A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

National Park Service campground

Linville Falls Campground

National Park Service campground in Blue Ridge Parkway, Burke County, North Carolina. 3,226 feet. 3.7 miles from Crossnore.

Managed by
National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway
Elevation
3,226 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
64 29 standard non-electric, 19 rv non-electric, 14 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
50 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Burke County

Overview

Located in a dense pine canopy, within hiking distance of Linville Gorge, and along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville Falls Campground is an ideal location for your next family camping excursion. Linville River, which winds beside the campground, is stocked for fishing, and the location is central to many area attractions including the Linville Falls waterfall, which has three waterfall overlooks in a one-mile hike.

Recreation

The Linville Falls area is a hiker's paradise, and the campground provides easy access to several trails that allow visitors to experience the stunning scenery and abundant wildlife.

Once at the Linville Gorge , visitors can hike more challenging trails down to the river, where fishing for trout is a popular pastime.

Linville Falls is another must-see, carrying water from the river over several layers of falls, ending in a spectacular 45-foot waterfall pouring into the sparkling riverbed below.

Duggers Creek Falls : accessible from the Linville Falls Visitor Center on a small loop trail. See views of the falls from the foot bridge. These are native brook trout waters (fishing regulations apply).

Lost Cove Cliff Overlook : view Brown Mountain and see the Brown Mountain Lights--a natural occurrence which is believed to be caused by natural gases. A good spot to view hawks and peregrine falcons in the spring and fall.

Facilities

The campground offers comfortable tent or RV camping, with the convenience of flush toilets, dump station, and drinking water. Grills/fire rings and picnic tables at each site create a perfect environment for family barbecues or late-night marshmallow roasting.

In addition to the 39 sites available for advance reservation, 25 campsites are available on a first come, first-served basis. The availability of first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. The sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk.

Natural Features

Linville Gorge is a vast designated Wilderness area that sits on 11,786 acres of rolling hills and thick forest. The gorge surrounds the Linville River, which is located some 1,400 feet below the ridge, creating a stunning canyon that has earned the nickname "The Grand Canyon of North Carolina."

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway with plenty of natural attractions and recreational opportunities for visitors. Aside from natural features, the parkway is also a cross-section of Appalachian mountain history. Stretching almost 500 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina and Virginia, it encompasses some of the oldest historical sites of both pre-historic and early European settlements.

The surrounding forest offers hemlock, white pine, oaks, hickory and birch trees, along with a colorful assortment of wildflowers in the spring and an epic array of orange and red shades of leaves in the autumn.

Nearby Attractions

Linville Caverns , a privately maintained cave just south of Linville Falls, offers guided tours year-round.

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • birding
  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • interpretive programs
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • star gazing
  • visitor center
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Linville Falls Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.