Join the fun near Chapel Hill. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Chapel Hill, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Chapel Hill and user-submitted reviews.
$27 - $37 / night
"Lake views are everywhere. There are various loops for tents and RV's. Water for tents; water and electric for campers. 2 different dump sites. Firewood in 2019 is $5."
"Like the title says, Jordan Lake State Rec Area is a great spot to get away from the busyness of life without having to go very far."
$27 - $77 / night
"Jordan lake has so much opportunity--from walking trails to great water activities. There are public and private beaches, and Crosswinds has great beach access."
"This area is such a short drive from the triangle area of North Carolina, yet this park feels quite remote. Like many state parks, this one excels in the services department. "
$17 - $47 / night
"This is one of my favorite camping spots in the North Carolina triangle area. There is a tremendous amount of hiking and trails to do around here. "
"Love hiking here with the family and friends plenty of beautiful family and pet friendly trails."
$27 - $77 / night
"Tucked away and nestled off of 98 highway, Rolling View campground is a great, secluded spot."
"I spent a night in Shinleaf walk in campground in April as part of a backpacking trip along the Falls Lake MST trail, sections 8-12."
$27 - $77 / night
"If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nice shaded nature, hiking trails and calm peace & quiet that"
"The North Carolina State Park campgrounds are typically very nice, and this one is no exception. My site is adjacent to a large, clean, working bathhouse and a 2 minute walk from a swim beach."
$27 / night
"We've hiked umstead and other local trails almost every week for the past 5 months."
"Umstead is conveniently located in the heart of Raleigh, NC. It seems to be an outdoor oasis as you can get lost in the woods with the hustle and bustle of the city all around you."
$35 / night
"Pets are welcome, but as everywhere, dogs must be on a leash (not more than 6' long). If you put the address into your GPS, it will take you to the main fairgrounds."
"Restaurants and downtown Raleigh are within short driving distance. Public bathrooms and showers (cold water) are a 2 minute walk to Horse Complex H6, Barn B Very little tree cover."
"The park is nicely hidden in the trees; it's only about 10 min to Chapel Hill/Carrboro stores, restaurants, etc. The spaces are far enough apart that they aren't on top of each other."
$17 / night
"Great hiking trails or you can just read and cook by the fire. Have been going there for years with my kids. An excellent, little known spot."
$27 - $72 / night
"I could barely believe that we're only 20 or so minutes away from a large city like Raleigh and we are able to access such amazing natural beauty so easily. "
"Dry sites right on lake shore facing east. Quite lake with few powerboats so my partner could enjoy it with our dog in a blowup kayak. Some traffic noise from US 64 in daylight hours but not bad."
GuideJordan lake has so much opportunity--from walking trails to great water activities. There are public and private beaches, and Crosswinds has great beach access. You could be camping just yards from the beach and lake. Though the pictures are from a gloomier day, I've had so many great sunny days at Jordan Lake--including the first time I was ever able to get up on some water skis!
I would recommend this campsite to college students looking to get away from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area... particularly during the summers when it gets hot and early fall.
ScoutPopular Point campground is one of my favorite places to pitch a tent in the Jordan Lake area. It's often not as crowded as the others at Jordan Lake are, esp., during the week and outside of holidays or summertime. The views are nice, with sites next to the water. Tents and RVs can camp in the same areas. We normally camp in a tent here, but never in the hottest part of summer, which is most of the summer in the Piedmont area of the state. You gotta go up to 3000 feet, as in the mountains of NC, for a cool weather experience in summertime, but for a night to get away from your regular routine or a weekend when the weather is nice, this is a suitable place. Locals like it because the drive isn't far from Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham or Pittsboro.
TravelerReserve online to assure a spot. Every single space is HUGE, even the tent only sites. Lake views are everywhere. There are various loops for tents and RV's. Water for tents; water and electric for campers. 2 different dump sites. Firewood in 2019 is $5. Must be in the campground by 8 pm before the gates are locked.
Beaches will be cleaned up after heavy spring rains. Plenty of sand for swimming, boat docks, and fishing.
Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh easy drives for sightseeing. Weekend camping traffic is gone and there has been silence.
Will probably be crazy here in the summer but would like to return in the fall mid-week.
ScoutWe stayed here during the week, on short notice, and were really happy with it. The management was accommodating and responsive, and friendly. The park is nicely hidden in the trees; it's only about 10 min to Chapel Hill/Carrboro stores, restaurants, etc. The spaces are far enough apart that they aren't on top of each other. The Wifi is excellent and, I believe, cell service is good for pretty much everyone since it's so close to the Triangle. There are no facilities/bathhouses. There is water, sewer, and electricity, and each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. This is a "former" mobile home park but there are a handful of mobile homes grandfathered in. We didn't have any problem with it, though. It's nice, quiet, and peaceful at night. We'll hopefully be returning here often.
TravelerLike the title says, Jordan Lake State Rec Area is a great spot to get away from the busyness of life without having to go very far. It is easy to get to from many of NC's biggest cities and college towns, including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, and Burlington. If you find it on a map, you may make the mistake that I made and assume that it's just a city park that is noisy and not very pretty. I sure was wrong, though!
