Campgrounds near Black Mountain, North Carolina range from established RV parks to primitive backcountry sites across Pisgah National Forest. The area features several popular campgrounds including Montreat Family Campground, Mama Gertie's Hideaway, and Asheville East KOA, all within a 30-minute drive of downtown. These facilities offer diverse accommodation options from tent sites and RV hookups to cabin rentals. Pisgah National Forest also provides dispersed camping opportunities for those seeking more remote experiences away from developed areas.
The camping season in this region generally runs from April through October, though some private campgrounds remain open year-round. Many campsites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods when facilities quickly reach capacity. As one visitor noted, "The Black Mountain Campground is an extremely popular campground. During season, the summer month weekends and holidays...book your reservations online, because they don't do it by phone." Higher elevation sites experience cooler temperatures, even during summer months, with Mount Mitchell State Park campground often sitting in cloud cover and experiencing strong winds. Cell reception varies significantly across the area, with several campgrounds having limited or no service.
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently positive reviews, particularly sites along the South Toe River at Black Mountain Campground. Campers highlight the peaceful sound of flowing water and swimming opportunities. Private campgrounds near Black Mountain provide convenient access to both outdoor recreation and town amenities. A reviewer commented, "Sites are enormous with lots of privacy, good spacing between. For tents, there are some very nice sites along the creek. Extremely peaceful. Feels remote but is minutes from Black Mountain with shops and dining." Many campgrounds serve as ideal basecamps for hiking popular trails, including the Mount Mitchell Trail which begins directly from Black Mountain Campground and climbs 3,600 feet over 5.5 miles to the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern United States.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$50 / night
"Nicely maintained campground, friendly and helpful staff, with lots of activities (fishing, canoeing, paddle boat) as well as many attractions close by in Black Mountain & Asheville."
"It’s close to downtown Asheville and Black Mountain. Great place to bring kids and dogs!"
$75 - $200 / night
"Black Mountain is a GREAT town and not too far from the campground but also just far enough."
"We were in a 28ft class C camper and took trips to Black Mountain and Asheville without trouble. The sites are staggered, so it feels private even though you have neighbors."
$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"
$10 - $20 / 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."
$28 - $56 / night
"Two adjacent campgrounds Briar Bottom Group Campground and Black Mountain Family Campground provide the perfect summer getaway in the heart of the Black Mountains area."
"Ranger Review: Primus New Primetech CampFire Utility Sack at Black Mountain Campground, NC. Campground:
Black Mountain Campground in the Pisgah National Forest, is nestled in Burnsville, NC but"
$25 / night
"Feels remote but is minutes from Black Mountain with shops and dining. I am in a small RV so did not use the bathhouses but there are 2 and they appear well-maintained from the outside."
"This is a campground that is part of the retreat and conference facilities adjacent to Montreat College."
$27 / night
"Black Mountain Crest-Mount Mitchell trail (Supposed to be one of the hardest trails on the east coast; total trail is an out-and-back, one of the sides you can start on begins with an immediate 3,500 feet"
"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."
"Nice creek running nearby and a few short walking paths. The drive to spruce pine is scenic and long but head back toward bat cave and there ade neat little adventures to have with the kiddos."
"This was a great little spot away from the hustle and bustle of the highway. Very close to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. Pool was clean. Arcade on site."
"While it is close to a highway it is far enough away not to hear it but convenient to many places to visit including Asheville, The Blue Ridge Parkway and many national Forests and Parks."
"Old Fort, NC and Falls nearby. Nice bathhouse, pump-out nearby. Diverse tent camping also available. Don’t let full time rv’s scare you. New RV site down from the entrance."
"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."
ScoutThis place has an amazing view there's one more campsite earlier up on the road it has an even better view but this is still an 8 out of 10, it's perfect for a hammock setup it might be a little bit harder if you're trying to put a tent up in here. Clean site.
ScoutWe stayed for 5 nights and loved it! Someone was watching over us because the fire ban had been lifted the day we go there. Enjoyed the site by the creek and as promised, it was very peaceful and quiet. Showers and restrooms were very clean! Highly recommend this place!
ScoutWe stopped for just one night very impromptu. The hosts were awesome and very accommodating. The sites are beautiful and spacious. Hookups are great and convenient and the sites are level. Being right by the creek was awesome and the entire area was beautiful. I would definitely recommend and would stay here again. Oh, and cell service was great too!
ScoutEasy walk in from parking lot to meadow with free dispersed camping spots along the Sam Knob Trail
ScoutReally nice spot. We got lucky to be placed by the small river. Traffic is really loud, especially the emergency vehicles. but really felt like secluded. Really nice cabins and tent spots.
