Best Campgrounds near Elkin, NC

Camping near Elkin, North Carolina puts you close to both the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Trail with several good options. Stone Mountain State Park Campground draws many campers with its mountain views and hiking trails throughout the park. Not far away, Grayson Highlands State Park has become known for the wild ponies that sometimes wander near the camping areas. Weather around Elkin works best for camping in spring and fall when temperatures stay mild, while summer can get pretty hot and winter might close some camping areas. Remember to store your food properly since bears and other wildlife live throughout this region. If you're planning to visit during busy times, you should book ahead since these campgrounds fill up quickly. Another solid choice is Hanging Rock State Park Campground, which has rock climbing routes and fishing spots nearby. The restrooms stay clean and there are picnic areas where you can eat meals outside your tent or RV. Elkin makes a good starting point for seeing what North Carolina's mountains have to offer, whether you're staying for a weekend or longer.

Best Camping Sites Near Elkin, North Carolina (149)

    1. Stone Mountain State Park Campground

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

    $17 - $72 / night

    "But, ya know North Carolina summers."

    "The site also had a huge area for the picnic table and the fire ring is far away from your camper. There was a huge grassy area behind our site with a creek, lots of space for our dog."

    2. Byrd's Branch Campground

    12 Reviews
    Elkin, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 366-9955

    "The bath house is on the back of the little store, a short walk for the tent campers / longer walk from the RV sites. Bathrooms were VERY clean and spacious with plentiful hot water."

    "You got hiking trails that lead right threw the campground up to Carter falls and down to elkin. Both primitive and full hook up available definitely will return again."

    3. Pilot Mountain State Park Campground

    37 Reviews
    Pinnacle, NC
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 444-5100

    $17 - $27 / night

    "I left the flat of eastern North Carolina and headed to the mountains to our west. Pilot Mt. State Park has a nice campground and some good hiking trails."

    "Campground Review:

    Pilot Mountain State Park is located in Pinnacle, NC, approximately 2.5 hours away from Asheville, NC and is known for it’s giant pinnacle, Pilot Mountain, that rises 2,000 feet into"

    4. Mayberry Campground

    24 Reviews
    Mount Airy, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 789-6199

    "Mayberry is conveniently located near the highway. The property is well maintained. The staff is very helpful."

    "Some spots are near I74 but most are not. Large lake and history here. Close to town to see the local legends hometown."

    5. Riverwalk RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Elkin, NC
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (833) 788-2229

    $70 - $85 / night

    "We were looking for a campground near by over Martin Luther weekend and used the Dyrt app and found this nice campground."

    "The campground is just a few minutes down the road from the very quaint town of Elkin, NC. There is a nice walking path through the campground."

    6. Holly Ridge Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Nebo, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 367-7756

    7. Secluded Mitchel River Camping

    4 Reviews
    Elkin, NC
    5 miles
    +1 (336) 466-1653

    $25 / night

    "We tent camped so we set everything up next to the fire pit The picnic table is great for lunches and the parking pad . Excellent fire pit and fire wood provided!!"

    8. Sandy Creek Family Campground

    7 Reviews
    Traphill, NC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 957-8525

    "The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park. Very fun long weekend at a family friendly campground. Would definitely camp here again!"

    "Stayed there for a weekend, great location close to Stone Mtn park. Hiked from there into the state park. Very clean kept campground and nice owner"

    9. Jomeokee Campground

    15 Reviews
    Pinnacle, NC
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 283-6483

    "The trees, the adjacent pastures, the farm pond, the rolling hills, and the scenic views make this a great little campground. The bottom row of sites looks directly at Pilot Mtn in the distance."

    "Close to trails and waterfalls. Open fields and mountain backdrop. Water electric bath house."

    10. Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    14 Reviews
    Sparta, NC
    21 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."

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Recent Reviews near Elkin, NC

891 Reviews of 149 Elkin Campgrounds


  • D
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA

    Awesome KOA!

    My family and I stayed here for a few days. The campground is beautiful. All of the staff members that we encountered were super friendly. We ordered campground room service from Daves Smokehouse which was excellent and arrived very quickly. The campground is very well maintained and clean. The wifi was great at our site. AT&T cell service was not so good though. This KOA is very close to Blue Ridge Parkway, Fancy Gap Pottery & Fabric Outlet , as well as the Fancy Gap Old Country store. Our stay was very peaceful and relaxing, If we go back to the area we will definitely stay here again.

  • Joe B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Creekside Camping

    Beautiful sites

    Huge sites by the water (creek), power and water. Fire wood at each site. There are fire pits, barbecue grills, 2 sites have picnic tables, and one site has a wooden swing near the creek. The ground is uneven, so we had to move around a bit to get level. The sites do not have concrete or gravel pads. You park in the grass. Pick your spot, and you might need a long power cord. The bath house is up the hill (a bit of a climb), traditional toilet and sink inside, the shower is outside. Open air shower. Very quiet here, only a few cars pass by on the small road up the hill. We have a 14ft. teardrop camper and use an AWD vehicle. Not sure what the largest size camper would make it back here. The road is very narrow and you’re parking on the grass. There is also a small laundry building up the hill.

  • 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 :)

  • Lanna M.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Love Valley Campground

    Clean

    Probably the second cleanest campground I had ever been to

  • 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

  • D
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Boone KOA

    A Perfect Stay at Boone KOA – Clean, Quiet, and Family-Friendly!

    We recently stayed at the Boone KOA and couldn’t be happier with our experience! The facilities were incredibly clean—bathrooms, showers, and common areas were spotless and well-maintained throughout our stay, which made camping that much more comfortable.

