Best Campgrounds near Wilkesboro, NC

Wilkesboro, North Carolina presents a diverse camping landscape with mixed-use campgrounds situated around W. Kerr Scott Reservoir and nearby state parks. Established campgrounds like Bandits Roost and Fort Hamby Park provide water access with both tent and RV sites, while Stone Mountain State Park offers additional accommodation types including cabins and glamping options. The area features several Army Corps of Engineers facilities that maintain waterfront camping with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both primitive tent camping and RV setups with varying levels of hookups.

The camping season in the Wilkesboro area typically runs from April through October, with some facilities like Stone Mountain State Park remaining open year-round. Access roads are generally well-maintained, particularly at the Corps of Engineers sites, though some campgrounds have challenging terrain for larger rigs. "Most sites are pretty level. Would give 5 stars but this park isn't full hookup. It's still a beautiful place," noted one regular visitor to Bandits Roost. Water levels at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir can fluctuate seasonally, occasionally affecting site availability due to flooding. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer months and weekends, with booking windows opening 6 months in advance for federal sites.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly at Bandits Roost Campground where many sites offer direct reservoir views. Several campers mentioned the spacious, well-spaced sites that provide privacy despite being in established campgrounds. The region's mountain biking trails connect directly to some campgrounds, allowing campers to access recreation without driving. "We love this campground. I can do all my favorite outdoor activities here without driving anywhere. There is fishing, canoeing, hiking, and some awesome mountain biking," reported one visitor. The campgrounds near Wilkesboro generally maintain clean facilities, though bathroom quality varies across locations. Family-friendly amenities include swimming areas, fishing access, and playgrounds at several of the larger campgrounds.

Best Camping Sites Near Wilkesboro, North Carolina (206)

    1. COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground

    18 Reviews
    Wilkesboro, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 921-3190

    $20 - $85 / night

    "Swimming, kayaking, boat launch, small hiking trail. Sites have a fire pit, picnic table (it’s really heavy!) and a grill. I loved how each site is fairly unique."

    "My wife and I biked/ ran the trails nearby. Our dogs loved walking around the campground. Some nice wooded tent sites that a very large areas. Our spot was a two level site."

    2. Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Roaring Gap, NC
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 957-8185

    $17 - $72 / night

    "But, ya know North Carolina summers."

    "Just north of Wilkesboro NC, Stone Mountain is on the eastern side of the mountain range that we usually summit heading towards Jefferson and Boone.  "

    3. Fort Hamby Park

    9 Reviews
    Purlear, NC
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 973-0104

    $30 - $125 / night

    "Fort Hamby is located near Wilkesboro NC.  This campground is operated by the Army Core of Engineers and is a well kept campground on W Kerr Scott Reservoir. "

    "Lake was gorgeous! Absolutely the easiest and cleanest dump station we have ever used! Well designed! Close to Willesboro!"

    4. Warrior Creek

    11 Reviews
    Purlear, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 921-2177

    $22 - $85 / night

    "Super mt bike trails that have been built and maintained by volunteers who really care and ride the trails often."

    "Warrior Creek Campground is located on the Kerr Scott Reservoir. It's beautiful and peaceful, at least Monday through Friday."

    5. Moravian Falls Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Moravian Falls, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 667-6150

    6. Stoney Fork Campground

    3 Reviews
    Purlear, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 973-5299

    "It's right on a creek and it was lovely to drink morning coffee next to the water."

    7. Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    14 Reviews
    Sparta, NC
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 372-8877

    $30 - $45 / night

    "On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground has been well maintained."

    "The Doughton Park campground off of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great place to spend the night without if you are driving along the Parkway and don't want to venture too far off course."

    8. Thousand Trails Green Mountain

    18 Reviews
    Lenoir, NC
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "We had a deck at our site which was a but problematic due to our steps folding out, it took some finagling and leveling to get it to where we could close our door."

    "This is our first time ever camping and this place feels like home away from home and everyone here is very friendly."

    9. Self Sufficient Holler

    1 Review
    Moravian Falls, NC
    5 miles

    $40 - $200 / night

    "What a magical experience floating in the trees surrounded by fire flies! Elizabeth and Mark were exceptional hosts. There is so much to do on property, and they are working on more!"

