Top Free Dispersed Camping near Asheboro, NC
Want to go dispersed camping near Asheboro? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Asheboro, NC (4)
1. Uwharrie National Forest
15 Reviews•51 Photos•131 SavesThere are approximately 51,000 acres of National Forest System lands in Montgomery, Randolph and Davidson Counties. The Uwharrie National Forest includes the Uwharrie Ranger District Office, located at 789 NC Highway 24/27 East, Troy, NC 27371. At the district office you can obtain information about the area, get brouchures, camping information, trail passes, and permits. You can also obtain a Senior pass, Disabled Pass. We also have USGS Topo maps for sale. Primitive dispersed camping is allowed throughout the Forest, except in those areas that are posted "No Camping". These sites can be found along most of Forest Service roads and trails. Please remember when using these sites to be careful with camp fires and carry out your trash and debris. Please leave your campsite in good clean condition so that others who follow you may also enjoy the Forest. The Uwharrie National Forest is part of the 2 million acres of public lands managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for public hunting, trapping and fishing, and are designated as Game Lands. In addition to the appropriate basic annual hunting license, a Game Lands Privilege license must be obtained to hunt on the Uwharrie National Forest. Information concerning seasons, bag limits, and special Game Lands Restrictions are found in the annual N.C. Inlands Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest, available where licenses are sold. Camping and Day-use Information Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Uwharrie National Forest can be found here. You may enjoy this story on a QR guided trail in the national forest. OHV Trail Vendors. Shooting Range Vendors. Recreation Maps Uwharrie National Forest map Trail Strategy Documents, Presentations and Maps Badin Lake Area map Morris Mountain Area map North Eastern Portion map South Eastern Portion map Wood Run Area map Documents... Presentations... Be Safe The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility. Badin Lake OHV Trails close December 18th at 8:00 am OHV Trails will reopen April 1st in the morning OHV annual passes will be available from the Uwharrie Ranger District office or the Eldorado Outpost
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
2. Dispersed Camping off Falls Dam Trail
1 Review•3 Photos•35 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
4. Shallow Ford Natural Area
1 Review•1 Photo•17 SavesThe Shallow Ford Campsites are located along The Haw river. The Haw River Trail provides public access to Alamance County’s most important natural feature. Built on the idea of conservation through recreation, the land and paddle trails allow the community to explore and appreciate its river while helping to conserve and protect this important resource.
Primitive backcountry campsite located approximately one mile from parking area. Access by hiking or paddling only!
The department requires that a responsible adult accompany each group. Group limit is 10 people.
Fee: $10 per group (County & Non-County Resident)
Please choose your arrival day for your reservation, we will know you are staying the night.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Dispersed
- Firewood Available
$10 / night
Recent Dispersed Reviews In Asheboro
18 Reviews of 4 Asheboro Campgrounds
- D
Daniel R.
Traveler
Dispersed Camping off Falls Dam Trail
Beautiful weekend out!
Had a good time camping and enjoyed the song of wind and birds.
Marvin D.
Guide
Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie National Forest
Good challenging hiking, and plenty of campsites along the trails. This is a good place for a 'shakedown hike' if you ever plan on through hiking the AT. There are a few different trailheads, so you are never too far from your car or civilization. 23/27 trailhead has a decent sized parking lot and allows for overnight parking for backpacking etc. Rt 109 trailhead has slightly smaller parking.
If you are car camping, there are established campsites for that, and you can basically disperse camp anywhere there is a site in the Uwharrie.
Mike L.TravelerUwharrie National Forest
Good location in the national forest
Beautiful campsites, plenty of room for our camper. Neighboring sites were a bit rowdy when we were there, no ranger to enforce the rules. Other than the loud neighbors the campground was very nice, lots of nearby trails to ride and hike.
LindaTraveler
Shallow Ford Natural Area
Peaceful camping
This campsite is on the Mountains to Sea Trail for those that are doing that. There’s lots of shade and it is very peaceful. It is pretty flat for your tent and there are fire rings. Someone left me a bundle of wood. I hear the river in the background and lots of birds and squirrels. I would highly recommend this place.
- eevangelineTraveler
Uwharrie National Forest
Camping near the water
Drove out in the Tacoma and slept in the bed of the truck near the water pulled off on the side of the road. The spot we found already had a fire pit made which was so nice. Only a short hike down to the water and the weather was beautiful!
