33 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Campgrounds near Glen Alpine, North Carolina range from primitive dispersed sites to developed facilities with full hookups, spanning both state and federal lands. Old NC 105 offers free dispersed camping with mountain views, while Spacious Skies Bear Den provides cabins and glamping options with modern amenities. Several campgrounds cluster around Lake James State Park, including Paddy's Creek and Catawba River camping areas. The Linville Gorge Wilderness area contains both established sites at Table Rock and dispersed camping opportunities along the western section of NC 128.
Access to camping areas varies significantly based on site location and season. The region's dispersed camping typically requires high-clearance vehicles, especially when venturing into areas like Old NC 105, where rough gravel roads challenge larger rigs. Most developed campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with Steele Creek Park typically open April through October and Linville Falls Campground available from April to late October. Weather patterns affect camping conditions, with higher elevations experiencing cooler temperatures even during summer months. As one visitor noted about Old NC 105, "The view from on top of the mountain is easily 10/10. But if you're a big rig like us (we're about 35ft long) the gravel road to get up to the camping spots is virtually not safe."
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews throughout the region, with sites along creeks and rivers being particularly popular. Lake James State Park's Paddy's Creek and Catawba River campgrounds offer swimming access and water recreation opportunities, with visitors praising the "impeccably maintained" facilities. Tent campers find the Catawba River area particularly appealing, with one camper describing the sites as "unique and cozy in a little circle path that takes you down by the water." Many campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, and bathroom facilities, though amenities vary widely between primitive and developed sites. Rose Creek locations feature peaceful creekside settings that campers describe as providing "privacy, location, and serenity." Mixed-use campgrounds like Steele Creek accommodate both tent and RV camping with over 300 spots available and access to water recreation.
"Spacious Skies Bear Den in North Carolina offers an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure for families."
"Bear den was a perfect location for the Blue ridge parkway. We stayed at a two cabin lot that had a hot tub. Bear den has everything from RV camp sites to a game room."
from $24 - $999 / night
"This was our first stop on our first trip to North Carolina and now we don’t want to leave!"
"The sites are pretty spread out but there are a few within shouting distance (which could be annoying if the site next to you decides to bring a battery powered Sawzall to cut firewood at 2am)."
"The family campground is a short distance further inside the park on the left side(approx 2 miles) marked by a small brown sign...and is situated at 1400 ft elevation. "
"This campground is one way and exits into a trailhead parking area. There was one site that was in the parking area, would not be my first choice. Shaded sites with picnic tables and fire rings."
Available this weekend
from $27 - $32 / night
"The close proximity to Linville Falls, Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway was perfect. We will definitely be back to explore the area more."
"Friends of my went and paddled the Wilson Gorge close by. Tubed down the river, just plenty to do for a weekend trip."
"Hidden Creek not only has a nice creek running through the campground within 20 feet of my site, but also the nature trail is off the beaten path from the very active campground along a small river."
"Gem mines, waterfalls, brewery and shopping in nearby Asheville. There is plenty to do year round, make sure to buy a family pass for games etc. they really cater to family oriented fun."
Available this weekend
from $29 - $149 / night
"Another lovely campground along the BRP, close to Linville Falls and gorge, picnic area and visitor center."
"There are cabins, RV spots and tent sites all with access to newly renovated restrooms and coin operated laundry."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 - $45 / night
"Be sure to have 4WD (preferably a off-roading vehicle) to make it up some parts of the road.
The spot was massive and could easily fit 5+ vehicles and sleep 20 comfortably.""It has free tent campsites and it is right next to Linville Gorge. This allows plenty of adventurous trails ranging in difficulty."
"Spent two nights here at a site right next to the creek, which was awesome listening to the running water as you fall asleep. Easy to get to, just a forest service road."
"Big space, right next to the creek. All I heard was the water and some faint crickets hanging on in November. Best part, No highway sound! A couple hunters drove by, no one else was there."
"Take 221 to linville falls, right on 183, and right onto kistler memorial highway. It’s a dirt road but no issues with my Subaru Forester. I camped here in December 2020 and didn’t see anyone else."
