Lake Norman State Park Campground sits at the northern end of Lake Norman, North Carolina's largest man-made lake with over 500 miles of shoreline. Located 25 miles southeast of Conover, camping options extend beyond developed sites to more remote wilderness experiences, particularly in the mountainous terrain west of town. Winter camping remains available at most locations, though higher elevations experience significant temperature drops and occasional road closures after snowfall.
What to do
Waterfall hiking trails: South Mountains State Park Family Campground features an 80-foot waterfall accessible via a 2.35-mile trail with nearly a thousand feet of elevation gain. According to a camper, "We stayed for 3 nights- family campsite (sites 6-9 are beat IMO) was used as basecamp. We also had a primitive site that we backpacked to for a night...Great trails. Great views."
Mountain biking: Lake Norman State Park Campground offers extensive riding opportunities. One visitor notes, "This campground has a lot to offer. Hiking, swimming, fishing at it's Carolina best. Outdoorsies will not be sorry if they visit Lake Norman State Park. It is a huge lake of some fifty square miles and over 500 miles of shoreline."
Fishing access: At COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground, fishing spots are plentiful along the reservoir. A visitor shared, "This campground has large sites that are well spaced so you're not right on top of fellow campers. Very quiet and peaceful; we were there in the fall so not many campers."
What campers like
Clean facilities: The bathroom facilities at many campgrounds receive positive comments. At South Mountains State Park Family Campground, one camper noted, "Restrooms were very clean and well maintained. The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent, and lewve us plenty of room for our kitchen setup and room around the fire pit."
Swimming options: Swimmers have multiple choices between lake and pool access. According to a visitor at Spacious Skies Bear Den, "The campground is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains...so beautiful! Quiet campground with hiking trails, small fishing lake, playgrounds, an arcade room, and camp store."
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. As noted at COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir: "The site had a fire pit, grill, picnic table and a food prep table next to the grill. The site was 98b and was on the side of a hill. Rather that having one large area, it was divided with an upper and lower section connected by steps."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. At South Mountains State Park Family Campground, campers report: "Very quiet with NO cell service which is a big draw for us. Far from a town, so don't forget anything. Rangers are helpful and will bring firewood (charge for the wood)."
Road conditions: Access to Indian Springs Campground requires navigating gravel roads. One reviewer explained: "I'm not going to lie, Indian Springs is not easy to get to. The road to the campground is easy to get to from I40, it's the turn onto Whitener Drive off of Costner Road that is not easy. Whitener Rd is fairly steep, but it starts off paved so it's not too bad."
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance planning while others have different policies. One visitor noted about Indian Springs: "She would not allow me to reserve the day before — I had to call the day of to see if they still had an opening, which added to our trip insecurity. They did not take cards, we paid cash."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. At Spacious Skies Bear Den, a camper mentioned, "We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November. No noise issues, but it was dark by 6:30pm. May be different in the Summer. My daughter had a blast and we could keep an eye on her while we worked/played at the site."
Seasonal activities: Campgrounds often run different programs throughout the year. At Cross Country Campground, "They have weekend activities that vary depending on the day. The sites can get a little cramped but they have plenty of sites so it isn't that bad. We will definitely be going back."
Creek-side sites: At South Mountains, families particularly enjoy water-adjacent locations. One family shared, "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!!"
Tips for RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require careful setup due to terrain. At Indian Springs Campground, a camper observed, "The site was fairly level, and the electric, water & sewer were well maintained and easy to access. Verizon cell service was excellent because there is a tower close-by."
Winter camping considerations: RVers staying during colder months should prepare accordingly. Lake Norman State Park Campground remains open year-round, with one visitor noting, "We feel like we got to experience so much more of the fun and experiential opportunities that park had to offer!"
