Blowing Rock, North Carolina · Watauga County · Campground
Overview Located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in the lush green expanses of North Carolina, Julian Price Campground is a top destination for boating, hiking, fishing and more. Whether it's for a family camping excursion or a peaceful getaway, this campground has something for everyone.Recreation Canoe rentals ar…
Overview Located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in the lush green expanses of North Carolina, Julian Price Campground is a top destination for boating, hiking, fishing and more. Whether it's for a family camping excursion or a peaceful getaway, this campground has something for everyone.Recreation Canoe rentals are available at Price Lake, and other types of non-motorized boats are permitted. Fishing is also available at the lake, with a dock provided.Price Lake Trail offers a refreshing hike around the edge of the water, and the Boone Fork, Green Knob and Tanawha Trails are just a few of the trails that are conveniently accessed through the campground. Hebron Falls: A small waterfall accessed from the Boone Fork Trail. The Cascades: A beautiful waterfall accessed by the easy 1-mile loop Cascades Trail. A great hike for children. Moses Cone Flat Top Manor: A historic estate house (currently undergoing restoration) once owned by the Cone family. The grounds offer 25 miles of carriage roads to hike. Tours of the home are available. Currently houses the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Wildlife viewing is also popular as campers have a good chance of spotting bears, grouse, turkeys, owls, hawks and more. Facilities Julian Price Campground combines the traditional great outdoors experience with the modern conveniences of flush toilets, dump station, and drinking water. Both RV and tent sites are available, and are equipped with grills, picnic tables, and lantern poles. In addition to the 75 sites available for advance reservations, 115 sites are available on a first come, first served basis. Availability for first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. These sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk.Primitive Backcountry Camping is available at Johns River Road. Permits are required and can be obtained on www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 only. Permits are not distributed at the park.Natural Features Julian Price
Photos
Price Lake in the still of a fall morning. — Jessica RobertsCarriage Road at Moses Cone Estate — Debbie WebberView of Price Lake from Site A9 — Jessica RobertsLinn Cove Viaduct as seen from Tanawha Trail — Jessica RobertsBoat Rentals are available. — Debbie WebberWhere loops diverge - B, C and D. — Jessica RobertsPrice Lake view from site A9. — Jessica RobertsA foggy day on B Loop — Jessica Roberts
How to Get There
From Asheville, North Carolina, head east on I-40 E for approximately 20 miles to exit 72 for US-70E. At the top of the exit ramp, continue straight onto US-70 E and drive for 11 miles to the intersection with US-221 N. Turn left (north) onto US-221 N and continue for 21.6 miles. At the sign for the Blue Ridge Parkway, turn right onto the connector road. At the stop sign marking the intersection with the Parkway, turn left (north) and drive for approximately 22 miles until you see the Campground Registration Kiosk on the left side of the road. From Boone, North Carolina, head south onto US-321 S and drive for 6.3 miles. At the sign for the Blue Ridge Parkway, turn right onto the connector road. At the stop sign marking the intersection with the Parkway, turn left (south) and drive for 4.4 miles until you see the campground on the right. From Blowing Rock, North Carolina, take Main Street until you reach the intersection with US-221 S. Turn south onto US-221 S and drive for 1.6 miles. At the sign for the Blue Ridge Parkway, turn right onto the connector road. At the stop sign marking the intersection with the Parkway, turn left (south) and drive approximately 2 miles until you see the campground on the right.
Download your route in advance via Gaia, Caltopo, or OSM-based apps.
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Dry bags for electronics
Phone, camera, and snacks should stay dry.
Recommendations adapt to the current forecast + trail stats. Use them as a starting point — local conditions, your experience, and the time of day you start all matter.
Plan Your Visit to Julian Price Campground
Heading to Julian Price Campground? A few things to know before you go:
Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Julian Price Campground?
No central reservation system listed for Julian Price Campground. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234037) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How many campsites are at Julian Price Campground?
Julian Price Campground has 194 campsites. Site amenities (hookups, vehicle limits, ADA access) vary — see the individual campsite pages for details.
How do I get to Julian Price Campground?
From Asheville, North Carolina, head east on I-40 E for approximately 20 miles to exit 72 for US-70E. At the top of the exit ramp, continue straight onto US-70 E and drive for 11 miles to the intersection with US-221 N. Turn left (north) onto US-221 N and continue for 21.6 miles. At the sign for the Blue Ridge Parkway, turn right onto the connector road. At the stop sign marking the intersection w…
How do I contact Julian Price Campground?
You can reach the park at phone: 828-963-5911 (MAY - OCTOBER) or email: [email protected].