Best Campgrounds near Albemarle, NC

Located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, the Albemarle area offers a mix of established and dispersed camping options primarily centered around Morrow Mountain State Park and Uwharrie National Forest. The park features three camping loops with both electric and non-electric sites suitable for tents and RVs, while cabins provide an alternative for those seeking more amenities. Several campgrounds like Badin Lake, Arrowhead, and Norwood accommodate various camping styles from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spaces, with most sites offering fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathrooms with showers.

Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience throughout the year, with all-season accessibility at most established campgrounds in the region. Morrow Mountain State Park maintains clean facilities with newly renovated bathhouses, though the campground lacks Wi-Fi and cell service in many areas. Campsites vary in levelness, with some RV sites presenting challenges for larger rigs. Water access points are available throughout the campgrounds, though water hookups are limited to specific sites. As one camper noted, "When we arrived at our site at 8:50pm, we were greeted by a super nice park ranger. We felt welcomed and safe."

Campers consistently highlight the spacious, wooded sites that provide privacy between neighbors. The natural setting attracts wildlife, with several visitors reporting deer sightings directly in their campsites. Hiking opportunities range from easy to strenuous trails throughout Morrow Mountain's varied terrain, while water activities center around Lake Tillery and Badin Lake. A recent review noted, "The campground has three loops, some with no hookups and some with electric hookups. One of the best things about this campground is that there is plenty of space between the campsites, so you don't feel as if you are on top of the other campers." Historical features including Dr. Kron's homestead and museum add educational value to the camping experience, making the area suitable for families seeking both outdoor recreation and cultural activities.

Best Camping Sites Near Albemarle, North Carolina (74)

    1. Morrow Mountain State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 982-4402

    $17 - $107 / night

    "Morrow Mountain State Park, near Albemarle, NC, has something for everyone.  Many hiking and equestrian trails are within the park. "

    "Nestled up to the Uwharrie National Forest and Albemarle. Plenary of camp sites and home to a Native American mining operation."

    2. Badin Lake Campground

    26 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    9 miles
    Website

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Awesome location, very remote and the sites are Huge so no need to worry about a neighbor being close. I stayed at site 11 easy access to the water and great views."

    "I preferred the lower loop as nearly every outer site was on the lake with great views and lake access and sites are spread out. The inside sites of the lower loop are pretty spacious and deep."

    3. Arrowhead Campground

    18 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    $20 - $54 / night

    "Arrowhead Campground has had a bigger budget compared to its lesser sibling Badin Lake Campground. "

    "The campsites do not offer a view of the water of Badin Lake, but it is nearby with a drive or hike. "

    4. Deep Water Trail Camp

    8 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    7 miles
    Website

    "The drive down the trail can be a bit much if you’re in a smaller car like we were, we had to drive slowly down because of all of the rocks."

    "First of all.. this place is FREE to camp at and surrounded by beautiful water, beautiful trees and the ancient rock of Uwharrie. A lovely place that we are so lucky to have access to... BUT. People."

    5. Norwood Campground

    6 Reviews
    Mount Gilead, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 474-3800

    $42 - $70 / night

    "The pool doesn’t have normal steps that you walk down into the pool on, they only have the ladder steps which make it a little tricky getting in with a small child."

    "Spacious lots in a wooded setting, includes a pool, walking trails, and access to Lake Tillery. Ice and firewood available onsite. Bath-houses are dated."

    6. Art Lilley Campground

    5 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    8 miles
    Website

    "Other camp ground near by with dump an showers fee 3 bucks for showers unsure on dump fee. Ovh area so can get some dust an noisy atv utv an trail rigs."

    7. Uwharrie Hunt Camp

    6 Reviews
    Uwharrie National Forest, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    "We hit this campground right at the perfect time of year, BEFORE the opening day of off-road vehicle season in April. "

    "After a long drive trying to find my husbands original spot we found a new one. Beautiful scenery."

    8. Uwharrie National Forest

    16 Reviews
    Troy, NC
    19 miles

    "It should be no shock to those familiar with North Carolina’s geography that if one is seeking higher altitudes and breathtaking overlooks, Uwharrie is not the place he should go."

