5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks near Elizabeth City, North Carolina offer diverse tent camping options with varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Merchants Millpond State Park, located approximately 30 miles west of Elizabeth City in Gatesville, provides several tent-only camping experiences including backpack campsites, canoe-in primitive tent camping, and group walk-in sites. False Cape State Park, though in Virginia, is within reasonable driving distance north of Elizabeth City and features highly-rated primitive tent campsites accessible only by foot, bicycle, or boat.
Tent campsites at Merchants Millpond feature a mix of terrain types, with sites set on forest floors surrounded by cypress trees and wetland vegetation. The canoe-in tent sites require paddling through swamp waters with numerous underwater obstructions, making navigation challenging but rewarding for prepared campers. According to reviews, the sites include fire pits, grills, and picnic tables, with pit toilets maintained regularly. Campers should be aware of wildlife including alligators, snakes, and numerous insects, particularly during summer months. Bug spray is essential equipment for tent campers in this region, especially during warmer seasons.
The backcountry tent camping experience varies significantly between the parks. At False Cape State Park, one camper noted, "The park is a serene oasis away from traffic, no RVs, not a lot of people," highlighting the isolation that comes with the 5-7 mile hike or bike ride required to reach the tent sites. Visitors report that even during holiday weekends, the primitive tent campgrounds remain uncrowded. Merchants Millpond offers a different experience, with one visitor explaining that "sites are well maintained and not right on top of each other." Spring and fall provide the most comfortable tent camping conditions in both locations, with summer bringing intense heat, humidity, and insects. Water access points are available at designated locations, though carrying sufficient water for hike-in sites is recommended.
"We hiked in on the East Dike trail through Back Bay, about 5.4 miles, with everything for the weekend on our backs."
"We were on site 22, which is ocean side, and right up next to 23. They could easily act as companion sites."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"We did the canoe-in camping and brought out Hobie kayaks (beware if you bring them our mirage drive seemed to find every downed tree or cypress knob under the water 😜) Buoys marked the different routes"
"We were looking for a reasonably quick (one overnight) camping trip that was different, but within a 2ish hour drive."
from $17 - $57 / night
Check Availability"The campsights are pretty close together so don't expect privacy on a busy weekend. The scenery is TOP KNOTCH!"
"My group and I stayed at the Benett’s creek high ground primitive camp sites 1-3. It was a 4.5 mile paddle to the site, then roughly 1.5 down to the dock with a staged vehicle."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"Around 7pm because we had a late start. Unfortunately we didn't stay because our site was hike in and I thought I did drive in. So we ended up getting a hotel instead."
from $17 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $72 / night
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TravelerI am spending 10 days here they have wonderful amenities it is very clean very beautiful very quiet has a boat ramp right on the river I would recommend it to anybody
TravelerThis is a long one! Here we go. My partner and I travel for work, we went out of our way to move to this location based on reviews saying this is a great place. We have paid in full for the whole stay which is about little over 2 months. We have been here approx 2 weeks give or take. We work night shift. No activity during the day. Simple easy. Not our first campground by any means. At first, we were excited to experience the amenities and such. Now we’re uncomfortable to try anything out. Why you ask? Situation: first day we move in, we end up next to what seems like the literal only other long term or possibly even permanent resident on the grounds. My service animal alerted me to a trigger, which she left the front door of the camper before we walked out. Recalled her to me once we saw that the perm resident (our neighbor) had what presented as an aggressive dog. (Husky maybe?). Within not EVEN 5 minutes of this event, someone was at our door- instead of asking what is going on we were immediately accused of her running around off leash I guess? We had just woken up from sleeping and it was evening time, time to go to work. Instead of arguing or even offering up ANY facts related to the situation I simply said got it thanks and the interaction ended. I’m thinking to myself well damn. Okay. A week or so maybe goes by? Leash in hand VISIBLE -at the door my dog steps out, I step out behind her- same time same situation. She walks ahead of me to where she will relieve herself, I ask for her to come back next to me, she recalls- neighbors dog loses its mind again. I look up at neighbor and say “just go ahead and call man, I get it”. She calls. This time THREE employees are driving on carts to our site, at this point we’re already leaving for work. I knew it was coming, figured they would for sure ask what’s going on this time. They don’t. The older woman accompanied by two men behind her- simply says “you have been told before you need to leash your dog”. We reply yes we understand. Nobody asks for a description of the events, what’s going on, or if this even happened. The female voice is raised and hostile presenting towards both of us. The man behind her approaches our car and peers into the vehicle I’m not sure if to intimidate or what, but that action was also very ineffective in diffusing the situation and instead very intimidating. And now making us both VERY late to work as this is an extra 15 minute drive to the hospital in which we work at. Seemingly, the word of this permanent resident is all they needed to full on accuse the two of us… of what? I am not sure. My animal has resided all over the country in countless locations, all while working and we have had no issues to date. At this point I am still remaining silent as the female worker continues to educate us on our alleged actions. My concern is that there has been ZERO questioning, only full on accusations. We’re highly uncomfortable at this point. They say “we will be speaking with the general manager tomorrow”, Which also felt threatening. I’d like to add that given the whole situation this wouldn’t matter but since this is happening: earlier that morning after work I had stopped by the front desk, to ask about a package I thought that I sent to the wrong place, but didn’t. The same female was there. I remember thinking wow she’s actually so rude. But I brushed it off. Now looking back she must have some kind of prejudice toward myself and my dog. I’ve never been threatened / accused so one-sidedly in my entire career such as what has been happening at this campground. Our resolution was to request moving sites, however nothing was asked of us WHATSOEVER. As stated we were not given any opportunity to speak on the situation. Will attempt to update review whenever we speak with management of this location. Warning is to be wary of implicit bias in staff, potential favoritism, and inconsistent / unfair conflict resolution, aggressive long term campers, and lack of communication from staff.