"We often camp in and around the Linville Gorge area, mostly in the primitive campsites down in the Gorge on Linville River. We stayed before Hurricane Helene but haven't been back since then."
"The campsites are a bit close to each other, but they are well maintained."
"I moved to site 19, which is not on the creek but on the edge of the field. It was very level as well, and all hookups worked fine."
from $45 - $69 / night
ScoutNobody was here on Sat. Had gard time finding site. Site reserved did not have 30 amp and could not reach staff. Moved to other site hoping it would not be a problem. We were able to finally reach staff on Mon. Also no pcknick tables or fire rings.
ScoutNice camp and staff friendly. We drive the Blue Ridge Pkwy which was a bit of drive but the ride up to Mt Mitchell was beautiful. Only negative was the laundry rooms were small for a large camp like this but I made it work. Probably a bit more challenging during busy season but all that said this is a nice campground
TravelerAbsolutely one of the most beautiful campgrounds that we have visited, and super clean. Such a great location for hiking and viewing the Blue Ridge Pkwy!
ScoutLet me first start by saying that this campground is absolutely beautiful. I have lived in this area my entire life and the Doe is one of my favorites. I am a avid camper and have camped all over this area. I decided to give this place a try, I own a small pop-up camper and knew it was going to get cold 10/20/2026-10/22/2026, so me and my sister rented the RV at Doe River. #1 check in is not until 3pm, I always order a load of wood from a local guy who delivers to camp sites, I do all my cooking in a Dutch oven over the fire or burgers and dogs in the fire, what is a camping trip without a nice warm fire. The owner came over to my campsite and asked if I had ordered this wood and I replied yes, she then asked what I was going to do with it all, I replied I am going to burn it. So, I told Carl (the wood guy) where to stack it, the owner then said that I need to leave it in my truck bc if I didn't use it all I would have to put it back on my truck and take it home with me, I said really? It's just a unspoken rule that if you don't use all your wood that you pay it forward and leave it for the next camper?? She said absolutely not, So we moved the wood from his truck and into mine. She then asked again why I needed so much wood and that most ppl just buy small bundles from her. And just like that I understood! Carl the wood man and his wife also made a comment about how rude she was about the wood. It does not end there, Not only does she have camaras on some of the out blds which I get, but I don't get why they are pointing directly at camp sites, We felt like we were in a fish bowl the entire time. Every single time we went to the bathroom she showed up abt 5 mins later, There is a camara right above the bathroom door, One on the pavilion, and one on each side of the bathhouse, at the entrances and who know where else. So much for privacy in the great outdoors. I didn't even feel comfortable hiking, we felt like we were being watched constantly. She was constantly there, walking her dog which was not friendly and so big she could hardly control him on the leash which was really scary, she also was driving through several times throughout the day. Then came the kicker, about 1 o'clock in the morning we were freezing, I had turned the heat on in the camper before going to bed and heard it come on, Well the propane ran out between 11pm and 1am, I called her at least 10 times we had every blanket and was still freezing, We decided we would go to the bath house bc it had a mini split hanging on the wall, Out of luck there, it was set on air conditioning with no way to change it, so we found a blow dryer trying to get warm, still the entire time trying to call the owners, We finally ended up in our car until the husband arrived. He acted so annoyed at us and said all u have to do is fip the switch on the propane tanks outside! We had never stayed in a travel trailer before and according to them all we had to do was show up and start glamping!! So, I was supposed to know to go outside at 1 am and switch over propane tanks?? No, It should have been FULL when I got there!!! With attitude he said,"Its Basic Camping" No sir it's not, what I do is basic camping, I was told on the phone that I was glamping, She, the owner also said we should have called 911 when we could not get hold of them so that Carter County police officers could come and wake them up!!! Not sure if that is putting our tax dollars to good use?? Like I said it is truly a beautiful place and has great potential, we left that second night at 11pm because again the heat was not working, we have not asked for any refund we just took the loss. it would be to much of a hassle. We just know better next time. With owners like that they can keep it. Windy Wells/Debra Price
ScoutLovely spot on the river. Freeway was loud but not too bad.
