Looking for the best campgrounds near Grover, NC? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Grover is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Grover, NC. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$17 - $47 / night
"This is a hike in campground so we were in a hurry. The campground had lockers with firewood and you could leave the money in the envelope at the trailhead."
"I visited Crowders Mountain in December, and the weather only required a sweatshirt. My brother and I spent the day rock climbing."
$30 / night
"On the campsite there is a lot of firewood to use, in a shed to keep it dry. There are log seats around a nice campfire with a picnic table. Lots of room for multiple tents."
"It was very helpful and greatly appreciated after the 11hr drive. The campsite was spacious for us to set up camp and keep the jeep nearby."
$15 / night
"Site 3&4 are my favorites because they are close to water access (bring a good filter). Plenty of trees to choose from for a hammock setup."
$17 / night
$17 / night
"Jacob Branch: Three sites arranged around a clearing. Two pit privies and a BEAR BOX! Woot!!"
"The hikes near the falls were quite busy on Memorial Day weekend, but the backcountry campsites were quiet and well-kept."
"Has fire pit and access to running water . No picnic tables and has vaulted toilets . But very nice place to get away from stress of life . Definitely will be back"
"If you're a road cyclist this is heaven, and some decent trail riding down to the lakes. Just be aware that there are no picnic tables. Still it's cheap and close to where we live in Spartanburg."
$21 - $36 / night
"Excellent campground there’s ice and firewood so you don’t have to make special trips to the nearest convenience store. They charge it directly to your card. The host was wonderful."
"This is a brand new tent and cabin campground built by Duke Energy and run by McDowell county on Lake James."
$27 / night
"I needed some lake time and it didn't disappoint!
The campground is a 2-minute drive (6-minute bike ride) down to the beach and there is a huge swimming area there."
"We visited the Paddy Creek campground at Lake James last year. The campsite was impeccably maintained with the cleanest bath/shower house I have ever experienced camping."
GuideJacob Branch: Three sites arranged around a clearing. Two pit privies and a BEAR BOX! Woot!! The sites are a bit difficult to pitch on, due to the abundance of roots, hardpan earth, and slope, but you’ll find a spot. I didn’t hang, but there are certainly spots that would be suitable. Water is just down the hill. It’s ample and clear, as of May 2023. There are several ways to hike in, as many of the South Mountains SP trails intersect and wander around a bunch giving a bunch of options for how to get in and out. The variety makes for a nice loop instead of just an in-and-out. Get inventive. Trails are broad and veeeeeery hilly in places. If your knees complain, bring the trekking poles. You’ll thank me.
Shinny Creek: Perfect trip if you have kids…or just want something close by. It’s only a bit over a mile to these four sites (see video tour) nestled by a stream. Clear, flat sites. Bear box. Critter-proof trash bin. Pit privy. Water access from every site within ten paces, so water and entertainment are always available. The trail here is easy peasy rolling hills that follows the river past Bear Falls all the way up to the sites.
LegendSouth Mountain State Park, NC From I-40 Exit 104, you twist and turn, up and down but keep a sharp eye for the small, brown State Park signs or you’ll pass your right hand turns.
The South Mountain Visitors Center is very spacious and attractive but doesn’t offer a great deal. There is a cool 3D topo map display of the state park. At present, this is a 23,000 acre State Park...and ever acquiring more land.
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.
The campground is tiny and narrow, running between a creek and the state park roadway. The sounds of the creek melodious, the road traffic noise-not so much. I would definitely advise selecting the creek side campsites as they lay deeper in the wood line out of sight of the roadway and have the creek noise to cover roadway noise.(note: the roadway dead ends at the trailhead/picnic area, so the only traffic are day visitors and park staff) Be forewarned, Cell service is nonexistent. Your site will have a WiFi password for internet at the Visitors Center, but you need to be at or in the building for it to work.
PROS:
•Small campground with few amenities
•Mountain/creek location
•Nice modern facilities
•Water
•Adjoining trail network
•No cell service
•80’ Waterfall•Interpretive Hemlock Nature Trail
•Beautiful Day Use picnic area
CONS:
•Road noise for sites 10-14, during working hours and day use hours.
