Best Campgrounds near Barnardsville, NC

Camping near Barnardsville, North Carolina encompasses a range of options within the Blue Ridge Mountain landscape, from established campgrounds to dispersed sites in Pisgah National Forest. Mount Mitchell State Park Campground, located approximately 20 miles northeast of Barnardsville, provides developed camping at the highest elevation east of the Mississippi River. Pisgah National Forest offers primitive camping opportunities with fewer amenities but greater solitude. The area sits within a 30-minute drive of Asheville, making it accessible for both weekend getaways and longer mountain retreats. According to reviews, many campsites feature creekside locations that provide natural white noise for sleeping.

Weather conditions vary significantly by elevation, with higher campgrounds like Mount Mitchell experiencing temperatures 10-15 degrees cooler than lower elevations. The primary camping season runs from May through October, though some lower elevation sites remain open year-round. Bear activity is common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage at all campsites. Fire restrictions may be implemented during dry periods, particularly in late summer and fall. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most campgrounds, especially those in remote forest locations. Many forest roads leading to dispersed sites require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rainfall.

Developed campgrounds near Barnardsville accommodate different camping styles and preferences. RV campers will find suitable sites at Campfire Lodgings and Asheville East KOA, both offering full hookups within 20 miles of Barnardsville. Tent campers seeking more rustic experiences can utilize the walk-in sites at Mount Mitchell State Park or dispersed camping in Pisgah National Forest. Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground provides a middle ground with both RV and tent sites in a more natural setting. Visitors report that campgrounds at higher elevations provide welcome relief from summer heat, with Mount Pisgah Campground at 5,300 feet recording temperatures 20 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands during peak summer months.

Best Camping Sites Near Barnardsville, North Carolina (451)

    1. Asheville East KOA

    52 Reviews
    Swannanoa, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 686-3121

    $50 / night

    "As typical of a KOA, they shove you in there so you are very close to your neighbors. The stars of the park are the riverfront sites."

    "My only gripe (and I know it’s not a huge deal) is the trailer park situated right by the fence that separates from the KOA."

    2. Black Mountain Campground - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

    29 Reviews
    Montreat, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 675-5616

    $28 - $56 / night

    "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."

    3. Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground

    28 Reviews
    Swannanoa, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 686-4258

    $75 - $200 / night

    "It was level had tons of shade and even though you are close to your neighbors the sites are situated so that it doesn’t feel like you’re on top of each other."

    "The only thing we would say is to be very careful if you’re up on one of the premiere Mountain View sites when you’re pulling your trailer down exiting the CG - it can be seriously steep and a tight turn"

    4. Mount Mitchell State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Pisgah National Forest, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 675-4611

    $27 / night

    "The campground is open from May 1 to Oct 31...but if you walk-in to the sites, as in via the trails, you can rent a site amost all year. Tent sites are small, but nice."

    "There are plenty of tent camping sites along the Mountain to Sea trail and throughout the park. I camped by Commissary Ridge next to a small Creek and an excellent view of sunrise."

    5. Pisgah National Forest Dispersed

    13 Reviews
    Barnardsville, NC
    5 miles

    "I am from the area, but I love to go up the hill and get away from everything.  If you get there early in the week, you should have the place to yourself."

    "Trails out the wazoo! Our doggies love the trails & there are quite a few family friendly paths."

    6. Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina

    62 Reviews
    Enka, NC
    23 miles
    +1 (828) 552-8040

    $37 - $135 / night

    "The sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations. The showers and bathrooms were very clean. There are numerous hikes that are on the grounds or just outside."

    "PROS  Discounted camp fee with senior pass 

    Reserved 169 days prior to arriving 

    Friendly and helpful gate attendant 

    Nearly 100% shade at each site 

    Excellent dark sky viewing 

    Private sites with"

    7. Camp Driftwood Asheville

    17 Reviews
    Weaverville, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 230-4422

    $25 - $125 / night

    "Campsite is very small and entrance is narrow so be on the lookout when you’re first driving in! The river is much bigger and more beautiful than we expected- great surprise!"

