Tent Camping near Elk Park, NC

79 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Tent campgrounds throughout the Blue Ridge mountain region near Elk Park, North Carolina span from free primitive sites to semi-developed tent campsites suited for backcountry trips. Blue Bear Mountain Camp provides dedicated tent camping areas with both drive-in and walk-in tent sites, while Mortimer Campground in the National Forests of North Carolina features more rustic, tent-focused campsites approximately 16 miles southwest of Elk Park. The Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area offers free primitive tent camping with creek access just across the Tennessee state line.

    Most tent sites in this mountainous region are situated on uneven, natural terrain that may require careful tent placement. A review mentioned that "the sites are a bit difficult to pitch on, due to the abundance of roots, hardpan earth, and slope, but you'll find a spot." Many backcountry tent locations lack amenities like running water, requiring campers to either filter from nearby creeks or pack in their own supply. Pit toilets are available at some walk-in tent locations like Mortimer Campground, but dispersed sites typically have no facilities. Fire rings are common at established sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Weather changes rapidly in the mountains, with potential for strong winds and sudden storms even in summer.

    Areas farther from developed campsites offer deeper seclusion and less noise pollution for tent campers. The mountainous terrain provides natural barriers between sites at places like Blue Bear Mountain Camp, where one camper noted that sites are "very spaced out" with good privacy. Tent camping locations along creeks and rivers are particularly sought after, offering both water access and natural white noise. Many primitive tent sites serve as ideal base camps for day hiking on nearby trail networks, including access points to the Appalachian Trail and numerous forest service trails. Higher elevation tent campsites provide cooler temperatures during summer months, making them popular destinations for escaping heat while enjoying star-filled night skies with minimal light pollution.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Elk Park (79)

      1. Dark Ridge HideOut (Adults Only)

      5.0(6)5mi from Elk Park14 sitesTents

      "Excellent parking spot with plenty of room to set up a 3-person tent. Also, delivery of homemade pizza. I recommend the Jalapeno & Cheese."

      "Very attentive and has some great stories to share. The property is well kept and the provided toilet & shower were a very welcome after a couple days in the tent."

      from $20 - $45 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Blue Bear Mountain Camp

      4.8(27)21mi from Elk Park4 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It offers RV, drive in and hike in tent sites and also teepee camping."

      "We had a neighbor nice enough to give us his site because he was leaving early and I would have stayed another night there. It was C3 backed into the woods on level ground. It made for a cozy morning."

      from $25 - $136 / night

      Check Availability

      3. Camper Mountain on Roaring Creek

      5.0(2)6mi from Elk Park5 sitesTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "It’s a bit of a drive out there with little to no cell service but wifi is available over the whole site! Definitely worth it with amazing views all around."

      from $29 - $69 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Mortimer Campground — National Forests In North Carolina

      4.3(10)17mi from Elk Park17 sitesTents

      "The 5 upfront are walk in, and more private. The about to be 12 in the back are pull in and much closer together. Two shower houses, one on both ends, no hookups."

      "Had some friends stay next to us in a class b. A small trailer would fit, nothing big. No W/E/S but great place. Come early to reserve. You must set up camp immediately. No reservations."

      from $20 - $30 / night

      Check Availability

      5. Plumtree Campground & Retreat

      5.0(1)8mi from Elk Park2 sitesRVs, Tents

      from $30 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area

      3.3(3)12mi from Elk ParkTents

      "Stayed a night out here while traveling, scary narrow rocky trails, but beautiful streams and mountains"

      7. Blackberry Blossom Farm & Campground

      5.0(4)16mi from Elk ParkTents

      "There’s a covered outdoor space for small events, too.  For me however, the huge draw is the natural beauty of the place."

      "to get away to some quiet (NO traffic noises!) and decompress.  Janice and Ed are the kindest, most considerate hosts you could imagine. "

      from $24 - $55 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Bear Creek Mountain Campground

      5.0(2)15mi from Elk Park1 siteTents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Just a beautiful place camped for a weekend with my son and we couldn't have been more happy with the set up. Thanks Michelle!"

      "I have a few cabins, one glamping tent, and a self-brought tent camping area."

      from $25 - $30 / night

      Check Availability

      9. Steele Creek

      4.5(4)19mi from Elk ParkTents

      "I have stayed at all the free campsites around and left my review for each. This is by far the quietest, nicest, cleanest , site yet !"

      "There’s a nice big spot at the end of the trail where you could rooftop tent/car camp, but the actual site is about 100’ away."

      10. Watauga Point Recreation Area

      3.0(1)13mi from Elk ParkTents

      from $30 / night

      Check Availability

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time



    Tent Camping Reviews near Elk Park, NC

    1322 Reviews of 79 Elk Park Campgrounds

    • Windy W.
      Oct. 23, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful Place, Ugly host, Oct 2026

      Let 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

    • Bonnie H.
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Kylie T & Andrew W. Review not accurate

      My 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?"

    • SThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 21, 2026

      Spacious Skies Bear Den

      Seems 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.

    • Kyle T.
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Unprofessional hosts that ruins a place with good potential

      We brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back

    • A
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Doe River Landing

      Beautiful place ruined by unprofessional ownership

      Our group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.