•No cell service
Site 13 backs up toward the roadway, and without much understory, passing traffic is very visible and noisy(the high shoals falls and trail network are popular day use attractions). On the sites between the campground roadway and the State Park roadway, you are much closer than the website maps post, and without understory vegetation, you have direct visibility of several neighbors and normal conversations can be heard. Night noise restrictions, on our visit, were observed so it wasn’t an issue. My visit was Wed, Thurs. midweek Oct 7-8.
Our site was an“leveling,” octagonal, elevated, crushed gravel pad, surrounded by landscape timbers...an elevated fire ring with a swing-over, non-adjustable grate, a picnic table and metal lantern pole. It worked fine but I used a small two-man tent. Depending on wind direction, fire ring embers would present a problem for a larger tent. Our site parking area was 45’ from the raised timber to campground roadway.
The restroom/shower house is a monstrous, mountain lodge style modern facility...very clean, spacious and well-stocked.
Walking the Family Camground my future site picks would be 5 or 7. Site 5 is a park and carry but it did not appear to be more than 50’ and it sat on the creek. Site 7 is on that same small loop but had a larger rectangular raised pad, for keeping tents distanced from fire pits.
Some sites have a deep enough gravel drive for a small camper or popup. And a few have electric.
Several trails lead from the NW end of the family campground parking lot and vary in length and difficulty. 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. Smaller falls and cascades continue on the descent. Our total loop mileage was 5.5 with nearly a thousand foot of elevation gain.
Park employees both at the Visitor’s Center desk and in the field were very friendly and pleasant. The NC State Park Ranger was very informative and helpful, as well as giving much appreciated suggestions for great and often lesser traveled hiking trails.
Roughly 16.5 miles of mountain bike trails intermix with hiking and equestrian trails. There is a separate equestrian campground between the Visitors Center and the Family Campground. Note: there are several backcountry backpack-in campsite areas(Upper Falls Campsites offer picnic tables, fire ring and a couple pit latrines).
ScoutLarge spacious spots for RVs and Tent campers. Close to Kings Mountain Military Park. Several trails from easy to strenuous and varying lengths. Lake with fishing, kayaking and canoing. Clean facilities with bathrooms, showers and camp store.
Spaces have electric, water, fire rings and picnic tables. Tent only areas.
GuideWe enjoyed our stay. The park office had everything well taken care of. We arrived late almost at sundown but they had an envelope waiting with instructions, a parking tag and a map. This is a hike in campground so we were in a hurry. The campground had lockers with firewood and you could leave the money in the envelope at the trailhead. The site was very private with a fire ring and picnic table and two pads for tents. The only complaint (and this isn’t the parks fault) is you aren’t far off the beaten path so car exhaust and jet noise was prevalent throughout the night. All in all happy with the stay and it served us perfectly as we were just passing through the area!
ScoutPrimitive camping area with fire pit but no picnic tables, vaulted toilets, access to water from a free standing faucet. Great place to camp if you like roughing it. I will definitely come again
LegendCampground convenient to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock in the mountains. Quiet with a creek running through. Had cell reception and campground at the end of the road.
Restrooms weren't working, so there was a port- a potty. No showers. Did have water, electric sewer. We were in site D, which was not very level.
They have a playground for kids. No wifi.
ScoutForest Service has changed the price from $5 to $30 a night for a primitive campground. Nasty vault toilet, and trash cans but no water. As of July 2019 campground appears closed.
GuideTent camping can get cramped but you won't feel that way here! The set up here is great, pads are level and big, picnic tables aren't chained down so you can move them where you need them. The showers/bathrooms are brand new and CLEAN! You are going to feel spoiled because you are. Trails lead right off the camp grounds making it easy to get up and make the most out of every day you get to spend here. The only thing lacking is a camp host but rangers patrol at night and are happy to drop you some wood if you flag them down.
LegendI visited Crowders Mountain in December, and the weather only required a sweatshirt. My brother and I spent the day rock climbing. It was his first time climbing, and we were able to set up some beginner-friendly routes.
As for the camping, your only option is a walk-in campground, about a mile-long hike. Drinking water and outhouses are available though.
Nestled near Grover, North Carolina, tent camping offers a perfect escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grover, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grover, NC is Crowders Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Grover, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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