33 campgrounds with availability this weekend
The Blue Ridge Mountains region surrounding Bakersville, North Carolina accommodates diverse camping styles across several established campgrounds and dispersed areas. Buck Hill Campground provides family-oriented camping with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options near Plumtree, while Mountain River Family Campground features riverfront camping along the North Toe River with full hookup RV sites. The broader area includes several Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds such as Linville Falls and Crabtree Falls, typically offering more primitive accommodations. Dispersed camping opportunities exist in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area and along Old NC 105, where self-sufficient backcountry camping is available.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping access in the Bakersville area. Most established campgrounds operate from April through October, with limited year-round options. Winter conditions at higher elevations can make roads impassable, particularly for larger vehicles or trailers. Summer temperatures remain relatively moderate compared to lower elevations, making this region popular during hot months. Cell service varies widely across the area, with campgrounds closer to towns offering more reliable connectivity. Reservations are strongly recommended for developed sites, especially during fall leaf season when the region experiences peak visitation. As one visitor noted, "This is a wonderful site to park an RV. The site is so clean and so well maintained. There is a beautiful hiking trail nearby."
Riverfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors throughout the region, with multiple reviews highlighting water access as a major draw. Mountain River Family Campground's riverside sites are particularly praised for fishing opportunities and views. Campers report pristine conditions at several facilities, noting well-maintained bathhouses and common areas. The region's natural features, including waterfalls, mountain views, and proximity to the Appalachian Trail, enhance the camping experience. Families appreciate playgrounds and recreational areas at the more developed campgrounds, while those seeking solitude gravitate toward dispersed sites in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. A reviewer emphasized this appeal: "We chose the only tent site on the water - which was phenomenal! We had water and greenery surrounding us on three sides, leaving us feeling like we were on a private peninsula."
"Fire pits you had to walk up to but were away from tents, which I liked. Bathhouse was clean, well lit, pretty warm showers. Campground was very clean and has a lot of amenities."
"Great tent pads with running water located right next to every pad. Plenty of hiking and biking to do. Pool and playground for the kids to enjoy, a great place for easy camping."
Available this weekend
"Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."
"If you want to RELAX and get away from everyday hustle and bustle and spend your days hiking and hanging out around the camp fire in the woods this is the place for you!"
from $24 - $999 / night
"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"There are cabins, RV spots and tent sites all with access to newly renovated restrooms and coin operated laundry."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $45 / night
"Love this family owned campground tucked away by the Toe River near Spruce Pine NC and the BRP. Linville Falls. Eat at Famous Louise’s."
"This is the kind of campground we would feel good about our kids biking around in the evening as they chase fire flies and meet new friends! "
"Take 221 to linville falls, right on 183, and right onto kistler memorial highway. It’s a dirt road but no issues with my Subaru Forester. I camped here in December 2020 and didn’t see anyone else."
"We often camp in and around the Linville Gorge area, mostly in the primitive campsites down in the Gorge on Linville River. We stayed before Hurricane Helene but haven't been back since then."
"They'll deliver firewood ($5) to your site by golf cart, they even will collect your site fees as they drive around."
"This is a wonderful spot to be to explore the surrounding areas:
- The famous Mount Mitchell trail, starts a short walking distance from the campground."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 - $56 / night
"This was our first stop on our first trip to North Carolina and now we don’t want to leave!"
"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)."
"On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground is an older style NPS campground, but has been well maintained."
"This review (just as future reviews to this page should be) is about the Crab Tree Falls Campground that is in North Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway and is managed by the National Park Service."
from $10 - $20 / night
"Grassy shady spots by the lake to pick out a place to pitch a tent with fire rings, water spigots and picnic tables spread down the treeline."
"Buck Hill Campground is located near Newland NC. The family owned, Buck Hill campground has been with the same owner for the last 10 years. "
Available this weekend
from $25 - $160 / night
"Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
GuideMother nature is amazing and helps relieve stress from the ones who never deserved to be around you to take and cover it up. So I'll run to God's beauty, and enjoy my fire at the same time. Come on baby light my fire! ;)
LegendThis is almost a perfect park. Sites are a little tight, pond is nice, but geese were on another level. So loud at 3-5am it woke us up and kept us up. Our neighbors were also inconsiderately loud at 4-6am. We thought they were pulling out the first time and gave a pass, but it was 4 straight days. This was only place at the time time that had sites. Definitely pretty more scenic parks. We book 2 days out. Staff is super friendly and price wasn’t bad last minute.
ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
TravelerThis place is a nice campground, quiet and the guests (during our stay) respect others by keeping the noise down. The spaces are set up to maximize privacy between sites. There is no cell phone service (to do this report we are in a picnic area by a small lake and I can get cell as well as internet on my travelfi device) sos is the only access. I normally listen to audio books but not while here. On my computer I could see three others with low signals; they might have had a better device/provider. The spots tend to the small back in typically found in campsites built before RVs got really big, type. There is another camping area I haven’t been to yet and I did see a large over lander (looks indestructible and tall/long) towable head that way and the campground attendant didn’t predict any problems so perhaps there are larger spots elsewhere. This place has single person shower rooms and nice flush toilets. The whole place is set in woodland so it isn’t like a commercial RV place that was more concerned with volume over aesthetics. This is a lovely spot with ample amenities (my space had no hookups) for our type of camping (toilets, trash, quiet neighbors, semi private spaces) just zero phone or internet.
Traveler3 stars only because it says water hookups but they are far and few between communal. No spigot at individual sites. Need long hose(s)to reach the connection. Good T-Mobile 5G but too wooded for StarLink. Quiet, shady, somewhat level sites were available. $20/night.
