Best Glamping near Banner Elk, NC

Grandfather Campground houses several glamping accommodations nestled in the foothills near Banner Elk, with glamping 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 luxury camping options 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 sites remaining open year-round and offering climate-controlled accommodations, making these canvas camping experiences comfortable regardless of season.

Best Glamping Sites Near Banner Elk, North Carolina (65)

    1. Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    47 Reviews
    Blowing Rock, NC
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 963-5911

    $30 / night

    "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."

    2. Grandfather Campground

    23 Reviews
    Seven Devils, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 788-2582

    $35 - $42 / 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."

    3. Spacious Skies Bear Den

    65 Reviews
    Spruce Pine, NC
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 765-2888

    $24 - $999 / 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.”"

    4. Honey Bear Campground

    20 Reviews
    Boone, NC
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 963-4586

    "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."

    5. Linville Falls Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    28 Reviews
    Linville Falls, NC
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 765-7818

    $30 - $45 / night

    "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"

    6. Flintlock Campground

    15 Reviews
    Vilas, NC
    8 miles
    Website

    $31 - $63 / 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."

    "I was further impressed by the staff friendliness."

    7. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    27 Reviews
    Todd, NC
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 406-4226

    $25 - $136 / 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."

    8. Starlite Trailer Lodge

    5 Reviews
    Blowing Rock, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 795-0491

    $35 - $65 / 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."

    9. Buck Hill Campground

    6 Reviews
    Linville Falls, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 766-6162

    $25 - $160 / 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."

    10. Camper Mountain on Roaring Creek

    2 Reviews
    Elk Park, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (407) 616-7496

    $29 - $69 / night

    "It’s a bit of a drive out there with little to no cell service but wifi is available over the whole site! Definitely worth it with amazing views all around."

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Glamping Reviews near Banner Elk, NC

668 Reviews of 65 Banner Elk Campgrounds


  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 11, 2019

    Stone Mountain State Park Campground

    One night only

    We stayed for one night only on our way to Dreher Island SP. We didn't get in until after 4 pm, but there was still enough daylight to see how pretty the campground was. We had site 60 for the night. We tow a 19' a-frame camper with a Toyota Tacoma and had lots of room on the pad. The pad was pretty level so set up was easy. 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. We were in campground B (electric) and the sites were decent. There wasn't a lot shade for us, but up in the tent area they were surrounded by trees and it looked like they all had tent pads, some better than others. The shower house was nice, clean, flush toilets, and good showers. By the shower house they also had an outside sink to wash your dishes. We didn't get to hike, but everyone said we should if we ever go back. It's on our list to visit again.

  • tyrone T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2023

    Black Mountain Campground - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

    Hidden gem

    Super place, super staff. Kevin the manager and Diane the host are awesome people with plenty of knowledge of the area. The road into the facility (FR 472) turns into a gravel road for the last mile or so with a few small potholes but nothing terrible, we had no problems getting there in a 30' class a RV . Just make sure when you get to the fork in the road STAY TO THE RIGHT! The road on the left is Neil Creek road (which btw has some really nice dispersed camp sites) but if you have a bigger rig and go up that road you will hate life... It twists then gets steep and only a couple places to make a 180. No cell service whatsoever even with a booster... If you walk a 1/4 mile out the gravel road by the 1st A frame house you can get a signal there. The showers have plenty of hot water and are clean. The place is a bear super highway so they take policing your food and garbage very seriously. There are an abundance of hiking trails accessible from the site and are well kept... S

    Toe River has some beautiful spots to take a dip if you can handle the cold water.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2022

    USA Raft Adventure Resort

    Roughing it

    Stayed here with a group . I van camped, a Bell Tent, Avion camper, Geodome , and mini house was rented. All pretty well maintained. There were a few electrical issues due to the crowd that arrived for a music event over the weekend. They sorta stick people all over the place when their busy. Beautiful view along the River. Bar and food truck with vegan options on site. We whitewater rafted, the guides were excellent and it was an awesome trip. The AT meanders along the River and is easily accessible from the campground. Be flexible if you stay here, their reservation system leaves a lot to be desired, but it is a very layed back and enjoyable stay.

  • Michelle
    Jul. 8, 2021

    Grandfather Campground

    Great location

    We camped back in June at Grandfather. It is a very large campground but doesn't feel that way. 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. Perfect driving distance to Boone, Valle Crucis, and Banner Elk. 

    If you are into wineries...there is one almost next door and one in Banner Elk. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a short drive away as well. 

    It was easy to be transported to a relaxing time. Then only con was traffic noise from the two lane road. It is on the downgrade and the trucks traveling throughout the day are downshifting to lower gears. The noise can be heard through out the campground. The creek does sorta drowned it out or we either got used to it.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2021

    Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Delightful Respite in Julian Price Campground

    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 front door (er, flap!). 

