We stayed at Morganton in October. The campground was busy, but it was still quiet. We stayed in the tent only "hike in" sites -- some are closer than others, but I wouldn't call any of them a hike, just a short walk. It's a bit of a walk to the nearest bathroom from, but not too bad. The bathrooms looked brand new when we went, and were very well-kept.

Our site (D) would have been waterfront if the lake weren't so low from the drought. It still made for a beautiful and peaceful setting. The tent only sites are on a little peninsula of their own, so it was quiet and more secluded than the rest of the campground.

Nearby Blue Ridge is a good place to stock up on anything you forgot to pack, but it's also worth a visit just to walk around the cute downtown area. They have several nice outdoor stores, some breweries, and lots of restaurants to choose from.