For those who want to experience Elkin, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Elkin experience while glamping. The Dyrt makes it easy to find glamping near Elkin.
$23 / night
► Tent and trailer camping
The lower slopes of Pilot Mountain house the family camping area where 42 campsites for tents and trailers are scattered among oaks and hickories.
Each site has a tent pad, table, and fire pit/grill. Drinking water is available throughout the campground, and two bathhouses with hot showers are located nearby.
Some campsites can accommodate RVs. There are no hookups or dump station provided. Please visit the reservations website for more information about the driveway length of each campsite.
The campground host sells firewood. Gathering wood in the park is prohibited.
No more than six people are allowed to occupy a campsite. The camping area is open from March 15 to November 30.
Please review the important information below regarding check in.
► Paddle-in camping
Two paddle-in campsites are located at the Ivy Bluffs access on the south bank of Yadkin River. Reservations are required to use these campsites.
There is no water or toilet facilities at these campsites. You must bring your own water and pack out all trash and waste.
Camping is allowed only in designated areas. Camping is prohibited on the Yadkin River Islands.
The nearest boat access upstream from the campsite is located at the Shoals fishing and boating access, at 4454 Shoals Road, East Bend, NC 27018. The paddle from this access is about 1 mile. As of March 15, 2021, the next downstream boat access at Donnaha Park is closed until Fall 2023. Please plan accordingly.
$15 - $26 / night
Late Cabin/Lodge/Yurt/Camping Cabin/Bunkhouse Arrivals:
A sealed packet of information with your last name will be left for you. This packet will be at one of the following places: contact station, visitor center or park office. Claytor Lake and First Landing will leave your packet at the cabin. Your last 4 digits of your confirmation number will be your access code. Please take your confirmation letter with you.
Late Camping Arrivals:
A sealed packet of information with your name will be left for you. This packet will be at one of the following places: contact station, visitor center, park office or the campground camp host site. Please take your confirmation letter with you. If you have a site specific reservation please look for your site highlighted by the yellow post along with your site number. If you have a non-site specific reservation please look for your site type to set up your equipment.
$25 - $40 / night
Lake Norman State Park, on the largest manmade lake in North Carolina, boasts one of the region’s more popular mountain biking network, offering 30.5 miles of single-track trail. Nearby are a 125-yard-long swim beach and bathhouse complex as well as a boat ramp and opportunities for fishing from spots along park trails. Lake Norman campground with 32-sites and a group campground are available during warm-weather months, and a community building with kitchen facilities, restrooms and fireplace can be rented for family and group events year round. Free interpretive programs are complemented by educational exhibits throughout the visitor center and along the child-friendly Dragonfly Trail.
$26 - $36 / night
$20 / night
Warrior Creek is located on the south side of W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in western North Carolina. Constructed in the beautiful Yadkin River Valley, the lake offers extensive opportunities for outdoor recreational activities.
The 1,475-acre reservoir offers excellent boating, canoeing, kayaking and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, spotted bass, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass. The Warrior Creek trail system completely encircles the campground as it scenically follows the fold of the surrounding landscape. It is recognized by the International Mountain Biking Association as one of the top bike trails in the world. There are 17 miles of single track trail in Warrior Creek with multiple points-of-entry throughout the campground. These trails are also used extensively by hikers and trail runners.
The gentle Yadkin River flows through its scenic namesake valley in the foothills of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains. Forests of mixed hardwoods, including sycamore, poplar, oak and hickory, cover the region. Wildlife is abundant in the valley. White-tailed deer, black bear, eastern cottontails and more can be found among the hills. Birds in the area include wild turkey, woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees, red-eyed vireo, ovenbirds, mallards and wood ducks.
This location has limited staffing. Please call (336) 921-3390 for general information.
All camping reservations are made in advance. No transactions will be completed at the campground. All refund request will need to be submitted via recreation.gov. No refunds are given at campground. Refer to recreation.gov for a complete list of fees and cancelation policy
$22 - $85 / night
Scout
If youre into a bit of glamping. This place works! Good for kids - rootbeer float nights, outdoor movies with marshmellow pits, crerks to splash in. Full bathhouses, laundry & eben a gameroom. My kids loved the tire swings & animals!
Owners were helpful & the campground is close to many hiking trails & Blue Ridge.
Guide
This is a really chill spot near Boone. We stayed in one of the tipis, and it was an awesome glamping experience
The bathrooms were clean.
Everyone staying here was really nice and chill. It feels a little hippie which is neat.