    "This area was one of my favorite ares for dispersed camping in Uwharrie National Forest while living in North Carolina. The area can be accessed by boat on the Little River, or by hiking in."

    9. Dan Nicholas Park

    19 Reviews
    Southmont, NC
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 216-7803

    "Nice lake to walk around, but paddle boats and center were closed. Lots of ducks that were used to human presence and feeding. Located in a nice sized park. Would definitely go back."

    "Site next to one of the lake access trails. Spacious site. We were able to get our 37 ft camper level. Shaded so the a/c s were able to keep up with the heat no issue."

    10. Uwharrie National Forest Badin Lake Group Camp

    3 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    10 miles
    Website

    $75 / night

    "And it you are an off road enthusiast, they have made some fantastic off road trails south of the Forrest."

    "While at Uwaharrie NF stayed at Biden Lake campground. Beautiful place with great views. Clean facilities close to sites."

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Recent Reviews near Albemarle, NC

465 Reviews of 74 Albemarle Campgrounds


  • madison F.
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Cobble Hill RV Campground (Formerly) Carolina Rose

    good stop & stay

    campground being remodeled so bathhouses were a little walk away but not too inconvenient. pool was also closed for now BUT overall cute location. did park on site 59 (pull through) but was SUPER unlevel. cute pond and amphitheater too! has laundry as well.

    coolest part about this spot is that it’s about a 10 min drive into Catawba college town which was a super nice area for us being younger. perfect mix of Boulder & Philly :)

    hosts were SUPER friendly and nice :)

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Asheboro

    Great stay

    Campground has many things to do for the Littles. I would recommend renting the “off road” golf cart for fun. The only negative is the lack of bath houses. Although we have a full bathroom in our camper we typically use the showers at the campgrounds. There were only 2 bathhouses in the campground. Our site was well shaded and enough space between the sites.

  • wesley L.
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Tanglewood Park

    Shaded and clean

    No permanent sites so it's clean with no clutter, host greeted upon arrival, lots of access to hike/bike trails, near park with ponds, pool, ball courts. Several sites including mine very hard to level

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Arrowhead Campground

    Perfect spot

    Nicely spaced, shaded, and quiet camp ground. A lot of people camp here with their jeeps, sidexsides, and 4wheelers. The bathrooms and showers aren’t fancy but are clean. There’s a boat ramp right by the entrance. Overall an awesome camp ground!

  • Sarah B.
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Cane Creek Park

    Always a great time when we go

    We have been here 3 times all for a week at a time and love it. Holidays usually have some activities for kids. The mini golf is free and a blast. The swim area is only open on Saturdays or you can drive to the day use side and be over there.

  • Sarah B.
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Dan Nicholas Park

    We will be back for sure

    Site next to one of the lake access trails. Spacious site. We were able to get our 37 ft camper level. Shaded so the a/c s were able to keep up with the heat no issue.

  • D
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Dan Nicholas Park

    Beautiful campground

    Very limited wi-fi, dated bathrooms, most amenities closed

  • Chris K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2025

    Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort

    Superb Accommodations

    Always very clean, with meticulously maintained and picturesque grounds, the Camp Wilderness at Carowinds is well-appointed with amenities and attended to by helpful and friendly Carowinds staff. Providing shuttle service to the front gate for park entry, this is an excellent choice for overnight stays and Carowinds outings.

  • Amber L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 17, 2025

    Coble's Landing

    DO NOT STAY HERE

    WARNING DO NOT STAY HERE!!! REX COBLE is part owner of this campground. My father’s camper was broken into and vandalized by the owner REX. Stayed for 3 months and never received a receipt for cash handed over. Always gave us the go around and said he was out of town on business. So we started using cash app to prove payments. We even paid 6 months advanced for storage. Investigation still in process and having to get the law involved again. Biggest crook and con of Anson County. Drug deals happening right in the Rv Park in front of family’s and children durning the day and all times at night. This place needs to be investigated, raided and shut down! Our whole life was taken from us. Photos, jewelry, guns, clothing, TVs, and etc. I highly suggest you do not stay here or trust your belongings being stored.


