488 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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.
"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."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $75 - $200 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $27 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $28 - $56 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $37 - $135 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $25 - $125 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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. "
from $25 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability
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.
TravelerThis campground has a great location in maggie valley, close to Waynesville with plenty to do in close proximity. While it is a traditional campground, they have very competitive rates for weekly and monthly stays. For us its the perfect getaway destination for the summers and fall. The staff is super welcomming and friendly. You find a cute creek on the backside of of the campground with trout as some fisherman told me. The staff takes pride in all the flowers, landscaping and seasonal decorations. Also nice to know is you are not being looked down to with an older camper. As long as your rig is decent and functional you are admitted.
ScoutLovely spot on the river. Freeway was loud but not too bad.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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 488 campgrounds and RV parks near Barnardsville, NC and 40 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 40 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.
Keep Exploring
