Best Campgrounds near Denver, NC

Denver, North Carolina is situated near Lake Norman, offering numerous camping opportunities with varying levels of amenities. Cross Country Campground features spacious sites with full hookups for RVs and tent camping areas within the Denver area. Lake Norman State Park Campground, located approximately 30 miles north in Troutman, provides more natural surroundings with lakefront access. Wildlife Woods Campground and Lake Norman Motor Coach Resort also serve the region with facilities for both short-term and seasonal visitors. Most campgrounds in this area operate year-round due to the moderate climate of the North Carolina Piedmont region.

Access to most developed campgrounds requires reservations, particularly during summer months when lakefront sites fill quickly. Roads throughout the camping areas are generally well-maintained, with many campgrounds featuring paved or packed gravel surfaces. "Most roads are paved and some are packed gravel," noted one visitor to Cross Country Campground. Weather remains relatively mild throughout the year, though summer temperatures can reach into the 90s with high humidity. Winter camping is comfortable with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing for extended periods. Facilities vary between campgrounds, with Cross Country and Lake Norman State Park providing more extensive amenities such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and shower facilities, while some smaller campgrounds offer more basic services.

Campers frequently highlight water access as a primary attraction in the Denver area. Lake Norman's extensive shoreline allows for swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities directly from several campgrounds. According to one visitor at Lake Norman State Park, "The site was level and spacious. There were wooded trails leading to the large bathroom/shower facility. Short drive to the swim and fishing area." Family-friendly amenities receive consistently positive reviews, with multiple campgrounds offering playgrounds, sports facilities, and organized weekend activities. Shade availability varies by location, with many sites offering tree cover to mitigate summer heat. Mixed-use campgrounds in the area typically accommodate both weekend visitors and long-term residents, creating diverse camping communities. Noise levels generally remain moderate, though campgrounds closer to highways may experience some traffic sound.

Best Camping Sites Near Denver, North Carolina (113)

    1. Lake Norman State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Troutman, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 528-6350

    $27 - $75 / night

    "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."

    "After a beautiful drive through the woods, I arrived at my site. The pad was well maintained and clean. The lake was about 100 yards from my campsite, with a nice trail down to the waters edge."

    2. Statesville RV Park I-77

    18 Reviews
    Statesville, NC
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 873-5560

    $50 - $95 / night

    "You will hear the road 24/7 due to proximity of the interstate but its convenient to run chores or pull during your travel. The sites were fairly spacious for this type of place."

    "I have seen a complaint about highway noise. Well, when you stay at a campground with close, easy access to the Interstate, you can expect to hear it."

    3. Cross Country Campground

    3 Reviews
    Denver, NC
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 483-5897

    "Close to a pretty busy road, but The traffic noise doesn't seem bad. Most roads are paved and some are packed gravel."

    4. Kings Mountain — Kings Mountain State Park

    46 Reviews
    Kings Mountain, NC
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (803) 222-3209

    $13 - $31 / night

    "When not in the side, a short walk takes you to the Trading Post, a small store selling firewood ($7), ice, souvenirs, and sundries. Next to that is a large playground connected to a pavilion."

    "There are lots of trails close to the campground with one around a lake and a stream off of it. Facilities were very well maintained."

    5. McDowell Nature Preserve

    31 Reviews
    Lake Wylie, SC
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (980) 314-2267

    $15 - $33 / night

    "We loved the education center, the small walking trails and lakeside area. Staff were polite and helpful. Washrooms are incredible! Newly renovated at the time, and clean!"

    "The park is located southwest of Charlotte off of hwy 49 near Lake Wylie, SC."

    6. Crowders Mountain State Park Campground

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

    $17 - $47 / night

    "The part of the park that is best to go to is the Sparrow Springs access, some folks may not be aware that there are actually several entrances to the park, and the main entrance with trails to the Crowder"

    "The trails are strenuous but views are amazing! Its definitely worth it and right outside town, not far out."

    7. South Mountains State Park Family Campground

    26 Reviews
    Casar, NC
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 433-4772

    $27 - $32 / 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."

    8. Wildlife Woods Campground

    1 Review
    Denver, NC
    4 miles
    +1 (704) 483-5611

    9. Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort

    17 Reviews
    Pineville, NC
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (704) 588-2600

    "The adjacent amusement park is closed due to Covid but i bet it is a blast to stay here when it is open. Wooded perimeter so you feel you are away from the city."

    "The hookups were standard location and heights no issues. Our steps come out to a large level dirt pad, not grass. Lots of trees providing shade which is nice."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 113 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Denver, NC

527 Reviews of 113 Denver Campgrounds


  • C
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Steele Creek Park & Campground

    Extra fees

    Sooo...went to book online. Selected my site and started the payment process. I was greeted by a pop-up stating that if I want to lock in my site, I'd have to pay an additional $20 fee.

