Best Campgrounds near Banner Elk, NC

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!

My family and I have been camping at Bearden since 1995 and it has always been great.  Getting to know the owners and all the people who ran the campground BUT now that is is apart of a large corporation or hedge fund and people looking to satisfy shareholders it's not as fun.  Sure we love the location (hint here if pulling a camper, don't follow the Bearden sign, go to Linville to get on the parkway and go left.  This way you will avoid the steep curvy road going up a mountain.) but it's ran like a corporation.  No more calling the campground office talking to the friendly owners, now you call to somewhere I believe in NJ and talk to a person to make reservations at one of the campground Spacious Skies have purchased.  So much for the family owned campgrounds who wanted to make money but provided a better atmosphere.

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!

Checked in around 6:00. The guy checking us in told us that the golf carts haven’t been working on hills(the whole place is hills) and to let it cool down for 10 minutes at a time if it overheats. We go to the cabin, which is littered outside with used baby wipes, get settled in, and by 8:10 realize the kitchen is infested with ants. Dozens of ants covering the appliances, counters, and kitchen sink. We asked for help and were told that maintenance would come to our cabin. They never showed up. We called the emergency line and it didn’t work, just put us in an endless loop and then hung up on us. Over and over again. We stayed that night because what other choice did we have? No one was available to help us with literally anything. Following morning, we pack up our stuff and tell the staff we’re leaving and all of our issues and ask for a refund on the room we spent 15 reluctant, ant-filled hours in. They escalate to a manager, and then tell us that another manager will call us“shortly”. The call never came. You don’t get what you pay for here. What’s advertised is a complete lie. You pay for a full kitchen? Too bad—you can’t cook or even store food here because there’s ants everywhere. Paid several hundred dollars for a golf cart to get around? It only works when it wants to. Call the emergency line for assistance? Yeah right! We spent$2k and they’re trying to dodge us for a refund. Disgusting place, disgusting behavior.

Stayed in Campsite #1 Even though it is within view of the road, the running water sound of the creek behind us lulled us to sleep. We woke up around 9am, walked around and easily collected dead limbs for firewood for a hot breakfast. There are stairs from the campsite down to the creek so I took a cold plunge and swam around in the creek before we packed up camp. Visited Damascus, VA, which is close by and is such a beautiful town.

Side-note: About 45 minutes from here is a place called Blue Hole Falls near Elizabethan, TN. If you wanna see a gorgeous waterfall with mermaid cave vibes, go check that out!