The Etowah region sits at approximately 2,100 feet elevation where the Blue Ridge Mountains transition to foothills, creating varied terrain for camping. RV campgrounds near Etowah, North Carolina typically experience mild springs and falls with summer temperatures averaging 10-15 degrees cooler than lower elevations. Mountain-fed waterways run through several camping areas, providing fishing opportunities during seasonal stockings from March through August.
What to do
Tubing on the Green River: At Wilderness Cove Campground, campers can access river activities directly from the property. "My kid(12) and I had a great experience here: 2 nights in tents and 2 in a River Cottage. The tent camping is not quite 'roughing it': there's pretty reliable WiFi and the bath house is air conditioned and kept very clean," noted one visitor.
Mountain biking at DuPont State Forest: Stay at Land of Waterfalls RV Park for easy access to trails. "This campground is in an awesome location: 25 minutes to downtown Hendersonville, 12 minutes to downtown Brevard, and 10-15 minutes from all the trails at DuPont and Pisgah!" A reviewer mentioned, "Easy access to hiking trails and outdoor activities. Peaceful and quiet campground that is very well maintained."
Greenway access for cycling: The French Broad River Greenway runs directly through camping areas. One Wilson's Riverfront visitor explained, "I actually loved the location of this campground because the Greenway bike Trail runs right through it. There are steps down to the French Broad to launch a kayak or inner tubes."
What campers like
Dog-friendly amenities: Red Gates RV Park offers dedicated pet areas. "Plenty of space and areas to walk our dog. They even have an off lead dog area with water available and poop bags. There was a lake on the property to walk around and adds to the beauty of a walk," shared a camper.
Fishing opportunities: Several parks maintain stocked ponds for recreational fishing. "I really like this place, clean, quite, and warm. Nice sites with and great stream and pond on property to fish, and yes it's easy to catch a fish here!" noted a guest at Rutledge Lake.
Privacy at smaller campgrounds: Gatlin Ridge RV Park offers a more secluded experience with only five sites total. "Had a great weekend at this small peaceful RV park. Clean, beautiful landscaping. Full hookups, shady spot on site 4. A short drive to local waterfalls, rafting and tubing," according to one reviewer.
What you should know
Mountain driving challenges: Steep roads affect access to many campgrounds in the Etowah area. Some parks require careful navigation, especially with larger rigs. A visitor to Rutledge Lake RV Resort advised, "For campers that like lots of amenities, perhaps this is a great fit, but it just wasn't worth it for us. I think it's also worth mentioning that in trying to use the key card the automatic gate dropped on the front of our vehicle."
Variable site sizes: RV sites throughout the region have different length accommodations. "Be sure to specify your rig size upon making a reservation as all sites vary in length. Some sites are 30amp only and accommodate only 20-foot trailers or less. Other sites are longer, and some are pull-through," warned a camper at Bear Creek.
Internet connectivity: WiFi quality varies significantly between parks. "I was only able to connect our iPhones to one of them (- East) and that one provided next to zero data rate. AT&T had 3 bars and 5 MB/s w/o a booster, 4 bars and 7 MB/s with it," reported one reviewer.
Tips for camping with families
Community spaces: Some RV parks near Etowah feature shared gathering areas. "There is a little community shack with a Keurig, maps of the area, comfy chairs, and some small desk for a change of work scenery. There is also a nice big community yard with Adirondack chairs and fire pits," noted a Land of Waterfalls camper.
Laundry facilities: For longer stays, on-site laundry reduces travel needs. "Bathrooms were always very clean, laundry room was spacious and clean, office staff was kind and helpful. The only thing I would recommend is keeping office open later then 5," mentioned a visitor at Rutledge Lake RV Resort.
Bath facilities: Clean bathhouses matter for families. "Pristine bath house! Pristine campground!" reported a Red Gates visitor, while another camper at Asheville's Bear Creek RV Park & Campground noted, "We didn't check out the bath house, but our neighbors did and were very impressed with the cleanliness."
Tips from RVers
Office hours impact: Many Etowah area RV campgrounds close offices early. "When office closes you can not take boats, or kayaks out. So when you spend day out site seeing and return office is closed. Can not get Ice, wood or boat rentals," shared a Rutledge Lake visitor.
Site leveling considerations: Terrain affects parking setup at mountain campgrounds. "Very busy park outside of Asheville, NC. Great for getting in and out of town and enjoying the city but spaces were a little close together and the sites were all very unlevel," reported a Bear Creek camper.
Seasonal planning: Fall attracts the largest crowds to Etowah RV campgrounds. "This is a great base camp for activities in the area. Very dog friendly. You can tell the owners put a lot into making this campground a great place to stay," noted a Land of Waterfalls reviewer who stayed from November through April.