ScoutWe stayed on Thursday and Friday night. There is noticeably more traffic on Friday night, but nothing that ran late. We had to pick up trash on our arrival from previous campers so a good reminder to bring gloves a shovel and dig a hole for your poop or pack your poop out! It was a private site with the shade and some sunshine. There are a lot of sites with shade, some small some large. There are some sunny sites. A lot of the sites are very close to the road. Some of them are back further into the woods for more privacy.
We drove a Traverse which doesn’t have super high clearance and it was a steep grade gravel road. There are sites that will require a high clearance vehicle but also plenty of level spots to get in. No disturbances; no animal sightings. No safety concerns. Near trailheads for convenient hiking.
GuideThe river nearby this campsite was absolutely unreal! Definitely made staying here worthwhile. Upon arrival, our site (02) has a tag with my name and our reserved days we are staying, and there was no need for us to check in. We reserved our site via recreation.gov, where it was $33, which is different than previous reviews but still very much worth it nonetheless. The campsites are snuggled in, but only in one line (only neighbors to your sides, not in front and behind you). Many small RVs and some tent campers too. Seemed to be a place well loved by families with its large picnic tables and shaded grassy areas. There were some educational signs around the area, including one about how the area can be prone to flash floods.
The river by the campground can be heard, but not seen from camp, but is a short walk down to the swimming area. The river was stunning and many folks were there enjoying it for the day & weekend. You can hear the river all night, with only accompanying vehicle noise from the main road next to the campground.
We were surprised to find the restroom facilities were not operational, and fallen into kinda rough shape but there was a portalet (portable toilet) available for the public visiting the swimming area and the campers staying overnight. Not the end of the world but something to keep in mind. Also, we had no signal in this area (which was a plus for us haha!), but there seemed to be a satellite nearby if needed. Overall, this little remote roadside & riverside site was well worth the adventure.
GuideFrom the lake, to the kind folks who ran the campground, Lake Powhatan was a delight. Closer to the city than we usually go for (~20 min from Asheville, NC), but still felt like true wilderness. All the campsites come equipped with a bear box for campers to use free of cost and the sites ask that you back in vehicles & rigs. We are in a small truck cap camper, so we had lots of room at this site. You can still see your neighbors, but are not on top of one another which is nice. There are also clean & convenient showers and restrooms at the sites (with hot water! Made us feel fancy! Haha). Speaking of convenient, they also have ice and firewood for sale on site when you arrive in case you forgot or needed something. Ice was $5 a small bag and firewood was $10 a bundle.
There is also nice hiking trails on site that we enjoyed, including a small dam and a small manmade waterfall on the other side. Trails wrap around to the lake’s little beach for visitors to swim (there isn’t always a lifeguard on duty, and wasn’t anyone swimming this trip due to it still being a little cool out). Listened to many birds throughout the trip and there wasn’t many bugs out this time of year. Great place for families to bring their kiddos, or for anyone looking to get away for a little bit. Definitely recommend checking it out.
TravelerThis is the cutest little campground! My little one loved the playground and Toy Barn! We were right by the river, with beautiful scenery. The little bathhouse was so clean. The hiking trails were fun to explore!
Camping sites near Black Mountain, North Carolina provide access to some of the region's most diverse mountain ecosystems at elevations ranging from 2,000 to over 6,500 feet. The area experiences significant temperature variations between valleys and peaks, with mountaintop locations often 10-15 degrees cooler than downtown Black Mountain. Winter camping remains possible at lower elevations while higher sites like Mount Mitchell regularly receive snow between November and March.
Hiking to waterfalls: 30-minute drive from most Black Mountain campgrounds leads to Roaring Fork Falls. "The trail is also a forestry service road of some sort, but the trail to the falls is marked by a blue diamond blaze. Its a bit of a root infested scamper, but worth it," notes a Black Mountain Campground visitor.
Mountain biking trails: Multiple difficulty levels available near Lake Powhatan. "Lots of trails including several that are popular with mountain bikers on the road into camp," according to a Lake Powhatan Campground reviewer. The trails connect to extensive networks throughout Pisgah National Forest.
Water activities: Swimming and fishing opportunities abound at campground creeks and lakes. "The creek is right beside the campsites, and easily accessed by steps," explains a visitor to Curtis Creek Campground. "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."
Creek-side sites: Sound of flowing water consistently ranks as a top feature. At Montreat Family Campground, "The sites are enormous with lots of privacy, good spacing between. For tents, there are some very nice sites along the creek. Extremely peaceful. Feels remote but is minutes from Black Mountain with shops and dining."
Clean facilities: Quality bathhouses matter to campers. "The bathhouses are some of the cleanest I've seen. It was also very close to Mount Mitchell so we could go on long hikes," reports a reviewer at Montreat Family Campground.
Private wooded sites: Natural spacing enhances the experience. Lake Powhatan visitors appreciate that "the sites are spacious and well spaced, offering more privacy than many locations." Another camper noted, "A great campground for a trip to Asheville! Spent some time in the lake, on hiking trails, and in town."