    "The cottages are titled "Paddlers Paradise- Camp Driftwood Cottage" and have cable TV, a laptop friendly work space, heating, air conditioning, and a private entrance."

    8. Campfire Lodgings

    15 Reviews
    Weaverville, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 658-8012

    "We had a premium site overlooking the French Broad River and the surrounding valley. Breathtaking. It is a clean campground with very nice hosts. The shower house was dated but clean."

    "The staff keep the location very tidy. My campsite was sufficiently distant from the more active RV area to feel removed. Situated in the woods on top of a mountain."

    9. Montreat Family Campground

    15 Reviews
    Montreat, NC
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 572-2257

    $25 / night

    "You’ll feel like you have the forest to yourself, with tons of pretty plants all around you. It’s down a short path (a bit tricky to navigate) and tucked away between the creek and small stream."

    "We abandoned plans to stay at place in Old Fort (see listing for Catawba Falls) and ended up here as a last chance before having to hit a hotel to turn back around to CLT.  "

    10. Curtis Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Old Fort, NC
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 652-2144

    $10 / night

    "I would not recommend this for someone unfamiliar with driving a rig but once we got there it was amazing."

    "Was able to get two sites right next to each other outside the main campsite area which was great."

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Recent Reviews near Barnardsville, NC

2053 Reviews of 451 Barnardsville Campgrounds


  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Creekwood Farm RV Park

    Great RV Park

    This park is conveniently located between Maggie Valley and Waynesville with access to lots of western NC attractions. The staff is excellent and cares about the campers' experience here.

  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Pride RV Resort

    Excellent RV Park. The staff is great and hospitable.

    The staff here care about the campground and put their best effort towards being hospitable to the guests.

  • Tyler I.
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Orchard Lake Campground

    Always Welcoming

    Owners are great and very helpful, sites are always clean and welcoming!

  • Megan W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Wash Creek Dispersed Campsites #4 and #5

    Great place

    We enjoyed the night/day with our kids! Sites are kind of small but absolutely beautiful surroundings. Zero signal, but can drive to the top of the road and you should get a bar to make a call.

  • Ethan H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Julian Price Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    Great Primitive Campsite

    Most campsites have good privacy and is quiet most hours. All have easy access, but bathrooms are small for number of campers. Some campsites are a little confusing about site areas as it seems they overlap into each other some. The view of the lake is one of the best parts. More campgrounds should separate rv and primitive like they do.

  • C
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Steele Creek Park & Campground

    Extra fees

    Sooo...went to book online. Selected my site and started the payment process. I was greeted by a pop-up stating that if I want to lock in my site, I'd have to pay an additional $20 fee.

    Okay, let me get this straight: I reserve a specific site for specific reasons, then the campground tells me they have the right to move me to a site of their choosing unless I pay them an additional $20?

    No thanks. Just lost my business. I'm sure it's a nice place, but really?

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Around Pond RV Park

    Nice stop

    nice stop off interstate, about 1 mile easy pull thru, during week stop, was quiet, peaceful, little traffic noise through nite. pond area, chickens, ducks, swans.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Wilson's Riverfront RV Park

    September stay

    Grass on lots high, nice concrete spots, full hookup in good shape.


Guide to Barnardsville

Camping spots near Barnardsville, North Carolina range from primitive dispersed camping areas to established campgrounds with full amenities. The region sits at elevations between 2,100 and 6,600 feet, creating distinct microclimates that can vary dramatically even within short distances. During summer months, temperatures at higher elevation sites like Mount Mitchell can be 15-20 degrees cooler than valley locations, making them popular refuges during heat waves.

What to do

Creek exploration: Black Mountain Campground offers excellent access to the South Toe River with multiple swimming holes. "The swimming hole on the South Toe River in the campground just beyond the end of the riverside sites. It has a small sandy 'beach' area and a neck deep refreshing hole," notes a camper.

Waterfall hikes: Mount Mitchell State Park Campground serves as a gateway to numerous waterfall trails. A visitor reports, "There is a nice trail to SetRock Falls, right on the campground property...and several other foot trails to keep you busy and hiking."

