Best Tent Camping near Gatesville, NC
Merchants Millpond State Park, located in Gatesville, North Carolina, features multiple tent campgrounds offering varied experiences. The park contains Bennetts Creek Canoe-In Campground, Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground, and a Backpack Campground, all providing tent-only camping options within the swampy ecosystem. Primitive tent sites are accessible by paddle or on foot, depending on the specific camping area chosen. The area is characterized by cypress trees, lily pads, and diverse wildlife including alligators, snakes, turtles, and various bird species.
Access to most tent camping areas requires paddling through the millpond, with canoe-in sites located approximately 4.5 miles from launch points. Sites include basic amenities such as fire pits, grills, and picnic tables. The park enforces a no-alcohol policy and requires advance reservations. Tent campers should bring all necessary water, as filtering from the swamp is not recommended. A pit toilet serves the canoe-in camping areas, but campers must pack out all trash. Navigating to campsites can be challenging as water levels affect the terrain, and underwater obstacles pose hazards to watercraft.
The tent camping experience at Merchants Millpond provides immersion in a unique swamp ecosystem. "The cypress trees, swamp flora and fauna are amazing. One of my kids caught a gar, we saw a bald eagle's nest, snakes, frogs, turtles, and lily pads everywhere," noted one visitor. Sites are generally spaced to provide privacy, though some reports indicate campgrounds can become crowded on weekends. Weather and seasonal conditions significantly impact the camping experience, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable temperatures and fewer insects. Summer months bring increased bug activity, which can be intense in the swampy environment. For tent campers seeking a different experience in the broader region, Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, Virginia offers walk-in tent sites with sand platforms approximately a quarter mile from parking areas.