    What really stood out was the peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere. Even though the campground was full with RVs and other campers, it was surprisingly quiet and respectful at night—ideal for families or anyone looking to relax.

    The tent sites had tons of space between them, giving us both privacy and room to spread out, which can be hard to find at other campgrounds. We never felt cramped and had more than enough room for our gear, a picnic area, and space for the kids to run around.

    There’s a lot here that people are looking for when choosing a campground: ✅ Level tent pads ✅ Clean restrooms and showers ✅ Quiet hours that are actually respected ✅ Close proximity to Boone and Blue Ridge Parkway hikes ✅ A friendly staff that makes you feel welcome ✅ Activities for kids and families without being too noisy

    Whether you’re in an RV or pitching a tent, Boone KOA is a perfect base for exploring the High Country. Highly recommend and will definitely return!

  • M
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    My favorite campground!

    Blue Bear is by far my favorite campground. Not only is the weather so much cooler in the summer there(70-80 in July!), it's just a wonderful, down to earth place to be. The owner is great and the host(Mike) is beyond amazing! We've been camping there for 8 years and love it more each time we go. The camper spots are very spacious and C1-C3 are completely shaded. C3 is the best by far! But you have to book early because C3 is very popular! 

    Some things to know before you go! They do not have water hookups- you fill your camper tank with water at the office area. They have spots with electric hookups. They have a dump station where you can empty your tanks on your way out. This is a simple& beautiful campground. There are trails to walk/hike, mountain view to see, bathhouse with 3 bathroom/showers, and one with just a bathroom. This is by far the cleanest bathhouse I have ever seen. They show great attention to this campground and make sure all their campers are happy. You can also purchase wood at the office. There are a few t-shirts for sale at the office, as well. 

    If you haven't checked it out, you are truly missing out! This is a great place with great people!

  • Roger V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Rocky Knob Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Quiet, nice, but no showers, very basic

    Minimalist facilities. Good location. Has rv and tent sites. Right off blue Ridge Parkway.

    Overall ok if you need a crash pad, but I would not seek it out

  • Scott D.
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    Welcome respite

    After a string of rough camps and brutal temps this mountain spot was so welcome. Beautiful drive in, GPS was dead on.

    Host is fantastic.

    I selected a powered spot even though I tent camp. Sometimes it's just nice to charge everything back up before heading out, not chasing the sun with my solar panels.

    I will definitely be back.


Guide to Elkin

Camping near Elkin, North Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled weekend, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

What campers like

What you should know

  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell coverage at Stone Mountain State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "We could send and receive text messages, but coverage was very spotty."
  • Close Campsites: Some campgrounds, like Hickory Ridge Campground — Grayson Highlands State Park, have sites that are a bit close together. A visitor noted, "Sites were a little close, but peaceful and the trails made up for the close sites."
  • No Electric Hookups: If you're camping at Hanging Rock State Park Campground, remember that there are no electric hookups. A camper shared, "Most of the sites are small and very close together."

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with fun activities for kids, like Wytheville KOA, which has a bowling alley. One camper said, "We got in early enough that we were able to get a game of bowling in before they closed."
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on kids around wildlife, especially at Stone Mountain State Park Campground. A visitor warned, "We witnessed a lady attempting to pet the stallion of the herd."
  • Plan for Rain: Be ready for wet weather, especially in the spring. A camper at Blue Bear Mountain Camp mentioned, "Unfortunately rained the whole time we were there, ended up leaving a day early."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Levels: Make sure to choose a level site, especially at Wytheville KOA. One RV camper noted, "A lot of the sites were not level."
  • Use the Facilities: Take advantage of the clean bathhouses at Royal Oak Campground — Hungry Mother State Park. A visitor said, "The campground was easy to navigate, and the bathroom facilities were very clean."
  • Bring Your Own Shower: If you're staying at places like Hanging Rock State Park Campground, consider bringing your own shower if you prefer more privacy. A camper mentioned, "The showers were very small with even smaller doors."

Camping near Elkin, North Carolina, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds in Elkin, NC?

The best campgrounds near Elkin combine natural beauty with well-maintained facilities. Pilot Mountain State Park Campground offers excellent hiking trails and the unique experience of camping on the rocky hillside with stunning views. Hanging Rock State Park Campground is consistently rated as one of North Carolina's best, featuring breathtaking cliff views, miles of trails, a lake, and five waterfalls to explore. For those who prefer a private campground, several family-friendly options exist within a short drive of Elkin. The region's campgrounds are particularly beautiful in fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains display vibrant foliage.

What camping options are available near Elkin, NC?

The Elkin area offers diverse camping experiences within a short drive. Stone Mountain State Park Campground provides beautiful wooded sites with well-maintained facilities about 30 minutes from Elkin. For those seeking camping along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, Doughton Park Campground offers both RV and tent sections with spacious sites and concrete pads for longer rigs. Other options include state parks like Pilot Mountain and New River, private campgrounds like Holly Ridge and Sandy Creek Family Campgrounds, and RV-specific parks. Most campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, and bathhouses, with varying levels of hookups depending on the facility.

Are there RV rental services available in Elkin, North Carolina?

While Elkin itself has limited dedicated RV rental services, several options exist in the surrounding region. RV-friendly campgrounds like Riverwalk RV Park offer spacious, pull-through sites with gravel pads and movable fire pits. Some campgrounds may have partnerships with rental companies or on-site rental units, though availability varies seasonally. Moravian Falls Family Campground is another RV-accessible option in the area, though facilities receive mixed reviews. For RV rentals, visitors typically need to check with dealerships in larger nearby cities like Winston-Salem or use online peer-to-peer rental platforms that connect RV owners with renters in the region.