Best Campgrounds near Black Mountain, NC

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.

Best Camping Sites Near Black Mountain, North Carolina (420)

    1. Asheville East KOA

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

    $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!"

    2. Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground

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

    $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."

    3. Lake Powhatan — National Forests In North Carolina

    63 Reviews
    Enka, NC
    19 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"

    4. Curtis Creek Campground

    24 Reviews
    Old Fort, NC
    9 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."

    5. Black Mountain Campground - CLOSED INDEFINITELY

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

    $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"

    6. Montreat Family Campground

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

    $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."

    7. Mount Mitchell State Park Campground

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

    $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."

    8. Creekside Mountain Camping

    16 Reviews
    Gerton, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 625-4257

    "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."

    9. Catawba Falls Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED 2025

    10 Reviews
    Old Fort, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 668-4831

    "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."

    10. Pisgah National Forest Dispersed

    13 Reviews
    Barnardsville, NC
    11 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."

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Recent Reviews near Black Mountain, NC

1964 Reviews of 420 Black Mountain Campgrounds


  • s
    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.

  • s
    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.
    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?

  • 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.

  • K
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Black Forest Family Camping Resort

    Great campground!

    As a solo traveler that doesn’t like excessive noise or want to be near kids, I just wanted peace and quiet to relax and listen to the sounds of nature. The owner, Jeanie(hopefully I’m spelling that right) understood completely and was sure to put me in a site where she knew the surrounding sites would be empty for the entirety of my stay and she was sure not to book anyone near me. Yes, the sites are fairly close together, but I stayed during the week and was able to enjoy most of the place to myself ….or at least the area of the campground that I was in. When I extended my stay an extra night, she was sure to warn me that there was a family with kids coming that night and that they’d be in my vicinity. I couldn’t have asked for a better campground host! She had all the info on waterfalls in the area which minimized my planning time/time staring at my phone. And the fact that the place is all pea gravel really makes a difference! It rained the first couple days I was there and my tent wasn’t a muddy mess which is always a plus!

    The bathrooms and showers were clean and the camp store had just about everything you could possibly need in a pinch. Firewood and ice were priced fairly, making it very convenient if you forgot to grab either one while you were out for the day. Will definitely be back! Actually, I can’t wait to go back!


Guide to Black Mountain

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.

What to do

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."

What campers like

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."

What you should know

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.

Tips for camping with families

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."

Tips from RVers

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.