If you’re pulling a camper, the road would be a little rough, but I look forward to bringing our camper here sometime.
Traveler
This was our family's first time glamping, and we were totally impressed. For all you novice campers and newbie nature explores out there, you have nothing to worry about. They provide all basic essentials - head lamps, towels, firewood with a solo stove, cooking utensils and a grill, and LED biolite lanterns as well for modern ammenities while in a natural environment. In short, we'd consider moving there is they'd let us. ha.
LegendVery secluded- you are in the woods, not far from a home on the private property, but feels secluded. Take the many winding mountain roads up to this site. Make sure you bring what you need bc a trip to the store would be a hassle (minimum 20 min drive each way down winding mountain roads). The cocoon is not suspended as high as we thought in pictures. Inside the cocoon is pretty standard and equipped with just about as much as a tent, plus an electrical wire running to it through a hole in the canvas. Pretty cool place but do not expect glamping- more like secluded tent camping with a twist.
Guide
We stayed in the new glamping cabin #2. Very clean, comfortable bed, nice AC, lovely porch to relax on. All cabins are in walking distance to the bathrooms and showers. Those as well were pretty clean for a camp ground, I was pleasantly surprised. The path to the bathrooms light up at night so you can find your way very easy in the dark. Camp ground itself was very clean and I often saw the staff working on cleaning it and interacting with the campers. The designated swimming area was like a piece of heaven. Small not to overly packed, very clean beach. We plan on coming pack to do tent camping with our dog, fantastic family or romantic couple retreat.
Traveler
We came here as our second ever camping trip and it wasn’t exactly what we were expecting but it was definitely an adventure. It was beautiful and quiet and relaxing. The only thing we were not happy about is the insane amount of bugs in the bathroom. But, ya know North Carolina summers.
Legend
We camped at the Wagoner access with our dogs over the weekend. The campground is very beautiful. You have to walk in but the park provides little carts and wheelbarrows. The sites and the bathhouse are very well maintained. The park host, Tom Keller, was just fantastic. Really helpful and super nice. There are also 2 beautiful hiking trails starting at the campground. I would definitely camp here again even if I have to say there are much more scenic places in this part of North Carolina.
Guide
We did 3 hikes and they were all fantastic. Hiked to the highest point in Virginia, saw ponies and followed a beautiful river. We saw cool trees and rock formations. We really loved it. We stayed in a yurt and that was wonderful too. Really delightful.
Guide
I left the flat of eastern North Carolina and headed to the mountains to our west. Pilot Mt. State Park has a nice campground and some good hiking trails. Camping on the rocky side of a hill is different from the coastal flat lands I am used to.
The hiking trails are good and the round trip from the campsite, around Pilot Mountain and back provided for a nice day hike. There is also a 5 mile trail connecting the upper and lower parts of the park. I didn't have a chance to walk that one, but then it is always good to have a reason to go back.
Facilities were clean and in good shape.
TravelerI went back and forth on whether I should give this rating two stars or three. In the end, I chose three stars because the mountain itself is so amazing. Geologically this was great place to visit and the trails were well marked and maintained. Beautiful hike.
The campground was beautiful but the facilities were run down and dirty. It had, by far, the nastiest park/campground facilities I’ve seen in Kentucky, North Carolina or Virginia this year. I know this park is mobbed on the weekends, but I checked in on a Tuesday and stayed for two nights. The facilities, including the campground bathhouse and the park’s “comfort stations” were dirty, smelly and had bugs in them. The trash in the bathhouse was not emptied in the two days I was there. There was not a single exterior light to the bathhouse, not even something as reasonable as a motion sensor light that would be more energy efficient than a constant lighting option.
Compared to New River State Park, despite the giant Stone Mountain, this was the bottom of the barrel.
TravelerAmazing park with surprising diversity of trail experiences!
Hickory Ridge Campground is a good base camp for adventuring within the park. The campground itself is ok with a reasonably clean no frills restroom / shower / dishwashing station. None of the sites are particularly private.
The campground is a short drive from the main attraction trail heads. There is a trail from the campground to other areas but not short enough to be a doable extension for a family with little kids.
The camp store was closed the entire time we were here despite the posted hours as well as the laundry.
Next time I’m here I’m totally planning on splurging on either yurt 1 or 3 - they have huge decks and good views.