ScoutLovely spot on the river. Freeway was loud but not too bad.
Camping sites near Bakersville, North Carolina sit in the shadow of Mount Mitchell at elevations ranging from 2,500 to 3,500 feet. The higher altitude creates a microclimate where summer temperatures typically stay 10-15 degrees cooler than nearby lowland areas. Forest Service Road 472 provides access to several primitive camping locations, though many roads require higher clearance vehicles, especially after rainfall.
Hiking to waterfalls: 2.5 miles to Crabtree Falls on a moderate loop trail accessible directly from Crabtree Falls Campground. A camper notes, "I recommend you hike in a clockwise direction, starting from the B loop and ending in the A loop. This leaves the bulk of the strenuous climbing for the end, rather than descending sharply at the beginning."
Fly fishing: Wade accessible spots along the North Toe River from Mountain River Family Campground. "Husband did catch a rainbow trout near group tent sites. Several small brookies near the history center," reports a visitor. The river depth varies seasonally but maintains year-round fishing access.
Stargazing: Dark sky viewing at higher elevation sites. At Old NC 105 dispersed camping, "The birds in the early morning were beautiful though. Would probably be great for car camping but for tent camping it wasn't amazing." Bring warm clothes as temperatures drop significantly after sunset, even in summer.
Private waterfront sites: Many campers specifically seek riverside camping spots. At Buck Hill Campground, "We chose the only tent site on the water - which was phenomenal! The site had a fire ring only, but we were ok without a picnic table, in exchange for the view! We had water and greenery surrounding us on 3 sides."
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Bathhouses receive consistent praise at several campgrounds. At Roan Mountain State Park, "The campground is very well maintained, and the bathroom was spotless. The staff, rangers and volunteers, were super friendly. If you forgot something, there is a little camp store on the property."
Off-grid escape: Limited connectivity forces a digital detox at many camping spots. A camper at Black Mountain Campground explains, "Hoping to catch up with the kids or listen in on that conference call while you are at BMC? Forget about it! There is no cell service on T-Mobile or Verizon inside the camp."
Road conditions vary dramatically: Many camping areas require careful driving. On Old NC 105 Dispersed Camping, "The beginning of the road from either side is easy enough to get down but in the middle it gets really rough would not recommend driving all the way through without an SUV or better clearance and 4 wheel drive."
Bring sufficient water: Primitive sites lack amenities. "Biggest con for me is I use a pump filter to fill up water no camp sight that I could find had access to the river that runs along this road so make sure to bring plenty of bottled water."
Extreme weather potential: Mountain storms develop quickly with little warning. Lightning strikes are common above 4,000 feet. Heavy rain can make dirt roads impassable, especially in spring. Flash flooding occasionally affects riverside camping areas.
Look for designated play areas: Families appreciate dedicated recreation spaces. One parent shares about Spacious Skies Bear Den: "We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November. No noise issues, but it was dark by 6:30pm. My daughter had a blast and we could keep an eye on her while we worked/played at the site."
Consider cabin rentals during unpredictable weather: Spring and fall bring temperature swings. "My two teenage boys and I stayed in a 'Cozy Cabin.' They are bigger than they look in the picture. There is a countertop next to the front door and plenty of room for all of our gear."
Plan short hikes first: Start with easier trails before tackling longer routes. A visitor recommends, "There are a lot of things to do in the area. Some of the hiking trails even start in the campground. You can also explore the grist mill with a nature trail or an old homestead."
Choose sites away from steep grades: Many campgrounds feature challenging access. At Julian Price Park Campground, a camper warns, "Many of the sites are walk-in sites and you can set up before the 3:00 time for reservable sites. As far as activities, there is no swimming, but fishing is allowed."
Reserve full-hookup sites well in advance: During peak season, premium sites book quickly. "We stayed at two sites 11 and 46. Both were clean, level, full hookups with easy access. We loved this campground and will definitely be back again."
Dump station access varies: Not all campgrounds offer dumping facilities. Check ahead or plan alternative locations. Some campgrounds charge additional fees for dump station use, typically $5-10 for non-campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the driving distance from Bakersville, NC to Boone, NC?
Bakersville, NC is approximately 45 miles from Boone, NC, with a driving time of around 1 hour and 10 minutes via NC-194 and US-19E. This scenic route takes you through the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Along this corridor, you'll find Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, a beautiful campground that's particularly enjoyable in fall and spring. Another excellent option in the region is Grandfather Campground, which offers riverside sites and convenient access to area attractions.
How far is Bakersville, NC from Asheville, NC?
Bakersville, NC is approximately 52 miles from Asheville, NC, with a typical driving time of about 1 hour and 15 minutes via US-19 and I-26. The route takes you through beautiful mountain terrain near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many campers use Asheville as a base to explore the region, with Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina offering a convenient camping option near Asheville with spacious, shaded sites and excellent amenities. The drive between these locations offers scenic mountain views typical of western North Carolina.
Are there RV rentals available in Bakersville, North Carolina?
While Bakersville itself doesn't have dedicated RV rental facilities, several options exist in nearby larger towns and cities within a 1-2 hour drive. Many campers visiting the area either bring their own RVs or rent from dealerships in Asheville or Johnson City. For RV-friendly camping near Bakersville, Spacious Skies Bear Den offers excellent amenities for RV campers with clean facilities and family-friendly activities. Roan Mountain State Park Campground is another option with RV-friendly sites not far from Bakersville. Call ahead to verify current RV accommodations and hookup availability.
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