    • Juliana J.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 14, 2026

      Washington & Jefferson National Forest Dispersed Sites

      Epic Spot Near Iron Mountain and Rush Trails

      I wandered a bit and took a left up a gravel road near where the sites indicated were located and just drove for a few miles. Found an awesome spot with a fire pit and lush surroundings. The road was unpaved (but as are all to the best spots) and there were definitely some large rocks and potholes to navigate. Would suggest higher raised vehicle. Saw nobody else and felt like I had my own slice of paradise.

    • April V.
      Oct. 11, 2026

      Lakeview RV Resort

      Nice little campground

      Clean nice little campground for the weekend.

    • Lisa & Patrick R.
      Oct. 11, 2026

      Buck Creek

      Buck Creek Campground review

      Nice spot right on the river..Camp store & staff seem friendly & helpful-especially Sonny & Joshua.

    • AThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 6, 2026

      Campfire Lodgings

      The view!

      The view is worth it and is as advertised! We were in the first spot as you enter the park. We were concerned with noise, but it was not even an issue.

      Our spot was right on the ridge and was stunning. I don’t think I closed the blinds on that side of the trailer.

      Loss of star because of the road in/out. It’s one lane gravel and windy. It’s ok as long as you don’t meet anyone on the road. Dryer took 2 cycles to dry 2 towels and a few tshirts.

    Guide to Elk Park

    Dispersed camping sites near Elk Park, North Carolina offer rustic experiences at elevations between 3,000-4,000 feet, where summer temperatures typically range 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The area features several free and low-cost camping options within the Pisgah National Forest, with sites often situated on uneven terrain requiring careful site selection and preparation.

    What to do

    Creek swimming access: Steele Creek provides excellent water recreation options with several swimming holes. "There is a walking trail at the end of the road about 100 feet from our site, that had the best swimming hole at the end of it, where you can jump in. It has a couple small waterfalls to add to the ambience," reports one camper.

    Hiking to waterfalls: Several trails lead to scenic waterfalls within a short distance of camping areas. A visitor at Mortimer Campground noted, "There is access to a 1/2 mile round trip hike to a waterfall on the property!" This makes it perfect for quick nature excursions without extensive planning.

    Fishing opportunities: Nearby creeks and Watauga Lake provide fishing access for campers. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, one reviewer mentioned, "The hike to the pond was a little more strenuous than we anticipated but once you get there, there is a nice creek and we caught a trout in the pond right away."

    What campers like

    Cool mountain temperatures: The higher elevations provide relief from summer heat. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, a camper observed, "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat," while another specifically mentioned "70-80 [degrees] in July!"

    Site privacy: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at certain campgrounds. "The sites are very spaced out," notes a Blue Bear Mountain Camp reviewer, providing a more secluded outdoor experience. This natural separation helps reduce noise between neighboring campsites.

    Clean facilities: Blackberry Blossom Farm & Campground receives high marks for maintenance. "The facilities are up to date, the bathhouse is spotless, and the campsites themselves are clear and well-maintained. I found the dishwashing station (with hot water!) to be especially convenient," explained one visitor.

    What you should know

    Road conditions: Many campgrounds require driving on gravel or dirt roads. For Little Stony Creek Road Dispersed Area, a visitor warned about "scary narrow rocky trails," while another camper at Steele Creek explained, "The road is pretty well maintained other than a few spots that you have to crawl through on the corners specifically. I drive a Toyota Camry that sits fairly low and I made it fine."

    Advance planning needed: Some areas require bringing all supplies as stores are distant. A Mortimer Campground visitor advised, "Definitely plan ahead on provisioning bc it's about 45 mins drive into the national forrest."

    Bug precautions: Insects can be problematic in warmer months. A Steele Creek camper reported, "I did get eaten alive by mosquitos and I found a tick on my chair so be on the lookout."

    Tips for camping with families

    Kid-friendly swimming: Creek access provides natural water play areas. Steele Creek campers report that it's a "great camping spot with access to the creek for swimming," making it ideal for families looking for water activities.

    Space for children: Some campgrounds offer more room for kids to explore safely. A Blue Bear Mountain Camp visitor mentioned, "I wish there was a playground for the kids but overall it was very nice. Close to Boone."

    Family-friendly atmosphere: Bear Creek Mountain Campground provides a welcoming environment for families. One visitor shared, "Just a beautiful place camped for a weekend with my son and we couldn't have been more happy with the set up."

    Tips for RVers

    Access limitations: Large RVs face challenges on mountain roads. A Blue Bear Mountain Camp visitor cautioned, "The state maintained gravel road used to access campground was narrow and would be difficult to get a large camper up there, although there were lots of large ones there."

    Limited hookups: Most tent camping areas near Elk Park offer minimal or no hookups. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, a camper explained, "They do not have water hookups - you fill your camper tank with water at the office area. They have spots with electric hookups. They have a dump station where you can empty your tanks on your way out."

    Small trailer options: Smaller trailers and pop-ups fare better than large rigs. A Mortimer Campground visitor advised, "We stayed in a tent. Had some friends stay next to us in a class b. A small trailer would fit, nothing big. No W/E/S but great place."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Elk Park, NC?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Elk Park, NC is Dark Ridge HideOut (Adults Only) with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Elk Park, NC?

    TheDyrt.com has all 79 tent camping locations near Elk Park, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.