326 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Elk Park, North Carolina spans developed campgrounds with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations to primitive backcountry sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region's campgrounds near Elk Park include facilities like Grandfather Campground near Banner Elk and Roan Mountain State Park Campground just across the Tennessee border. Campgrounds along the Blue Ridge Parkway, including Julian Price Park and Linville Falls, offer tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Several areas feature proximity to mountain streams and hiking trails, with elevations typically between 3,000-5,000 feet providing cooler summer temperatures than lower-elevation regions.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability, with most Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds operating from April through late October. Winter conditions can make access difficult, particularly at higher elevations where snow and ice may persist. Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak fall foliage season when sites fill quickly. The terrain varies from relatively flat developed campgrounds to more rugged dispersed camping areas that may require high-clearance vehicles. Cell service is limited throughout much of the region, particularly in valleys and remote areas. A recent review noted, "While it is close to a highway it is far enough away not to hear it but convenient to many places to visit including Asheville, The Blue Ridge Parkway and many national Forests and Parks."
Campers report high satisfaction with sites near water features, particularly those along creeks and rivers that provide natural white noise. The Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds receive consistently positive reviews for their scenic settings and access to hiking trails, though visitors note facilities are basic with most lacking showers or hookups. Dispersed camping options on public lands offer more solitude but fewer amenities. According to one visitor describing Old NC 105 dispersed camping, "This was our first stop on our first trip to North Carolina and now we don't want to leave! We drove the entire road between Lake James and Linville Falls and there are tons of good spots for boondocking and hiking." Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer and occasional black bear sightings, with proper food storage being essential at all camping areas.
"Fire pits you had to walk up to but were away from tents, which I liked. Bathhouse was clean, well lit, pretty warm showers. Campground was very clean and has a lot of amenities."
"Great tent pads with running water located right next to every pad. Plenty of hiking and biking to do. Pool and playground for the kids to enjoy, a great place for easy camping."
"Julian Price Park is a beautiful campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. We enjoy this campground on the weekends throughout the fall and spring as it is less occupied."
"This campground is on a beautiful lake. There is no swimming on the lake(its pretty shallow) but awesome for kayaking and paddleboarding."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."
"Bear den was a perfect location for the Blue ridge parkway. We stayed at a two cabin lot that had a hot tub. Bear den has everything from RV camp sites to a game room."
from $24 - $999 / night
Check Availability"The campsite is always clean and friendly staff are there ready to answer questions on where to hike, eat and about the wildlife that's in this area of Western North Carolina."
"The positives: Location: very close to Grandfather Mountain entrance and BRP. There are plenty of stores, restaurants, antiques nearby too."
from $35 - $42 / night
Check Availability"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"There are cabins, RV spots and tent sites all with access to newly renovated restrooms and coin operated laundry."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites."
"Booked site 13 online for the last weekend before the season ended in October 2021, but the hosts caught us at check-in and moved us to site 32, which was right next to the water."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Check your tour cd to verify it works before driving away from the gate. It is helpful as you drive through and not all function correctly."
"This is the most beautiful hiking trails in the world! A lot of climbing rock slopes and ladders with scenic views from 6000 ft plus elevation."
from $17 - $37 / night
Check Availability"The campground is tucked away outside of Boone, but not so far that if you really need something you cant get it."
"Check-in was easy at the office at the entrance of the campground."
"When I checked in, the host was very nice, and when I returned later to look at the camp store, another host was behind the desk, and he was friendly. "
"The people running it are very nice and since it right outside boone nc its very close to shops, restaurants and hiking trails."
from $31 - $63 / night
Check Availability"Very close to the falls to swim at and hike to (wear hiking shoes to get to the falls) over all great quiet little campground!"
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability
ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
ScoutGreat camping spot! Road isn’t horrible going up but there are some rougher areas toward the end of the road. Gorgeous sunset and sunrise spot! Fire rings seemed fairly abundant at the pull offs.
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
Traveler3 stars only because it says water hookups but they are far and few between communal. No spigot at individual sites. Need long hose(s)to reach the connection. Good T-Mobile 5G but too wooded for StarLink. Quiet, shady, somewhat level sites were available. $20/night.
TravelerThe road was very bumpy but I got up on my 2WD Honda Odyssey. A couple people came during the day to take photos, but the night was peaceful. A couple campsites on the drive up, less secluded though. View was gorgeous and the sunset was amazing. Amazing spot for stargazing.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
Camping sites near Elk Park, North Carolina range from basic tent platforms to full-service RV parks, with most located between 3,000-5,500 feet elevation in the Appalachian Mountains. Winter camping is limited by road closures and freezing temperatures, particularly from December through March when overnight lows frequently drop below 20°F. Campgrounds in this region typically experience a 20-30 degree temperature difference between day and night.
Fly fishing opportunities: At Roan Mountain State Park Campground, the Doe River provides excellent angling. "Lovely camp, Doe River runs through so fly fishing is available. Husband did catch a rainbow trout near group tent sites. Several small brookies near the history center," notes Tracy D.
