Cliffs of the Neuse State Park Campground

I have camped in this state park several times, including with the Boy Scouts. Other than the park itself, I really enjoyed the camaraderie when our Scout troop and another Scout troop that was camping were playing“Capture the Flag.” I say all of this because it is a great place for group camping. However, it also has conventional camping and cabins. When I first started camping at Cliffs of the Neuse, it did not have more than a mile of trails. Now it has added some more trails. It also did not have showers or cabins in times past. This park has improved significantly over the years and now has showers that are frequently maintained. One of the things you have to be aware of is that this park is sandy, so when you are camping, you will probably want to put some kind of rug in front of your tent or RV to minimize the amount of sand that you track in. Don’t think choosing another site will move you away from the sand. It won’t. Another thing you have to be aware of is that in eastern North Carolina, fire ants can be a huge problem. Some of the trails are easy, but the Spanish Moss Trail is quite steep in some places. Also, the Galax trail is almost always flooded during the spring or after a series of rains. There is a lake for swimming and a large picnic shelter. On weekends, it is not unusual for there to be lots of people at the picnic shelters, so you will have to reserve them. The sites have picnic tables and fire pits as well. This is a great park for swimming and boating, but the hiking is limited. If I am not mistaken, the total length of trails is fewer three miles. However, the main attraction is the view over the Neuse River and the new visitor’s center. Even with limited trails, it is still a great park for relaxing.

Cliffs above the Neuse River is the biggest draw for campers here.

This is a great little campground and close enough to be my go to spot. The camping spaces are nice and fairly private. There are fun hiking trails, fishing and swimming with nice changing rooms. You can rent kayaks, etc. for the river at the near by town of Seven Springs.

Cliffs of the Neuse...

Went here with a group of buddies on a whim. Didn't have any expectations and ended up being thoroughly impressed. Campsites are well maintained and the rangers made sure to stop by and wish us a good stay. Offers some short trails to hike but nothing crazy. Awesome fishing spots throughout. Definitely worth a visit.

Great spot for fishing!

Many weekend trips here. Lots of swimming and hiking. Rangers are extremely nice. My go to place for camping!

Favorite place to camp!  Close to home, clean, nice lake for swimming, and good hiking trails. Recently updated the campsites and now have electric/water/sewer at sites.  Sites do offer privacy. 

Although the family campground is closed until autumn, I recently stayed at this state park and have stayed at it many times before. It doesn't have as many amenities as more developed campgrounds, but there is plenty to do. For example, there are about 3-4 miles of hiking trails, one that takes you beside the 90-foot cliffs overlooking the Neuse River. There is a small nature center that describes the history and geographical features of the area. During the summer, you can swim or rent canoes and paddle boats. You can fish at the river or in the lake. Since this state park is in the middle of the country, the sounds of nature are interrupted only by occasional jets flying overhead from the nearby air force base. There is also a large picnic area adjacent to one of the parking lots. The biggest draw of this park, obviously, is the cliff view, but if you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere, this is a great place to camp.

Small State Park with a View from the Cliffs

Started the year out on some trails. Had the place almost to myself except for the campers. Very well maintained. River is up, so some areas are flooded but still able to get a few miles in today!

Great visit

This state park is small, but it does not lack things to do. Unfortunately, the swimming area was closed because of the pandemic. However, the visitor’s center is fairly new and has several historical and geological exhibits. Although there are not a lot of hiking trails, there are enough to make it interesting. I have been to this state park in decades past, and it has changed significantly. The bath house is modern and now has showers. The road is paved, and it seems to have moved into the 21st century. Even though the swimming and boating area is closed, you can hike down to the river for fishing. During the summer, it will be hot, but when I went, the weather wasn’t too bad. The main concerns are mosquitoes and ticks. Overall, I recommend this campground but probably not during the heat of summer.

Down Home Favorite

Stayed here with my family on site 1. Really enjoyed the space between sites and the size of the sites. If you’re looking for some trails to hike this campground has lots to explore. 

Great place to relax

We were camping on the OBX and needed to escape some awful weather. We found this gem of a campground on The Dyrt. We arrived on a Monday and only a few sites were occupied. 
The campground is really pretty with large, private sites. We stayed in site 17 and it was spacious and private with lots of trees. 
The bath house is new and the cleanest we have ever seen. 
Highly recommend!

Really nice campground!

We really had a good time exploring this park.  Very spacious sites that weren't on top of each other.