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Camping in the Gatesville, North Carolina area centers primarily around Merchants Millpond State Park, which features multiple camping options including a family campground, canoe-in sites, backpack campground, and group walk-in sites. The state park's camping facilities accommodate tent camping with some sites offering RV access with electric hookups, water hookups, and amenities like showers. Several campgrounds in the area feature fire rings, picnic tables, and water access, with most requiring reservations rather than permitting dispersed camping on public lands.
Weather and seasonal considerations significantly affect the camping experience in this coastal region. The area's swampy terrain creates challenges during warmer months, particularly regarding insects. Campsites throughout Merchants Millpond State Park provide varying levels of shade, with some sites fully shaded and others in full sun. Most camping areas maintain clean facilities with bathhouses centrally located within walking distance of campsites. A camper noted that "bugs were not a problem" during March visits, but warned that "your experience may be different if you visit during the warmer months, as much of the area surrounding Lake Phelps is cypress swamp."
The unique ecosystem of cypress swamps and millpond waters defines the camping experience in the Gatesville area. Campers particularly value the water access, with several reviews highlighting paddling opportunities on the millpond and nearby waterways. The family campground sites are described as having varying levels of privacy, with sites 2-9 noted for full shade and privacy while sites 10-13 receive full sun. Hikers appreciate the trail system that explores the swampy terrain via wooden bridges and boardwalks. One reviewer mentioned that "the natural beauty is worth the visit" with easy access to the lake for impressive sunsets and a 3-mile round-trip trail that follows the lake through Somerset Place State Historic Site. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, turtles, and various bird species, though campers should be prepared for mosquitoes and ticks, especially during warmer months.
"I still think it's the best one, it's the largest, right next to the main trail head, & bath house trail right ahead of the site. The bath house was real nice."
"Nice 0.7 walk from the campsite to the visitor center to rent canoes! Just a short drive to some other trails. Enjoyed the Cyprus Point trail which you access at the boat ramp section of the park."
from $27 / night
Check Availability"We were looking for a reasonably quick (one overnight) camping trip that was different, but within a 2ish hour drive."
"We did the canoe-in camping and brought out Hobie kayaks (beware if you bring them our mirage drive seemed to find every downed tree or cypress knob under the water 😜) Buoys marked the different routes"
from $17 - $57 / night
Check Availability"The only complaint is the houses near the sites had a dog that barked all night. Super annoying."
"Absolutely beautiful in the lake which is not well marked due to limited visibility in the swampy environment. Lots of underwater obstructions so use caution. U DO NOT want to end up in that water."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"Around 7pm because we had a late start. Unfortunately we didn't stay because our site was hike in and I thought I did drive in. So we ended up getting a hotel instead."
from $17 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $650 / night
Check Availability"This property has many perks: dog friendly and has space to exercise your furbabies, boat ramp to explore the surrounding waterways, golfing, screened gazebo, laundry, David's Red Barn which did not have"
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"The lakes are fun and we always have a great time. Some sites are amazing. Only 4 stars because of proximity to highway."
"We had a personal guide to show us the location of our campsite. Campsites had wood decks which would be nice in warmer weather. Close to highway but reasonably quiet at night"
from $72 - $105 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $72 / night
Check Availability"Some sites close to main road but not a lot of traffic."
"The only thing I have a problem with here, is that there are no garbage cans or dumpsters near the campsites."
