Cabin options for overnight stays near Elizabethtown, North Carolina provide access to both inland lake recreation and coastal attractions within driving distance. The region sits in the coastal plains at approximately 100 feet above sea level with sandy soil typical of the Carolina Bay ecosystem. Seasonal considerations impact cabin availability, with October being particularly busy due to fall events and Halloween activities.
What to do
Fishing at Smith Lake: Smith Lake on Fort Bragg offers fishing opportunities for Department of Defense members staying in cabins. "Great Stay for DOD associated members. Playgrounds were phenomenal for kids. Bike and Hiking trails all through out the site. Fishing as well - with respective fishing license," notes a visitor to Smith Lake Army RV Park.
Wine tasting: CarrollWoods RV Park offers cabin accommodations adjacent to a working vineyard. According to a recent visitor, "There were a variety of things to do. The pool, the winery, a couple of trips to the beach and surrounding area. We were well received. We are new to camping and a family of color. We highly recommend," making it a unique option for CarrollWoods RV Park at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard.
Outdoor recreation: For those seeking water activities beyond fishing, Willow Tree offers multiple options. A visitor notes, "Great family fun in the lake on inflatables. Family events, ice cream social, hot dog sales, dance party and nice clean bathhouses. Close to amazing seafood. Huge facility but, not crowded."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Cabin guests appreciate well-maintained bathhouses and common areas. At Willow Tree RV Resort, a camper mentioned, "Bath house was 8 individual doors to full individual bathrooms of toilet sink and shower which were kept very clean. Cherry Grove beach was only 15 minutes or so away and there was a Food Lion less than 10 minutes for grocery shopping needs."
Privacy between sites: Spacing between cabins varies significantly. One visitor to Willow Tree noted, "The sites are huge and along the lake where I camped, they are angled so that you don't really see much of your neighbors."
Proximity to towns: Location relative to services matters for cabin campers. A Little Pee Dee visitor shared, "The campground had two different campground hosts, and they kept the restrooms and campsites immaculately clean. Campsites have a fire ring/grate and a picnic table, but no trash cans, and you'll need to bring your trash to a large bin located at the edge of the campsites."
What you should know
Military discounts: Some campgrounds offer special rates for service members. A visitor to Willow Tree mentioned, "Super easy! Military get 15% discount. You can reserve up to 400 days out. Half of it is due at time of reservation and the rest at arrival."
Reservation requirements: Booking well in advance is necessary, especially for cabins near Elizabethtown during peak times. An October visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Daddy Joe's reported, "Loved This Place! Great place for family entertainment. Kids of 10, 8, and 5 and all had a blast. We stayed during a storm and the camp staff adjusted their events to focus on indoor entertainment for the families."
Road conditions: Access roads to some cabin sites may present challenges. At Little Pee Dee State Park, a visitor warned, "Road to campground is horrible! Very narrow, trees hanging over it, dirt, but huge holes! Obviously needs to be graded. We booked a pull thru per map, but was not. Had to change to site 29."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Families with children should consider locations with built-in entertainment. At Little Pee Dee State Park Campground, a visitor shared, "If you have kids they will love the playground that is in the campground as well. There are also a lot of great trails and hikes to do. My family and I did a hike everyday that we stayed here, for a total of 3 hikes."
Bathroom accessibility: For families with young children, proximity to bathrooms matters. "Camped here with our RV, but you can also tent camp as well. The bathroom on site was very clean and taken care of. They also have a shower facility on site too," noted a Little Pee Dee visitor.
Entertainment options: When booking cabin accommodations with children, consider built-in activities. A Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park visitor explained, "this is one of my favorite campgrounds to take the kids. lots of activities with the bears. park has an awesome waterpark, camp store, fishing ponds, outdoor theater, arcade, ice creamery, mini golf, horseshoes, hayrides, etc."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking cabins near Elizabethtown that accommodate both RVs and cabins, positioning matters. A visitor to Pedro's Campground at South of the Border explained, "With a wide-array of parallel, elongated parking lanes for your parking pleasure, all of the sites come equipped with the typical 30/50 amp electrical hook-ups, waste disposal and water connections. There's the standard picnic table, fire ring/BBQ, garbage receptacles."
Noise considerations: Areas near military installations may experience unique noise patterns. At Smith Lake, a visitor commented, "We loved the sounds of freedom and enjoyed seeing our service members practicing flight maneuvers. Being retired aviation, we peacefully slept thru it all."
Winter stays: Seasonal variations affect available amenities at cabin sites. A December visitor to Smith Lake Army RV Park noted, "It's winter so, the lake and amenities aren't available for use. But, they look great and you can fish inside the rec area, just not from the Campground."
