Camping sites near Glade Valley, North Carolina primarily occur at elevations between 2,800-3,500 feet, contributing to temperature averages 5-10°F cooler than surrounding lowland areas during summer months. Most campgrounds in this region receive 50-55 inches of annual precipitation, with afternoon thunderstorms common from June through August. Cell reception remains inconsistent throughout the area, with coverage gaps particularly prevalent along sections of Basin Creek and Stone Mountain.
What to do
Tubing and water activities: Basin Cove Campground offers easy access to Basin Creek for wading and water play. "The hike in is excellent, as it follows the river along the way," notes one camper, who adds that "the site is surrounded by excellent hiking trails and is a great place to set as 'base camp' for day hikes."
Historical exploration: Visit the historic homestead area at Hickory Ridge Campground in Grayson Highlands State Park. A visitor mentions, "Plenty to keep kids and adults alike entertained, whether it's exploring the homestead area, looking for ponies, taking short hikes, geocaching, or playing games on the open field area."
Wine tasting tours: Multiple wineries exist within walking distance of Byrd's Branch Campground. "Miles of hiking trails connected directly to the campground. The Carter Falls trails are more moderate-intensity but definitely worth it. The trails headed east toward Elkin and Grassy Creek Winery are more of an easy hike," reports one camper, while another adds: "We hiked from there into the state park. Very clean kept campground and nice owner."
Stone Mountain Loop trail: This moderate 4.5-mile trail passes waterfalls and granite faces, accessible from multiple campgrounds. From Sandy Creek Family Campground, one visitor explains, "Access to a sliding rock and waterfall in Stone Mountain State Park with an approximate 1 mile easy hike."
What campers like
Creek-side camping spots: Sandy Creek Family Campground offers sites alongside running water. "Sandy Creek Family Campground has both tent and RV sites. The tent sites on the tree line were our pick. Lots of shade on a big grassy field, with both a play set for the kids and a volleyball court," notes one visitor. Another camper points out "Sandy Creek has one incredible site that has a firepit just feet from the creek!"
Trout streams: Cedar Rock Campground features a creek popular with anglers. A regular visitor notes, "We have tent camped here many times and it is always a great time. Nothing beats falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the creek. Small playground isn't much to look at but my kids always use the heck out of it."
Direct trail connections: Doughton Park Campground connects directly to the Blue Ridge Parkway trail system. "This campground is quiet, shaded, and right on the blue Ridge parkway. It's high in elevation so it's cooler than the surrounding areas. There are trails you can hike from camp," reports one camper. Another visitor describes the diversity of sites: "Sites 1 and 2 are close to the parkway. The rest of the sites are set far enough back that, maybe motorcycles can be heard."
Privacy at certain sites: Experienced campers recommend specific sites at campgrounds for maximum privacy. At Doughton Park, one visitor recommends: "#9, our site, is one of the best sites we have had in almost 4 years of travel. The regulars call this site the 'honeymoon site', because of the heart shaped large rocks which create a lower terraced picnic area."
What you should know
Weather variability: Temperature shifts occur rapidly, especially at higher elevations. At Stone Mountain State Park Campground, campers note seasonal challenges like "the insane amount of bugs in the bathroom" during summer months. Another visitor mentioned: "We went in December and there wasn't many people there at all, maybe 4 other campers all weekend."
Limited facilities at primitive sites: Basin Cove requires preparation for basic camping. "There is NO clean water source, you have to bring a filter system with you. There are no picnic tables but each site does have wood logs as seats. There are fire pits and food storage lockers on site," advises one visitor.
Road conditions: Some campground access roads require appropriate vehicles. At Basin Cove, one camper warns: "This camp ground is very small and on the side of a very quiet road next to beautiful fields with breath taking views it has no paved roads so bring a truck or suv sedans will get stuck easily."
Advanced reservations: Weekends from April through October typically fill 3-4 weeks in advance at most established campgrounds. For New River State Park, a visitor notes: "We were on site 50 which is closest to parking. No water view but more secluded then most sites."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. At Cedar Rock Campground, "There's a small beach area that you get kids can use as access to swim and rock throwing. This campground is only a few miles from Stone Mountain state park. Lots of great hiking."
Kid-friendly swimming spots: Look for waterfall areas with shallow pools during summer months. At Sandy Creek, campers report: "The kids enjoyed playing in the creek and on the playground. The grounds are adjacent to the Stone Mountain State Park."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several parks offer chances to see native animals. At Grayson Highlands State Park, a camper shares: "When we stayed the outer bands of Hurricane Michael brought so much fog and rain that we were not able to see any of the ponies, but we did hear one a couple of times, very near Massie's Gap!"
Sites with easy bathroom access: For families, consider proximity to facilities. At Mayberry Campground, a visitor notes: "There's on bathhouse near the main entrance as well as laundry facilities. This is an okay place to stay if you plan on not spending much time in the campground."
Tips from RVers
Dump station location challenges: Some campgrounds have awkwardly positioned dump stations. At Sandy Creek Family Campground, an RVer reports: "The biggest negative I would say was the dump station. It was on the hill so you had to back up to it and it wasn't easy location to do so."
Power reliability concerns: Electrical service can be inconsistent at some locations. One RVer at Sandy Creek noted: "Extended family was staying in an RV site while we were there and they had some problems with their power staying on..."
Site leveling requirements: Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA has varied site grades. "I was in site 10, a back-up site with a slight incline," mentions one RVer, while another notes navigation challenges: "My only negative was that they had us camp up on the top of the hill and it was difficult to navigate back down, with some very sharp turns for our fifth wheel."
Hookup options: The type and quality of connections varies widely between campgrounds. At Mayberry Campground, "Clean full hookup sites. Level, easy access. Close to Mount Airy. Only one bathroom but it's clean and has clean showers. No real activities on site."