Weather variability: Prepare for all conditions especially at higher elevations. "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 a Mount Mitchell State Park camper who advises being prepared for rapid weather changes.
Reservation requirements: Book early for weekend camping. Curtis Creek Campground has limited sites and fills quickly. "We have been trying to find campgrounds close to home to make a quick weekend and Curtis Creek didn't disappoint! Fairly quick drive, groceries in Old Fort, gravel road and you are there. Not very big but that was great for us."
Road conditions: Access varies significantly across campgrounds. "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," explains a Curtis Creek visitor. Several campgrounds require navigating steep gravel forest roads.
Kid-friendly water features: Look for safe swimming areas where children can play. "My son spent hours hopping along the rocks in the creek," shares a camper at Creekside Mountain Camping. Another family noted, "There is a playground and ball field at the campground."
Plan for connectivity gaps: Limited cell service affects most campground areas. "There is no cell service (T-Mobile or Verizon) inside the camp," notes a Black Mountain Campground reviewer, who adds this helpful tip: "Walk down the main access road toward the junction with your phone on... you'll finally come to a stand of three trees growing together... I don't know how, but you get two bars of Verizon in this exact spot."
Weather preparation: Pack layers even in summer due to temperature variations. A Mama Gertie's Hideaway visitor warns, "We visited in the summer, and it was insanely hot on top of the mountain. Without being able to put up our canopy or screen room, there was no reprieve from the sun."
Site selection: Research specific spots before booking. "The sites are a little tight on a hillside, but the pad is kept up well with large gravel and is compact and level," notes an RVer staying at Mama Gertie's Hideaway. Another visitor advises, "The road to get there is steep but obviously doable even with our 38' gas MH."
Size restrictions: Large rigs have limited options in this mountainous area. "You need to unhook if towing a vehicle. Well worth a visit!!!" explains a Mama Gertie's Hideaway reviewer. "I am in a small RV... The site is gravel and very level. It's a huge site, but because the entry is a narrow, twisty mountain road, I wouldn't recommend a larger rig. 20 ft and less should be good."
Hookup variability: Research utilities before arrival. "Full hook ups available, some with cable," reports a visitor to Asheville East KOA, which offers more extensive services than many forest campgrounds. "Strong wi-fi (free too) connection, for those of us that work from the road."
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available in Black Mountain, NC?
Black Mountain offers several excellent camping options. Montreat Family Campground provides spacious sites with creek-side options, privacy between campsites, and proximity to Black Mountain's shops and dining. Just minutes from town, it offers a peaceful retreat while maintaining convenient access to amenities. Pondside Single features immaculate grounds with wildlife viewing opportunities including ducks, geese, turkeys, and various birds. Other options in the broader Black Mountain area include Curtis Creek Campground, Mount Mitchell State Park Campground, and dispersed camping opportunities in Pisgah National Forest. Each offers a unique experience, from developed sites with amenities to more rustic backcountry camping.
What is the best time of year to go camping in Black Mountain, NC?
Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the best camping experience in Black Mountain, NC. Summer provides ideal weather for outdoor activities, especially at Carolina Hemlocks Rec Area where you can enjoy swimming holes and tubing in the South Toe River when temperatures are warmest. Fall brings spectacular foliage, particularly in the Briar Bottom Group Campground area of Pisgah National Forest. Be prepared for occasional afternoon thunderstorms in summer and cooler nights in spring and fall. Winter camping is possible but facilities may be limited and higher elevations can experience snow and freezing temperatures.
Are there RV-friendly camping options near Black Mountain?
Asheville East KOA is an excellent RV-friendly option near Black Mountain, offering well-maintained grounds, helpful staff, and activities like fishing, canoeing, and paddle boating. It's conveniently located for access to both Black Mountain and Asheville attractions. Rutledge Lake RV Resort provides another quality option with laundry facilities and staff that escort you to your site. For RVers seeking a more natural setting, Creekside Mountain Camping accommodates big rigs while maintaining a mountain atmosphere. Most RV parks in the area offer full hookups, level sites, and amenities like Wi-Fi, though reservation recommendations vary by season with summer and fall being the busiest periods.
What amenities are available at Montreat campground in Black Mountain?
Montreat Family Campground offers generous, private campsites with excellent spacing between neighbors. The campground features both tent sites along Flat Creek and spaces for small RVs. Amenities include private bathrooms and showers located between sites 20 and 21, though some RV campers note they didn't need to use the bathhouses. The campground is part of Montreat Conference Center facilities adjacent to Montreat College, creating a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere. It's family-friendly and described as very safe by visitors. While some sites can be small and exposed to the road, many visitors highly recommend reading other reviews for specific site recommendations. The location provides quick access to Black Mountain's shops and dining while maintaining a serene, natural environment.
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