8 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Grandfather Campground offers several glamping accommodations in the foothills near Banner Elk, with options including well-appointed cabins and rustic canvas tent structures. The sites feature full hookups, heated bathrooms with showers, and picnic tables, providing comfort beyond traditional camping. Blue Bear Mountain Camp, located just north in Todd, offers yurts among its glamping campsites with mountain views and private fire rings. "Absolutely beautiful views and close to a lot of fun activities," noted one visitor about the Grandfather Campground location. Both properties maintain wooded settings while providing amenities like hot showers, electricity, and proper beds—essential comforts for glampers seeking outdoor experiences without sacrificing conveniences.
The glamping locations sit within minutes of Grandfather Mountain State Park, providing safari-style accommodations with easy access to premier hiking trails and scenic outlooks. Grandfather Winery is practically next door to Grandfather Campground, allowing guests to enjoy wine tastings after a day of mountain exploration. Spacious Skies Bear Den, another regional glamping option, connects visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 316. According to a camper, "The location is close to Boone which has amazing food options to explore and a Walmart for any necessities you may have forgotten." Winter visitors appreciate the proximity to ski resorts, with multiple glamping campsites remaining open year-round and offering climate-controlled accommodations, making these canvas camping experiences comfortable regardless of season.
"While there's a few dozen great places to stay in and around the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway, there are few campgrounds as prized as Julian Price, which has plenty to explore just steps from your tent's"
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"We were next to the stream near the entrance. The facilities were very nice and you can hike right around the campground.
The campground is very close to Grandfather Mountain entrance."
"For my first time camping, we got a great location. The tent site we got, we could hear the running water from the stream. Bathroom and shower are clean and has heated water."
from $35 - $42 / night
"Located directly off Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 324.8 Spruce Pine N.C. Site are level well shaded with a little separation from neighboring sites."
"If you are looking for a campground that is quiet and secluded - this is your place! We are a tent camping family so we stayed in Section “A.”"
from $24 - $999 / night
"Sites are relatively clean, easy to park at, bath house is clean& easily accessible. They even have a"coffee shop". The staff here are amazing!"
"Beautiful campground with running creeks and sloping drives. Pleasantly surprised the weekend prior to Halloween that there was trick or treating, a haunted trail (kid friendly), and wagon ride."
"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"We stayed 2 nights in our 17' travel trailer and enjoyed clean bathrooms and hot showers, plus our site #2 had a small deck that came in handy when we were able to move the picnic table under our camper"
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $45 / night
"This is a wonderful family campground with amazing people running the campground close to Boone and Banner Elk. There is a beautiful creek that runs through the property. Campsites are level."
"It’s a short walk to the bath house, which was well maintained. The dog walking area was spacious and also very clean. They also have a washer and dryer on site for laundry."
from $31 - $63 / night
"Totally worth driving up the small country mountain road. After you make it up. The office is on the right. Very friendly staff and super helpful."
"Lovely woody and grassy field campground with only electric at our site. The sunrise is beautiful on the big field. The sites are well spaced and fairly level."
from $25 - $136 / night
"Very Welcoming, clean, very well maintained, and landscaped- not to mention paved pads."
"There is a large amount of seating inside the lodge as well as outside on the covered patio. The pool is very nice and clean. There are bathrooms with showers and also coin-operated washers/dryers."
from $35 - $65 / night
"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. "
"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."
Available next weekend
from $25 - $160 / night
"There are primitive campsites for those who only want to “rough it”, sites indicated for tent or pop-up with water and electricity, 30 amp and 50 amp sites. a large portion of the sites are located directly"
"Bathrooms were clean. There is a store on property that has things you may have forgotten and a grill"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
GuideClean nice little campground for the weekend.
TravelerNice campground but getting in is treacherous. Don’t come up NC 226 it unfriendly for RVS . About 1 mile to the campground the road is horrible and will beat you and your rig half to death. The swimming lake is more like a mud hole then a lake and the game room machines wont take your money and the pool table is missing the cue ball and chalk. Overall I will not be coming back.
ScoutThe campsite was absolutely terrific. Everything was very well thought of and well kept. The owners were extremely friendly as well. My friend and I had a very peaceful stay. There were really nice bathrooms and showers as well. I am planning on staying again soon.
ScoutWe loved our stay at the Starlite! My husband and I are exploring NC and stumbled upon the this campground. It’s nestled right next to a beautiful stream and is surrounded by beautiful landscapes. The campground is so nicely kept up! But what we loved the most was the community of the campground. We were welcomed right away and had the best time getting to know folks. If you’re in the area (or even if you’re not!) make sure to stay at the Starlite!