    10. Wagoner — New River State Park

    17 Reviews
    Jefferson, NC
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 982-2587

    $27 - $72 / night

    "You have to walk in but the park provides little carts and wheelbarrows. The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained. The park host, Tom Keller, was just fantastic."

    "We were too far away from the water to walk, so we missed out on that, which we were looking forward to, but overall a really nice experience."

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Recent Reviews near Wilkesboro, NC

1141 Reviews of 206 Wilkesboro Campgrounds


  • C
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Steele Creek Park & Campground

    Extra fees

    Sooo...went to book online. Selected my site and started the payment process. I was greeted by a pop-up stating that if I want to lock in my site, I'd have to pay an additional $20 fee.

    Okay, let me get this straight: I reserve a specific site for specific reasons, then the campground tells me they have the right to move me to a site of their choosing unless I pay them an additional $20?

    No thanks. Just lost my business. I'm sure it's a nice place, but really?

  • Cliff W.
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

    Camping in Quiet

    This is our second time here. It's pretty quiet here. There is a heated pool (closed), corn hole, playground, and multiple games. We noticed there's no kids during this time of the year. The KOA station has some cute gifts. 24 hrs. Restrooms, laundry area, and great outdoor. The cabins have there very own toilet, tv, full size bed, and bunk beds. Very nice KOA.

  • Daniel W.
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Midway Campground Resort

    Cozy and fun

    I came in early and they didn't mind so I could get some rest before my long ride. Staff super friendly and sites are nice. All accommodations available. 5 star from this guy.

  • Yuriy-Sarah G.
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Growing Faith Farms & Retreat

    Best camping weekend!

    Our kids say,"leave them 10k stars on the review!" The best camping trip we've had in a long while. Location is private and secluded, yet within reasonable driving distance to stores and other attractions like hiking/biking/kayaking. The farm is beautiful, well-maintained, and the hosts super friendly and helpful. Love the water at the site(and electric is going to be even better soon!) and the convenience of the bathhouse. Plenty of great things to do locally, from hiking and waterfalls to apple picking. We had a wonderful weekend, and will certainly be back! Thanks!

  • Theresa S.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the location, Left because of the owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • Gary S.
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Lake Haven Family Campground

    Stayed for the Location, Left because of the Owners

    As a retired Air Force couple with over five years of experience as full-time RVers, we have stayed at countless campgrounds across the country. We selected Lake Haven for an extended stay this past July while searching for a permanent home in the Lake Watauga area, drawn by its advertisement for year-round availability. The location is excellent, and our site was level with full hookups, a nice picnic table, and a fire pit. Maneuvering into the spot was also straightforward, despite some large boulders. Two concerns: no owners or host(s) onsite and the entrance/exits can be quite dangerous- each located on a curve. We really wanted to love this campground, but the positive aspects were completely overshadowed by the unprofessional behavior of the owners. The tone was set when we received a campground-wide text message asking“Please, for our sake, when away from your camper, set your AC temp to something reasonable(75 is what I use at my house when not home), to help us save on electricity”. While we understand the concern for costs, the request felt invasive. Then it got personal. In the first week of August, our daughter and her family were renting the on-site(3 bed/3 bath) Airbnb, and after she inquired about more toilet paper, one of the owners came to our RV site to confront us about it. We were shocked that a necessity for a rental guest was treated as a major issue, and the confrontational approach was completely uncalled for and made us feel extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, we later learned from other campers that the owners had been gossiping about our family and our stay. This was a major violation of our privacy and fostered a deeply unwelcoming atmosphere. While the physical campground has potential, we cannot recommend it. Feeling safe and respected is essential when you are camping, and due to the owners’ intrusive and unprofessional behavior, we decided to seek out another campground.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Old NC 105 Dispersed

    Amazing views and Free camping

    This place is amazing, Free and clean campsites.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Upper Creek, Pisgah National Forest NC

    Good spot!

    Spent two nights here at a site right next to the creek, which was awesome listening to the running water as you fall asleep. Easy to get to, just a forest service road. A 4x4 makes it easy but there were minivans and junkyard beaters driving by. There are multiple sites along the service road and not too close to each other.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Old NC 105 - Dispersed Camping

    Great spot!