Waterfall exploration: Multiple cascades are accessible from camping areas, with varying difficulty levels. "There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake. There's also a trail that you can access from the park that leads to Hebron Rock Colony which is an incredible hiking trail. The trail follows a river with lots of great swimming holes," explains Danielle L. about trails near Julian Price.
Mountain climbing: The rugged terrain offers challenging hikes with substantial elevation gain. "This is a tough hike but well worth it! Make sure you factor in every mile may take up to 1 hr so bring plenty of water," advises Laura Z. about Grandfather Mountain State Park, where trails include ladder sections and steep climbs.
Creek-side campsites: Waterfront sites provide natural sound barriers from neighboring campers. "We stayed right on the river. The sites are large and the fishing pond is so nice! You can rent tubes to tube down the river on site," reports Mary B. about Mountain River Family Campground.
Mountain views: Higher elevation sites offer panoramic vistas. "The upper numbered sites on the hillside are very private compared to most campgrounds. We have really enjoyed our stay in this beautiful place," shares Brian D. about Roan Mountain State Park. Many sites allow for direct mountain viewing while still maintaining tree cover.
Lake access: Several campgrounds feature water recreation. At Cardens Bluff Campground, "Situated on a peninsula, Cardens Bluff has great views and access to the lake for the outer campsites. The interior campsites are nice as well, with vegetation giving enough privacy between campsites," explains Blake E.
Campground amenities: Some facilities offer unexpected conveniences. "The campground has all the amenities you could want. It has a small lake on property to fish or swim. Has a pretty good market for the things you might have forgot," notes Chris Y. about Bear Den Family Campground.
Road noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some locations. "The worst part I discovered about sites in the A loop is that you can hear traffic from the Blue Ridge Parkway all day long except for two to three hours in the middle of the night. On average, you can count on about twenty-five vehicles every five minutes," explains Myron C. about Linville Falls Campground.
Bath facility variations: Quality and availability differ significantly between campgrounds. "The showers in a new bath house, and they are private shower/restroom units," notes Myron C. at Julian Price Park, while at more primitive sites, no shower facilities exist.
Seasonal closures: Weather dictates operating schedules, with most facilities closing between November and April. "Campground is closed due to hurricane damage," reported Duane C. about Julian Price Park in a recent review, demonstrating how weather events can affect access even during standard operating seasons.
Reservation requirements: Many sites book months in advance, particularly waterfront locations. "A lot of spots in a small area. That would be my only complaint if you want to call it that," mentions Jennifer J., highlighting the space limitations that make early booking essential.
Playground access: Sites with built-in recreation areas reduce need for off-site entertainment. At Honey Bear Campground, "Good for kids - rootbeer float nights, outdoor movies with marshmellow pits, crerks to splash in. Full bathhouses, laundry & even a gameroom. My kids loved the tire swings & animals!" shares Karyn H.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds offer nature programs. "The visitor center could be a zoo. It is full of educational information and animals," notes Elizabeth V. about Grandfather Mountain State Park, which provides learning experiences for children of various ages.
Child-friendly hikes: Trails suitable for younger hikers are available near most campgrounds. "Our son told everyone we passed not to touch them, but that they could eat them!" describes Kirsten J. about their child warning others about stinging nettles along the Profile trail, showing how even challenging hikes can engage children.
Evening activities: Organized campground events provide structured entertainment. "Check with the office for the Saturday night movie! Weather dependent, they show a movie outdoors on the front lawn. Bring your chair or blanket and a cooler/snacks," suggests Steve V. about community gatherings at Honey Bear Campground.
Access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging entry points. "When you turn into the campground, you will cross a narrow 1-lane bridge across Watagua Creek," warns Erin S. about Grandfather Campground, noting this potential difficulty for larger rigs.
Site leveling: Many mountain campgrounds require substantial leveling equipment. "The site was quite un-level side to side, and we couldn't get our trailer completely level side to side. The site was a bit tough to maneuver into (doable, though!)," shares Tracy H. about their experience at Grandfather Campground.
Utility availability: Full hookups are limited in the region. At Flintlock Campground, "The sites were so close we couldn't even put out our awnings! The sites are close together and many of them are not shaded very well," reports Beckie P., highlighting space constraints for RVs with slideouts.
Winter limitations: Few campgrounds accommodate RVs during winter months due to road conditions and frozen water lines. Sites that remain open year-round typically only offer partial services during cold weather periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Elk Park, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Elk Park, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 326 campgrounds and RV parks near Elk Park, NC and 23 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Elk Park, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elk Park, NC is Roan Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 50 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elk Park, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 23 free dispersed camping spots near Elk Park, NC.
What parks are near Elk Park, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 31 parks near Elk Park, NC that allow camping, notably Pisgah National Forest and Cherokee National Forest.
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