Cranesnest Campground Entrance View
Cranesnest Area Launch Ramp
Cranesnest Campground Basketball Goal
Cranesnest Campground Dump Station
Cranesnest Campground Playground at Area 1

Available sites

30 total sites

About Cranesnest Campground (VA)

The John W. Flannagan Dam & Reservoir Area boasts an expansive lake nestled in the rolling green Cumberland Mountains of southwest Virginia, offering visitors an oasis of recreation in the summer months. The nearby dam, built primarily for flood control for the Cranesnest and Pound Rivers, creates a breathtaking lake that is maintained at nearly 1.4 ft above sea level. This facility is an ideal spot for picnicking, water activities and hiking.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

30 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 002, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 003, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 004, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire
🚐 005, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 10 ft wide
🚐 006, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 50 × 13 ft
🚐 007, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 51 × 10 ft
🚐 008, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 67 × 10 ft
🚐 009, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 50 × 10 ft
🚐 010, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 47 × 17 ft
🚐 012, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 58 × 10 ft
🚐 013, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 57 × 10 ft
🚐 014, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 50 × 10 ft
🚐 015, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 50 × 12 ft
🚐 016, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 × 12 ft
🚐 017, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 × 10 ft
🚐 018, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 60 × 10 ft
🚐 019, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 55 × 10 ft
🚐 020, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA) RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 50 × 10 ft
🚐 Site 21, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 22, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 23, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 24, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 25, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 26, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 27, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 28, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 29, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 30, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 31, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site
🚐 Site 32, Loop: Area 3 RV
Pet Friendly · Paved · Back-in Site

Reviews (30)

What Guests Are Saying

Cranesnest Campground is a favorite among visitors for its friendly atmosphere and well-maintained facilities, including clean bathrooms and a family-oriented environment. Campers appreciate the helpful hosts and community spirit, although some noted the distance to water sources and lack of hanging poles for lanterns. Overall, it's a great spot for a relaxing stay.

Review Summary

4.2
30 reviews
5
56.7%
17
4
20.0%
6
3
6.7%
2
2
16.7%
5
1
0.0%
0

Stephen F

Verified

July 14, 2024 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

5

Nice campground. Facilities were clean and well maintained. Host was friendly and helpful.

Kelly M

Verified

August 4, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

5

This place was so beautiful, so peaceful and has fantastic hot showers! It’s far out of the way with no service except text & phone call. I painted & paddled the river and read a book. I will return. Other campers were so friendly and so was Whitley. She was friendly & helpful!

Eugene M

Verified

July 3, 2023 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

4

Good little place to stay. Just occasionally hear the park ranger yelling at the host. My advise be considerate to what the host ask, cause they are just doing what he (the ranger) tells them to do.

Melanie F

Verified

August 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

2

The host is wonderful!!! . The grass is NEVER mowed, NEVER!! Someone is going to get snake bitten. It certainly isn’t like it used to be.

Scottie S

Verified

July 19, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

2

Cranesnest is a nice family oriented campground, but to strict on some peoples parking.

michael r

Verified

June 29, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

5

good place to go only issue i have is the road going in is dirt and very dusty for about 3 mi to 1st camping area and another 3 mi to boat dock and im 57 yrs old been going ther on n off all my life and all the money they have took up though the yrs they could at least paved the road, and they have a primitive site on down the road few sites no electric they could run electric on down there and make those sites better to cause they charge the same price 24 bucks a night

Martin S

Verified

June 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

3

The rangers are very rude at times. I think the $5 entrance fee for visitors is too much for what is available for them to do. We can go to other state parks for $2 and there is numerous things available for us to do. The bathrooms were unavailable for a lot of our stay. We have to clean out our own firepits and there aren"t equipment provided to do so.

Laken F

Verified

June 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

2

Good luck

Jayne P

Verified

June 12, 2022 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

3

Rules seemed to change overnight. No parking on grass, having to clean out our own fire pits.

Robert S

Verified

September 19, 2021 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: CRANESNEST CAMPGROUND (VA)

4

Cranesnest Campground is centrally located to some of the most scenic attractions in SWVA such as, Breaks Interstate Park, the Russell Fork river Gorge, Spearhead Trails system, Clinch River State Park Pine Mountain Trail, John Flannagan Lake & more.

Location & Directions for Cranesnest Campground (VA)

2689 Cranesnest River Campground Rd, Clintwood, VA 24228 United States

Elevation: 436 ft

Getting There

From Clintwood, VA main street turn left onto Rt. 83. Travel 2.6 mi and turn left onto Cranesnest Campground Rd. Travel 2.8 mi to the campground.

Nearest town

Clintwood, VA - 5.6 mi

About 14 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible via Route 83, which connects to the town of Clintwood. There are no interstates or major highways within approximately 25 miles.

Policies & Rules

General

  • No more than 2 vehicles per site. All other visitors must park in the overflow parking areas.
  • Reservations must be made in advance by utilizing either recreation.gov or by calling +1 (877) 444-6777.
  • No parking is allowed in the grass. If there is not room at your site, please utilize the overflow lots at various locations within the campground.
  • No person(s) shall camp at one or more campsite for more than 14-days in a 30-day consecutive period at Cranesnest Campground.
  • Any person utilizing a Federal Pass (i.e. Golden Access or any America the Beautiful) must be the primary occupant of the campsite for the duration of the reservation. Passholder must be able to present pass upon request.
  • Visitors may only be registered as the primary occupant of one campsite during a consecutive time period.
  • Campers are responsible for disposing of waste. There is a complimentary dumpster placed near the campground entrance for your convenience. Campers must NOT leave garbage at campsite for contractor staff or USACE staff to remove nor shall it be left in their firepit. Any prohibited items must be placed in the silver bin adjacent to the green dumpster.
  • All motorized recreational vehicles (including but not limited to motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), utility-terrain vehicles (UTV), mopeds, scooters, golfcarts, etc..) that are not licensed for use on public roadways are prohibited for use in campgrounds. This does not apply to mobility scooters.
  • All occupants at a campsite must adhere to the above posted restrictions and all rules and regulations posted in 36 CFR Part 327. Failure to adhere to these rules may result in a citation issued and/or being asked to vacate the facility.

Nearby Campgrounds

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Last updated: October 19, 2026

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Explore Clintwood, VA

Population: 1,400

Nearby larger city

Kingsport, TN

Approx. 42 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,755 ft

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Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers