RV camping near Hays, North Carolina offers options across varying mountain elevations, typically between 1,200 and 3,500 feet. The area's temperature averages 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands during summer months. Most campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations, with limited winter availability requiring advance planning from November through March.
What to do
Kayaking access: 2 blocks from Fries New RiverTrail RV Park: Kayak and bike drop-offs available at the nearby gas station. "In the morning we saw that most of the sites are parallel to the creek that runs through the site. And while the ones that are up a little further are off creek..they have either large decks or porch swings right on their site," noted a visitor.
Mountain biking: 15-mile out-and-back trail: Fries New RiverTrail RV Park connects directly to the New River Trail. "The start of the trail is less than 1/2 mile from the campground and travels along the New River for miles. It is also possible to reach Galax by bike along a spur - about 11 miles from the campground," reports one camper.
Vineyard experience: Combined with camping: Roaring River Vineyards RV Campground offers wine tasting alongside primitive camping. "Had a great time here...campground is behind the restaurant and a pond. Very nice peaceful setting and you can wine taste while you are visiting," explains a visitor.
What campers like
Creek-side relaxation: Natural water features: Peak Creek RV Campground provides water access directly from campsites. "Host was very accommodating and had inner tubes for floating in the stream," notes a recent visitor who rated their stay five stars.
Swimming options: Multiple pools available: Thousand Trails Forest Lake offers multiple water amenities. "There is a nice restaurant to eat at, a small convenience store, arcade games, 3 pools and a ton of activities. There is also an adult lodge with a tv and pool table," explains a regular visitor.
Mountain views: Higher elevation camping: Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway, campgrounds offer mountain vistas. "Love the views from this area especially in the morning," states one visitor at Doughton Park Campground.
What you should know
Site privacy varies significantly: Some areas offer secluded sites while others are more open. "Doughton Park CG: Site Privacy: some, like ours - #9, are very good. Site Spacing: some sites are nicely space and some are pretty close," explains a senior camper.
Seasonal facilities: Many amenities close in winter: Arcade games, mini-golf, and certain campground facilities often shut down during off-season. "Unfortunately a lot of the activity type things (arcade, mini-golf, horseshoes, etc.) weren't available because we visited in the off season. Bummer but to be expected even though we had super nice weather," noted a visitor at Lake Myers RV Resort.
Road conditions: Mountain access requires caution: Doughton Park Campground has limited access during construction periods. "Right now there is no through traffic as a nearby portion of the parkway is in the middle of a 3 year construction project," reported a visitor in 2023.
Tips for camping with families
Age-appropriate activities: Consider developmental needs: "We took our three boys (all under 5) for the weekend. There was not much at all for them to do other than play in the pool, which was a tad bit dirty. BUT there were storms that weekend so I don't think that was their fault. If it was just adults going, or even older children maybe 7 and up it would be a great location," advises a family that visited Lake Myers RV Resort.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for animal sightings: Riverwalk RV Park has regular wildlife visitors. "It sits down at the base of some rugged hills and gives it a private feel. Deer came right up to our camper and my husband saw them while walking our dog," shared one camper.
Budget for varying costs: Campground rates fluctuate seasonally. "I stayed here first week of March for 2 days. It was very clean and the staff was very nice. I just felt that this early in the year when the leaves aren't even on the trees and nobody's swimming the cost would be alot less than $80 a night," noted a Riverwalk RV Park visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: "This campground is quite difficult to navigate the roads and sites if you have a larger rig," warns a Lake Myers RV visitor.
Water pressure considerations: "Being at the end of the water line for the park, our pressure wasn't great so we used our fresh water tank and water pump for showers and to wash dishes but the pressure was adequate for making coffee, brushing our teeth and filling the water bowls for the dogs," advises an RV camper at Fries New RiverTrail RV Park.
Internet connectivity: Mountainous terrain affects signal strength. "Verizon service has 2 bars. Occasionally got a little spotty while working, but our hotspot worked enough. Streaming did get dicey," explains a visitor who stayed in a travel trailer at Lake Myers RV Resort.
