Best Dispersed Camping near Hickory, NC
The area around Hickory in North Carolina has several dispersed camping spots where you can rough it without facilities. Hickory City Park Campground and Hickory Recreation Area both allow primitive camping, but you'll need to bring everything with you - especially water. The forest service roads leading to most dispersed sites can get pretty rough after rain, so vehicles with decent clearance work best. Most rules require camping at least 100 feet from any streams or roads, and you can typically stay up to two weeks in one spot. Local ranger stations can tell you about current fire restrictions, which change frequently during summer and fall dry spells. The nearest grocery stores are back in Hickory, about 30-45 minutes from most sites, so stock up before heading out. Cell service drops quickly once you leave the main roads. Remember that whatever you bring in needs to come back out with you - there are no trash services at these remote sites.
