Best RV Parks & Resorts near Hays, NC

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, nestled in the trees and mountains of North Carolina, this campground has been well maintained. Sites are ample but the asphalt pads were designed for shorter travel trailers, but include an extra pad for the tow vehicle. Many of the sites have upgraded concrete pads for the picnic table and built-in fire pits. There are no showers in the trailer (RV) loop, but does include a couple comfort station with flush toilets. Campground hosts were helpful and friendly. Sites are split between first come first serve and reservations. Payment at kiosk by credit card only.

The new owners have revamped this campground. From what I’ve heard, this wasn’t the place to go prior to the ownership change. The owners here care about everyone at the campground, and keep it nice and clean. They also expect their full time campers to keep their lots and campers in good condition. Both owners are very approachable and respectful. Campground is just a short hike to the Ararat River. Which is why the new name is Ararat River Campground. No tent camping, but 30 amp and 50 amp camper hookups are available with sewage. In the warm months the owner holds church services in the pavilion behind lot 12. Owners offer a flat monthly rate that includes water, electric, wifi, and campground maintenance.

5/21/23-6/22/23: We stayed a whole month ($500) to recuperate from our previous travels. Owner/manger, Brent Fowler, was a gracious and accommodating host. This is a new 110 acre campground which has only been open a few months (as of this writing). The grounds were well kept and new features are continually being added. There are full-hookups at each site (20/30/50A, water, sewer), high-speed WiFi, and 150 new trees have been planted around the perimeter. While there is presently no water at the dump station, there will be, but water can be used from nearby pull-through sites. Further, a bath-house with showers and laundry facilities are in the works. Mountain City is under 5 miles away and proved to be very convenient. 

Wildlife in the campground and surrounding area was abound with a variety of birds wakening us each morning, and deer that came into camp regularly. Red winged black birds, swallows, and Cardinals are all abundant and quite vociferous. This new campground has the most important quality down pat: Friendly and supportive ownership! We plan to return next year and will likely stay much longer.

General: Smallish campground (< 70 sites in two loops) with a mixture of water/electric and tent sites with no hookups, and also four yurts.

Site Quality: Some were back-in and some were pull-through. Gravel pads. Not a lot of separation between the sites. Some were more level than others but not a problem to make it work for us. 

Bathhouse: Heated! Clean. One shower in the bathroom plus additional shower rooms. Best place in the campground to catch a fleeting cell signal so it was not unusual to see people in the bathroom on their phones! 

Activities/Amenites: Hiking! Close to the AT. Unfortunately, the best trail IMO was the Cabin Creek Trail (it was also awarded one of the best 25 trails in the US) but it is not accessible directly from the campground. There is also a small country store, but it was not open when we were there. There is a small museum at the Visitor Center and well worth a trip there. There is also a dump station. 

There was an unseasonable cold snap when we were there in October (temps got down to mid-20s with wind chill in the teens) so even though we had planned on two nights there, once we hiked the Cabin Creek and Rhododendron trails, we decided to go to a lower elevation and warm up!

I picked this campground because it was very close to Blue Ridge Parkway. My plan was to ride my motorcycle through this beautiful area of NC, but the rain didn't cooperate this trip. I camped in site 112. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. This was a last minute reservation and they had limited availability. The site is not very level and very tight for my 32 foot RV. The site had full hookups (water, sewer, 30 amp electric) that worked great. I walked most of the campground and there are some great sites. Most are wooded and reasonably spaced. Quite a few long term campers, but the rigs and sites were all very well kept. At $64 per night it is a little pricey, for site 112, but probably not for the campground and area as a whole. No grill, just a tire rim for campfires and a picnic table.

Getting parked was a bit of a challenge to get things as level as possible and work around power stand and be able to get awning out to stay out of rain.

I would camp here again and recommend others give it a try. Lots to do in this part of the NC mountains.

Doughton Park CG: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4.5 Price: $10/ night w senior pass Usage during visit: low due to rain Site Privacy: some, like ours - #9, are very good Site Spacing: some sites are nicely space and some are pretty close. Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Very quiet during our stay. A small group of folks, older, play music together on a regular basis. Bring your instrument and join them. One plays a lot of Gordon Lightfoot - they were friends. Low key and quiet. Very, very enjoyable.
Road Noise: 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. Right now through there is no through traffic as a nearby portion of the parkway is in the middle of a 3 year construction project. Through Traffic in campground: None Electricity: No Water: Availability at the dump station and one faucet.
Sewer Hook up: No Dump Station: Yes Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Small and clean. Showers: No Pull Throughs: Most or all are back in.
Cell Service (Verizon): Good from our site Setting: Deciduous forest on high ground. Weather: Unseasonably wet during our stay. 4 days of almost non-stop rain
Bugs: None Solar: Fixed solar panels might work in sites 1 and 2. Host: Present. Rig size: There are a couple 30 to 35’ rigs here Sites: #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. Best sites: 9 very best, 4, 8, 7. Next best: 5,21,19. Nice but picnic area is not quite as private: 20, 18,16,14,12,11,10. All other sites along the outer side of the loop I would be happy with. The exception are sites 1 and 2. These two sites are along the parkway.