Best Tent Camping near Hays, NC

Recent Tent Reviews in Hays

946 Reviews of 41 Hays Campgrounds

• 

  Wayne T.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 19, 2024

  Linville Falls Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

  Was such a nice place to stay the views were incredible

  The views were incredible!! Love the size of the sites and ease to get to them.

• M

  Mychele B.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 18, 2024

  Lake Ridge RV Resort

  SO MUCH FUN!

  We were able to spend a couple of weeks enjoying the park. We stayed in one of the cabins after the high season.  Comfortable and cozy, we really enjoyed our morning walks along the trails and lake.  We spent one evening playing in the arcade room where I may currently hold the high score on one of the pinball machines and got to have lazy days around the park.  We enjoyed the area so much!  The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. 

  They are continuously improving the park love seeing what they are doing as they keep going.

• 

  Mateo M.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 5, 2024

  Scales Trailhead Basecamp

  Fun, adventure, friendship

  My partner and I took our dog on a quick impromptu weekend trip, we drove about 2 hours. Once reaching the off road trail my partner got nervous, feeling as if our Forrester wouldn’t make it up. My advice… come prepared. I got. Flat on the way up and was able to make it to my campsite. The campground was well kept, well placed, not to mention the next morning part of the crew that maintains the area helped us fix our flat. Some of the other campers introduced themselves and were extremely friendly and helpful. Some had been camping there for 40yrs. The fire pits are well built and there is plenty of kindling and tinder to find right off the trails. If you’re comping at night time and want a fire bring a starter log. This time of year the wood was a little damp as we arrived late. Other than that bring plenty of water there are creeks and running water around but no running water at the sites, if you’re a must have shower person bring a shower bag. The sights were magical and the salt lick for the ponies wasn’t far so if you’re looking for a weekend getaway with great sites, a little adventure and a whole lot of beauty this campground is for you. This will definitely become a frequent for my partner and I

• c

  chris A.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 22, 2024

  Pilot Mountain State Park Campground — Pilot Mountain State Park

  Great secluded spot

  I stayed on the “not great for kids” side. Camp host said the other part of the park was better for families and had easier trail inclines. I loved my spot. It was quieter than I expected given how close the camp sites were to each other.

• L

  Lathan B.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 23, 2024

  Grandfather Mountain Campground

  Friendly campground with reasonable rates

  Love tent camping here, awesome views and great prices

• 

  Alda M.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 14, 2024

  Old Cranks Campground and RV Park

  Good value

  GGreat location to Main Street, Galax and New River Trail park. Scenic location overlooking Chestnut Creek, clean Bathhouse, great price. No Picnic tables or firepits. Nearby roadway noise fades by dark. Would stay there agai n.

• 

  Kathryn C.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 3, 2024

  Indian Springs Campground

  Peaceful and fun!

  This place is tucked away near a river, plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, plus a nice laundromat. One of the quietest RV parks I've ever been to! The owners are nice and the grounds are well kept. Only reason it's not 5/5 is they currently lack a bathhouse.

• 

  Jay N.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 28, 2024

  Scales Trailhead Basecamp

  Isolated & wonderful!

  We've been going to Scales for several years now, & it's one of the few places we keep revisiting! Yes, the road in is rocky (& not short...probly 45 mins from the road to the campground), but anything with Subaru Outback ground clearance will be fine.

  The campground itself is great! It's right on the AT, so there are lots of through hikers that you'll see stop in for a night. That also means that there's lots of great hiking options! Our favorite parts are the beautiful views, wild ponies, & it's (usually) relatively quiet!

  Additionally, there are a lot of fire pits& there are pit toilets.

• S

  Sara M.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 22, 2024

  Starlite Trailer Lodge

  Just a lovely ‘resort’ camping experience

   So this is the most unusual place we’ve ever camped. I would call it a‘community where there are campsites’ more than a campground. The majority of the sites are populated by beautifully-kept tiny houses with RVs sprinkled in. The grounds are beautifully planted and tended, evoking a feeling of being in a park. The bathhouse rooms are clean, individual rooms and decorated. The swimming pool is large and clubhouse lodge well provisioned. This is what a camping resort should be(but minus the huge fees)! WiFi is standard; we opted for the Pay version and had great connectivity. You will lose cell service~ 20 minutes from the campground. 

  Starlite is a long-term community that evolved into providing a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ folks looking for a serene mountain experience and this is an exceptional place. If you come with open mind and heart you will feel entirely welcome. My husband and I enjoyed all the people, dogs and kitties we met. We felt so safe and in this setting that we never even locked the RV when we left. Our site(79) was one of two transient camping sites feet away from the creek and a short walk to the lake filled with water lilies. The gravel site has FHU but currently is not level; the hosts have plans to revamp the site and extend the pad.