    This is a great spot along a mountain ridge. The dirt road goes for about 13 miles. Would recommend a 4x4, but I’ve seen all kinds of vehicles travel the entire road from minivans to Honda accords. There are plenty of spots to choose from. Some have great views of the valley and table top mountain and others are just nooks in the woods. The sites are pretty spread out but there are a few within shouting distance (which could be annoying if the site next to you decides to bring a battery powered Sawzall to cut firewood at 2am). Some sites are right off of the road which could get annoying from all the traffic of people going to the hiking trails nearby. And there are spots tucked away a bit off of the road where you really don’t notice trucks and cars driving by. Awesome place for a weekend getaway! Definitely going to visit again.

    P.S. only 4 stars because there are only about 3-5 sites with a great view!


Guide to Wilkesboro

Wilkesboro camping elevations range from 950 to 1,250 feet across the area's campgrounds, with most sites opening from April through October. Mountain access roads can become slick after rainfall, especially at the higher elevation sites near Stone Mountain State Park. Campgrounds in this area typically offer 8-35 sites per location, with varying levels of privacy between established sites.

What to do

Hiking trails with waterfalls: At Stone Mountain State Park Campground, trails connect directly to camping areas. "You just can't beat it. We camped here and didn't even leave. It has so much to do and see. We camped at RV site 40 and I think it's the best. There's a roaring large creek that flows behind the site and a grassy field full of deer beside it," reports Charli R.

Mountain biking from camp: Warrior Creek offers direct access to mountain biking trails designed for various skill levels. "Super mt bike trails that have been built and maintained by volunteers who really care and ride the trails often. Solid facilities to camp. 10 to 15 minutes drive by car to the wilkesboro with plants of food and amenities," notes Kim L.

Disc golf: Fort Hamby Park includes a disc golf course among its recreation options. "We were most excited about disc golf, the deer we saw and the swimming beach. The little kids also loved the playgrounds and horseshoe pits that were along the road," explains Kirsten J.

Creek swimming: Several campgrounds feature natural swimming areas in creeks and small rivers. "The homestead was so neat to walk around at the base of the mountain. Only negative is there showers. Very frustrating...you have to push the shower head to get water," shares Kristi D. from Stone Mountain State Park.

What campers like

Spacious, private campsites: Fort Hamby Park offers notably large sites with good separation. "Beautiful, HUGE, clean, wooded sites! I loved the large campsites! In fact, not being able to see any of our neighbors made us feel so much more remote than we were," reports Kirsten J.

Clean facilities: Despite being more rustic, many area campgrounds maintain clean facilities. "Doughton Park CG: Bathroom: Small and clean. This campground is quiet, shaded, and right on the blue Ridge parkway. It's high in elevation so it's cooler than the surrounding areas," writes Roger W.

Creek-side camping: Stoney Fork Campground provides sites along a creek for soothing background noise. "Nice size campsites with with privacy in between. We stayed here 4 nights and it was GREAT! Full hookup, and back in sites right on the creek. The owners were very friendly," notes Brian B.

Easy water access: Many campsites offer direct water access for fishing or paddling. "We enjoyed our stay at Stoney Fork Campground. It is well maintained and peaceful. It's a small campground and it has many full-time sites. It's right on a creek and it was lovely to drink morning coffee next to the water," shares Roberta K.

What you should know

Seasonal closures affect availability: Several campgrounds close completely during winter months. "We stayed here for a night. Had a spacious site near the entrance of campground. They provide wood, $6 a bundle. Bathrooms were eh. Dump station on site. Potable water. Good campground. Nice trails on campground also! Would be lots of fun in the summer!" explains Caleb C. from Bandits Roost.

Reservations essential during peak times: Doughton Park Campground can fill on weekends. "The camp host was friendly and helpful in choosing a site. The bathrooms are small but clean and there are easily accessible water sources about. There has been a young bear hanging about in the campground so they, very reasonably, ask that you keep all scent sources in your car," notes Kelsey M.

Wildlife encounters are common: Bears and other wildlife frequent the area campgrounds. "This was the only place we saw bears but not in our campsite just wandering in another loop. We stayed in loop b and found a perfectly shaded site that was quiet and private and near the comfort station," explains Anna R. from Doughton Park.

Varying bathroom quality: Facilities range widely between campgrounds. "We've had a little aggravation with hornets. Wagoner access had everything we needed. There were sites with full hookups and sites with just electric. Most sites were really private which is nice," shares Kimberly.