from $21 - $36 / night
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TravelerI am spending 10 days here they have wonderful amenities it is very clean very beautiful very quiet has a boat ramp right on the river I would recommend it to anybody
TravelerThis is a long one! Here we go. My partner and I travel for work, we went out of our way to move to this location based on reviews saying this is a great place. We have paid in full for the whole stay which is about little over 2 months. We have been here approx 2 weeks give or take. We work night shift. No activity during the day. Simple easy. Not our first campground by any means. At first, we were excited to experience the amenities and such. Now we’re uncomfortable to try anything out. Why you ask? Situation: first day we move in, we end up next to what seems like the literal only other long term or possibly even permanent resident on the grounds. My service animal alerted me to a trigger, which she left the front door of the camper before we walked out. Recalled her to me once we saw that the perm resident (our neighbor) had what presented as an aggressive dog. (Husky maybe?). Within not EVEN 5 minutes of this event, someone was at our door- instead of asking what is going on we were immediately accused of her running around off leash I guess? We had just woken up from sleeping and it was evening time, time to go to work. Instead of arguing or even offering up ANY facts related to the situation I simply said got it thanks and the interaction ended. I’m thinking to myself well damn. Okay. A week or so maybe goes by? Leash in hand VISIBLE -at the door my dog steps out, I step out behind her- same time same situation. She walks ahead of me to where she will relieve herself, I ask for her to come back next to me, she recalls- neighbors dog loses its mind again. I look up at neighbor and say “just go ahead and call man, I get it”. She calls. This time THREE employees are driving on carts to our site, at this point we’re already leaving for work. I knew it was coming, figured they would for sure ask what’s going on this time. They don’t. The older woman accompanied by two men behind her- simply says “you have been told before you need to leash your dog”. We reply yes we understand. Nobody asks for a description of the events, what’s going on, or if this even happened. The female voice is raised and hostile presenting towards both of us. The man behind her approaches our car and peers into the vehicle I’m not sure if to intimidate or what, but that action was also very ineffective in diffusing the situation and instead very intimidating. And now making us both VERY late to work as this is an extra 15 minute drive to the hospital in which we work at. Seemingly, the word of this permanent resident is all they needed to full on accuse the two of us… of what? I am not sure. My animal has resided all over the country in countless locations, all while working and we have had no issues to date. At this point I am still remaining silent as the female worker continues to educate us on our alleged actions. My concern is that there has been ZERO questioning, only full on accusations. We’re highly uncomfortable at this point. They say “we will be speaking with the general manager tomorrow”, Which also felt threatening. I’d like to add that given the whole situation this wouldn’t matter but since this is happening: earlier that morning after work I had stopped by the front desk, to ask about a package I thought that I sent to the wrong place, but didn’t. The same female was there. I remember thinking wow she’s actually so rude. But I brushed it off. Now looking back she must have some kind of prejudice toward myself and my dog. I’ve never been threatened / accused so one-sidedly in my entire career such as what has been happening at this campground. Our resolution was to request moving sites, however nothing was asked of us WHATSOEVER. As stated we were not given any opportunity to speak on the situation. Will attempt to update review whenever we speak with management of this location. Warning is to be wary of implicit bias in staff, potential favoritism, and inconsistent / unfair conflict resolution, aggressive long term campers, and lack of communication from staff.
ScoutWe stumbled across Davis Lakes Campground last year when we brought our camper down to visit our son and grandchildren. Originally, we planned to stay closer to Virginia Beach, but after finding Davis Lakes, we decided to give it a try. We were lucky enough to get site F28 right on the lake, and we enjoyed it so much that we came back this year—and even booked the exact same site.
After reading some of the other reviews, I wanted to share our experience because it was very different. Yes, there are some rules regarding dogs at the beach, but they never interfered with our stay. We enjoyed walking our dogs every morning around the campground and lakes, and it was a wonderful way to start each day.
The beach itself was clean, had plenty of nice chairs, and the AquaGlide was an absolute blast. We spent 5–6 hours a day swimming, and surprisingly, the beach never felt crowded.
One thing that really stood out was how fair the prices were. The campground store was stocked with essentials, and unlike many campgrounds, the prices were very reasonable. If you forgot a loaf of bread or wanted to grab a pool float, you didn’t feel like you were being gouged. They also have a cute snack shop, a spacious game room, and an impressive movie selection, making it a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.
The campground itself was clean and very well maintained. Although many of the sites are seasonal, they were neat, well cared for, and nothing like some seasonal campgrounds where sites become cluttered or run down. It was obvious that both the staff and the campers take pride in the campground.
The nightly rates were very reasonable, and while there is a visitor fee, we found it to be completely fair considering the amenities. We had an amazing time with our son and his family, and the campground played a big part in making those memories.
Davis Lakes isn’t a luxury resort, and that’s part of its charm. Its focus is on beautiful lakes, swimming, friendly service, and providing a relaxing camping experience. It reminded me of the kind of campgrounds I grew up enjoying—simple, welcoming, and centered around making great memories.
We’ll absolutely be back. If we lived closer, I’d seriously consider getting a seasonal site myself. In fact, my son is even talking about buying a camper just so he can keep it nearby and enjoy Davis Lakes more often. Many of the employees and seasonal campers are locals who return year after year, and I think that says everything you need to know about this place.
TravelerPark stuff are very friendly, sweet, I live the quietness of night time.