Guide to Albemarle

The Albemarle area sits in the rolling Piedmont region with elevations ranging from 400-1,000 feet. Uwharrie National Forest forms the backbone of camping opportunities, with ancient mountains weathered down to gentle hills. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions in the 60-75°F range, making these seasons popular for camping in the region.

What to do

Kayaking and fishing access points: At Badin Lake Campground, campers can launch directly from their sites. "We have stayed at Badin Lake campground a couple times and would recommend it to anyone that likes to kayak and fish. Being able to camp on the water and just slide the kayaks in and out is great," notes Ruth O.

Off-road vehicle trails: The Uwharrie Forest OHV trail system offers over 16 miles of designated routes ranging from easy to extremely difficult. "We also took our Jeep on the OHV trails and had a blast. There are several places you can take a canoe or kayak on and the scenery on the lake was beautiful as well," shares one visitor to Uwharrie National Forest.

Hiking with varying difficulty levels: The Lake Loop Trail at Arrowhead Campground provides a paved, accessible path ideal for all abilities. "Terrific paved trail that is awesome for walking, biking, strollers, wheelchairs," notes a camper at Arrowhead. For more challenging terrain, the forest offers numerous unpaved trails through hills and alongside streams.

What campers like

Private, spacious campsites: Arrowhead Campground offers sites with good separation between neighbors. "We had a double site that was huge... we'll definitely go back," shares Logan S. Many sites include hammock-friendly trees, fire rings, and grills.

Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds in the Uwharrie Forest offer primitive camping at minimal cost. At Uwharrie Hunt Camp, campers pay just $5 per night. "The campground is a quaint, and only $5 per night! With only 6 sites and what appears to be an over-sized parking lot right next to it, the lot accommodates the OHV trailers," reports one visitor.

Lake access and water activities: Multiple campgrounds offer direct water access. "These lakeshore sites within the forest were simply stunning. We spent three nights enjoying our campground on Badin Lake. The sites were large and could accommodate most sizes of trailers in addition to tents," shares Shari G. about their experience at Badin Lake.

What you should know

Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the area. At Arrowhead Campground, "Cell signal is pretty spotty but passable. Would need a booster or satellite internet in order to work or attend school," according to Mambo M.

Seasonal closures and conditions: Water systems at some campgrounds shut down during winter months. "Dump station was open, but did not have water to flush tanks or fill water tanks as water was shut off for the winter. There were water spigots throughout the campground that we could use," notes Jody B. from their visit to Arrowhead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available in and around Albemarle, NC?

The Albemarle area offers several excellent camping options. Morrow Mountain State Park Campground is located near Albemarle with electric and water hookups, shaded sites, and a dump station. Norwood Campground provides family-friendly amenities including a fishing pond and swimming pool. Other nearby options include Badin Lake Campground in the Uwharrie National Forest, Deep River Campground and RV Park near Asheboro, and Dan Nicholas Park near Salisbury. For those seeking a more primitive experience, Uwharrie National Forest offers multiple dispersed camping locations.

Are there any mountain camping areas near Albemarle?

While Albemarle isn't in high mountains, there are elevated camping areas nearby offering that mountain feel. Uwharrie National Forest provides dispersed camping with some elevation changes, though it doesn't feature dramatic overlooks or high peaks. Badin Lake Campground offers spacious remote sites with lake views and nearby hiking trails. For a more mountainous experience with elevations over 900 feet, Morrow Mountain State Park delivers hiking trails with a true mountain atmosphere despite its modest elevation. The Uwharrie region offers a taste of mountain camping without requiring a long drive to western North Carolina.

What amenities are offered at Albemarle camping sites?

Camping amenities around Albemarle vary by location. Uwharrie National Forest Yates Place offers primitive dispersed camping with no fees or reservations required – perfect for those seeking a back-to-basics experience. For more facilities, Arrowhead Campground in the Uwharrie National Forest provides developed sites. Many campgrounds in the area feature electrical and water hookups, picnic tables, and fire pits. Some locations like Deep River Campground offer swimming pools, while others provide access to fishing, hiking trails, and boating. Most developed campgrounds have restrooms, and some include dump stations for RVs.