Tips for camping with families

Look for loop camping with playgrounds: Fort Hamby includes family-friendly amenities. "Beautiful place! We camped there toward the end of October 2018. Campsites are level and plenty long enough. Bathhouse was extremely clean. Hosts were very friendly and helpful. We camped with 3 other families. It's a little hilly for kids to ride bikes, but the 6 kids with us managed to have a great time on theirs!" reports Brenda F.

Check for swimming areas: Many local campgrounds have designated swimming spots. "The location next to the reservoir is awesome. Rode the bike trails and loved it. Did some kayaking too. The actual campsites can be a bit tricky to park but overall great time," says Kelley G. from Bandits Roost.

Scout for walk-in campsites: Some campgrounds require short walks from parking to tent sites. "The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained. The park host, Tom Keller, was just fantastic. Really helpful and super nice. They do have wagons/Wheel barrels to help haul your supplies to your tent," shares Kerrie N.

Check for bear precautions: Always verify storage requirements for food and scented items. "We went in December and there wasn't many people there at all, maybe 4 other campers all weekend," notes Charli R. about winter camping at Stone Mountain State Park.

Tips from RVers

Site length limitations: New River State Park has specific site configurations. "Small campground with a handful of FHU sites. Some sites have patio area on 'wrong' (street) side instead of curb side, so take a look at Google satellite map when booking. Sites 3, 7, 10 are among the best," advises Megan M.

Hookup variations: Electric and water hookups are available at most established campgrounds, but sewer is limited. "Been coming here for 20 years. This park has been my go to place when we need to get away. We have stayed here with a tent n now a camper. Clean sites n most sites r pretty level. Would give 5 stars but this park isn't full hookup. It's still a beautiful place," notes Connie M.

Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds with hookups provide dump stations. "Absolutely the easiest and cleanest dump station we have ever used! Well designed! Close to Willesboro!" shares Brenda F. about Fort Hamby Park.

Challenging access roads: Some campgrounds have narrow or winding roads. "The windy roads are narrow in many places, with little or no shoulder. There's a wonderful 'in the woods' feel, and some sites are closer together than others. Sites are well graveled and level, with picnic table, fire-ring, and lamp hanging posts," explains Herb T.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available in Wilkesboro, NC?

Wilkesboro offers several excellent camping options. COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground provides drive-in access with reservable sites, water, and toilets. Stone Mountain State Park Campground is another popular option, offering beautiful and quiet surroundings with bathroom facilities, though be prepared for bugs during North Carolina summers. For those seeking private options, Moravian Falls Family Campground is conveniently located in the area. These campgrounds provide a range of amenities to accommodate different camping preferences, from basic sites to more developed facilities.

Are there RV rental options in Wilkesboro, North Carolina?

While Wilkesboro itself has limited dedicated RV rental businesses, several options exist in the surrounding area. Nearby Grandfather Campground caters to RV campers with riverside sites and may have information about local rental services. Spacious Skies Bear Den offers family-friendly facilities for RVs with clean amenities and friendly staff. For RV rentals, check online platforms like RVshare and Outdoorsy which connect local RV owners with renters in the Wilkesboro area. National rental chains like Cruise America and El Monte RV have pickup locations in larger nearby cities. Calling ahead to campgrounds is recommended, as some may have partnerships with rental services or on-site rental units.

Are there camping areas near downtown Wilkesboro?

Yes, there are camping options close to downtown Wilkesboro. Stoney Fork Campground in nearby Ferguson offers drive-in access with reservable sites and water. For those willing to venture a bit further, Wagoner — New River State Park provides beautiful walk-in campsites with well-maintained facilities and helpful staff. The park provides carts and wheelbarrows to transport your gear to the campsites. While not directly in downtown, these options are within a reasonable driving distance and offer peaceful settings to return to after exploring Wilkesboro's attractions.

Where can I find a detailed map of Wilkesboro campgrounds?

For detailed maps of Wilkesboro campgrounds, start with the official websites of specific campgrounds like Self Sufficient Holler or Thousand Trails Green Mountain, which typically provide site maps and facility locations. The Dyrt camping app and website offer interactive maps with campground locations, reviews, and photos. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website has comprehensive maps for W. Kerr Scott Reservoir camping areas. Additionally, the North Carolina State Parks website provides downloadable PDF maps for state park campgrounds in the region. Visitor centers in Wilkesboro often have printed maps available, and the local chamber of commerce can be another helpful resource.