Misery C.TravelerUwharrie National Forest
Primitive camping
We primitive camping here at least every other weekend. We love it. Great trails, beautiful scenery. A peaceful experience
- Terri F.Traveler
Uwharrie National Forest
Into the woods
Nestled in the middle of NC is this great forest. There were lots of established camping spots. We picked a nice one near a stream. There was a lot of road traffic even late into the night. People were friendly when we saw them but everyone kept their distance.
- bbartGuide
Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie campground
The State Forest has camping. We used our pop-up with a generator in rustic locations. There are hiking, horse, OHV, dirt bike, ATV, and mountain bike trails.
- Myron C.
LegendUwharrie National Forest
Truly Primitive Camping in a National Forest
Personally, I would give dispersed camping here four or five stars, but I have to be objective from the point of view of many campers. This is not an RV camping area, at least not the dispersed camping area. You cannot drive up to the campsites. There are no electric, water, or sewer hookups. There might be at the more developed campgrounds, but if you are camping along the Uwharrie Trail or the Dutchman’s Creek Trail, it is completely primitive. With that said, I have enjoyed camping in the Uwharrie National Forest.
This makes my third time in the Uwharrie National Forest. The first time was with a Royal Ranger Junior Training Trails group when I was a Royal Ranger leader. We camped along the Dutchman’s Creek Trail. The second time was with the Boy Scouts when we were preparing the boys for a longer backpacking trip to Philmont in New Mexico. This time was my third time, and I was by myself. I hiked along the creek at what was marked as campsite 1 along the Uwharrie Trail. It was a short hike and easy to moderate. Unfortunately, it wasn’t far enough away to hear distant noises from Hwy 24, so if you want to get away from traffic noise completely, hiker farther in.
Obviously, there are no facilities, so I had to take my own water and a water filter. Since I was close to a stream, I had to take care of personal business about two hundred feet farther away. There was evidence that others had been at this site because of the trash, but as always(and I am not patting myself on the back), I left the site cleaner than I found it. I am sure there are other views, but my favorite view was from Dennis Mountain, which is only about 700 feet above sea level. I didn’t make it to Dennis Mountain this time, and I wish I had taken pictures when I was there before. On my previous trips, I also wish I had taken more photos. Nevertheless, backpacking and camping in the Uwharrie Mountains gives you a sense of being in the wilderness.
Rachael H.
Ranger
Birkhead Mountain Wilderness Area Dispersed
Excellent
Very nice trails. Well maintained. Not marked the best... signs at intersections. Plenty of creeks. Hike in for dispersed camping.
- Zachary S.Guide
Uwharrie National Forest
Dispersed camping
This is a great area for dispersed campers with 4WD or AWD. It's pretty popular so head out early to secure your spot. Some of the sites may have a little trash left from the last user, so please try to leave it cleaner than you came to. No toilets for disperesed areas. Most sites have rock fire pits and room to set up. Love it here. Plenty of OHV trails as well.
ChrisTravelerUwharrie National Forest
Nice sites
The tent sites nice and clean and level. The host drove through many many times in the 3 days I was there. Bathrooms are what you can expect from a state park clean with little bugs here and there but nothing you can do about that in the middle of the woods. Overall great place good four-wheeling and nice accommodations
- Wayne R.Guide
Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie trail
Along the Uwharrie trail. Water available on both sides of camp / trail.
- Sean R.Traveler
Uwharrie National Forest
Backpacking In Uwharrie
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. Notwithstanding, as much of the higher elevations are impassable during the winter months, the forest offers backpackers an opportunity to stay on the trail a few days. The Uwharrie Trail, which pretty much spans the park north/south is about 20 miles point to point. The trailhead is kind of hard to follow sometimes, sections of the trail are prone to flooding and creek crossings can become difficult following heavy rains. Overall, however, the forest is a good place for backpacking in this region of the state. Th streams, provided one has filtration or iodine tablets, provide ample sources of drinking water.
EricaGuideUwharrie National Forest
Great off-roading
First time at Uwharrie and we drove about 5 hours to get there but it was worth it! It’s a huge area with several campgrounds. We stayed in 2 different dispersed primitive sites and they were both great. Plenty of space and trees and privacy! There are a 6 different stores/gas stations that have the overnight passes available for purchase. We got our passes from Eldorado outpost and the attendants there were very knowledgeable and helpful! 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. They also have several hiking trails throughout. Canebrake horse camp is located in Uwharrie and has horse trails throughout. We didn’t come across a park store but they did have showers and bathrooms in the actual campgrounds. There’s a store/gas station (Eldorado Outpost) right down the road and they also have an air compressor for inflating tires (which is handy for off-roading). It was definitely a long drive but we will definitely be making the trip again. We really liked the secluded primitive campsites and the various trails we were able to take our Jeep on.