Sunrise viewing: Montreat Family Campground places you near excellent dawn vantage points. "We were on a hunt to see the wonderful creations. Our maker made and if they were in a stream, we found them," shares one camper about their nature exploration experience.

Mountain biking: Lake Powhatan connects to popular cycling routes. "Lots of trails including several that are popular with mountain bikers on the road into camp," notes a recent visitor.

What campers like

Stream-side camping: Montreat Family Campground features sites along Flat Creek that provide natural white noise. "The campsites are very nice and roomy. The bathrooms and showers are always clean and good taken care of," writes one camper. Another adds, "The sites alone made you feel like you were backcountry camping. Secluded, with privacy."

Elevated views: Campfire Lodgings offers panoramic mountain vistas. "The best part was coming back and sitting in the lounge chairs overlooking the valley each night for sunset," shares one visitor. Another notes, "The campground is situated on a mountainside overlooking the French Broad river."

Clean facilities: Black Mountain Campground maintains immaculate shower houses. "The hosts do a marvelous job of keeping this campground spotless and attractive. Three different couples work tirelessly to provide a great camping experience for all-comers," writes one reviewer.

Riverside relaxation: Camp Driftwood places campers directly next to flowing water. "The French Broad is literally right in front of your campsites. Very peaceful and clean setting," reports a camper.

What you should know

Bear activity: Pisgah National Forest Dispersed requires proper food storage. "Just please pick up your trash after yourselves and for the love of god don't go throwing beer cans and bottles down the hills from your campsites," warns one regular visitor who found wildlife harmed by trash.

Weather fluctuations: Mount Mitchell experiences dramatic climate shifts. "The night we spent there was cold, windy and miserable. We were in the cloud, with strong winds and rain through the night, with no trees to protect from the wind," reports one camper about conditions at 6,684 feet elevation.

Road conditions: Access to Curtis Creek Campground requires navigating forest roads. "The road is a little rough to get there, but even a car should have no problems - just might need to dodge a few potholes," notes a visitor.

Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited connectivity. A Lake Powhatan visitor mentions, "Even though it's only 10 minutes or so away from the edge of Asheville, it has the feel of being much further away - including no Verizon service."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds nearby: Black Mountain Campground offers recreational areas for children. "There is a huge playground and ball field at the campground," notes one family. The campground's location also provides easy access to hiking trails suitable for different ages.

Swimming options: Lake Powhatan includes a beach area ideal for kids. "It had a great beach and lots of hiking and mountain bike trails," reports a family camper, though another notes "the lake is underwhelming—but still nice."

Educational opportunities: Montreat Family Campground connects to nature programs. "You can participate in the colleges nature programs or wilderness adventure classes, attend lectures workshops or conferences at the college or conference center," mentions a visitor.

Kid-friendly site selection: Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground requires careful planning with children. "When we were checking in, there was a sign at the front desk saying we couldn't leave our dog in our camper, which was a surprise," notes one family, highlighting the importance of checking specific rules.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground requires navigating steep roads. "The road to get there is steep but obviously doable even with our 38' gas MH," notes an RV owner. Another cautions, "The roads are uphill and a little narrow, but nothing too difficult if you go slow."

Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require careful positioning. A Curtis Creek Campground visitor warns, "Parking spot was also quite slanted up on the hill, which was fine for my truck but may not be ideal if you are sleeping in your vehicle!"

Hookup availability: Asheville East KOA offers various utility connections. "Full hook ups available, some with cable. The stream and lake are beautiful," reports one RV camper.

Spacing considerations: RV sites vary in privacy across campgrounds. At Campfire Lodgings, "The premium RV sites have the awesome views," but campers should know that many campgrounds in the area have sites close together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Barnardsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Barnardsville, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 451 campgrounds and RV parks near Barnardsville, NC and 37 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Barnardsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Barnardsville, NC is Asheville East KOA with a 4-star rating from 52 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Barnardsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 37 free dispersed camping spots near Barnardsville, NC.

What parks are near Barnardsville, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 parks near Barnardsville, NC that allow camping, notably Pisgah National Forest and Cherokee National Forest.