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Best Tent Camping near Charlotte, NC

493 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities near Charlotte, North Carolina range from established walk-in sites to more primitive options within an hour's drive of the city. Crowders Mountain State Park Campground offers tent-specific sites accessible via a one-mile hike along the Pinnacle Trail, featuring both individual and group camping areas. Lake Curriher Wilderness provides a quieter alternative with a mix of tent sites, including some remote locations that require hiking to access.

Access conditions vary significantly across tent camping areas near Charlotte. Most tent-only sites at Crowders Mountain include a fire ring and picnic table, though campers must pack in all supplies for the mile-long trek to the campground. Primitive tent setups at Deep Water Trail Camp require self-sufficiency as the area lacks facilities like drinking water or toilets. Many locations accept pets but enforce leash requirements. Seasonal considerations impact availability, with some areas like Hunt Camp becoming busier during off-road vehicle season. Campers should verify current fire regulations, as restrictions may apply during dry periods.

The tent camping experience offers distinct advantages compared to other accommodation types. The walk-in sites at Crowders Mountain provide privacy with pad space for two tents, though noise from nearby roads can sometimes be heard. Primitive tent camping areas like Deep Water Trail Camp offer greater seclusion along the river with multiple established spots for setting up camp. As one camper noted, "Great spot, lots of trails and primitive at its best." Lake Curriher Wilderness features a mix of options, including a remote tent site that requires hiking in. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "I hike in to the remote campsite on the lake. I generally tent camp at the Point, not many know of this location as it's a decent hike in."

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Best Tent Sites Near Charlotte, North Carolina (12)

    1. Yates Family Camping

    3 Reviews
    Harrisburg, NC
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 773-9349

    "There aren’t really any extras here but if you’re just looking for reliable water/electrical/sewer and wifi near Charlotte this is a fantastic option."

    2. Crowders Mountain State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Bessemer City, NC
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 853-5429

    $17 - $47 / night

    "This is a hike in campground so we were in a hurry. The campground had lockers with firewood and you could leave the money in the envelope at the trailhead."

    "I visited Crowders Mountain in December, and the weather only required a sweatshirt. My brother and I spent the day rock climbing."

    3. Lake Curriher Wilderness

    4 Reviews
    China Grove, NC
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 857-4114

    $10 - $30 / night

    "It’s the quietest stay we’ve had yet, and we go camping nearly every weekend. I will say, having the ADA tent site makes a huge difference."

    "Very close to my home. I hike in to the remote campsite on the lake. Lots of fishermen and trash since the scum can’t seem to pick up after themselves. The cabins here are also great."

    4. Hippie Holler

    1 Review
    Bessemer City, NC
    25 miles

    $40 - $60 / night

    5. Primitive Camping By the Creek

    4 Reviews
    Grover, SC
    37 miles
    +1 (864) 761-6297

    $30 / night

    "On the campsite there is a lot of firewood to use, in a shed to keep it dry. There are log seats around a nice campfire with a picnic table. Lots of room for multiple tents."

    "It was very helpful and greatly appreciated after the 11hr drive. The campsite was spacious for us to set up camp and keep the jeep nearby."

    6. Deep Water Trail Camp

    8 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    44 miles
    Website

    "I’ve got a 13 foot pull behind. Backed in mostly but a few could be pulled in an out. Road posted 25 mph but recommend 10 mph. Was also narrow in spots. Very bumpy. Last 1/2 mile don’t go."

    "First of all.. this place is FREE to camp at and surrounded by beautiful water, beautiful trees and the ancient rock of Uwharrie. A lovely place that we are so lucky to have access to... BUT. People."

    7. Uwharrie Hunt Camp

    6 Reviews
    Uwharrie National Forest, NC
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    "Horse trail riding is second on the list of activities within the park judging by the number of trails."

    "My husband and I took our two dogs backpacking for a weekend at Uhwarrie Park. After a long drive trying to find my husbands original spot we found a new one. Beautiful scenery."

    8. Deep Water Trailt Horse Camp

    2 Reviews
    Badin, NC
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (910) 576-6391

    "Too much trash left by previous campers"

    "Thankfully some campers nearby helped me rearrange my direction and get me out of the mud, but I still don’t know how I’m going to make it back out of here 😬. This might be my forever home?!"

    9. Hiddenite Family Campground

    2 Reviews
    Stony Point, NC
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 838-3579

    $25 - $50 / night

    10. Poulous Loop Seasonal Camp

    1 Review
    Union, SC
    45 miles
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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Charlotte, NC

14 Photos of 12 Charlotte Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Charlotte, NC

493 Reviews of 12 Charlotte Campgrounds

  • A
    Oct. 27, 2021

    West Morris Mtn.

