Collettsville is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at approximately 1,200 feet elevation with surrounding peaks reaching over 4,000 feet. The area experiences distinct seasons with fall temperatures ranging from 40-70°F, making it ideal for camping from April through October. Winter camping opportunities are limited with many rv parks near Collettsville, North Carolina closing seasonally due to freezing temperatures.
What to do
Hiking Mount Mitchell: About 60 minutes from Collettsville area campgrounds on a scenic drive. "We hiked mount Mitchell... located near many great hikes and river access. My Mitchell is about 60 minutes away on a beautiful drive," notes a Mountain Stream RV Park visitor.
Tubing on the Toe River: Available during summer months with gentle rapids suitable for beginners. "We didn't spend a ton of time at the campsite but it was very a nice place to make basecamp for our adventures," mentions a camper at Rose Creek Retreat.
Swimming in Buck Creek: Two designated swimming holes with clear water. "There were two swimming holes along the creek, which were a ton of fun. I swam in both. The water is very clear and refreshing," reports a visitor to Buck Creek.
RC Flying: Some campgrounds feature designated flying fields for remote-controlled airplanes. "The central field area is mowed and set up as an RC flying field. A few campers flew their model airplanes. It was fun to watch. I even jumped into the RC hobby, buying a trainer plane at a local Hobby Shop."
What campers like
Creek-side camping: Many sites back directly to flowing water. "The sound of the stream was so peaceful and relaxing. My husband did yoga every morning while I hung in my hammock and watched," shares a Mountain Stream visitor.
Privacy at smaller parks: Some parks offer more secluded settings away from crowds. "We loved the privacy, location, and serenity of this campground. We live in the country and are used to more seclusion," mentions a Rose Creek Retreat guest.
Clean facilities: Particularly noted at certain parks. "These are the cleanest bathrooms we've ever seen. The on-site store is a life saver and the hosts are very helpful," according to a Linville Falls Campground camper.
Level sites: Gravel sites with minimal adjustment needed. "The sites are gravel, pretty level, fairly large and well spaced," notes a camper from Granny's Place RV Resort.
What you should know
Cell service variations: Coverage depends on valley position. "AT&T coverage was decent, ranging from 1-3 bars that vacillated between LTE& 5G with speeds varying from 1.3 to 6.2 MB/s," reports a Granny's Place RV Resort visitor.
Entrance road challenges: Some parks have steep access roads. "The turn in from the North to the 3 main sites via the North driveway is a little sporty, but we managed to just barely make it. The owner said he'd have to work on that."
Limited trash facilities: Not all campgrounds offer on-site trash disposal. "The only suggestion is to have a convenient place to dispose of trash easier - we had to hunt for public trash bins (but not a major obstacle)."
Campground size variations: Parks range from tiny (4 sites) to large (74 sites). "The CG is small, only 4 FHU sites, one separate from the other 3 and an area for tents, very clean, quiet, peaceful and well maintained."
Tips for camping with families
Playground availability: Limited at many parks. "There's a playground for the kids and a little fenced in dog park, too (it even has a nice dog wash station!)," shares a visitor to Mountain Stream RV Park.
Wading opportunities: Shallow creek areas for kids. "Beautiful level sites backed right up to Buck Creek where we enjoyed catching trout straight from our campsite."
Gem mining excursions: Within driving distance of most rv camping areas near Collettsville. "On any given day, you could take a mountain hike, go mining for your own gems (real gems!), drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, go tubing in the nearby Toe River," according to a Three Peaks RV Resort camper.
Limited family bathrooms: Most facilities have standard men's and women's bathhouses. "The bathrooms are very clean and nice! I would definitely recommend this campground!"
Tips from RVers
Site spacing concerns: Some parks have tighter configurations. "The only reason I did not give this a Five Star Rating was that the site we stayed at was a little small#7. Even with a 25-foot camper, I could not let me awning out fully and we felt almost on top of camper when we sat outside near the fire pit."
Winter camping limitations: Most RV parks near Collettsville have seasonal closures. "It has tent sites, camper, and cabins... has a place to do your laundry, wash dishes and has a few showers plus family shower area."
Access road navigation: Some roads require careful maneuvering. "We stayed here August 16-19 in our 39ft motorhome and toad. Buck Creek has easy access and nice campsites. The property is well kept."
Satellite reception challenges: Tree coverage impacts service. "We were not able to get DISH coverage on any of the western satellites at our site, as tree coverage was too heavy to the SW. We were able to get 17 OTA channels here with our omni antenna."