    After a 3+ hour drive from nearby Raleigh, my very great friend Gary (or'Gariatica' for short) and I landed at the D Loop, which is one of four campgrounds you'll find here. What's important to know about the'Big Letter D Barrio' as the locals refer to it as, is that the campground perches up almost immediately after entering it, so you'll be first met with a few of the lower campsites (which must receive a decent amount of noise from the passing traffic that is only 30-40 feet away from them) before coming to the ground's bathhouses (while just mediocre and not the cleanest, there are bonus points here for providing 'no coin required' individual, private stalls (8 in all), so no group showers, which will be disappointing for some, I suspect). 

    After passing the communal bathing facilities, you will circumnavigate the D Loop in counter-clockwise fashion (although many tried to swim upstream and go in the opposite direction, which I don't recommend, as apart from being hit from oncoming traffic, even if there was none, you would need to conduct a 17-point turn-around to park your car in the provided parking spot) to tour the 40 or so campsites. 

    While there were only a few free slots to chose from at the time of our booking (about 3-4 weeks in advance, so book early if you can!), we did get relatively lucky with our campsite, good 'ol D20, which had plenty of space for our behemoth 24 person tent cabin (OK, so you can't really sleep 24 in this sucker, but it sure would be fun trying!). 

    I would actually recommend the sites that were located directly across from ours - while ours slanted upwards(revealing our entire site), those on the other side of the road sloped downwards so had a solid amount of privacy. Basic amenities were had at most sites we saw- solid (yet aging) picnic tables, fire rings (with pull down grill) and wooden-encased tent platforms. Warning: no nearby running water (to clean dishes, you'll have to load them up in a bucket and trudge back and forth to the bathhouse (donning a towel is optional). 

    Also, I would suggest if you are looking at campsites here or in the other areas of this campground, do look at whether or not a trail cuts through or by your campsite. I don't know how you feel about 100's (this is a popular campground with loads of people hiking trails when we were there, so I'm not overestimating here) of strangers passing by your front door (dang it, I meant'flap' again!), but you might want to avoid the heavy foot fall traffic. 

    Also, unlike any other campground I've ever visited (I lost count after the first 100), I've never stayed at a campground where it was so easy for anyone to simply drive up and around the campground (usually, you have to persuade someone at the front gate that you belong there, right?) as this location has an EZ access point that avoids the ranger at the gate(who left promptly at 5pm anyway), which made me a bit uneasy, although we had no problems to speak of. 

    Last tip? My buddy who knows the area fairly well took me to Gamekeeper's Inn [https://gamekeeper-nc.com\\\\\\\] for one of the best meals of my life. This oversized log cabin chalet has an outstanding bar, simply fantastic staff, upscale smarts and feature exotic meats and rare game, so while I would have preferred hot dogs and beans fireside, followed by endless amounts of s'mores, I was instead dining on grass-[hand]-fed Bison and dungeon-free Emu, the likes of which I had never savored before. Quite delish, washed down by very fine Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough in the land of kiwis and finished off by, what else? You guessed it, a fantastic creme brûlée. Very nice and quite expensive, but hey, you only live once, right?!. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Jorge P.
    Jan. 2, 2022

    Blue Bear Mountain Camp

    New Years camping

    This place is absolutely beautiful. 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. He walked us to our site and helped us make sure we could pull into our site. We set up on site C-4 close to the tree line so we had so much privacy. It was close enough to the bathhouse but far enough for us to feel secluded. They have a fishing pond, long hiking trails and only about 15 minutes from downtown. 

  • Ashley F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 20, 2023

    Rusty's Roost River Camp

    Located alongside the North Toe River

    Ashley here with The Dyrt. We'd like to welcome your host, Rusty, to our platform. Each tent has lighting and electrical hookup. Glampers will have comfy linens and furnishings. Close access to the restrooms and hot showers. Check them out and leave them some love.

  • Ashley M.
    Sep. 17, 2019

    Flintlock Campground

    Great family campground close to Boone

    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. Bathhouse is adequate but they could use an additional restroom facility on the cabin/tent side of the creek. Only downside is the road noise from Hwy. 105 which can be extremely noisy.

  • Gregg G.
    Dec. 20, 2020

    Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park Campground

    Very Nice State Park

    This park is right on the banks of the Nolichuckey river. It had nice trails for hiking. There is river access for fishing or launching a water craft. We were there in December when the weather was chilly and practically had the place to ourselves. The bathhouse was exceptionally nice and there was also laundry and wifi available.


Guide to Banner Elk

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.

What to do

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.

What campers like

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.

What you should know

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 47 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Banner Elk, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 65 glamping camping locations near Banner Elk, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.