    Okay, let me get this straight: I reserve a specific site for specific reasons, then the campground tells me they have the right to move me to a site of their choosing unless I pay them an additional $20?

    No thanks. Just lost my business. I'm sure it's a nice place, but really?

  • C
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Crown Cove RV Park

    Unfriendly and Poorly Maintained

    This is a very strange place. The vibe is way off. I stayed for 2 weeks and that was 2 weeks too long. The staff are not friendly or helpful. And they use THE RULES as a means to justify their behavior. They will literally yell at you. I have no idea who these people think they are. Don’t waste your hard earned money with people like this. Day One: Huge ant infestation. Spent the next several days exterminating. Not fun. Much of the sites are not well kept. Way out of level. I had requested an open sky for my Starlink connection. It seems like they gave me the only spot with tree cover. There are dozens of other vacant spots with an open view. Weird but okay… They will not accept packages. So, don’t bother ordering anything unless you can pickup at a nearby locker. This is crazy! One day a distraught camper with tears running down her face approached me while I was outside my rig. Turns out her dog died and she needed help moving the body. Maintenance told her they couldn’t help because of THE RULES. I, of course, helped her move the body to her car. This just seems inhuman.

  • Daniel W.
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Midway Campground Resort

    Cozy and fun

    I came in early and they didn't mind so I could get some rest before my long ride. Staff super friendly and sites are nice. All accommodations available. 5 star from this guy.

  • K
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Starlight Hills Campground

    Mudpit

    If it’s going to rain while you’re here, I suggest finding another campground. I don’t mind dealing dirt while I camp but at this point, it’s a mud pit and all of my gear is covered in mud. My gear cleanup is going to take 10x longer than it usually does! And be sure to treat your tent with permethrin or be prepared to have daddy long legs take over. I’ve been camping all my life and I’ve dealt with a few of them in between the roof of my tent and the rain fly….no big deal. But on my first night, there was at least 50 in there! I couldn’t leave my tent without having them crawl all over me and trying to get into the tent. It was like fighting a losing battle because there were so many and they just swarm you. Couldn’t even sit my feet still by the fire without having them crawl over my feet or up my chair. I know we’re just in the woods but it’s definitely not worth the money per night. All of the other campgrounds that I’ve payed this much for are on pea gravel with nice drainage or on grass….with nice amenities…or at least actual bathrooms, not porta potties. The camp host never came by my site like the messages that I received stated. Granted, he said to call if I needed anything and that they’re on property, but I never met anyone and when I would call, I got “hello” that’s it. Not “hello, this is ___” or “starlight hills campground, how can I help you”. Very impersonal. Will not be back.

  • Yuriy-Sarah G.
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Growing Faith Farms & Retreat

    Best camping weekend!

    Our kids say,"leave them 10k stars on the review!" The best camping trip we've had in a long while. Location is private and secluded, yet within reasonable driving distance to stores and other attractions like hiking/biking/kayaking. The farm is beautiful, well-maintained, and the hosts super friendly and helpful. Love the water at the site(and electric is going to be even better soon!) and the convenience of the bathhouse. Plenty of great things to do locally, from hiking and waterfalls to apple picking. We had a wonderful weekend, and will certainly be back! Thanks!

  • K
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Charlotte-Fort Mill KOA

    Rundown

    This is ok is your passing though but it’s rundown.
    Older. Clean! But really needs to be updated!

  • madison F.
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Iron City Campground, Inc.

    great stop & stay

    nice campground. bathrooms and pool are CLEAN!!!! private bathrooms with showers. also has laundry ($) but has change for quarters in shop!! super big plus . also got a buddy site for the price of a normal one!

    not super crowded but still a nice community to be around :) 10 min drive into town as well. all sites have full hookups which was also super handy. not a bad price for what you get. only stayed two nights but would definitely stay again

  • madison F.
    Aug. 22, 2025

    Cobble Hill RV Campground (Formerly) Carolina Rose

    good stop & stay

    campground being remodeled so bathhouses were a little walk away but not too inconvenient. pool was also closed for now BUT overall cute location. did park on site 59 (pull through) but was SUPER unlevel. cute pond and amphitheater too! has laundry as well.

    coolest part about this spot is that it’s about a 10 min drive into Catawba college town which was a super nice area for us being younger. perfect mix of Boulder & Philly :)

    hosts were SUPER friendly and nice :)

  • Lanna M.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Love Valley Campground

    Clean

    Probably the second cleanest campground I had ever been to


Guide to Denver

Lake Norman's extensive shoreline creates diverse camping opportunities near Denver, North Carolina. The region sits at approximately 760 feet elevation in the Piedmont region, with many campgrounds positioned within 10 miles of the town center. Winter temperatures rarely fall below 30°F, making year-round camping viable for those prepared with proper gear.