GuideIf you are fearless and willing to take your RV up a beautiful small winding road into the mountains this is the place for you. However, for myself it rained… so it was quite the experience driving up and considering the limited visibility. Also when I arrived at my site there was no power on the entire mountain. Then to further the adventure the rain turned into a flash flood and my site was not flat so we continuously kept sinking and sliding through the night. Lastly, like all the reviews it is such a beautiful place once the rained cleared but I can’t say it enough the weather is something to consider for this location.
Two things I loved:
One thing I didn’t like:
LegendGeneral: Smallish campground (< 70 sites in two loops) with a mixture of water/electric and tent sites with no hookups, and also four yurts.
Site Quality: Some were back-in and some were pull-through. Gravel pads. Not a lot of separation between the sites. Some were more level than others but not a problem to make it work for us.
Bathhouse: Heated! Clean. One shower in the bathroom plus additional shower rooms. Best place in the campground to catch a fleeting cell signal so it was not unusual to see people in the bathroom on their phones!
Activities/Amenites: Hiking! Close to the AT. Unfortunately, the best trail IMO was the Cabin Creek Trail (it was also awarded one of the best 25 trails in the US) but it is not accessible directly from the campground. There is also a small country store, but it was not open when we were there. There is a small museum at the Visitor Center and well worth a trip there. There is also a dump station.
There was an unseasonable cold snap when we were there in October (temps got down to mid-20s with wind chill in the teens) so even though we had planned on two nights there, once we hiked the Cabin Creek and Rhododendron trails, we decided to go to a lower elevation and warm up!
LegendRanger Review: GRAYSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK-Hickory Ridge Campground.
Every once in a while you end up staying somewhere and think…this was just unreal, I don’t want to leave. That’s what I experienced at Grayson Highlands State Park.
Grayson Highlands is expansive. It was a two mile drive from the Contact Center to the campground entrance… passing by a scenic view turnoff on the right, with long valley views.
At over 4300 ft, even at the end of June it got downright cold at night. Hiking trails are abundant, some higher than 5200 ft, the AT passes by and the Wild ponies of Grayson Highlands inhabit these heights.
You have several campsite options, from Electric/Water sites, Standard sites (no water/electric), Specific Sites (Reservable), Yurts, cabins to Equestrian sites. And a range of pricing depending on choice.
Without reservations, I rolled up and got the last available site (or so I was told). It has been a very, very long time since I have stayed at a full campground…and that even on a Wednesday night. So I was out of my element…and struggle a bit with the closeness of neighbors and noise. ..along with competing for a place at the shower, restroom or sink station. It wasn’t awful, just not the freedom I am use to primitive or backcountry camping. Site SP 54 set me back $30 a night as a non-resident. Virginians see a discounted rate.
The yurts appear newer, and the Pinnacle Yurt (#3) not only has a massive 360 degree deck like the others…the deck stretches out over the mountainside with a railed boardwalk, incorporating the huge rocks.
Restroom/shower house is clean and stocked. The shower was the hottest I’ve ever experienced. There are two private single shower rooms between the men and women’s restrooms and one shower in the men’s restroom. The wash sink for dishes is outside at the north end of the same building and also doubles as the water spigot. I guess they covered all the campground water spigots because of the current health issue and centralized it to one location. Not certain but doesn’t make much sense or make things convenient with a full campground.
Being a mountainous region, most tent pads and pull in drives appeared fairly level, except ours, which may be why it was the only one available…only a partial piece of wood remained of the “elevated tent pad.” The likely tent area was between half a dozen trees and a dirt/pea gravel mix. As long as it didn’t rain our tent site would work out okay.
On our circle, there was very minimal ground vegetation and distance between sites, so you can always see and hear your neighbors. Our neighbor’s eating area was less than ten feet from our tent pad. Not ideal, especially for Virginia State Park pricing, which in most cases is double to triple what I’ve paid for tent camping in seventeen other states I’ve camped in across the U.S. But you’ve got to pay the fiddler if you want to dance. Virginians get s healthy discounted rate.
“Fill-in” hosts (the Smith’s) were fabulous, kind and helpful. May their tribe increase! Drove around the wood cart in the evening for purchase which was helpful as well. Good sized bundle was $6 at the time of this review. They also manned the Outpost located in the campground where you could buy a few things.
With that in mind, bring or buy whatever you need because it’s a long haul to find groceries.
We drove 8 miles (25 minutes) to two different stores to find hot dogs and buns for lunch and dinner. The first had hot dogs but no buns…pass. The second gave us both from their back room stock. A Mennonite women brought in her pastries while we were there so we bought apple fritters, and several fold over mini pies, black raspberry, cherry and chocolate. Very tasty breakfast snacks.
