36 campgrounds with availability next weekend
The camping spots around Lenoir, North Carolina, put you right in the Blue Ridge Mountain region with several good options nearby. Grayson Highlands State Park has hiking trails where you might see the wild ponies that live in the area. If you're looking to spend time on the water, Lake Norman State Park Campground sits right on a big lake that's good for fishing and boating. Kings Mountain State Park is another choice, located close to a National Military Battlefield for anyone interested in history. Most campgrounds in the area have decent bathrooms and shower facilities that are kept clean. Some campsites give you more privacy than others, and there's usually enough tree cover to keep you out of the direct sun. Watch out for deer and birds around your campsite, and store your food properly so you don't attract them. Both tent campers and RV users can find spots that work, and some places have electric hookups available. The best weather for camping here comes in spring and fall when it's not too hot and the leaves look great. Winter camping is possible but gets cold, so bring warm gear. The Lenoir area works well for both active campers and those who just want to relax.
"We had a deck at our site which was a but problematic due to our steps folding out, it took some finagling and leveling to get it to where we could close our door."
"This is our first time ever camping and this place feels like home away from home and everyone here is very friendly."
"Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
"Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."
"Bear den was a perfect location for the Blue ridge parkway. We stayed at a two cabin lot that had a hot tub. Bear den has everything from RV camp sites to a game room."
from $24 - $999 / night
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"This campground is one way and exits into a trailhead parking area. There was one site that was in the parking area, would not be my first choice. Shaded sites with picnic tables and fire rings."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $27 - $32 / night
"The close proximity to Linville Falls, Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway was perfect. We will definitely be back to explore the area more."
"Friends of my went and paddled the Wilson Gorge close by. Tubed down the river, just plenty to do for a weekend trip."
"Spent two nights here at a site right next to the creek, which was awesome listening to the running water as you fall asleep. Easy to get to, just a forest service road."
"Big space, right next to the creek. All I heard was the water and some faint crickets hanging on in November. Best part, No highway sound! A couple hunters drove by, no one else was there."
"Hiking, fishing, swimming, and waterfall splashing abound on, and around, this campground. Many of the campsites are situated along Thorps Creek, so the sound of the creek can lull you to sleep."
"The 5 upfront are walk in, and more private. The about to be 12 in the back are pull in and much closer together. Two shower houses, one on both ends, no hookups."
from $20 - $30 / night
"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"There are cabins, RV spots and tent sites all with access to newly renovated restrooms and coin operated laundry."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $45 / night
"This was our first stop on our first trip to North Carolina and now we don’t want to leave!"
"The sites are pretty spread out but there are a few within shouting distance (which could be annoying if the site next to you decides to bring a battery powered Sawzall to cut firewood at 2am)."
"About 20 min from Lenoir."
"We stayed here for 12 days in the very first spot on the right , it was the most secluded and we had a bar of service near/ at the picnic table. We enjoyed our stay."
GuideMother nature is amazing and helps relieve stress from the ones who never deserved to be around you to take and cover it up. So I'll run to God's beauty, and enjoy my fire at the same time. Come on baby light my fire! ;)
GuideDriving 14 1/2 hrs I was cooked called and had the most easiest booking. There was a sites available so I booked it. Needless to say I got there in the dark and a kind person helped me to my site and got me backed in. Soo exhausted I hooked up electric only hit the bed passed out
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
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.
ScoutWe brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back
The Blue Ridge Mountain region surrounding Lenoir, North Carolina sits at elevations between 1,000-4,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions. Fall temperatures typically range from 40-65°F while summer brings consistent 70-85°F days with higher humidity. Campers will find diverse terrain options from riverside sites to more elevated mountain settings with varying levels of facilities.
Waterfall hiking: 2-mile loop trail at South Mountains State Park Family Campground leads to an impressive 80-foot waterfall. "We camped at the family camping area, it was great, we had site 6 and it was on the river and the kids loved it! Cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!!" according to Jessica L.
Fishing in mountain streams: Wilson Creek near Mortimer Campground offers prime trout fishing spots about 30 minutes from Lenoir. "There are plenty of outdoor activities in Wilson creek area. Biking, hiking, fishing, etc," notes Cody B. The area requires a North Carolina fishing license, available online or at local shops.
Rock sliding and swimming: Natural water features provide summer fun. "There is a spot nearby where a lot of people like to float on tubes kind of like a lazy river type thing," mentions Tony E. about the swimming holes near Mortimer Campground.