ScoutWe stumbled across Davis Lakes Campground last year when we brought our camper down to visit our son and grandchildren. Originally, we planned to stay closer to Virginia Beach, but after finding Davis Lakes, we decided to give it a try. We were lucky enough to get site F28 right on the lake, and we enjoyed it so much that we came back this year—and even booked the exact same site.
After reading some of the other reviews, I wanted to share our experience because it was very different. Yes, there are some rules regarding dogs at the beach, but they never interfered with our stay. We enjoyed walking our dogs every morning around the campground and lakes, and it was a wonderful way to start each day.
The beach itself was clean, had plenty of nice chairs, and the AquaGlide was an absolute blast. We spent 5–6 hours a day swimming, and surprisingly, the beach never felt crowded.
One thing that really stood out was how fair the prices were. The campground store was stocked with essentials, and unlike many campgrounds, the prices were very reasonable. If you forgot a loaf of bread or wanted to grab a pool float, you didn’t feel like you were being gouged. They also have a cute snack shop, a spacious game room, and an impressive movie selection, making it a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.
The campground itself was clean and very well maintained. Although many of the sites are seasonal, they were neat, well cared for, and nothing like some seasonal campgrounds where sites become cluttered or run down. It was obvious that both the staff and the campers take pride in the campground.
The nightly rates were very reasonable, and while there is a visitor fee, we found it to be completely fair considering the amenities. We had an amazing time with our son and his family, and the campground played a big part in making those memories.
Davis Lakes isn’t a luxury resort, and that’s part of its charm. Its focus is on beautiful lakes, swimming, friendly service, and providing a relaxing camping experience. It reminded me of the kind of campgrounds I grew up enjoying—simple, welcoming, and centered around making great memories.
We’ll absolutely be back. If we lived closer, I’d seriously consider getting a seasonal site myself. In fact, my son is even talking about buying a camper just so he can keep it nearby and enjoy Davis Lakes more often. Many of the employees and seasonal campers are locals who return year after year, and I think that says everything you need to know about this place.
TravelerIt was very nice visit.
ScoutThis campground was a great location for a Virginia Beach vacation. It’s in the Chesapeake Bay so the water is calm and there is a large sandbar making for shallower waters which is great if you have littles in your trip. It was calming to stay there and spend everyday at the beach. There is hiking and biking paths as part of the park as well. I love that the shower rooms are not gendered so you don’t have a long wait to use one. I went for July 4th and was able to watch the fireworks right from the beach. So that was awesome. Overall good stay.
TravelerIt did say that the laundry area was renovated and I was highly disappointed to see that it does not show any signs of remodeling. The shower house is tolerable but also I will NOT be using the area. They are not strict enough about kids and the crap they leave everywhere. There is a house near the property where they keep dogs out in a kennel all day in the summer heat who bark (understandably) all day. That’s not their fault. They’re strict about where you stay long term and won’t let you near the pond which is also underwhelming. The front desk girl is very sweet and welcoming. Would have liked to have the same opportunity to be by the water as everyone else. We travel for work- all stays are long term.
GuideThe fighter jets are so close to the campground. Extremely loud. You can not have a conversation on the phone when they fly over. Hurts my ears. Especially in the middle of the night. Twice. Thundering roars then the high whistle woke me disoriented with sudden fear it was a missile coming in. On the other hand, the pool area and lazy river were very nice. Bathouse was kept clean. Constant property care and maintenance were daily kept nice. Trolly for an added fee to the beach from campground. Nice kid and family activities to do at the campground.