ScoutMy husband and I arrived at Doe River Landing for 3 nights and enjoyed everything the resort offered. While there we read the 2 reviews posted by Kylie T, and by Andrew W, who gave the resort a 1 star rating. Not knowing the facts that caused the rating by them, and occurred prior to us, we approach the owner and asked.
The owner showed us videos from their security cameras. These adults has stated in Kylie T review and confirm by Andrew W review that they were a group of 20 adults and "every single one of us is over 21 and family". So why are these adults playing "hide and seek" under the pavilion as they stated? Andrew W stated, "It was not blocked off", yet they had to crawl on the ground and around bushes to get under the pavilion. When the owner yelled at them approximately 10 adults that were under the pavilion crawled out which was captured on the security cameras. Andrew W stated in his review the owner called them hooligans, which is rowdy, destructive persons and from the security cameras, that description is correct. There was no mention of damages in their reviews such as the Adirondack chair they broke or possible damage to the water pipes and electric wires under the pavilion, which the owner was currently checking.
Once we read these two reviews by Kylie T and Andrew W and saw the owners security videos, we felt future customers deserved to know another opinion based on our findings.
These entitled adults justified their review of a 1 star by stating they paid money to use the campground.
I would ask these adults "why do you think it is OK to treat someone else's property in this destructive way?"
GuideSeems to be a well established campground in an off the beaten path location. Roads alternately paved and gravel. The campsite is gravel in a wooded setting. Fair amount of space between sites. The bathhouse is clean but dated.
ScoutWe brought our whole family out and rented almost every cabin on the property, plus the event center, for the weekend— we gave this place a lot of business. And honestly, the stay itself was great— nice place, no complaints about the cabins. The owner is the problem. He came flying in in his blue F-150 doing 20–30 mph where the posted speed limit is 5, and started screaming at us over something that could've been handled with a simple conversation. His exact words:"Where are your parents? This is a family establishment. I will not have hooligans running around here." Every single one of us is over 21 and family. All we were doing was playing hide and seek— which isn't against any of the property's rules— and there were no other guests to disturb, since we had the entire area rented. He still threatened to call the police, even though it wasn't even quiet hours. Before anyone could get a word in, he peeled out so fast the gravel sprayed up at us and our cars. Then on his way out he drove the wrong way down the property's one-way road, so apparently the rules only apply to guests. It's sad, because the property itself is great, and we were never anything but nice to the owners the whole weekend. To be treated in such an unprofessional manner— screamed at, threatened, and never given so much as an apology afterward— put a real dent in the weekend. We won't be back
ScoutOur group of about 20 rented nearly every cabin at Doe River Landing for my friend's wedding weekend, with the reception held on site. The cabins were nice and well-equipped, and the only other guests were in a cabin half a mile away through the woods. Unfortunately, the hosts ruined the stay. One night, some of us were playing hide and seek in an area that wasn't blocked off or against any rule. The host's husband came speeding in at roughly 30 mph(the posted limit is 5), jumped out of his truck screaming that he"will not have child hooligans running around the campground," told us to"go back to the motel we crawled out of," and demanded to see our parents— despite all of us being adults in our twenties. He then peeled out so aggressively he sprayed gravel at us and our cars. It wasn't even quiet hours, and we weren't disturbing anyone. Afterward, the host called us again, passive-aggressive, and questioned our ages— even though you have to be 21 just to rent a cabin there. The property is lovely, but the hosts' behavior put a real damper on what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. It's a shame they treat people paying good money this way. We won't be back.
Camping near Glen Alpine, North Carolina offers diverse terrain options from high-elevation sites along mountain ridges to lakeside locations with water recreation. The region sits at the edge of the Pisgah National Forest and Linville Gorge Wilderness where elevation ranges from 1,200 to nearly 4,000 feet, creating variable camping conditions even within short distances. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing at night while summer days typically reach 80-85°F with cooler evenings, particularly at higher elevations.
Waterfall exploration: 2.35 miles to High Shoals Falls in South Mountains State Park gives access to an 80-foot waterfall. One visitor noted, "Most notable is the Raven Rock Trail to the High Shoals Falls Trail, which, depending on your level of fitness could be deemed a moderate to strenuous 2.35 mile climb and descent to the upper falls and then wooden boardwalk and steep steps down to the gorgeous 80 ft High Shoals waterfall."
