Campgrounds and RV parks near Merrimac, VA

The New River is the region's main draw. Tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and smallmouth bass fishing are the core activities, and New River Junction Campground runs an on-site tube rental and shuttle operation. Eggleston Springs Campground sits on the New River Water Trail with its own river access. On land, the Cascades Trail near Pembroke leads to a tall waterfall in the Jefferson National Forest and is one of the most popular day hikes in southwest Virginia. Sections of the Appalachian Trail, plus Dragons Tooth and other ridge hikes, are within reach. The Coal Mining Heritage Park along the Huckleberry Trail offers a walking route through the site of the former Merrimac mine. Virginia Tech football weekends draw RVers to Blacksburg each fall.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for RV travel in the New River Valley. Daytime highs are mild, humidity is lower than in summer, and river levels typically settle by mid-spring after snowmelt and rain. May is historically the wettest month, so expect muddy sites and occasional trail closures. Summer is peak season. Tubing, fishing, and river activities run at full capacity from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and riverside sites at New River Junction Campground and Eggleston Springs Campground book up early for weekends. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in June and July. Autumn brings foliage, cooler nights, and heavy demand around Virginia Tech home football games in Blacksburg. Winter is quiet. Some independent riverside campgrounds reduce operations or close sections, while highway-adjacent parks such as Dixie Caverns Campground typically stay open. Snow and ice can affect mountain roads and the curvier approaches to riverside parks. Hurricane remnants moving up from the Gulf and Atlantic have caused significant flooding along the New River in recent seasons, so travelers should confirm site availability before arrival.

Private campgrounds in the area skew rustic and functional rather than resort-style. Expect gravel or grass sites, basic bathhouses, and a mix of overnighters and longer-term guests. Many sites offer 30-amp electric with water, and full hookups are more limited than at large resort parks. Railroad tracks run along both sides of the New River in this stretch, and freight trains pass New River Junction Campground and other riverside parks at all hours. Some campers find this atmospheric, others bring earplugs. Cell coverage is generally reliable near I-81 and thinner in the river gorges. Wi-Fi is offered at several parks but speeds vary. Bears and other wildlife are present in the Jefferson National Forest, so standard food-storage practices apply. Big rigs should call ahead to confirm site dimensions and turning radius, especially at older parks with tight interior loops.