Camping options near Carthage, North Carolina range from simple RV sites to full-service campgrounds with recreational facilities. The region features rolling Sandhills terrain at approximately 400-500 feet elevation with sandy soil and pine forests. Weather conditions include hot, humid summers with temperatures reaching 90°F and mild winters where overnight temperatures occasionally drop below freezing.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Smith Lake Army RV Park offers access to Smith Lake with fishing spots throughout the recreation area. "Fishing as well - with respective fishing license," notes one visitor, who also mentions "Bike and Hiking trails all through out the site."
Farm animal encounters: Double L Farms Campground provides a unique camping experience with livestock interaction. "Our daughters thought the farm animals were the best part of our camping trip," shares one camper. The 46-acre property includes "cows, horses, donkeys, chickens, guinea hens, ducks, turkey, cats, dogs and other animals."
Trail exploration: Multiple hiking trails exist within 20 miles of Carthage. "With 46 acres of farmland, there's plenty to explore and we really enjoyed hiking around the place, but if you want to venture out and try some different locations for hiking, I highly recommend Luther Britt Park where there's some pretty good lakeside hiking trails," reports a visitor to Double L Farms.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Fayetteville RV Resort & Cottages maintains well-kept amenities. "Two newly remodeled bathhouses and laundry rooms. Staff keeps them clean though out the day, we never had an issue with dirty or un-stocked bathrooms," reports one camper. Another adds, "The campground is clean and well maintained. Seen staff making rounds all day."
Military connection: Smith Lake Army RV Park provides camping for Department of Defense members. "Great Stay for DOD associated members," mentions one reviewer, adding "Overall great experience - and highly recommended for military families." The location features "concrete pads are level and sites are spacious with a picnic table and fire pit."
Family activities: Organized events enhance camping experiences at Fayetteville RV Resort. "During our stay they had scheduled kid activities and movie night with popcorn," notes one visitor. The resort offers "Two pools, hot tub, mini golf, basketball court, horseshoes and playground all included in your price."
What you should know
Mobile signal quality: Cell service varies substantially across campgrounds in the region. At Jordan Dam RV Park, the rural setting affects connectivity, though specific signal measurements aren't provided in reviews. For some campgrounds, internet access compensates for weak cellular coverage.
Road conditions: Access challenges exist for several campgrounds. "The road to is dirt with sand mix, they good a good job of keeping it graded," notes a visitor to Pine Lake RV Resort. Another campground, Airport RV Park, received feedback about construction conditions: "most of the sites were newly excavated. MUD, MUD, MUD everywhere!"
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly during peak seasons. Fayetteville RV Resort experiences high demand, with one visitor noting, "Book early - everyone I met there had been coming for years." During holiday weekends and summer months, same-day availability becomes limited at most facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Animal encounters: Children particularly enjoy the farm setting at Double L Farms. "If you have a family with small children, they will love the horses, chickens, guinea hens, and the couple of friendly cats and dogs that they own," shares one visitor. Another mentions taking their "two year old on a tour of their amazing farm — horses, cows, ducks, chickens, and all the tractors of our toddlers' dreams."
Swimming options: Camp Henning at Ellerbe Springs offers unique water features. "You have 14 RV sites to choose from and 42 beautiful acres to explore. This property was purchased in 2022, and the new owners are continuing to add on to the property," notes a recent visitor who mentions the historical mineral spring on the property.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds near Carthage offer learning experiences. One visitor to Double L Farms suggests: "For the kiddos, if you need to get away and see something a bit more educational then try out Exploration Station in downtown Lumberton."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: RV parks in the Carthage area vary in site arrangement. At Pine Lake RV Resort, "the sites are pretty packed close together," according to one camper. In contrast, Smith Lake Army RV Park features "Concrete pads are level and sites are spacious with a picnic table and fire pit."
Propane service: Airport RV Park provides basic RV accommodations with some limitations. "This is a very small campground located alongside a small airstrip. It is clean and the folks are friendly. It appears that most sites are rented to long-term/permanent campers," notes one visitor. Other rv parks near Carthage, North Carolina, like Jordan Dam RV Park, offer propane services where "if you leave your tank on your picnic table, Earl will come and fill it."
Long-term options: Several facilities accommodate extended stays near Carthage. One visitor to Fayetteville RV Resort explained, "We came here the day we sold our house in Fayettville. Covit19 had just hit so the campground we had reserved fell through and couldn't get tenants to leave because they were scared. We were in for a surprise, Fayetteville RV resorts welcomed us with open arms and put us under a long term clause."
