Lake Powhatan Campground sits approximately 10 minutes west of Biltmore Forest at 2,500 feet elevation in Pisgah National Forest. The campground features 92 sites along the shores of its namesake lake, with temperatures averaging 10-15°F cooler than downtown Asheville during summer months. Winter camping is available at reduced rates with fewer facilities open.
What to do
Hiking at Mount Mitchell State Park: The highest peak east of the Mississippi (6,684 ft) offers challenging trails with significant elevation changes. "We hiked up there early in the morning and it was fantastic. I would recommend this campground to anybody who enjoys nature and hiking," says a visitor to Black Mountain Campground.
Fly fishing in mountain streams: The clear waters near North Mills River Campground provide excellent fishing opportunities. "This is a great campsite if you like fishing! We stayed here and were close to some amazing spots to fish! The campsite was great, not very crowded," notes Natalie M.
Waterfall exploration: Several falls are accessible within short drives. At Catawba Falls, "We appreciated the hot showers since we were outside hiking all day but wanted to hit up some sights in Asheville that evening without looking too worn out," reports Renee B.
Mountain biking on forest trails: The area offers technical routes for various skill levels. "Lots of nearby trash. The ones I walked were just wooded trash, nothing special, but nearby there were lots of people parked at the heads of several trails," explains a Lake Powhatan visitor.
What campers like
Seasonal temperature variations: Fall camping brings cooler nights with lows in the 40s. "We stayed for six days in March. We loved everything about this campground. The sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations," says Heather C. about Lake Powhatan.
Stargazing opportunities: Higher elevation sites away from city lights offer exceptional night sky views. At Mount Mitchell State Park, "Our first night on this trip, the sky was clear and we could see the milky way! We left home and the temperate was well into the high 90's, however the temperate on top of the mountain never came above 62!"
River sounds for sleeping: Many campsites feature water proximity. "We stayed at a site right on the river and could hear the water flowing the whole time we were there," reports a Black Mountain Campground visitor. Similarly, at Creekside Mountain Camping, guests appreciate "the white noise from the creek to keep us dead asleep at night."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Bears are common in the area. At Campfire Lodgings, one visitor noted, "We saw a black bear and turkeys in the campground too! The staff is super helpful. Each site has a trash can so you do not have to worry about making dumpster runs."
What you should know
Bear awareness requirements: Proper food storage is essential. At Campfire Lodgings, campers learned the hard way: "We left out a cube shaped plastic water jug and lost our tent as a result... bears destroying our campsite because of the cube shaped waterjug."
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have no connectivity. At North Mills River, "There is no cell signal (T-Mobile) and even though the camp supposedly has WiFi, they've not set it up to cover the campground. It really just covers the camp store area."
Weather variability: Mountain conditions change rapidly. At Mount Mitchell, "Wind gusts easily get into the double digits, and if you aren't prepared for that, it can be alarming, especially while tent camping."
Reservation requirements: Most sites book quickly during peak seasons. "Book ahead—the guy said they'd been completely full since June," advises a Lake Powhatan visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. At Creekside Mountain Camping, there's a "play area that is great for kids from toddlers to teens, area is right by creek so my son 6 year old had a great time exploring."
Shallow creek exploration: Water features provide natural entertainment. "My son spent hours hopping along the rocks in the creek," shares Anna R. about her family's experience at Creekside.
Swimming options: Lake Powhatan has a designated beach area. A visitor notes, "There is a 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."
Game facilities: Indoor options for rainy days exist. "The weekend we stated the pool was closed, the kids had a good time in the game room," mentions Robert B. about his family's birthday weekend at Creekside.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup information: Many sites offer partial connections. At Asheville West KOA, "We had a premium site overlooking the French Broad River and the surrounding valley. Breathtaking. It is a clean campground with very nice hosts."
Road noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. "The only reason for the four star rating is due to the highway noise from I-40, which is located adjacent to the campground. Otherwise, the campground is very well-kept with friendly staff," notes Crystal C. about Asheville West KOA.
Dump station locations: Not all sites have sewer hookups. "There's a dump site in the back loop which is new and well maintained. Strange too was the dump site in the back loop, I didn't see one in the front area," explains an Asheville West KOA camper.
Site leveling challenges: Some areas have significant grades. William H. observed at Creekside, "His sewage had been overflowed by the last camper and they had to get the management to help clean it up before they connected. It's pretty clear that the sites weren't checked or tidied between campers."