  Follow the websites directions! You do NOT want to venture onto just any road up here, some of the roads are rough. Print directions before leaving home. The shortcut back dirt road between here and Blowing Rock is an adventure for a truck (only); just plan on driving it slow and it’s fine. Shockingly, as we returned from Blowing Rock the long way on Rt 321 our RV GPS program (in RV mode) kept trying to get us to take these mountainous dirt road shortcuts back to the camp. We might well have been stranded if we hadn’t known better.

  Main Street Blowing Rock is a boutique shop haven. Great for strolling. Kilwins ice cream and candy shop in Blowing Rock is awesome, as is the spice shop beside it.

  From downtown Blowing Rock you can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway in minutes. South on the BRP you’ll quickly reach Moses Cone and Julian Price parks, both are great places to hike and picnic.

• 

  Twan M.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 31, 2024

  Brown Mountain Roadside Campsites

  Good Overnighter

  This is a gravel road that links up with an OHV area/trailhead/parking lot - there are at least 9 campsites, some on the right and most on the left about 100-200 feet from the creek. Being part of an OHV network, expect a lot of trucks towing bikes, 4x4s, etc. throughout the day/night. Some sites were pretty trashed, but none too far gone. Stayed Sunday night and had an unbothered time. About 20 min from Lenoir.

• M

  Michael W.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Steele Creek

  Great for tent camping

  Maybe I missed this in the reviews, but all but 1 site were best for tents. I drove in to camp in my car and there was only 1 spot, which is by the creek crossing, and it was already taken. There’s a nice big spot at the end of the trail where you could rooftop tent/car camp, but the actual site is about 100’ away. Road wasn’t too bad, only a spot or 2 on the switchback that were probably best for a 4 wheel drive vehicle, but I’m sure most cars would be fine.

• 

  Cameron G.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 25, 2024

  Moravian Falls Family Campground

  Clean, beautiful, peaceful

  The stay at the cabin with my wife was a true blessing.  Amazing atmosphere, quiet and peaceful.

• 

  Kevin A.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 20, 2024

  Raccoon Holler Campground

  Nice Campground / Great Location

  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.

• J

  Joey K.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 14, 2024

  Flintlock Campground

  July Camping (2024)

  Excellent campground. Wonderful staff!

• 

  James M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 10, 2024

  Statesville RV Park I-77

  Great place to stay

  I showed up after hours on a motorcycle looking for an overnight tent site.  They didn't have tent sites available in the after hours check in.  Luckily, John, who works maintenance, was near by.  He opened up the office, checked me into a tent site and figured out how to give me a military discount even though that is not his job.  John saved my night!  The tent site was clean, level, grass and water and electric worked great.  There was some noise from the interstate but expected in a tent.  Restroom and shower facilities were clean and functional.  My only staff interaction was with John and he was outstanding in customer service and going over the top to take care of getting me set up.  Thank you!

• C

  Catherine O.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 7, 2024

  Creeper Trail Campground

  Great getaway spot

  My husband and I stayed from the 4th of July to the 7th. The site was nice and level with a beautiful view. It’s a quiet, sleepy campground just perfect for relaxing by a fire. Be aware that only a few sites have septic. Pay attention to the site description. There is no cell phone reception anywhere around until you get to Damascus about 30 minutes away. The office/cafe does has WiFi. It is not park-wide though so plan ahead by downloading your maps and music, etc. The campground is owned and run by a couple who take great care to make sure your stay is pleasant. They have a cafe and small store in the office building. We had breakfast one morning - bacon, egg and cheese biscuit and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich - made on homemade bread and biscuits. So good! I also got a latte and it was amazing. We stopped in for pizza night and got a homemade pesto pizza. Don’t miss that one! Our camper has a bathroom but the camp bathrooms were incredible. Super clean and well-maintained. If you need diesel, nearly every gas station is gas-only. There is a nice gas station and cafe close by in Whitetop Station that carries diesel and has really good food. We stopped there on our way out and the biscuits and gravy were wonderful. The Virginia Creeper trail head is right around the corner from the entrance to the campground.

• 

  Terri W.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 6, 2024

  Blue Bear Mountain Camp

  Blue bear campground

  This place was awesome. Private but well equipped with all the necessities you need. Very pleasant.

• 

  Kevin A.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 1, 2024

  Stone Mountain State Park Campground

  One of our favorite state parks

  We’ve camped at Stone Mountain multiple times over the years. We tent-camped when my boys were small. Most recently in our RV (3-4 times in the past three years). It is a great park. The hiking is excellent. The campsites are large and spacious. The park is well-kept. Make sure you hike to the top. The views are great, and you can spend time at the Homestead farm in the valley below.

  We camped here this past weekend and enjoyed it once again. We were at site 56. It is an excellent site on the stream, with no site immediately next to you, so there is lots of privacy. The firepit, picnic table, water, and electricity are all great. We had limited cell service for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. We could send and receive text messages, but coverage was very spotty.

  We will be back again in the Fall.

• M

  Monty

  Scout

  

  Jun. 30, 2024

  Fries New RiverTrail RV Park

  Great stop for trail and the New River access

  Almost all have shade large % of day. Full hook-ups. No campfires. Extremely clean. Only 20 sites. Walk to trail/river . Great little steakhouse Thursday to weekend. Supplies slim in Fries area. Cvs/Dollar General. Tom, owner is the best.