After multiple camping trips here, I can happily tell you this is a great camping spot for you and your family and friends to get away for a little weekend adventure. With over 1000 campsites spread out across multiple areas of the park and different spots on the lake, you never have to worry about not having a spot. Even during an event like the Cotopaxi Questival that I did last summer, we had our own lake-side camping spot with hardly any noise from the other groups around us thanks to the distance between campsites. If you think you'll run out of things to do camping by a lake surrounded by big cities, think again. You can be out on the water in motorized boats and jet skis, you can go kayaking, fishing, hiking, and swimming in the designated swimming spots by most campsites.
I will say that it can be very humid and buggy during the summer, but that's how it is anywhere in NC. Just be prepared with some good bug spray and a rain jacket for any sudden rain storms that could happen and you'll be all set!
I have loved my experiences camping at this state park and would highly recommend it to anybody that can't get away to the mountains for a weekend trip. And make sure to get a state park passport and get a stamp while you're there! It's an awesome way to get inspired to explore all of the beautiful state parks there are in NC.
TravelerThis is one of my favorite camping spots in the North Carolina triangle area. There is a tremendous amount of hiking and trails to do around here. The Eno River is more than safe to swim or paddle in. Dogs are welcome here! If you can camp close to the river, I recommend, it's great to fall asleep to the sounds of the river. Bring bug spray!
LegendPoplar Point Campground could quite possibly be the best campground in all of North Carolina! Yes, I know, that’s quite a statement to make, considering all of the amazing places in the great state of North Carolina. So let me explain why I reached this conclusion:
• Some of the most outstanding hiking trails
• Heavily wooded forest paradise that delivers privacy and solitude
• Perfectly maintained amenities such as picnic tables, fold-up fire ring and grills
• Bathroom facilities are some of the best I’ve experienced with state-run facilities
• Direct access to a fantastic lakeside experience, complete with boat launches
• Designated swimming area complete with life vests
• On-site park staff were nothing short of amazing, helpful and incredibly friendly
• Close access to purchase anything that might be needed
Insider’s tip? Be sure to get down to the lake from wherever your campsite is just after sunset and bring a couple of folding chairs and a telescope (pre-planning here is needed!) to catch a glimpse of one of the most amazing star-studded night skies you’ve ever seen in your life!
Happy Camping!
ScoutThis is our first RV spot. We wanted the amenities for our four year old. Playground, mini golf, horseshoe, 3 dog parks, 2 pools, lots of bathrooms, 2 launderettes, lots of cabins, pull through spots and cabins.
LegendI’m not sure if this campground is correctly named Holly Point Campground, which after my experience, I would rename it HOLY Point Campground, as this outdoor nature preserve is truly a slice of heaven carved out in the middle of North Carolina’s finest camping paradise. If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nice shaded nature, hiking trails and calm peace & quiet that only nature can offer, then make your way here to Holly Point Campground@ Falls Lake SRA, where you will not be disappointed.
All of the basics are provided in spades – from picnic table, fold-up fire ring / BBQ grill, bear-proof garbage hanger and a nice small pebble-strewn flat patch of well-maintained nature that offers pristine shade from an unrelenting bit of summer North Carolina sunshine from the tall matchstick-like long leave needle pines. While there’s not a terrible amount of brush between the campsites, you will have semi-privacy unlike many other nearby campgrounds.
The on-site facilities (bathrooms& showers) are just slightly north of passable and only a smidge better than you’d expect from a state-run campground, and so this campground gets its only mediocre marks on this front. But that said, there’s plenty of hiking trails to explore and the on-site rangers are incredibly helpful and positive folks that want to ensure you have a great time, but the best amenity on this property is the access to Falls Lake itself, where there is a perfectly sectioned off swimming area, as well as boat launching areas for those that want to fish or simply drop a kayak or canoe in the water and take enjoy a lakeside cruise.
Insider's tips? Here's a handful: (1) While IMHO there is no bad spot here in all of Holly Point Campground, there are obviously some that are better than others. Given this, I would highly rank Loops 4 (#118-119, #121-123) & 5 (#141-147; #149, #150, #152-155) as well as the southern and eastern side of Loop 2 (#36-39; #55-71; #73, #75), given their proximity to and views of Falls Lake itself. Of course, the sites that are located closer to the water are those more preferred; (2) If you're an angler, you'll be looking to catch some large-mouthed bass, yellow perch, blue gill, channel and flathead catfish and I recommend the areas that are heaviest shadowed around the lake edges; (3) When you grow weary of having to fix up that next campsite meal and simply want to error on the side of ease and comfort, then check out nearby Buffalo Bros who serve up some pretty might wings and amazing pies (there's also burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and other basic Americana foodstuffs) or Nantucket Grill for some pretty outstanding Jambalaya and seafood diablo pasta; and (4) If you love extreme outdoors adventures, then check out Xtreme Park Adventures for indoor and outdoor courses for paintball and laser tag.
Happy Camping!
Explore the great outdoors with your furry friends at some of the best pet-friendly camping spots near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. These campgrounds offer a variety of amenities and activities that cater to both you and your pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Chapel Hill, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Chapel Hill, NC is Poplar Point Campground — Jordan Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 51 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Chapel Hill, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 54 dog-friendly camping locations near Chapel Hill, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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