Campgrounds and RV parks near Fairlawn, VA

The New River is the main draw. Radford is bordered on three sides by the New River, and with a number of public boat launches, it is easy to fish, float, canoe, or kayak, with tubing a popular way to spend a leisurely day on the water. Wade fishing is popular off the banks of Bisset Park near the Route 11 bridge, with smallmouth bass and muskie the main targets. Claytor Lake State Park offers swimming, boating, cabins, and miles of hiking trails, and the park houses the only full-service marina in the Virginia state park system. Cyclists and hikers can also drive to the northern terminus of the New River Trail State Park in nearby Pulaski, a 57-mile rail trail that follows the river south toward Galax. Day trips reach the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and the town of Floyd for mountain music.

Peak RV season runs from late spring through October. Summer days are warm and humid but generally comfortable at this elevation, with average highs in the low 80s Fahrenheit and cool evenings by the river. Weekends around Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day book out early at Claytor Lake and along the New River, so reserve well in advance. Spring brings wildflowers, higher river flows for paddling, and unpredictable rain. Fall is the local favorite: cooler nights, lower humidity, and hardwood color across the ridges from mid-October into early November. Water levels drop, making tubing and wade fishing easier. Winter is quieter. Camping at Claytor Lake State Park runs from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, and during colder months water hookups may be shut off if temperatures drop below freezing. Some private parks stay open with limited services, but expect cold nights, occasional snow, and closed camp stores.

Terrain is rolling to hilly, with campgrounds tucked along the New River or on plateaus above it. Cell service is generally reliable near I-81 and Radford but can drop in the river gorges upstream toward Giles County. Roads to riverside campgrounds are paved but often narrow and winding, so large Class A rigs should confirm access with the campground before arrival. Expect a mix of full-hookup RV sites at private parks and water and electric only at the state park. Each campground loop at Claytor Lake has a bathhouse, with dump stations available in the Dogwood and Cedar areas. The New River Trail State Park campgrounds are primitive, with no vehicular access to the campsites and no showers or bathhouses. Bring bug spray in summer, layers for cool river mornings, and a cooler stocked before arrival; the nearest large grocery stores are in Radford, Christiansburg, and Dublin.