• 

  Jason B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 29, 2024

  Utts Campground

  Peaceful and safe

  Utt’s Campground is the hidden gem of VA! Not a fast paced family resort. But a calm quiet place to sit back, relax, feel the mountain breeze. We love it here. We stayed here from May to November. The monthly rates are super reasonable.

• 

  Sarah P.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 29, 2024

  Stone Mountain State Park Campground

  Great place

  The campground, paths, and bathrooms were very clean. Beautiful views at Rock Falls. If we didn't have our dogs with us we would have done hikes longer than 4 miles.

• 

  Morgan L.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 6, 2024

  Midway Campground Resort

  First camping experience in new camper!!

  This place was the first place we stopped along our trip to test out the new camper we just purchased, and this place was so wonderful and fun. We played mini golf, had a view of the lake, and enjoyed a great campfire on our little porch they provided. We truly had so much fun even though we only stayed one night! Can’t wait to come back.

• 

  Raul G.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 3, 2024

  Dark Ridge HideOut (Adults Only)

  Dark Ridge Hideout

  Our camping trip was excellent, our host was very friendly and communicative. Highly recommended. The view of our site named Crooked Tree # 5 was wonderful. Beautiful night sky with an opening view to the mountains. Excellent parking spot with plenty of room to set up a 3-person tent. Also, delivery of homemade pizza. I recommend the Jalapeno & Cheese.

• S

  SomadNomad M.

  Guide

  

  May. 31, 2024

  Rural Retreat Lake Campground

  Lake is in the name

  there is a lake , I'm guessing it's a public lake due to the fact its outside the campground, I paid for a elec./water site and said if it's in the sun it's a bonus, the picnic table and site and the one above me have sun, however my solar panels do not, now if you want water and elec. you either need a 50' hose or extention cord because they are on opposite ends of the pull through , which I forgot to pay for one that might have been closer to level than a bowling ball. still haven't found the dumpster or a garbage can for that matter , pool is not included , again I'm guessing public.it was entertaining watching a poor fella with 2 young boys walk around for 30 minutes looking for their site, I'm in #41 and if you're so lucky to get thus spot , don't follow the signs telling you where the #'ed sites are because we're next to #53 and not in the 40's at all , we are however right next to the shower room ... I'll update my review after I explore thar situation tonight. it got 2 stars because so far it is peacefull with no other campers around, they probably learned their lesson their first stay too. $75.×× for 2 nights eventhough it says $30 a night. taxes must be killer here in Virginia. if it didn't rain everyday I been here and my batteries weren't hurting so badly I'd of just boondocked it another week in this gorgeous national forest for free. PS. don't bother with firewood on site #41 there's no ring. Update after shower, well I think I got Athletes foot just by looking inside, cold unfinished concrete floor, no mirror no hooks no shelf a very small bench and a trash can and on the floor what I could only describe as a rubber webbed mat you would usually see inside a garage. the water temp was OK for me but i enjoy a cold shower every now and again , there's only 2 settings ...yup on and off couple spiders got to watch me get dysentery but they were friendly. now back at camp enjoying the sweet smell of bathroom. yay. the showers and toilets are individual rooms with a rusty slide latch lock. dirty but I can only speak for the two I went into (the first shower door didn't shut) but I'd assume they're all pretty much the same. Definitely not worth $76

• 

  Jon M.

  Scout

  

  May. 31, 2024

  Scales Trailhead Basecamp

  Serious off road capability needed

  The road in is...."rocky". High clearance 4wd needed. Not ADV friendly, unless you're very adventurous. Access by horseback would be my #1 pick.

• C

  Chris A.

  Guide

  

  May. 30, 2024

  Doughton Park Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

  Quiet Mountain Campground

  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.

• C

  Catherine O.

  Traveler

  

  May. 26, 2024

  Honey Bear Campground

  Good for relaxation and privacy

  This is a heavily wooded, natural-type campground. We enjoyed the seclusion and privacy that provides. Most of the sites are close together but the mature trees and shrubbery make it feel like you’re all alone. Very quiet park, even at Memorial Day weekend. There’s a fishing lake and a central coffee shop/hangout area with some scheduled events. No playground or swimming area that we’ve seen but we haven’t explored the other half of the campground. There is a lovely creek passing through the campground with a long bridge crossing over it. Due to rocks, trees, and other shrubbery blocking the way, there is no wading in it.

  We had a hard time backing in our small (17ft) trailer because of natural obstacles and the direction of the road. Other sites are not like that, but we got the last available site, so there wasn’t an option. If you’re not tent camping, don’t choose site B8. ;) Unfortunately, they’re closing permanently at the end of the summer. It’s a lovely park and I wish someone would buy it and invest in some upkeep to restore some of the blocked off areas. It’s a small family owned park so I imagine it’s time- and money-intensive.