Warning
GeneralGrindstone Campground and its parking area will be closed for the 2026 Season. This closure is due to the replacement of aging infrastructure at Grindstone.Alternative parking Across from Fox Creek Horse Campground 36.696628, -81.5326411At the Mount Rogers Trailhead 36.689230, -81.532605Please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/gwj/recreation/camping-cabins/ for information and updates on camping in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.
About Grindstone
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Reviews (159)
Review Summary
Carl P
January 20, 2020
Love this cg. Most sites are shaded. Large sites. Good place to go for recreation on Virginia Creeper Trail, Mount Rogers, or AT. Nice folks that run in. Sites maintained. Not all sites are level front to back so be aware if you are in a long RV, especially in the Cotton Patch loop. Groundhog are mostly level and spacious if you can find one with hookups. This CG does not have sewer hookups but there is a dump station. All restrooms have hot showers. Good hiking. No cell coverage within 5 miles if Verizon. Also difficult to get a satellite signal with Dish since there are only a few places to situate away from trees AND aim precisely. There are mountains against the cg which make getting cell and satellite difficult, if that is important to you. Personally I love this CG and how remote its location is.
Gwenne C
January 19, 2020
We were here in mid-October, during the week. Needless to say, very few people. Lovely campground. Spaces are far apart. Ours had to be the only one that went a bit of a hill to the flat area. Husband did think that he was going to snag the rear bumper of travel trailer. :) We could easily walk to the trails we were interested in. The bath house was satisfactory, I am writing this several months later & cannot remember the shower. I do not think it was spectacular; most likely satisfactory. Rest room area also satisfactory. Zero cell service. I did walk down to the check-in hut & use their wifi. Beautiful area! Will go again
Gwenne C
January 19, 2020
We were here in mid-October, during the week. Needless to say, very few people. Lovely campground. Spaces are far apart. Ours had to be the only one that went a bit of a hill to the flat area. Husband did think that he was going to snag the rear bumper of travel trailer. :) We could easily walk to the trails we were interested in. The bath house was satisfactory, I am writing this several months later & cannot remember the shower. I do not think it was spectacular; most likely satisfactory. Rest room area also satisfactory. Zero cell service. I did walk down to the check-in hut & use their wifi. Beautiful area! Will go again
Gwenne C
January 19, 2020
We were here in mid-October, during the week. Needless to say, very few people. Lovely campground. Spaces are far apart. Ours had to be the only one that went a bit of a hill to the flat area. Husband did think that he was going to snag the rear bumper of travel trailer. :) We could easily walk to the trails we were interested in. The bath house was satisfactory, I am writing this several months later & cannot remember the shower. I do not think it was spectacular; most likely satisfactory. Rest room area also satisfactory. Zero cell service. I did walk down to the check-in hut & use their wifi. Beautiful area! Will go again
Jennifer R
January 18, 2020
We love the Washington and Jefferson National Park area. Grindstone is a beautiful campground, very wooded. We’ve stayed there many times. The staff are always very friendly. The campground roads are very narrow though. If you have a long camper or Rv, you have to drive off the road to make the curves and to back into your site. The shower houses are very small and outdated. During our last 9 day stay, the showers were never cleaned and the water wasn’t warm enough.
Robert R
January 18, 2020
Easy access to Mt. Rogers, nice quiet campgroud.
Jennifer R
January 18, 2020
We love the Washington and Jefferson National Park area. Grindstone is a beautiful campground, very wooded. We’ve stayed there many times. The staff are always very friendly. The campground roads are very narrow though. If you have a long camper or Rv, you have to drive off the road to make the curves and to back into your site. The shower houses are very small and outdated. During our last 9 day stay, the showers were never cleaned and the water wasn’t warm enough.
Robert R
January 18, 2020
Easy access to Mt. Rogers, nice quiet campgroud.
Jennifer R
January 18, 2020
We love the Washington and Jefferson National Park area. Grindstone is a beautiful campground, very wooded. We’ve stayed there many times. The staff are always very friendly. The campground roads are very narrow though. If you have a long camper or Rv, you have to drive off the road to make the curves and to back into your site. The shower houses are very small and outdated. During our last 9 day stay, the showers were never cleaned and the water wasn’t warm enough.
Robert R
January 18, 2020
Easy access to Mt. Rogers, nice quiet campgroud.
Location Grindstone
Address:
1946 Laurel Valley Road
Troutdale, VA, 24378
United States
From Marion, Virginia, take exit 45 to Highway 16 south. Continue for 17 miles, then turn right onto Highway 603. After 6 miles turn left into the Grindstone Campground entrance.
Grindstone Campground is accessible via Highway 16, which can be reached from Interstate 81 at exit 45. The campground is located approximately 17 miles south of this exit on Highway 16.
Latitude & Longitude: 36.6869 / -81.5411
Elevation: 1159 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
- The Grindstone campground is closed for the 2026 season, including all camping loops, overnight parking, day-use areas, bathhouses, and trailer waste disposal stations. No water, sewer, or electric sites are available.
- All camping loops are closed for the season.
- Overnight parking and day-use visitor areas are closed.
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
General
- Due to maintenance at Grindstone campground, the facility will be closed for the 2026 season.
- We apologize for any inconvenience.
- Click here for more information on George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests!
- Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site.
- Moving firewood is illegal in some states.
- Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Fires & fuel
- Do not move firewood; obtain it locally and burn it on-site to protect forests from pests. Moving firewood is illegal in some states.
Amenities
- All bathhouses and the trailer waste disposal station are closed.
Utilities
- No water, sewer, or electric sites are available.
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralGrindstone Campground and its parking area will be closed for the 2026 Season. This closure is due to the replacement of aging infrastructure at Grindstone.Alternative parking Across from Fox Creek Horse Campground 36.696628, -81.5326411At the Mount Rogers Trailhead 36.689230, -81.532605Please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/gwj/recreation/camping-cabins/ for information and updates on camping in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 3, 2026