TravelerIt did say that the laundry area was renovated and I was highly disappointed to see that it does not show any signs of remodeling. The shower house is tolerable but also I will NOT be using the area. They are not strict enough about kids and the crap they leave everywhere. There is a house near the property where they keep dogs out in a kennel all day in the summer heat who bark (understandably) all day. That’s not their fault. They’re strict about where you stay long term and won’t let you near the pond which is also underwhelming. The front desk girl is very sweet and welcoming. Would have liked to have the same opportunity to be by the water as everyone else. We travel for work- all stays are long term.
TravelerI felt serenity and hospitality at this site.
TravelerI loved staying at this campground. It’s definitely geared towards locals and quiet stays, no campground events and things of that nature, but it’s perfect for someone not looking for the fluff. They do have two pools, basketball courts, kayak rentals, and I believe pony rides! They have a really nice climate controlled game room too. They are extremely fairly priced. They also have THE best campground bathrooms I have ever seen. Seems like they host a lot of events, club and troop weekends, things of that sort. I really enjoyed staying there and I will be back. Nice low key local spot for someone in the full time RV life or needing an affordable quiet place to stay while in the area.
ScoutVery, very glad we found this location. Medium to larger campground. Quite spacious. You're not packed in like Oreos in a wrapper. Nice layout, and site sizes. Nice level pads. Very clean & well maintained, everything is. Plenty of amenities and weekly activities.On site pizza & ice cream shop, highly recommended. Great water access paddle boards & kayaks. Nice boat launch too. An absolute bargain for the price point. Killer sunsets too. Have paid more and gotten less, and disappointed. Repeating, very pleased staying here, soo much room. Thank you
ScoutWidower, I have been here for over a year now. Best of the best, country site on the beautiful Chowan River that accesses the Atlantic Ocean. Boat ramp, Large T-Dock, farmet type living with some livestock and ckickens that makes me feel like my chilhood days. So peaceful here! Family envirement. Free laundry facilities. Children safe activies on site. I plane to spent the rest of my days here.
Camping sites near Gatesville, North Carolina cluster around a distinctive cypress-studded millpond ecosystem within the coastal plain region. The area sits at a low elevation of approximately 20 feet above sea level, creating the unique swamp conditions that define the camping experience. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, affecting trail access and paddling conditions throughout the year.
Paddling exploration: At Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park, the visitor center provides canoe rentals and launch access. "Taking a canoe or kayak out to explore the pond and swamps is a must and total unique experience. Turtles, birds, cypress trees, and alligators," notes a camper who recommends visiting in cooler months when mosquitoes are less active.
Wildlife viewing: The waters around Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground support diverse aquatic species. "One of my kids caught a gar, we saw a bald eagle's nest, snakes, frogs, turtles, and lily pads everywhere," reports a camper who paddled to the remote sites. Alligator sightings occur regularly, with two resident alligators noted in the millpond.
Hiking: Trail systems connect different camping areas through varied terrain. "The trail system was magical. We hiked early in the am and it was such a therapeutic hike through the forest and swamp," writes a visitor to the family campground. A 0.7-mile walk connects the main camping area to the visitor center, with additional trails accessible from the boat ramp section.
Site separation: Many campers appreciate the privacy between sites at Bennetts Creek Canoe In Campground. "The sites are on the small side, especially the tent pad. The sites have good separation between them and don't feel crowded at all," notes a camper. Another camper at the main family campground mentioned that "each tent site is very far from one another. You could have music or a generator going and not disturb your neighbor."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses receive consistently positive reviews. "The bath house was real nice. They had heaters running and they were so toasty, also very clean," reports a winter visitor. The campground maintenance extends to regular ranger visits, with one camper noting "very helpful rangers that stopped by daily to welcome us and to collect trash."
Quiet atmosphere: The remote location creates a peaceful environment. "In the middle of nowhere, but it was peaceful and everyone was friendly," writes one camper. During off-peak times, occupancy can be as low as 25%, allowing for greater solitude.
Seasonal considerations: Summer heat brings significant insect activity. "I would recommend visiting in the cooler months of spring or fall. In April, the site was probably only 25% occupied and it's still cool enough not to be bothered by mosquitoes," advises a camper.
Navigation challenges: Davis Lakes Resort offers an alternative camping experience nearby with less swampy conditions. For those paddling at Merchants Millpond, navigation requires attention. "The kayak/canoe round was not easy to navigate so bring your 3rd party map/GPS. The maps they provide are almost useless because it's a swamp the terrain changes with the water level. Islands can appear out of nowhere."
Water conditions: The millpond's still water creates specific concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Gatesville, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gatesville, NC is Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 16 reviews.
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