Trails: miles upon miles…all clearly marked. Trails that lead to 180 degree views, trails that lead to 360 degree views, AT trails, trails to waterfalls and cascades, trails through rolling fields covered in flowering berry bushes, dark-cool-wooded trails, rocky trails, root covered trails, trails with wild ponies…tons of trails!
The Visitors center, oddly, is on the opposite side of the park but a treat to visit…as you will learn and see the history of the area…and find some nice trinkets to purchase.
Backpackers can pay a nominal $8 fee and leave there vehicles in a specific parking lot close to the AT. But you also must call ahead to make reservations. Countless backpacking folk of all ages were either coming or going.
There are playgrounds for the kids both in the campground proper and in the picnic and Homestead area further down the park roadway. A beautiful sprawling picnic area where the kids can run wild and parents can relax.
LegendThis is an amazing park, with a total of 4,822 acres to explore. It's a dream for hikers, allowing you to embark on numerous day hikes and connect with the Appalachian Trail. As many folks have also mentioned, there are feral ponies in the park, and if you hike on the Wilburn Ridge from Massie Gap, you will almost definitely see them.
During my visit, I camped on a Monday night in early May. I did not make reservations, and there were plenty of sites available, although it was way busier than I expected. I'd say that half of the campsites were taken at Hickory Ridge Campground where I pitched my tent.
There are a few choices available here. If you choose a "primitive" site, which simply means no hook-ups, you pay your fee and choose whichever site is open when you get to the campground. You can not choose a specific site in advance. If you choose a site with full hook-ups, then you can pick the one you want. There are also four yurts available, but you have to book them for at least 2 nights in a row.
Primitive sites are $37 a night for out-of-state residents, which I think is quite pricy. The sites are also quite close together and not very private. Restrooms are clean and firewood is $6 for a bundle.
I stayed in site #15, and while it wasn't private, I was lucky to have very nice and quiet neighbors. This is an amazing park, and I would definitely return to do some backpacking or to hike up Virginia's highest peak, Mt. Rogers. The four-star-rating is mainly because the sites are close together and because the campsites are expensive.
LegendCampground Review: There are two campgrounds in Grayson Highland SP which is located by The Mouth Of Wilson, VA, near the North Carolina border. Just an FYI certain cell phone providers do not have great coverage in this area, so plan ahead and print out any Geo or local info before you arrive. As a non-Virginia resident you will pay more to hike and stay at the State Parks. That being said the facilities I’ve visited have been immaculate and well staffed. Grayson Highlands has a front gate where you can pick up your packet if pre-registered. I’m not sure what I picked at online registration other than electric and water but I had the choice of over 10 sites. I originally pulled into site 29 which has an awesome view, but had visions of plummeting down the mountain side so I moved. There are several pull through options, I opted for a back in. The lay out of the park is very linear and the “corners” are completely used with up to three sites. We visited on a week day after Labor Day and the campground was sparsely occupied. The shower house closest to my site, 46, had a shower and latrine option or just shower option. The camp host was located across from the shower house and the dump station was adjacent to that site. For the most part there was plenty of shade. Near the entrance there were a few sites off the field that had few or no trees. There is a six pad group site available behind the camp store that had plenty of picnic tables and a large fire ring. LOVED the hiking trails!!! The VIEWS!!! The “one” the park is known for is the Rhododendron, which is where the wild ponies live. We saw ponies, but more then that it’s like you are on top of the mountain range , “Lord Of The Rings” or something like that! The Creekside Cabin hike is very technical as in tree roots and rocks, but so worth the exertion! Very cool waterfall and aside from some modern day trash there is still the old wood stove and pantry in the cabin. If you like to cool off in the streams that you hike to this trail has many options to sit and enjoy. We saw several deer, some turkey but no bears. Still be aware of your surroundings when moving around and in the campground.
Product Review: Outdoor Element makes some useful gadgets to wear, carry and stash on your person for all contingencies. I reviewed the “Firebiner” while at camp this time. Realize I am a laymen and “thingy” is an acceptable word when describing products. Please visit www.OutdoorElement.Com for all the big words and complete descriptions. First and foremost I want to say I am not an outdoor , backwoods phenomena, so bear with me on my fire making skills. I have watched “Survivor” and they are right about how hard it is to get a fire going with just flint. Outdoor Element gives you everything you need to be successful though with PRACTICE! SO ... The Firebiner first has some cool added features before you ever get to the fire part. A cool assortment of colors and National Parks in a titanium coated finish, a flathead screwdriver tip, a bottle opener, a built in utility blade, hang slots ( like for key rings and small hanging things ). This biner can hold up to 100 lbs ( non-human ) and has a stainless steel wire gate that springs closed. Now one of the coolest features to me is the Everspark fire wheel. It can throw some sparkage around! I was unsuccessful with regular tinder but got the jute burning. The ferry rod has two replacements included in the package and you can get a kit for the replacement or use an eyeglass flathead, but remember it has a spring in there.