Wyatt M.TravelerUwharrie National Forest
Dispersed camping/hunting area
This area was a place that I went often to deer hunt in the fall. I have never came across another camper/hunter at this location. It is a good location if you are looking for an area that is away from camp grounds and heavy traffic. I never shot a deer here but they are in the area. The area is just SW of Troy, NC down HWY 109/24. On the map below, it is the most western forest area.
Link to Map:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd485941.pdf
- Wyatt M.Traveler
Uwharrie National Forest
Little River National Forest Area
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. Me and my friends would always float our kayaks down the river to a place we called "Bird Dog" and camp for the night. If you are looking for a place that has very little traffic, this is the place you want to go! This area would be limited to dispersed camping due to no campsites. It is a National Forest so be mindful of rules and regulations while visiting!
link:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd485941.pdf
There is a boat ramp where PEKIN ROAD crosses the Little River. PLEASANT GROVE CHURCH ROAD pretty much cuts right through the area on the PDF.
- Brandon D.Guide
Uwharrie National Forest
Wear bright colors during hunting season!
Make sure to wear bright colors during hunting season because there are a tong of people out deer hunting in this area. That being said there are a ton of great campsites that are private and secluded.
Guide to Asheboro
Camping near Asheboro, North Carolina, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax by the water, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
What to do:
- Hiking: Explore the numerous trails available at Hanging Rock State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The park has 5 waterfalls... almost all the hikes involve a steep hill climb of stairs."
- Fishing and Swimming: At Jordan Lake State Recreation Area - Poplar Point, you can fish or swim. A camper shared, "We fished for hours, kayaked on the lake, and the kids caught minnows."
- Wildlife Watching: Morrow Mountain State Park Campground is great for spotting deer and other wildlife. One reviewer noted, "The campsites tend to be spacious and wooded—perfect for privacy and hammocks."
What campers like:
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the bathhouses at Moccasin Branch Campground. A visitor said, "The bathhouse is clean and modern."
- Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Lake Norman State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The tent pad was super spacious and made of gravel."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Hagan-Stone Park said, "The staff suggested how to park because of the location of power and water."
What you should know:
- No Alcohol Allowed: Most campgrounds, like Hanging Rock State Park Campground, do not permit alcohol. A camper noted, "They control burns often, so there isn't any bushes giving you privacy."
- Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, such as Crosswinds Campground, lack electric hookups and showers. A visitor mentioned, "The on-site bathroom & shower facilities are just slightly north of passable."
- Reservations Recommended: Popular sites can fill up quickly, especially during weekends. One camper at Poplar Point Campground advised, "I would highly suggest booking in advance since waterfront sites book up quick."
Tips for camping with families:
- Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Morrow Mountain State Park Campground, which offers a variety of activities. A reviewer said, "There are also historical features, a few unmarked homesteads and graves, as well as a nice (though small) museum."
- Plan for Activities: Bring along fishing gear or hiking shoes. One family at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area - Poplar Point enjoyed, "There are tons of small beaches that you can walk or boat to that are secluded enough to allow your dog to run freely."
- Pack Snacks and Drinks: Keep everyone energized during your adventures. A camper at Hagan-Stone Park mentioned, "The grounds are beautiful... lots of ponds for fishing."
Tips from RVers:
- Look for Big Rig Friendly Sites: Campgrounds like Moccasin Branch Campground accommodate larger RVs. A visitor said, "The sites are huge, level, and clean."
- Check for Dump Stations: Ensure your campground has a dump station nearby. One RV camper at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area - Poplar Point noted, "Dump stations are not far from any of the circles."
- Use Cell Phone Hotspots: If you need to stay connected, many RVers found that their cell phone hotspots worked well. One camper at Lake Norman State Park Campground shared, "Our cellphone hotspots worked great."
Camping around Asheboro, NC, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Asheboro, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Asheboro, NC is Uwharrie National Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Asheboro, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 dispersed camping locations near Asheboro, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.