Swimming access: Lake recreation at Lake James State Park offers designated swimming areas with lifeguards during summer months. "The campground is a 2-minute drive (6-minute bike ride) down to the beach and there is a huge swimming area there. Also, a nice launch for kayaks and SUPs to the right of the beach (looking at the water)."
Off-highway vehicle trails: Brown Mountain has designated OHV areas accessible from the roadside campsites. "This parking lot is mainly used by Off Highway Vehicles (OHV). That is, dirt bikes and four wheelers. The OHV trail starts at the parking lot, which is why on weekends it gets extremely busy."
Creek-side sites: Hidden Creek provides camping spots directly adjacent to flowing water. As one camper shared, "Hidden Creek not only has a nice creek running through the campground within 20 feet of my site, but also the nature trail is off the beaten path from the very active campground along a small river."
Mountaintop privacy: Dispersed camping on NC 105 offers more seclusion than established campgrounds. A camper explained, "If you get to those coordinates and the spot is already taken up, don't worry because there a handful of spots with a view that you can also get... If you go past the coordinates there are more with a view but we didnt travel the whole road because it's very long."
Accessibility to trails: Table Rock Campsites provide direct access to premier hiking. "To the right is the trail to Table Rock and beyond up to Hawksbill. There are no campsites, at least not to the point where you go up to Table Rock. To the left is the picnic area and then the campsite area."
Cell service limitations: Most wilderness areas have minimal or no connectivity. At Brown Mountain Roadside Campsites, "Phone reception and internet access are unavailable at the sites, or at least the one I was at. You will get service to make phone calls at the OHV trail parking lot. Internet is spotty."
Road conditions for access: Many campsites require navigating rough roads. For Old NC 105, "If you take your time and they are available there are a few spots on both sides of the road with wonderful views the begging of the road from either side is easy enough to get down but in the middle it gets really rough."
Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations require planning. At Hidden Creek, campers advised: "Halloween is awesome here, plan on a solid week here to see things in the area. Brings warm clothes as we encountered frosty evenings and rainy days- you are in the foothills!"
Playground accessibility: Select sites close to play areas for convenience at Spacious Skies Bear Den. "We camped at C13 which was right across from the large playground in November. No noise issues, but it was dark by 6:30pm. My daughter had a blast and we could keep an eye on her while we worked/played at the site."
Fishing opportunities: Black Bear Campground offers accessible fishing for children. "This is a brand new tent and cabin campground built by Duke Energy and run by McDowell county on Lake James. There is a boat ramp very close by, a fishing dock, picnic area, trails in and around the campground."
Bathroom considerations: Facilities vary dramatically between campgrounds. South Mountains State Park features "cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen!! The tent pad was large enough to setup our 8 man tent and 2 man tent, and lewve us plenty of room for our kitchen setup and room around the fire pit."
Hookup availability: Steele Creek Park offers various electrical options. "There are primitive campsites for those who only want to 'rough it', sites indicated for tent or pop-up with water and electricity, 30 amp and 50 amp sites. a large portion of the sites are located directly on the creek."
Steep road warnings: Approach directions matter at Bear Den. One RVer advised: "hint here if pulling a camper, don't follow the Bearden sign, go to Linville to get on the parkway and go left. This way you will avoid the steep curvy road going up a mountain."
Size limitations: Many wilderness sites restrict larger vehicles. For Table Rock, "I should note that there are campsites all the way up once you hit the dirt portion of the road. Several of those campsites would be good options getting to the northern portion of the gorge."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Glen Alpine, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, Glen Alpine, NC offers a wide range of camping options, with 305 campgrounds and RV parks near Glen Alpine, NC and 18 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Glen Alpine, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Glen Alpine, NC is Spacious Skies Bear Den with a 4.7-star rating from 53 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Glen Alpine, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 free dispersed camping spots near Glen Alpine, NC.
What parks are near Glen Alpine, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Glen Alpine, NC that allow camping, notably Pisgah National Forest and W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir.
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