The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Campgrounds near Franklin, NC

3,403 Reviews

The Franklin area in western North Carolina features several developed campgrounds accommodating various camping preferences. Standing Indian Campground, located within the Nantahala National Forest, offers tent and RV sites with access to drinking water and toilets. Rose Creek Campground provides full hookup sites with electric, water, and sewer connections, along with cabin accommodations. Pines RV Park and Cabins offers year-round camping with tent sites, RV spots, and cabin rentals, making it a versatile option for visitors exploring the region.

Seasonal considerations affect camping availability around Franklin, with most campgrounds operating from April through October. Standing Indian Campground typically opens April 1 and closes October 30, coinciding with peak hiking and outdoor recreation seasons. "The campground is really well cared for and the staff's effort really shows," noted one camper about Rose Creek Campground. Road access varies across sites, with some campgrounds like Pines RV Park featuring paved roads while others have gravel or dirt access roads that may require caution during wet weather. Cell service can be limited in more remote locations, particularly in the higher elevations of the surrounding mountains.

Campground amenities range from basic to comprehensive across the Franklin area. Pines RV Park receives consistently positive reviews for cleanliness and hospitality, with multiple visitors praising the owners' helpfulness. According to one review, "Lou meets you at the office and guides you to your campsite and politely offers to guide you in." Most developed campgrounds provide picnic tables and fire rings at individual sites. Many campgrounds offer proximity to natural attractions, including the Little Tennessee River for fishing and swimming, and access to popular hiking trails such as the Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail. The surrounding Nantahala National Forest provides additional recreational opportunities with its extensive network of trails and scenic mountain views.

Map showing campgrounds near Franklin, North CarolinaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Franklin, North Carolina (714)

    1. Black Rock Mountain State Park Campground

    57 Reviews
    Rabun Gap, GA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (706) 746-2141

    $20 - $255 / night

    "We chatted about travel and places to go not just her in Georgia but also around the United States."

    "We stayed in one of the tent-only, walk-in sites. This was our first (and so far, only) walk-in tent camping experience as a family. I gotta say - there were challenges. "

    2. Standing Indian Campground

    19 Reviews
    Otto, NC
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 524-6441

    $26 - $100 / night

    "Standing Indian is located at 4000+ feet , 20 minutes from Franklin,NC."

    "This campground is very spacious and in the beautiful NC mountains right outside of Franklin. Each site has a firepit, picnic bench, and leveled gravel space for pitching a tent."

    3. Rose Creek Campground and Cabins Franklin, NC

    9 Reviews
    Franklin, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 547-0707

    $22 - $100 / night

    "This is a really large and very nice campground near Franklin, NC that caters to both RV and tent campers. They have a ton of sites and several bathroom facilities."

    "There is a small pond for fishing and some amazing waterfalls nearby to walk too! We used our pop up camper and the campsites were gravel and level."

    4. The Great Outdoors RV Resort

    8 Reviews
    Franklin, NC
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 349-0412

    $48 - $54 / night

    "Well groomed campground in a central location in the mountains of North Carolina. Good amenities. Friendly staff."

    "We traveled to Franklin N.C. A couple weeks ago and stayed at Grear Outdoors RV Resort. We were greeted by gracious hosts who were also the owners."

    5. Van Hook Glade

    12 Reviews
    Highlands, NC
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 526-5918

    $24 - $40 / night

    "There are many sites to visit nearby. Western North Carolina is hard to beat for natural beauty."

    "Great, small campground near Highlands, NC. Private sites, nice hosts, and clean bathrooms."

    6. Deep Creek Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    29 Reviews
    Bryson City, NC
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 488-3184

    $50 / night

    "The Deep Creek Campground is located just minutes away from the charming Bryson City with its shops, breweries, little cafes an other attractions such as steam train rides on the"

    "Quiet with plenty of space between the RV sites, surrounded by hiking trails and waterfalls. Tent sites are next to the river and in close proximity to one another."

    7. Pines RV Park and Cabins

    4 Reviews
    Franklin, NC
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (828) 524-4490

    "Tent sites are near the small stream running behind the grounds. Clean bathhouse, rec-room with pool table and two cabins to rent."

    8. Peaceful Cove Campground

    4 Reviews
    Franklin, NC
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (941) 356-9769

    $45 / night

    "Having the river steps away to fish and let the dogs swim was absolutely perfect! We are very appreciative of both of them for welcoming us and our fur kids to their little slice of heaven."

    "This site is super close to all the amazing Cullasaja river swimming sites. Although the campground is not very large overall it is well cared for and in an incredible location."

    9. Elkmont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    123 Reviews
    Gatlinburg, TN
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (865) 430-5560

    $30 / night

    "Right outside of Gatlinburg so plenty to do and see if you feel like exploring outside of the park."

    "I had the most fantastic campsite right next to the river in Elkmont."

    10. Smokemont Campground — Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    53 Reviews
    Cherokee, NC
    27 miles
    +1 (828) 497-9270

    $30 / night

    "Smokemont is a great campground in the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains. It is a perfect base camp to enjoy this amazing national park."

