I K.
Scout
ScoutSandy Bottom Nature Park
Very quiet
I felt serenity and hospitality at this site.
Camping near Gatesville, NC
47 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
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.
Best Campgrounds near Gatesville (47)
1. Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"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 Availability2. Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"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 Availability3. Bennetts Creek Canoe In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"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 Availability4. Merchants Millpond State Park Backpack Campground
"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 Availability5. Cypress Cove Retreat
from $50 - $650 / night
Check Availability6. Rocky Hock Campground
"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 Availability7. Davis Lakes Resort
"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 Availability8. Merchants Millpond Group Walk-In Sites — Merchants Millpond State Park
from $72 / night
Check Availability9. Trails End Campground and Trail Rides
10. Northwest River Park & Campground
"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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Drive Time
- 1 hr 19 min from Greenville, NC
- 1 hr 25 min from Rocky Mount, NC
Recent Camping Photos near Gatesville, NC
47 Photos of 47 Gatesville Campgrounds
Heather R.
Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
Kristi D.
Family Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
william P.
Rocky Hock Campground
Megan H.
Chesapeake Campground
Scott S.
Isle of Wight Family Campground
Joseph H.
Northwest River Park & Campground
Mason K.
Sandy Point Resort Campground
Cliff M.
North Landing Beach
Alex M.
Bells Island Campground
Blue Water M.
Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA
Kristi D.
Pettigrew State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Gatesville, NC
216 Reviews of 47 Gatesville Campgrounds
Megan H.
TravelerChesapeake Campground
Great local quiet spot!
I 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.
- S K.Scout
North Landing Beach Campground
Will return for sure
Very, 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
- Lucian T.Scout
Cypress Cove Retreat
Famly friendly. Country envirement. Saft and friendly envirement,
Widower, 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.
- JJorah
GuideRV Resort At Carolina Crossroads
Sweet Community
This is a surprisingly zen spot for what is basically a parking lot surrounded a pine plantation. The community is very friendly and includes a lot of long-term residents, some of whom even have little veggie gardens. There's a lovely little pool and hot tub (unfortunately for the youth, they aren't allowed in the latter), a pool table, a grill, a little putt-putt golf course, and a nice dog park. There is also (at least on the women's side) a very nice universal access shower suite. And some of the spots come with sweet little gazebos to hang out in! I was permitted, with only a few hours notice, to arrive after office hours, for which I was very grateful.
KEVIN B.ScoutSandy Point Resort Campground
Don't run up on Liz
4 OUT OF 5 STARS! Sandy Point Resort Campgrounds is a great place to bring your kids/grandkids for camping, fishing and swimming but stay to the front of the campgrounds, the back area by the shower house where the permanent residents live is sketchy balls. I am a retired military Veteran and we have been bringing our family and friends here for 15+ years. My daughters are in their mid-20s now and they still love camping here. They have so many fun memories whether it was catching frogs, catfishing at night, playing cornhole or swimming off the pier. To this day we still laugh about our fun times.
Unfortunately our time at Sandy Point has ended, I have been banned. Yes banned. My wife and I went fishing there one weekend afternoon and did not buy the day pass,$7.50 per person. We have been fishing like this over the years and had never been charged or told we needed a day pass. In all honesty we did not know. We always bought our bait at the onsite store and from the store you can see the fishing area we always went to so it wasn’t like we were sneaking on. On this particular day we had just started setting up to fish when Liz, an employee that works in the store and lives in the back area of the campground(sketchy balls) pulled up to where we were at. Accompanying Liz was her husband who my wife and I thought was also an employee of the campground. He is not. When Liz asked if we had a day pass I said no and did not know we needed one because we had been coming here for so long. I said no problem I’ll go get one. I never stopped smiling and never raised my voice. It was not an issue to get the pass. Liz’s husband(remember, not an employee) started in on us, he was rude, he looked like he was ready to fight and as I’m walking toward the store to get the day pass he was following and harassing me. Earlier when I was in the store buying bait Liz came in and told the employee working that they(Liz and husband) needed more beer. So Liz and husband had been drinking before coming over to ask if we had gotten the day pass. No issue with Liz talking to us, she’s an employee but husband…no, he should not have said a word. He was downright harassing us. Forward ahead about 4 or 5 weeks, my wife and I go back for another weekend afternoon to fish. I went in the store to buy bait and the day pass, Liz is working. She asked if I was Kevin and then told me I have been banned from the park. When I asked why she said that I had come back to fish and did not buy the pass. I told her I had not been back since the last time when she told us about the pass. She then said well you were confrontational that day. I told her I never stopped smiling or was not even close to confrontational. She then said well your wife ran up on me. Now folks, this is one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard about my wife. She does not run….anywhere….hahaha. I told Liz my wife does not run and Liz said well she jogged up on me. Again folks…this did not happen. The reason for being banned changed four times while I stood there. Liz has been working at Sandy Point for a few years and I always…repeat always tried to make her laugh or smile when I saw her. I have never done anything to make her or any employee feel threatened or uncomfortable. I am always smiling and always in a great mood. Liz on the other hand will remind you of a disgruntle Eeyore, never happy or smiling. Always seeming as if she hates being there and has no joy in life. I never understood this because she gets to live on the campground. But because of not buying a day pass to fish(didn’t know), being accused of doing it again after being told(didn’t do it), being confrontational(nope), my wife running/ jogging toward Liz(hahahaha), I have been banned. So unfortunate.
I have reached out to Janice, the owner, by phone and email. No return calls back and no response to my email. All my wife and I are asking for is a sit down with Janice and Liz so we can tell our side of what happened. I assure you Janice what you are being told by Liz is not what the truth really is. I am a 24 year Veteran, family man and good person. I guarantee my character references will blow the doors off of Liz’s.
So I would give the campground 5 stars but because the shower house needs a little cleaning up and sometimes it gets rowdy after quiet hours on the weekend from other guest I can only give it 4 stars. Still a fun place to camp and enjoy time with family and friends as long as you don’t run up on Liz.
- LLewis W.Scout
Green Acres Campground
Peaceful campground with lots of new upgrades being done with the new owner
Large campground with lots of amenities and activities. 2 pools, laundromat, and 2 bathhouses make it super convenient and the staff is super helpful and nice! They have 3 very nice cabins on site as well
Beth B.
LegendNorth Landing Beach Campground
Relaxing time with friends
We stayed in RV close to friends, both in RV sites and in cabin. Park is well maintained and friendly staff. Lots of included activities, my family played pickle ball, mini golf, and bocce ball. We were there in October and the park had a haunted house with included hay ride. My teenage sons had a great time. They even got into the water both days we were there because weather was still warm.
- Susan M.Scout
RV Resort At Carolina Crossroads
Easy on and off route 95
Had a great pull thru for the night.
Guide to Gatesville
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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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?
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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