What to do

Hiking trails at various skill levels: Lake Norman State Park offers over 30 miles of hiking paths with varying difficulty ratings. "I stayed at this location for 10 days. The campground is well kept and clean. The staff and the camp host were very courteous. It was a very quiet stay," notes Robert D. about Lake Norman State Park Campground.

Mountain biking opportunities: South Mountains State Park provides challenging terrain for mountain bikers seeking elevation changes. "Roughly 16.5 miles of mountain bike trails intermix with hiking and equestrian trails," explains Dave V. at South Mountains State Park Family Campground.

Waterfront recreation: McDowell Nature Preserve offers access to Lake Wylie for water activities without traveling to Lake Norman. "This campground has plenty to do with Lake Wylie, playgrounds, nature trails, fishing, and more. You can be as busy or as chill as you choose," according to Lee J. at McDowell Nature Preserve.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Several campers note that South Mountains State Park offers better site separation than other area campgrounds. "The campground is clean and the spots are level and decently spaced. Easy access to the creek and hiking trails from the campground. What I like most about this park is they do close the gates at night which definitely cuts down on random traffic," reports Rushell R.

Clean facilities: Many campgrounds in the Denver NC area maintain high standards for bathhouses. "I have camped all across the US and this was the nicest and cleanest campground I have ever been in. Fantastic experience," writes Andrew G. about Lake Norman State Park.

Camp stores and supplies: Some campgrounds offer on-site stores for forgotten items. "Nice RV sites and well maintained! We had a blast; even with younger kids. RV sites and cabins, friendly staff, free shuttle to the amusement park, great community center, and more," says Joe G. about Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort.

What you should know

Varied site leveling: Kings Mountain State Park has inconsistent site leveling that may challenge RV setup. "Many camping sites are very much in need of leveling. Sites slope from left to right, front to back, and some slope in both ways," cautions Richard E. at Kings Mountain State Park.

Reservation requirements: Most area campgrounds require advance booking, especially for weekend stays during summer months when occupancy reaches near 100%.

Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds near highways experience traffic noise. "The campground is right next to the interstate so you definitely could hear road traffic all night long. Convenient stop for traveling but would not want to spend multiple days here," warns Steve V. about Statesville RV Park I-77.

Tips for camping with families

Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer ranger programs specifically for children. "This place has it all from primitive camping to beautiful waterfalls. There may be a couple steps along the way but who doesn't love a good hike," mentions Casey W. about South Mountains State Park.

Playground availability: Cross Country Campground provides multiple recreational facilities. "This is an excellent family campground. They have plenty of activities for the entire family from basketball, volleyball, shuffle board, putt putt, a fishing pond, and a pool," shares Josh Q. about Cross Country Campground.

Safety considerations: Gated campgrounds provide additional security for families. "This campground is just minutes from Charlotte, but secluded from the city noise. Clean facilities and secured gate with easy access after hours for paid campers," notes Nora C. about McDowell Nature Preserve.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: Choose sites away from main roads for quieter stays. "Sites are fine for a quick overnight, right off the highway," explains Kevin H. about Statesville RV Park I-77.

Hookup locations: RV sites may have utilities placed in unexpected locations. "Some of the smaller sites appear to not be as well maintained but I'm sure this is on the list of the new owners," observes Ralph C.

Arrival timing: For campground denver nc locations, arrive before 3pm to ensure staff assistance with check-in procedures. "Based on the previous reviews, this campground has come a long way. The roads are freshly paved and the pull-through sites are level," reports Ralph C.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping amenities are available at Denver, NC campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Denver, NC offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Indian Springs Campground provides convenient facilities for campers staying in the area, though experiences can vary. For those seeking more extensive amenities, Wildlife Woods Campground near Sherrills Ford features reservable sites with water hookups, toilets, and big-rig-friendly spaces. Many campgrounds in the region include standard amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, and access to nearby recreational activities including hiking, fishing, and boating on Lake Norman.

Where are the best campgrounds in Denver, NC?

While Denver, NC itself has limited camping options, the surrounding area offers excellent alternatives. Cross Country Campground is located near Denver and provides drive-in access with water hookups and big-rig-friendly sites. Another great option is Lake Norman State Park Campground, just a short drive away, featuring spacious, shaded sites surrounded by woods to keep summer heat in check. The park is conveniently located about 45 minutes from Charlotte, making it an accessible weekend getaway with opportunities for hiking, swimming, and mountain biking.

Are there any parks with camping options near Denver, NC?

Several parks near Denver, NC offer camping options. South Mountains State Park Family Campground features spacious campsites and extensive recreational opportunities, including hiking trails and a scenic visitors center. COE W Kerr Scott Reservoir Bandits Roost Campground is another excellent option with diverse amenities including swimming, kayaking, boat launches, and hiking trails. Many sites at this park are situated on the water, with unique layouts featuring steps down to fire pit areas. Each site typically includes a fire pit, picnic table, and grill, making it a comprehensive camping destination.