GuideSo we had just gone in on a day pass to go to the beach and ended up staying two nights. It was that nice. The sites varied greatly in size, but both the sites we stayed in had plenty of room and shade. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. The beaches were filled with crabs, so if you don’t like crabs it might not be the place for you, but we really loved it there.
TravelerI loved staying at this campground. It’s definitely geared towards locals and quiet stays, no campground events and things of that nature, but it’s perfect for someone not looking for the fluff. They do have two pools, basketball courts, kayak rentals, and I believe pony rides! They have a really nice climate controlled game room too. They are extremely fairly priced. They also have THE best campground bathrooms I have ever seen. Seems like they host a lot of events, club and troop weekends, things of that sort. I really enjoyed staying there and I will be back. Nice low key local spot for someone in the full time RV life or needing an affordable quiet place to stay while in the area.
Tent campsites near Elizabeth City, North Carolina typically offer more isolation than typical state park facilities due to limited accessibility. This coastal region sits at near-sea level elevations with cypress swamps and maritime forests characterizing the natural landscape. Summer humidity indexes regularly exceed 90%, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons for most visitors.
Paddle the millpond: At Merchants Millpond State Park, visitors can navigate the 760-acre millpond's cypress forest. "The cypress trees, swamp flora and fauna are amazing. One of my kids caught a gar, we saw a bald eagle's nest, snakes, frogs, turtles, and lily pads everywhere," reports one camper.
Wildlife observation: The waterways contain diverse aquatic species including gar fish and amphibians. According to a Bennett's Creek camper, "The scenery is TOP KNOTCH! Absolutely beautiful in the lake which is not well marked due to limited visibility in the swampy environment."
Hiking through coastal environments: False Cape State Park provides multiple trail options. "There's tons of hiking, interesting things to see, beautiful nature. We saw dolphins playing in the ocean! The beach alive with crabs! Osprey catching fish! We saw an old graveyard and church steeple at Wash Woods, that's definitely worth the hike."
Beach isolation: Some campsites offer rare oceanfront camping with minimal crowds. "Really there wasn't hardly anyone else out there, so it felt like we had our own private beach. We hiked out to our spot, but we saw some people biking into theirs," notes one camper at False Cape.
Historic sites: Abandoned settlements provide exploration opportunities alongside camping. "We saw an old graveyard and church steeple at Wash Woods, that's definitely worth the hike. We walked to the North Carolina border. There's a Loveworks and a buoy that marks the southernmost Virginia State Park."
Fishing access: Bennett's Creek Canoe-In Campground offers fishing opportunities despite navigation challenges. "It was a 4.5 mile paddle to the site, then roughly 1.5 down to the dock with a staged vehicle," reports one visitor who rated the experience highly despite noting "houses near the sites had a dog that barked all night."
Water navigation challenges: The millpond requires careful navigation. "Lots of underwater obstructions so use caution. U DO NOT want to end up in that water," cautions a Bennett's Creek camper. Another visitor notes: "The kayak/canoe round was not easy to navigate so bring your 3rd party map/GPS. The maps they provide are almost useless because it's a swamp the terrain changes with the water level."
Wildlife awareness: Alligators inhabit area waterways. "This park was great but do recognize that is a true swamp. Alligators included. The water there does not move therefore is not recommended for filtering for consumption."
Access limitations: Merchants Millpond Backpack Campground requires advance planning for accessibility. "So we arrived pretty late. Around 7pm because we had a late start. Unfortunately we didn't stay because our site was hike in and I thought I did drive in," notes one visitor who had to find alternative accommodations.
Consider age-appropriate access routes: Several tent camping options require substantial hikes. "We brought our 2 and 4 year old children. My husband and I each hooked a trailer to our bikes, and I towed the kids and he towed our gear. The kids loved riding through Back Bay, and all of us enjoyed having the beach essentially to ourselves."
Pack extra bug protection: Insect activity varies seasonally but requires preparation. "Bring bug spray--we went in May and the bugs were already overwhelming--including many, many ticks."
Site selection affects experience: Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground offers different site locations. "Our campsites were not directly on the water. At first we were a little bummed the waterfront weren't available but it worked out for the best. Our sites were more private, a shorter walk to the pit toilet, and the trees provided a slight buffer from the tremendous sounds of the frogs at night!"
RV access severely limited: Tent-only accommodations dominate camping options near Elizabeth City. "This is my kind of day at the beach. I loved it. Also, pets are allowed, but they are not allowed through Black Bay. You either have to bring them in via boat, or coming up south from North Carolina."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Elizabeth City, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Elizabeth City, NC is False Cape State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Elizabeth City, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Elizabeth City, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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