RangerIt says no overnight camping but there were 3 cars camping so I decided to camp. Drove straight across the entrance where a sign said parking but no camping. Was actually a really good camp spot plenty of room.
ScoutI stayed long term while working in the area, including through the winter months, and loved the propane delivery. Coming home to a full tank already dropped at my site was such a nice perk.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful little campground tucked into the mountains and you can tell a lot of care goes into it. It’s not a parking lot like other places I’ve stayed the sites are tiered on the mountainside but level and large. Staff is friendly, they have a game room and laundry room and the store sells cold beer! It was a nice home away from home while working in town
TravelerI was the only one at the campsite other than two semipermanent RV trailers. It was quiet, clean, and remote. Tent sites cool under nice tree cover. Elevation was great and views were as at our home in north Georgia.
I was camping in a rooftop tent and the ground was adequately level, not muddy, and marked OK, with minimal detraction from the beauty of nature. Had picnic table.
Might have been nice to have an electric outlet close enough to run my extension cord, but I was minimalist camping with a Bluetti power storage unit, DC refrigerator, and my own water supply.
The bathroom facilities were minimal, but adequate. The showering area could have been a little more inviting, perhaps, but again, I didn't use them anyway.
I would stay again, especially if they were situated between me and my ultimate destination as they met my short-stay needs.
Ron
GuideWe spent a Friday and Saturday night at site 23, which is a great spot. This is a spot for a smaller camper and has water and power only. The plug for power is a little further away than usual, so if you are plugging in to power you may need an extended cord. It’s a short walk to the bath house, which was well maintained. The dog walking area was spacious and also very clean. They also have a washer and dryer on site for laundry.
Blue Ridge Mountain glamping sites and cabins near Banner Elk offer elevated camping experiences at 3,300 to 5,000 feet. The area maintains cooler temperatures even in summer months, with daytime highs typically 10-15 degrees lower than surrounding lowlands. Most campgrounds in this region stay open from April through October, though several luxury camping options remain available year-round with heating systems.
Hiking to waterfalls: Julian Price Park Campground provides access to multiple water features. "There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake. There's also a trail that you can access from the park that leads to Hebron Rock Colony which is an incredible hiking trail. The trail follows a river with lots of great swimming holes and the rock colony is incredible," notes Danielle L.
Explore local food scene: Honey Bear Campground puts you near Boone's diverse dining options. "Downtown Boone is a 10 minute drive and there are many hiking trails around," according to Laura B., making it easy to combine outdoor activities with local cuisine exploration.
Seasonal apple picking: Buck Hill Campground visitors can enjoy nearby orchards during fall months. "Close to an apple orchid, which is so cool to visit (they're dog friendly) and not too far of a drive from the Linville Falls," explains Emily B. from Spacious Skies Bear Den.
Blue Ridge Parkway access: Several glamping sites connect directly to the parkway. "Being right on the Parkway was awesome and provided some great driving and hiking close by," reports Charles S. from Spacious Skies Bear Den, located at Milepost 316.
Creek-side sites: Many visitors appreciate waterfront camping options. At Flintlock Campground, "There is a beautiful mini river running through the campground with a lot of rocks to jump on. My children spent hours every day exploring," shares Robyn C.
Cool mountain temperatures: Blue Bear Mountain Camp offers climate relief during summer months. "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat," notes Kristen J., mentioning that "The campsites are very spaced out."
Community spaces: Honey Bear Campground provides gathering areas beyond individual sites. "There's a cafe of sorts in the center that has a coffee bar, TV, and tables for playing games on," explains Laura B., making it ideal for socializing.
Private glamping cabins: Spacious Skies Bear Den offers standalone accommodations. "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," reports Timothy H.
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds have highway proximity. At Flintlock Campground, "The only downside is the road noise from Hwy. 105 which can be extremely noisy," according to Ashley M., though the creek sounds help mask this at certain sites.
Reservation timing: Popular glamping options book quickly in this region. For Julian Price Park Campground, "Many of the sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks (maybe months) in advance," warns Myron C.
Wi-Fi variability: Connectivity differs between properties. At Grandfather Campground, "The wifi is decent when there aren't a lot of campers. Over the weekends, forget about it," explains Erin S., suggesting downloading maps or information in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Banner Elk, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Banner Elk, NC is Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway with a 4.6-star rating from 49 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Banner Elk, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 66 glamping camping locations near Banner Elk, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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