtn Nat Park? That is 60 miles from the southern end on the Blue Ridge Parkway. May be a different Cades Cove somewhere else.

Yes, it sure is, but it’s worth it.

I am open to driving any section of the parkway, especially if the camping/boondocking possibilities are favorable. I have been interested in the sections near My Mitchell, Grandfather Mtn, and Asheville NC, and since I live in TN the sections closest to me would be preferred.
Thanks

jimh425 wrote:

TxGearhead wrote:
Cades Cove in Smoky Mtn Nat Park? That is 60 miles from the southern end on the Blue Ridge Parkway. May be a different Cades Cove somewhere else.

Yes, it sure is, but it’s worth it.

Yes it is very nice. I was there this morning.
I just thought the poster wanted places along the parkway.

I have been up and down the Parkway several times and to get to any boondocking areas you have drop down off the Parkway. There is a SP at Grandfather mountain.Each time I have ridden the Parkway I have had to stay in CG's all public no private.

joe&julie81 wrote:
I am open to driving any section of the parkway, especially if the camping/boondocking possibilities are favorable. I have been interested in the sections near My Mitchell, Grandfather Mtn, and Asheville NC, and since I live in TN the sections closest to me would be preferred.
Thanks

you may not consider them dispersed. but there are National Park CGs on the BRP. They are primitive. NO hookups of any kind. Pretty peacful really. Although they finally did put lights in the rest rooms.

Crabtree Meadows on the BRP is close to MT Mitchell. Carolina Hemlock is not far off the BRP on HWY 80, and Black Mountain CG is off 80 near the BRP. there is also Linville Falls near Granfather.

thing is. The Rangers are VERY protective of the BRP. They don't want you parking in the grass or anything like that. Truth is. The land / shoulder on the BRP is pretty narrow. Not a lot of room to pull off. And as I say. The Rangers are pretty strict as to where you can park. plus the land on either side of the BRP is private property.

There is NO repeat NO dispersed camping on National Park land along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are designated campgrounds all along the parkway, but fall is a popular time of the year, so stopping early in the day would be a good strategy. You may find dispersed camping off the Parkway, however. You cannot park overnight anywhere on the Parkway except in the campgrounds, and as previously mentioned, the law enforcement rangers are vigilant.