    Individual campsites

    Several individual campsites. Has trash bins located throughout the loop. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each site. No electric and no water. All spots are full shade.

  • Nora C.
    Jun. 8, 2018

    McDowell Nature Preserve

    Small but clean, close to everything.

    This campground is just minutes from Charlotte, but secluded from the city noise. Nice open spaces with shade. No views to speak of but several short trails and nice areas around Lake Wylie. Clean facilities and secured gate with easy access after hours for paid campers. Spaces have offerings and picnic tables. RV and tent sites with water and electric.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2017

    Cane Creek Park

    Cane Creek county Park

    This review is probably not representative of what will be many people’s experience or opportunity, as I visited in November in the off season, albeit an unusually warm weekday! Cane Creek Park is a county park that is of state park caliber. It is located south and east of the town of waxhaw, and an easy drive from Charlotte. It is a large park on both sid s of a large lake, beautifully maintained, clearly with a variety of family recreational activities that are surely heavily used in the high season. The park offers everything from day use, to car and rv camping, to hike in tent sites and wilderness group areas, to cabins. This review is for the hike in tent sites, which are large, well spaced, heavily wooded and private, with lake access for good fishing and paddling. There are restroom and shower facilities in walking distance, though not at the campsites themselves. This is a simpler and quieter camping opportunity than the drive in sites. In fact, no one else was in this section of the campground on this fine autumn day, yet the weather was beautiful and the setting so peaceful. I would recommend this campsite location for fall camping

  • Ellen K.
    Sep. 3, 2019

    Lake Norman State Park Campground

    Escape to nature’s playground

    LNSP is just a 45 minute drive from Charlotte and 1.5 hours from Asheville. The campsites are spacious, and surrounded by woods with plenty of shade to keep the summer heat in check. The Lakeshore Trail takes hikers around the lake with opportunities to swim along the way. If mountain biking is your thing, there’s plenty of miles of trails for all skill levels just 2 miles away from you campsite. Lake Norman is huge and has a boat launch for everything from motorboats to paddle boards. You can even rent canoes, kayaks, peddleboats and standup paddle boards for $7 per hour. RVers will have to rough it - there’s no hookups but a dump station is available. Reservations are made through the state park website.

  • Dave V.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Badin Lake Campground

    A relaxing lakeside atmosphere

    Uwharrie National Forest-Badin Lake Campground, New London, NC.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48934 

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE\_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368418.pdf

    Campground Overview: 34 sites, two loops...upper loop and lakeside loop. Relatively large sites with vegetation that blocks constant view of neighbors. 

    Each site has a gravel parking pad and separate gravel tent pad, a standing charcoal grill, firepit with adjustable grate, a picnic table and a metal pole for hanging lanterns, etc. I would advise securing online reservations, but they do have an Iron Ranger to drop your payment in should you find an empty site. Note: There are warnings that online reservations take precedence, so if you use the Iron Ranger payment drop chute and someone reserved the same campsite...you will be required to move to a different location when the online reservation campers arrive. Just so you know.

    No electric. 

    Oddly, no firewood for sale...although scrounging produced plenty of things and fallen branches to keep a fire going.

    I preferred the lower loop as nearly every outer site was on the lake with great views and lake access and sites are spread out. The inside sites of the lower loop are pretty spacious and deep. Water spigots were spaced out around the loop, so a short walk as we were equal distance between two. 

    Restroom/showerhouses were quad door buildings. Separate men’s and women’s restrooms and two separate shower rooms. Facilities were kept clean and stocked by resident hosts. 

    With Verizon, I never lost signal...a plus for a National Forest!

    The upper loop appeared to offer a little more solitude than the lower lake loop...but no lake views. 

    The lake loop trail crosses the main campground roadway between the two loops. This trail is relatively flat and meanders around the lake and it’s many fingers...offering lovely lake views and some nice fishing locations. 

    During my midweek visit it was quiet day and night. The sunset across the lake was gorgeous and relaxing. Loud powerboat noise was minimal as only a couple bass boats thought it essential to travel at high speeds from location to location. Next visit my canoe and mountain one will accompany me. 

    What I enjoyed: as much as I dislike tree rats, I was entertained by two feuding squirrels that chased each other relentlessly and knocking each other out of tree tops. Woodpecker and Turkey wake up calls. 

    For a National Forest, I was surprised by the level of daytime industrial noise nearby. 

    Overall, a fantastic location relatively close to Raleigh/Durham and Fayetteville for a great camping getaway. I was only able to stay one night as the campground was booked, all reserved in advance. So plan ahead.

  • Nora C.
    Jun. 8, 2018

    Kings Mountain — Kings Mountain State Park

    Large shady spaces near Kings Mountain Military Park.