    "We only stayed for 1 night but really enjoyed the campgrounds proximity to activities on the North Carolina side of the park."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 714 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Franklin Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos near Franklin, NC

1511 Photos of 714 Franklin Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Franklin, NC

3403 Reviews of 714 Franklin Campgrounds

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Gorges State Park Campground

    CAUTION: steep grades and curvy roadm

    This campground would’ve gotten five stars except for the road getting there was pretty exciting. The last 10 miles out of Brevard were curvy and had some grades. And the last 2 miles into the campground had I would guess a couple of 10% grades both up and down. Other than that, this campground was super nice. Has the nicest showers I have ever seen in a campground. All the sites for RVs are on concrete pads with electric, water, and sewer. This was a great staging point for our trip up to the great Smoky Mountains. The visitor center was very informative.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge

    Beautiful grounds if you feel like splurging

    It is an absolutely beautiful campground with an awesome club house and a ton to do. The pool and lazy river are heated. Honestly though you really need to want to splurge to justify staying here because you are still camping if that makes sense.

    Also the trolley “system” is super confusing and the front desk knows nothing about it lol

    Our site is great. It is right across the road from the playground without having to pay for a family site.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cades Cove Campground

    Quite, beautiful, weekend traffic

    This is one of the quietest campgrounds I’ve stayed at. Sites are nestled in the woods in a cove in the Smokies. No cell service. No internet. No cable tv. Just peace and quiet! This is a national park campgrounds, so no water, electric or hookups. There is a dump station and modern bathrooms. Cold water showers. There is a camp store with basics. There is a lot of traffic especially on weekends with visitors driving the scenic Cades Cove Loop Road.

  • Alden B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Ash Grove Mountain Cabins & Camping

    Very Nice camping near Dupont National Forest

    If you want close access to Dupont and Pisga NF you're within minutes! The owners Mark & Esther are wonderful. We call him SouthSide Mark ( hails from South Africa). Some sites are a little tight, but fine. If you have a big rig call ahead. The cabin was wonderful. The bathhouse is older but very clean. You can tell the owners love their campers and property. The site is tree covered and hilly. We will come again, guaranteed! Watch your step. Wood Spirits are Everywhere!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Little River Campground & RV Resort

    Labor Day weekend

    Overall a positive experience. We stayed in the tent camping area. Absolutely beautiful site with a wonderful river view, but be aware that the direct river bank is considered common area including day use so it had a lot of traffic while we were there. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Being a holiday weekend it was very crowded and very noisy, including a few neighbors without regards to quiet hours. Overall the facilities including bath house are were very nice though I believe the large crowds caused issues with the crew being able to keep up with keeping them clean. The location is very convenient to Townsend and we rode bikes out to explore and get food in the evening. We would definitely go back just probably not on a holiday weekend.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Corbin Creek Tray Mountain

    Best off grid camping

    This is by far my favorite place we’ve been off grid camping. It’s more Jeep friendly than full size vehicles, to get a spot down by the creek. But it is possible to get a full size 4*4 truck down the switch back.

  • Doug S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Persimmon Creek RV Park

    Beautiful Little Camp Ground

    Persimmon Creek is a beautiful and peaceful place. The owner is very friendly and helpful. It is centrally located to some great attractions.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Mountaineer Campground

    Pleasant Stay

    Lovely campground on the river and close to amenities. Biking, hiking, tubing, swimming. My favorite experience here has been the pavilion prayer and fellowship on Sunday mornings hosted by Charm ministry volunteers. Very casual with lots of singing and great conversation in a very positive and welcoming atmosphere. The bathrooms and showers were kept very clean as well as the laundry and pool area. The camp hosts were very helpful and work hard to keep the above clean. The campground offers a 50% discount on a 28-day stay which I took advantage of. They allowed me to stay an extra 28 days due to my dog passing away so I could wait for his remains. They were very understanding, thoughtful and gracious during this sad time for me and I am very grateful to the management and hosts for the time, space and respect they extended to me July & August.

Guide to Franklin

Camping near Franklin, North Carolina, offers a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With beautiful landscapes and a variety of campgrounds, there's something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the stunning trails in the area. Campers love the access to trails like the Little River Trail from Elkmont Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "We did one of our hikes from our site—the Little River Trail to Cucumber Gap, and it was beautiful."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. At Cades Cove Campground, one camper noted, "Had numerous sightings of wildlife even in the campground."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing in nearby rivers and lakes. A visitor at Davidson River Campground shared, "Great fishing available all within a stone's throw from camp."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful surroundings. One happy camper at Greenbrier Campground said, "The site had a gorgeous view of the river and mountains."
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Tallulah Gorge State Park Campground mentioned, "Campground facilities are clean and very well kept."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Vogel State Park offer fun for kids. One parent said, "The kids had loads of fun playing by the little rivers."

What you should know:

  • Site Privacy: Some campgrounds have closely spaced sites. A camper at Cades Cove Campground noted, "Most sites are close together, so privacy can be an issue."
  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service in many areas. A visitor at Davidson River Campground mentioned, "No cell signal but we were able to set up our Starlink."
  • Bear Awareness: Some campgrounds are in bear country. A camper at Cosby Campground shared, "An assertive mother bear and her three cubs showed up at dinner time."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan for Activities: Choose campgrounds with nearby attractions. A parent at Greenbrier Campground said, "There were bounce houses, multiple playgrounds, and a lazy river with a swimming hole."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep kids happy with snacks on hand. A camper at Lake Powhatan mentioned, "The camp host was very helpful and provided us with firewood."
  • Bring Games: Keep the kids entertained with games. A visitor at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground noted, "The kids loved the game room and pool."

Tips from RVers:

Camping around Franklin, NC, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin, there's a perfect spot waiting for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Franklin, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, Franklin, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 714 campgrounds and RV parks near Franklin, NC and 64 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Franklin, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Franklin, NC is Black Rock Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 57 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Franklin, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 64 free dispersed camping spots near Franklin, NC.

What parks are near Franklin, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Franklin, NC that allow camping, notably Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Keep Exploring