LegendThis was my third time here, but the first time in 25+ years. This is a wonderful state park located near the high point of Virginia, Mt Rogers, and as such, it is a popular destination for hikers. Oh, and there is that other natural attraction, the wild ponies that roam the mountains. It’s not uncommon to see them grazing alongside the trail to Massie Gap, but I had my best views to in the field to the side of the road toward the picnic& homestead area. It’s much easier to ascend Mt Rogers from here than down in the valley, but you won’t likely travel alone. Come in in late spring when the rhododendron are in bloom! It’s gorgeous.
There are some basic maps available in the park, but you may appreciate something with more detail if you’re going very far. Consider downloading maps in advance and/or bringing paper. You may meet some AT throughhikers during your explorations. It's always a treat to hear their stories. In addition to hiking to the peaks, there are some trails that will take you down to streams for fishing.
This time I was in site 60 with water and electric, a pull-through site parallel to the road, with a slight incline on the way in and out. It was partially wooded. Previously I stayed in one of the tent sites along the open field. I was very much hoping to take photos of the night sky, but there was a storm with wild winds and cold, so that didn’t happen! I did catch a glimpse of them, though, shortly before dawn. For cell phone coverage(Verizon), I had success at the viewpoint on the way up from the entrance. It was also where I watched the sunrise.
I was there the first day the campground opened and it filled quickly. You’ll definitely want reservations for a weekend stay. Note that some of the reservations are nonspecific, i.e. when you arrive, you’ll be assigned, although I saw one couple who looked like they were driving around and choosing their spot (and seemed overwhelmed by the process). There’s a small camp store with souvenirs and basic snacks and supplies. Bathrooms are clean with flush toilets and showers. In addition to the tent/RV sites, there are a few yurts available to rent.
Plenty to keep kids and adults alike entertained, whether it’s exploring the homestead area, looking for ponies, taking short hikes, geocaching, or playing games on the open field area.
Scout
Love the putt putt and kids playground area.
ScoutWe stayed in one of their cabins for one night and came away with head to toe bites. The owners have been informed, but have not responded in any way.
ScoutGreat campground. Extremely nice staff. Rear lots have a nice Mountain View. Showers & bathroom area clean. Small store in office. A few washers & dryers on site. Terrible Wifi. Family owned campground.
TravelerWe loved our stay.
ScoutGreat owners. Full hook ups with WiFi, pool, playground, game room, small store, bath house, laundry facilities and more. Dog friendly. Love camping here.
ScoutThe park has plenty of shaded lots as well as some without trees. WiFi is not very good. But it is a nice campground.
GuideLoved how nice everyone was at this campground! I usually tow my little pop-up alone so I am always grateful when someone helps me back in! They were so nice about letting us also have a tent on our site and didn’t give us any grief about extra cars or people. The bathhouse was always super clean and I loved that they had pop-up sites only that were cheaper! Our campsite had a deck and I thought that was such a nice touch! We spent the weekend drinking wine, but it looked like they had other actives too and a mini golf course. I will be back for sure, it was perfect for us.
RangerYou just can't beat it. We camped here and didn't even leave. It has so much to do and see. We camped at RV site 40 and I think it's the best. There's a roaring large creek that flows behind the site and a grassy field full of deer beside it. Also we checked out the backpack hike camp spots (5) they're a good hike (1.5 mile uphill) but so beautiful, on the creek, 2 are near a small waterfall. They're spaced out about a quarter mile apart. We went in December and there wasn't many people there at all, maybe 4 other campers all weekend.
RangerA bit out of the way but well worth it. Sites are large and pretty much flat. A stream runs thru the campground low in the banks. We had E, W no sewer a convenient dump station. Close to stone Mountain, natural area, not commercial like in GA. It is a beautiful setting, couple miles from a waterfall, 30ish miles from Pilot Mountain, very unique.
GuideGreat trails, and lots to do. Climbing up Stone Mountain was fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Elkin, NC is Stone Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 56 reviews.
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