    Large spacious spots for RVs and Tent campers. Close to Kings Mountain Military Park. Several trails from easy to strenuous and varying lengths. Lake with fishing, kayaking and canoing. Clean facilities with bathrooms, showers and camp store.

    Spaces have electric, water, fire rings and picnic tables. Tent only areas.

  • T
    Aug. 9, 2019

    Andrew Jackson State Park Campground

    Get away from the city

    This is a cool little spot not far from Charlotte NC which doesn't seem as busy as other nearby campgrounds. Staff are friendly. There are cites right next to a lake which is perfect for paddling around in a canoe or kayak just watch out for stumps. Fishing wasn't great when I was there, but it might be better in cooler weather.

  • Todd S.
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Crowders Mountain State Park Campground

    Great place to stay

    We enjoyed our stay. The park office had everything well taken care of. We arrived late almost at sundown but they had an envelope waiting with instructions, a parking tag and a map. This is a hike in campground so we were in a hurry. The campground had lockers with firewood and you could leave the money in the envelope at the trailhead. The site was very private with a fire ring and picnic table and two pads for tents. The only complaint (and this isn’t the parks fault) is you aren’t far off the beaten path so car exhaust and jet noise was prevalent throughout the night. All in all happy with the stay and it served us perfectly as we were just passing through the area!

  • L
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Poulous Loop Seasonal Camp

    Was once nice. (Edited)

    Forest Service has changed the price from $5 to $30 a night for a primitive campground. Nasty vault toilet, and trash cans but no water. As of July 2019 campground appears closed.

Guide to Charlotte

Tent camping near Charlotte, North Carolina, offers a variety of experiences, from serene natural settings to convenient amenities, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.

Some prices for tent camping range from $5 to $40

  • The Uwharrie Hunt Camp provides a budget-friendly option at just $5 per night, perfect for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank.
  • At Lake Curriher Wilderness, you can expect to pay around $40 for a peaceful stay with essential amenities like drinking water and picnic tables.
  • Deep Water Trail Camp offers free camping, making it an attractive choice for those seeking adventure without the cost.

Tips for tent camping near Charlotte

  • When visiting Crowders Mountain State Park Campground, be prepared for a hike-in experience, which adds to the adventure and seclusion of your stay.
  • Hippie Holler is known for its tranquil atmosphere, making it a great spot for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
  • Always check the weather and road conditions before heading to Deep Water Trail Camp, as access can be challenging, especially after rain.

Tent campers should check out Lake Tillery Family Campground

  • Lake Tillery Family Campground features a beautiful lakeside setting, ideal for swimming and fishing, ensuring a fun-filled camping experience.
  • For a more rustic experience, consider Primitive Camping By the Creek, where you can enjoy the sounds of nature while being close to a serene creek.
  • If you're looking for a unique stay, Yates Family Camping offers a flexible environment with essential hookups, making it suitable for both tent and RV campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Charlotte, NC campgrounds for tent campers?

Primitive Camping By the Creek offers rustic amenities including a shed with dry firewood, tools like axes and rakes, log seating around a fire pit, and a picnic table. The site features a peaceful creek and forest setting with ample room for multiple tents. Deep Water Trail Camp provides a more minimalist experience with remote, free camping spots but fewer amenities. At most public campgrounds in the area, you can expect basic facilities like vault toilets, picnic tables, and trash receptacles. Some locations offer fire rings, access to fishing areas, and swimming spots. Amenities vary significantly between primitive sites and more developed campgrounds.

Where are the best tent camping sites near Charlotte, NC?

Crowders Mountain State Park Campground offers excellent tent camping with beautiful scenery and hiking trails. It's a walk-in campground (approximately 1 mile hike), making it perfect for those seeking a more secluded experience. For a more private setting, Lake Curriher Wilderness provides tent camping options including remote lakeside sites and an open field area for larger groups. Their ADA tent site offers more privacy compared to the main tent loop. Other notable options include Deep Water Trail Camp (free, remote camping suitable for smaller setups) and Primitive Camping By the Creek (private campsite with creek access and ample tent space).

How much does tent camping cost in the Charlotte area?

Tent camping costs vary widely in the Charlotte area. Poulous Loop Seasonal Camp charges $30 per night for primitive camping with basic amenities like vault toilets and trash cans but no water. For budget-conscious campers, Badin Recreational Area offers economical options with lake views, swimming areas, and fishing access. Some sites in the region, like Deep Water Trail Camp, are completely free but offer minimal amenities. Private campgrounds typically charge between $25-45 per night for tent sites, while state parks like Crowders Mountain State Park have more moderate fees, typically $15-25 per night. Always check current pricing before planning your trip as rates may change seasonally.

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