Mountain biking: Miles of trails range from beginner to advanced. "Lots of hiking, The river, the activities the camp ground provides!" according to Shawn S. who visited Steele Creek Park.
Privacy between sites: Some campgrounds offer better separation than others. At Thousand Trails Green Mountain, "The campsites are at the base of a mountain with tons of great hiking trails within the park. They even had a food truck most days, so you really don't have to leave the campground unless you want to," reports Kristen W.
Mountain views and accessibility: Location matters for many campers. "The turn into the privately owned campground is off the Blue ridge parkway and there are multiple waterfalls, rivers, and viewpoints within 15 miles," Justin C. explains about Bear Den Family Campground.
Creek-side camping: Water features enhance site selection. "Sites were fair and the bath house near us was shut down. Next bathroom was to far to walk to but we made do. Overall great visual and be sure to go up to the town of Blowing Rock... really nice place," notes Nathan W. about his experience at Thousand Trails Green Mountain.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms receive frequent mentions. "The restroom/shower house is a monstrous, mountain lodge style modern facility...very clean, spacious and well-stocked," writes Dave V. about South Mountains State Park.
Cell service varies dramatically: Coverage depends on location and elevation. "Terrible cell service so be prepared to dish down $8 a day for internet," warns Nathan W. about Thousand Trails Green Mountain. Similarly, at South Mountains, "Bath facilities are new and kept clean. Very quiet with NO cell service which is a big draw for us," notes Stephen M.
Limited services in remote areas: Many campgrounds require planning ahead. "Far from a town, so don't forget anything," advises Stephen M. about South Mountains State Park. Similarly, Mortimer Campground is "down a pretty long gravel road, so it's best to have what you need when you arrive. No quick trips to Wally World for resupply here," according to Tony E.
Weather changes quickly: Mountain elevations cause temperature swings. "The best weather for camping here comes in spring and fall when it's not too hot and the leaves look great. Winter camping is possible but gets cold," as mentioned in reviews.
Reservation policies differ: Julian Price Park Campground has specific rules: "Many of the sites in the A loop are reservable, and they have been reserved for several weeks (maybe months) in advance. They are the best sites as far as seeing the lake and sometimes because they are larger," explains Myron C.
Look for playgrounds and safe water access: Family-friendly amenities matter. "We had the best weekend at Steele Creek! The water was clear with a small beach. Tubed down the river, just plenty to do for a weekend trip," shares Wayne Q.
Choose sites away from traffic: Road noise can disrupt sleep. "The worst part I discovered about sites in the A loop is that you can hear traffic from the Blue Ridge Parkway all day long except for two to three hours in the middle of the night," warns Myron C. about Julian Price Park Campground.
Consider bathroom proximity: With kids, closer is better. "The campground is very large and does have fishing ponds, hiking trails, and a playground. The pools are closed for season, the activity room is closed due to Covid, and you can't rent any equipment for putt putt golf, tennis, or basketball right now," noted Kasey M. about Thousand Trails Green Mountain.
Plan rainy day alternatives: Mountain weather can change quickly. "This campground is a very nice place. Although it rained the entire weekend we still had a great time. The staff is excellent," shares Brian W. about Steele Creek Park.
Site selection matters: Level sites with adequate hookups aren't universal. "The site was fairly level, and the electric, water & sewer were well maintained and easy to access," reports Corby M. about Indian Springs Campground.
Check access road conditions: Mountain roads can challenge larger rigs. "We were hesitant based on the reviews of 'steep grade' but found this entirely manageable (24' motor home RV). The grade is 7% and is managed through a long gentle slope in/out," notes Sara M. about Indian Springs Campground.
Water and electric availability: Hookup options vary widely. "Being right on the Parkway was awesome and provided some great driving and hiking close by. The staff were very helpful. We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November," Charles S. explains about Bear Den Family Campground.
Consider seasonal closures: Some facilities reduce services in colder months. "Campground is closed due to hurricane damage," reported Duane C. about Julian Price Park, highlighting the importance of checking current status before planning trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lenoir, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lenoir, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 269 campgrounds and RV parks near Lenoir, NC and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lenoir, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lenoir, NC is Thousand Trails Green Mountain with a 4.2-star rating from 18 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lenoir, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Lenoir, NC.
What parks are near Lenoir, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Lenoir, NC that allow camping, notably W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir and Blue Ridge Parkway.
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